Answer key practice tests grammar SPECIMEN TEST HP3

University of Economics, HCMC
English Language Division

Paper Code: HP3 - SPECIMEN TEST

Exam in English for Business Communication (75 minutes)
Read the instruction carefully. RECORD your answers on your answer sheets.
Section 1: Language knowledge (40 marks)
I. Select and fill in each blank in the passage below with ONE suitable word.
Thank you for sending me a copy (1) _________ your latest ceramics catalog. You have been (2) _________ us your
catalog here at the museum for several years now, (3) __________ I always look forward to reading it. I (4) _______
was yet again at the variety and creativity (5) _______ you have displayed in your work! (6) _______ ladybug
bowls are quite exquisite. They look so (7) _________ ! They really (8) _________ resemble the plants and animals
they are modeled (9) ________. I would like to order 50 of the ladybug bowls. If they are popular, I will consider
(10) _________ more.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

(A)
(A)
(A)
(A)
(A)

(A)
(A)
(A)
(A)
(A)

with
dispatching
and
interested
whose
Their
realistic
did
after
producing

(B)
(B)
(B)
(B)
(B)
(B)
(B)
(B)
(B)
(B)

of
delivering

so
pleased
which
Its
realist
do
for
exporting

II. Choose the best answer
11. Those who will sign any contract are advised to
review the terms of the ________________ .
A. production
C. consideration
B. agreement
D. newsletter
12. Great interpersonal skills and untiring perseverance
are the key _____________ of an excellent sales
executive.
A. acquisitions
C. characteristics
B. boundaries
D. enterprises
13. There are _____________ a small number of job
openings in the sales positions.
A. quickly
C. currently
B. highly
D. originally
14. If we are not able to ______________ this contract,

we will face serious financial problems.
A decline
C. renew
B. consider
D. remodel
15. It will be very helpful if you thoroughly _________
the background of the applicants.
A. refer
C. exchange
B. check
D. advertise
16. If you do not file a tax return before October 23rd,
you will have to pay a fine of $ 200. This ____________
will be automatically deducted from your future earnings
by the Inland Revenue Service.
A. service
C. receipt
B. product
D. charge

(C)
(C)
(C)
(C)
(C)
(C)
(C)
(C)
(C)
(C)

in
shipping
but
amazed
when
His
realistically
have
in
ordering

(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)
(D)

to
sending
yet
keen
whom
Your
realism

ought
with
selling

17. We offer a free delivery service, and we can give
buyers discounts for __________ purchases.
A. bulk
C. urgent
B. infrequent
D. nearby
18. Nowadays, in order to stay competitive in the
market, many retailers are trying ___________ their
online and offline operations.
A. to deal
C. to integrate
B. to bargain
D. to check
19. We _________ about safety procedures when the
fire alarm went off.
A. talked
C. were talking
B. are talking
D. have talked
20. Ms Luxton and her team of specialists _________ a
new marketing strategy since the beginning of the year.
A. are developing
B. were being developed
C. have been developing
D. would develop
21. The factory manager reports that currently all the

machinery ____________ at full capacity.
A. will have been operated
C. had operated
B. was operating
D. is operating
22. The report _______________ by pointing out the
need for further investment if the group is
to continue
its expansion policy.
A. conclude
C. concludes

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B. concluded
D. will conclude
23. Ford ____________ to corner 10% of car sales in the 32. The rate of salary increases was ________________
Asia- Pacific region within the next 10 years.
higher, compared to just 3% last year.
A. is aiming
C. has aimed
A. so
C. most
B. aimed
D. will have aimed
B. very
D. far
24. We carefully checked all the figures; __________,
33. The manager said that there would be special yearour supervisor found a number of mistakes.

end bonuses for ______________ who surpass their
A. while
C. however
annual sales targets.
B. although
D. therefore
A. that
C. those
25. Meetings were postponed ____________ unexpected B. them
D. these
power cut.
34. The hotel provides travelers with ____________
A. despite
C. while
convenient options in order to attract tourists.
B. as a result of
D. nevertheless
A. several
C. another
26. ___________ the Marsdsen Literary Society was
B. each
D. much
founded last year, it already has over 200 registered
35. He wants to quit his present job because he cannot
members.
stand working _______________ hours anymore.
A. Although
C. In spite of
A. insociable
C. socialistic

B. Because
D. Besides
B. social
D. anti-social
27. The personnel manager has decided to hire the
36. That IT shop has been acquiring more and more
candidate with the degree in engineering ____________ customers since it offered _____________ credit last
he interviewed last week.
month.
A. what
C. whom
A. free-interest
C. interest rate
B. which
D.. whose
B. interest-free
D. interested
28. Applicants can express their interest in the role
37. Any charity or non-governmental organization
simply _______________ filling out the attached form
within the area can ___________ for funding from the
and returning it to Ms. Claire Jones.
Sanstead Community Trust.
A. by
C. for
A. apply
C. applying
B. as
D. with
B. applied

D. application
29. The Port Wells Teater asks the audience to remain
38. ______________ more customer service specialists
seated at all times ___________ the performers are on
is the top priority for Personnel at the moment.
stage.
A. Recruitment
C. Recruit
A. during
C. while
B. Recruiting
D. Recruited
B. throughout
D. except
39. The new management board has come up with a
30. You need to pay the parking ticket in full
much more _____________ way to increase staff
__________ the next 20 days, or you will face further
productivity.
penalties.
A. effected
C. effective
A. within
C. through
B. effectively
D. effect
B. on
D. for
40. The company’s sales have __________________
31. The vice president has the _______________ office improved since last month thanks to the staff’s efforts.

