preparing for bulats - ngl.cengage.com · preparing for bulats in this section of the book, for...

P R E P A R I N G F O RB U L A T S

I n t h i s s e c t i o n o f t h e b o o k , f o r e a c h p a r t o f t h e e x a m y o u w i l l f i n d :

S T R A T E G Ygiving advice on how to approach each exercise type.

P R E P A R A T I O Ngiving examples of questions, and exercises helpingyou to get the answers to those questions.

A N S W E R S & E X P L A N A T I O N S giving answers to the Preparation exercises anddetailed explanations of those answers.

� Giving information oneach exercise type

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L I S T E N I N G

S E C T I O N O N ES T R A T E G Y �� Before you listen, read each question – and look at the visual if there is

one – carefully.�� Do not choose an answer just because you hear the same words in the

recording as in the question.�� Note what answer or answers you think the first time you listen.

Use the second listening to check and decide on your final answer.�� The questions vary in difficulty, so do your best with each one.

P R E P A R A T I O N : V i s u a l Q u e s t i o n sLook at the three graphs below. How are the lines different? Whatwords could you use to describe the line in each graph? Choose from:

Use a dictionary to help if you are not sure what all the words mean.

GO DOWN GO UP REMAIN STEADY BE UNCHANGED

RISE FALL LEVEL OUT SLOWLY RAPIDLY

Sale

s

Quarters1st 2nd 3rd 4th

A

Sale

s


B

Sale

s


C

�� This section tests yourunderstanding ofspecific information –for example ofnumbers, sales figures,dates, places, and so on.

�� You listen to ten shortrecordings and answera question for each one.

�� The first five of the tenquestions include visualaspects – for examplepictures of threeproducts or threecharts.

�� You hear eachrecording twice.

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Look at the question.

Which graph shows the sales figures for last year?

CD Track 1 Listen to the recording.

Now read the audioscript below.

We didn’t know what to expect, because the year before had been so mixed.Sales rose at the start of the year, but levelled out in the second quarter.However, the situation didn’t remain steady for long, and by the third quarterwe were seeing a fall. Fortunately, the situation changed in the final quarter assales rose again slowly. We predict that next year will see a steady increase forthe first two quarters at least.

Underline the words from the box above that are used here.

CD Track 1 Close your book and listen again to check your answer tothe question.

Which is the correct graph?

Why is it important to read the question carefully?

Check your answers in the key on page 28.

P R E P A R A T I O N : T e x t Q u e s t i o n s Look at this question.

What was a problem at the meeting?

A The chairman wasn’t effective.B There was too much on the agenda.C Some people didn’t listen to other people.

CD Track 2 Listen to the recording.

Now read the audioscript below.

No, the meeting didn’t go very well. The agenda was pretty long, it’s true, but itwasn’t excessive. We could have got through it all, and the chairman managedto have control over the proceedings, so it wasn’t total chaos. But there are acouple of the managers from IT who just don’t pay attention to what theircounterparts in marketing say, and it means you can’t move on.

Find words in the audioscript that mean the same as these words fromthe question.

1 be effective (A): ………………………………2 too much (B): …………………………..3 listen (C): …………………………...

There is some reference to all the possible answers, A, B and C. Sowhich is the correct answer to the question? And why are the otheranswers not correct?

CD Track 2 Listen to the recording again.

Check your ideas in the Key on page 28.

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P R E P A R I N G F O R B U L A T S : L I S T E N I N G : S E C T I O N 1


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S E C T I O N T W OS T R A T E G Y�� Before you listen, read the instructions carefully – they tell you who is

telephoning, and perhaps the reason.�� Read the form or notes very carefully – if you don’t understand them,

you can’t complete them properly.�� You should write in the numbers or words that you hear without

changing them.�� When you have finished, check that what you have written makes

sense in the form or notes.�� The recordings and tasks vary in difficulty, so do your best with

each one.

P R E P A R A T I O NLook at the first half of this task.

It’s important to read this note to Mark carefully. When you listen, youprobably won’t hear exactly the same words as you can read. But youneed to be able to follow the conversation and see where information is missing.

CD Track 3 Listen to the telephone conversation.

Read the audioscript.

Woman: TNB. How may I help you?

Man: Hello. I’m calling from Jacksons. Is Mark there?

Woman: I’m afraid not. Can I take a message?

Man: Yes, please. Our order came this morning, but there’s a problem.We requested a complete computer, and while we’ve got the monitor, ofcourse, and also the printer, the keyboard has been left out – there’s thecable, but nothing to connect it to.

Woman: Oh dear. I’ll ask him to give you a call. You’re the IT Manager, aren’t you?

Man: Yes, but I’m away now for a few days, so have him call our ResourcesManager this afternoon.

Think about Question 1:

Which words in the audioscript mean ‘wasn’t included’?

What was not included, printer, keyboard or cable?

