Video Tasks
Task I. Answer the questions:
What products does Visitron produce?
Where are its markets situated?
Which sectors of the market did Visitron originally specialise in? Why?
What factors changed the situation?
Who is Richard Hamilton?
What recommendations did Mr Hamilton make to the Visitron board?
Did the board follow the recommendations?
Why was the board removed by the shareholders?
Who is Sir David Stokes?
What are the names and positions of the new board members?
Task II. You are one of Visitron's major shareholders. After the removal of the old board you decided to invite Mr. Parker to become Visitron's new CEO. Write a letter to Mr.Parker with full information about the situation in the company.
Task III. Listen and fill in the gaps with the right words:
Visitron is a manufacture of …………………. scanners for…………….. and …………………. companies ……………….. Europe. Until recently, Visitron ………………….. in manufacturing for the Large and ………… Unit sectors of the market. Hyperscan ……………… the Large Unit sector ……………….. prices and profits there to ……………….
Unit 1 starting the meeting
Vocabulary Tasks
Task I. Define the meaning of the following words and expressions, translate them into Russian:
confidential
determination
draft
first half figures *
hostile activity
objective
on the agenda
press-release *
revival
stake *
survival
thrust
to acquire
to concede
to go for a high profile
to report briefly on
to restore credibility
to spearhead a campaign for / against smth
to tackle a problem at source
to undertake
to urge
unidentified buyer
vague promises
vigorous
* definitions are available in the glossary
Task II. Translate the sentences into Russian:
I concede that the work has been slow so far, but it should speed up soon.
Company’s reorganisation was only the first step in the long process of corporate revival.
At the meeting the new board's objective is to agree a plan of action.
Now we have three items of business on the agenda this morning.
We've now had confirmation that an unidentified buyer has acquired a 5 % stake in this company.
Experience tells me that the activity is hostile.
The aim of our press-release is to restore credibility.
Financial analysts don't want vague promises about a wonderful new future for Visitron.
Let's show them we're tackling this problem at source.
Show them the first half figures.
Visitron is about to undertake major new growth based on new products and new markets.
Task Ш. Translate the sentences into English:
Это требует самых энергичных действий.
К нему обратились с настоятельной просьбой возглавить кампанию по борьбе с курением.
Возрождение нашей компании зависит от того, сумеем ли мы вернуть доверие акционеров.
Вместо того, чтобы давать туманные обещания, Вы бы лучше подумали о том, как решать проблему в корне.
Цель официального сообщения - показать, что мы не боимся неизвестного покупателя.
Враждебная деятельность наших конкурентов очень ослабила нашу позицию.
Данные за первое полугодие позволили сделать вывод, что компании необходимо предпринять шаги по выработке новой стратегии.
На повестке дня - обсуждение путей выхода из кризиса.
Поздравляю, мы сумели приобрести солидную долю в этой компании, что принесет нам значительную прибыль уже в следующем полугодии.
Предварительный пресс-релиз был помечен словами «строго секретно».
Task IV. Make up your own sentences using the vocabulary of the unit.