on this floor.
A. signification
C. signify
A. most spacious
C. space
B. significantly
D. significant
B. more spacious
D. as spacious
Section 2: Language use (60 marks)
I. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow.
Not so long ago almost any student who successfully completed a university degree or diploma course could find a good
career quite easily. Companies toured the academic institutions, competing with each other to recruit graduates. However,
those days are gone, even in Hong Kong, and nowadays graduates often face strong competition in the search for jobs.
Most careers organizations highlight three stages for graduates to follow in the process of securing a suitable career:
recognizing abilities, matching these to available vacancies and presenting them well to prospective employers.
Job seekers have to make a careful assessment of their own abilities. One area of assessment should be of their academic
qualifications, which would include special skills within their subject area. Graduates should also consider their own
personal values and attitudes, or the relative importance to themselves of such matters as money, security, leadership and

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caring for others. An honest assessment of personal interests and abilities such as creative or scientific skills, or skills
acquired from work experience, should also be given careful thought.
The second stage is to study the opportunities available for employment and to think about how the general employment
situation is likely to develop in the future. To do this, graduates can study job vacancies and information in newspapers or
they can visit a careers office, write to possible employers for information or contact friends or relatives who may already be
involved in a particular profession. After studying all the various options, they should be in a position to make informed
comparisons between various careers.

Good personal presentation is essential in the search for a good career. Job application forms and letters should, of course,
be filled in carefully and correctly, without grammar or spelling errors. Where additional information is asked for, job
seekers should describe their abilities and work experience in more depth, with examples if possible. They should try to
balance their own abilities with the employer's needs, explain why they are interested in a career with the particular
company and try to show that they already know something about the company and its activities.
When graduates are asked to attend for interview, they should prepare properly by finding out all they can about the
prospective employer. Dressing suitably and arriving for the interview on time are also obviously important. Interviewees
should try to give positive and helpful answers and should not be afraid to ask questions about anything they are unsure
about. This is much better than pretending to understand a question and giving an unsuitable answer.
There will always be good career opportunities for people with ability, skills and determination; the secret to securing a
good job is to be one of them.
Choose the best answer
1. In paragraph 1, 'those days are gone, even in Hong Kong', suggests that:
A. in the past, finding a good career was easier in Hong Kong than elsewhere
B. nowadays, everyone in Hong Kong has an equal chance of finding a good career
C. it used to be harder to find a good job in Hong Kong than in other countries
D. even in Hong Kong companies tour the universities trying to recruit graduates
2. According to paragraph 4, graduates should:
A. find a good position and then compare it with other careers
B. ask friends or relatives to secure them a good job
C. get information about a number of careers before making comparisons
D. find out as much as possible and inform employers of the comparisons they want
3. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true?
A. until recently it was quite easy for graduates to get good jobs in Hong Kong
B. job seekers should consider as many as possible of the factors involved
C. businesses used to visit the universities in Hong Kong to recruit graduates
D. graduates sometimes have to take part in competitions to secure a good career
What does each of the following underlined words/ phrases refer to?
4. To do this, graduates can study job vacancies and information in newspapers or they can visit a careers office
………….(paragraph 4)

5. This is much better than pretending to understand a question and giving an unsuitable answer. (paragraph 6)
Which words / phrases in the passage mean the following?
6. possible, potential
7. to obtain, to get
8. available position
Fill in the blank with ONE suitable word from the passage. Put it in its correct form or tense if necessary.
9. He ………. to have no knowledge of her whereabouts.
10. Continuous………….is made of all students’ work.
II. Complete the email from a recruitment officer of the HR department to job applicants. Write about three
main job responsibilities and outline three essential qualifications a job applicant must have. Use the
suggestions provided in the box below and the prompts in the bracket in the email. Add a transition to
connect the sentences if necessary.
Position:
Phone designer
Job duties:
Act on one’s own initiative as part of the dynamic team; come up with design

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solutions for advanced range of mobile phones; solve problems
Essential abilities and Artistic skills; ability to work independently and in a team environment; BA
requirements:
degree in Engineering Design and 5 years of working in related fields.
Dear prospective applicants,
Scirocco, a world leader in mobile phone technology, (Name the vacant position) ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
(Describe three main responsibilities) ______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________
(Add three essential abilities and requirements) _______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
We hope you will be interested in the vacancy, and look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
Cheryl Segal
Head Assistant, HR
III. Listen and do the tasks as directed.
PART ONE: Listen to the conversations twice and choose the appropriate answer to each question
Conversation1: Questions 1 – 2
1. When will the meeting be held?
A. Today
C. Tomorrow morning
2. Where does the woman want to have the meeting?
A. In the cafeteria
C. In the assistant’s office
Conversation2: Questions 3 – 5
3. When is the man leaving for his vacation?
A. On Monday
C. In two weeks
4. Where will he spend his vacation?
A. In the mountains
C. At the beach
5. How often does he take a vacation?
A. Once a month
C. Twice a year

B. Tonight
D. Tomorrow afternoon

B. In the reading room
D. In the conference room

B. On the weekend
D. In a month
B. On a boat
D. By a lake
B. Once a year
D. Three times a year

PART TWO: Listen to an advertisement twice and complete the notes.




Andre’s Warehouse is offering a (6) _________ holiday sale, ending Friday, midnight;
Buy desks, chairs and computer tables to get (7) _________ off;
Purchases (8) _________ are delivered without charge; charges applied for delivery outside
the region;

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


Free delivery only applies for (9) _________;
Any questions about delivery, just ask the on-site (10) _________.
THE END

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