Think about Question 2:

Message for MarkJacksons rang about their order.The (1) ……………………… wasn’t included.Please contact the (2) ……………………… today.

�� This section tests yourunderstanding ofspecific informationand your ability towrite downinformation accurately.

�� You listen to threetelephoneconversations ormessages and fill inmissing information onyour task sheet.

�� You will need tocomplete differentkinds of forms or sets ofnotes.

�� You hear eachrecording once only.

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Which words in the audioscript mean ‘contact’?

Which words in the audioscript mean ‘today’?

Who should Mark contact, the IT Manager or the Resources Manager?

Check your answers in the Key on page 29.

CD Track 3 Listen to the conversation again to check yourunderstanding.

S E C T I O N T H R E ES T R A T E G Y�� Before you listen, read the instructions and the list of options carefully.

You need to understand why you are listening.�� Don’t choose answers just because you hear one word that is the same

as one in one of the options.�� Within each Section, don’t use any letter more than once.�� The Sections vary in difficulty, so do your best with each one.

P R E P A R A T I O NLook at part of this task.


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�� This section tests yourunderstanding ofoverall meaning,opinion, purpose,opinion, etc.

�� You listen to two sets ofshort recordings withdifferent speakers andchoose the correctoptions to match witheach speaker.

�� The instructionsexplain the situationand what the speakersare talking about ingeneral.

�� You listen to anexample and are toldthe answer for theexample before theother recordings begin.

�� You hear eachrecording once only.

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�� You will hear five business people talking about why they went on atrip recently.

�� As you listen, decide what purpose the speaker describes for the trip.

Look at these three options.

CD Track 4 Play the recording and read the audioscript for Person 1.

The situation was getting complicated so I went out to deal with it. We’d chosenthis firm to make the goods up for us, because we respected their reputation forquality, and we were satisfied with the contract we’d all signed. But then thereseemed to be some uncertainty over the specifications they were supposed towork to, so I went out with some samples. It’s all fine now.

Think about option F:

Which words in F do you hear the same in the audioscript?

What words in F refer to the situation regarding the contract?

Is F the correct answer?

F to finalise terms of a contract to produce goodsG to check the quality of goods producedH to clear up confusion about specifications of goods


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Think about option G:

Which words in G do you hear the same in the audioscript?

What words in G refer to the situation regarding quality?

Is G the correct answer?

Think about option H:

Which words in H do you hear the same in the audioscript?

What words in H refer to the situation regarding specifications?


CD Track 4 Play the recording again to check your understanding.

S E C T I O N F O U RS T R A T E G Y�� Before you listen, read carefully through the questions. Think about

what will be said.�� Note possible answers the first time you listen. Don’t decide

immediately.�� Don’t choose answers just because you hear a word that is the same in

the question and the recording.�� Choose your answer finally the second time you listen.�� The recordings vary in difficulty, so do your best with each one.

P R E P A R A T I O NLook at the start of this section, which is a radio interview with HalRampton, the CEO of the fast food chain Hungry Roads.

What does Hal Rampton acknowledge was a mistake?

A ignoring demands from shareholdersB failing to make targets highly specificC declining a colleague’s offer to resign

CD Track 5 Listen to the recording for this question and read the audioscript.

Interviewer: You took over as CEO of Hungry Roads a year ago. Although there’sbeen much to celebrate in the year, it hasn’t all been plain sailing.

Hal: True. It looked like it was going to be a rocky ride from the start, whenSara Blane, the Head of Finance, suggested I let her go, as she feltunhappy about the prospect of major change. I persuaded her to stayand I’m glad I did, as we make a good team now. Meanwhile, theshareholders were trying to insist on cutbacks in staffing levels as a wayof saving, but I stand by my decision to resist that pressure – as wegrow we’ll need those staff. During all this upheaval, I outlinedincreases in volumes and levels of cuts that I wanted to achieve. I realisenow that I should have been far more precise in formulating those.But we’re getting there now.

�� This section tests yourunderstanding offactual information,details and generalmeanings, opinions,arguments, etc.

�� You listen to threelonger recordings andanswer six multiple-choice questions foreach one.

�� The questions come inthe same order as therelevant parts of therecording.

�� The possible types ofrecording include:�� monologues (speech

or presentation, etc,by one speaker)

�� interviews (abusiness leader orexpert being askedquestions, often onthe radio)

�� discussions (two orthree people talkingabout situations orideas in business).

�� You hear eachrecording twice.

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Think about option A:

What words in the audioscript refer to demands made by shareholders?

What words in the audioscript describe Hal’s response to the demands?

Is A the correct answer?

Think about option B:

What words in the audioscript are used to describe the targets that were set?

What words in the audioscript describe Hal’s attitude to the targets?

Is B the correct answer?

Think about option C:

What words in the audioscript refer to an offer to resign?

What words in the audioscript describe Hal’s response to the offer?

Is C the correct answer?


CD Track 5 Listen again to check your understanding.


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