9. Writing.

You have been recently been applying for jobs with different companies. Two companies have informed that they may be interested in offering you employment. One company is a large multinational that employs 2,000 people at its headquarters. The other company is much smaller and employs only 120 people.

Write a short paragraph to explain which company would you prefer to work for, giving reasons for your choice.

GRAMMAR REVIEW

The Passive Voice of the Simple Tenses

10. Look at the examples and explain the differences between the sentences.

a) I send many faxes every day.

Many faxes are sent every day.

b) I sent this letter yesterday.

The letter was sent yesterday.

c) I shall send it tomorrow.

It will be sent tomorrow.

11. Underline the verbs in the Passive Voice; read and translate the sentences.

a) This company was established last year only.

b) The president was elected last January.

c) As far as I know the first contract was made in March.

d) The equipment was installed a month after the goods arrived.

Transform the sentences and translate them:

e.g. It’s a big company. It employs two hundred people.

Two hundred people are employed here.

The company is not independent. A much bigger other company owns it.

They will open a new branch at the end of the month.

He managed to make two contracts at the beginning of the year.

They shipped goods in three equal lots.

12. Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

Is it a car? Or is it a boat? The new Aquada __was designed___ (design) to be both. The world’s first amphibious car ______________ (build) last year and it __________________(create) by British engineers. For its inventor, Alan Gibbs, it was a dream come true.

Before the Aquada, amphibious cars _______________ (not make) very well. They were too slow and difficult to get out of water. The best amphibious cars appeared in James Bond films, but then they weren’t real. However, the Aquada does work – and it’s fast. It ____________ (work on) by 70 engineers for seven years and last month it ________(test) on the River Thames.

But who will buy the car? Well, it’s useful for commuters in cities like London. When the traffic is bad, they can use the river to get to work. It’s a brilliant idea, but when the car went on sale last week, not many __________ (sell). At ₤ 150,000 it’s an expensive way to get to work on time!

7. Parts of a company

1. Someone is giving a visitor a tour of a company. Read the text and underline the names of all the departments.

OK, let's start here, in research and development, or R&D. This department is responsible for thinking of ideas for new products and finding ways to improve our existing products...

This department looks after our computer equipment. They deal with any problems. This is information technology, or IT...

Purchasing buys all the things we need to make our products. They talk to our suppliers and try to get the best price...

This is the main factory area, the production department. Here we make our products. It's the biggest part of the company...

Here in the finance department, they check how much the company is making and decide how much to spend. They also pay employees' salaries...

This department looks after the people who work there. Human resources is responsible for recruiting new employees, organizing training and helping with any problems...

Sales and marketing is very important. The marketing people think up the ideas for selling our products. The sales people go out and sell our products to our customers...

Customer services processes orders from customers. It organizes transportation, checks that customers have received thei orders and deals with complaints...

Finally, distribution is responsible for transporting our products. They receive orders from customer services, and plan how and when to transport the products so the customers receive them at the right time...