BEC Preliminary Reading Part 5 – Student’s Worksheet 1

Exercise 1
• Read the article below about the Chief Executive of a shopping centre and exhibition
halls.
• Look at each question 1 – 6 and the two options, A and B.
• Why is each option wrong?

Since becoming Chief Executive of the Star City shopping centre and exhibition halls, Peter
Maurice feels he has done a lot. Now, though, he wants to change the whole feeling of the
business. ‘Visitors should feel we are looking after them,’ he says. ‘Very often the public go
into a shop and find so much there that they can’t decide what to buy, so they don’t buy
anything. Keep it simple, that’s the key to retailing.’

At Star City, staff are encouraged to tell managers, including Maurice himself, what they
think of them. ‘The things they say about me are what I expect, because I’m fairly self-aware
– I know what I’m like and that I can make people a little angry. But I’m very much in favour
of change, and everyone knows that a lot needs to be done.’

He learnt his management techniques the hard way. ‘At 23 I went into business and lost
money. I had to learn fast. Then, at 32, I won an export contract that involved travelling to
Hong Kong several times. I admire the strength of character and the ambition of the people
there, and brought back two very significant words: “No problem”. Then I took a course at
Harvard Business School. It was very hard work, but worth it.’

As well as running Star City, Peter Maurice controls Big Events, which organises exhibitions.
At the moment, Big Events is working on plans for a boat show to rival the Capital Boat
Show, which is moving next year from its traditional site at Star City to a new venue.

For the immediate future, Maurice will continue with the essential work of updating the
centre. After that, he plans to look at ways of expanding Star City beyond the present
conferences and exhibitions, to include major shows and concerts. ‘I want a lively centre full
of exciting events, where my well-trained staff are ambassadors for the company.’

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1 In Peter Maurice’s opinion, what prevents many customers from making purchases?
A The shop hasn’t got what they want.
B Nobody is available to serve them.

2 Maurice’s staff say that he

A tries to do too much too quickly.
B needs to be more self-aware.

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3 What does Maurice say he learnt from his experience in Hong Kong?
A how to run a successful import-export business
B that he needed to go back to business school

4 What is Maurice’s exhibitions company, Big Events, planning to do next year?

A take control of the Capital Boat Show
B move the Capital Boat Show to a larger venue

5 Maurice’s long-term ambition for the centre is to

A retrain all the staff at the centre.
B modernise the centre.

6 What is the best title for the article?

A What customers want when they go shopping
B The importance of choosing the right location

Exercise 2

• Choose the right answer to each question from the list in the box.
• For questions 1 – 6, underline the part of the text that gives each answer.

1 Question 1: ……
2 Question 2: ……
3 Question 3: ……
4 Question 4: ……
5 Question 5: ……
6 Question 6: ……

A bring entertainment to the centre.

B sometimes annoys them.
C Plans for developing a business
D There is too much to choose from.
E hold an event to compete with the Capital Boat Show
F the importance of being confident and having a positive attitude

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Exercise 3
Complete these sentences giving facts and advice about Part 5 by choosing the right ending
from the box. Use each ending once only.

1 Part 5 consists of one text and …………

2 Each question includes …………
3 The questions follow the order of …………
4 There is always only one …………
5 The right answer must be right in relation to ………… and the text.
6 The last question sometimes focuses on …………
7 You should spend …………

A a choice of three options

B 10-12 minutes on Part 5
C the question
D six questions
E the text
F the whole text
G right answer

More advice on Part 5

• It’s important to consider all three options, not only the first one you read that seems to
be right.
• Usually each question focuses on a separate paragraph. The options within a question
may not follow the order of the text (e.g. in question 2, option A refers to the end of the
paragraph – a lot needs to be done – and option B refers to something earlier – I’m
fairly self-aware).
• Sometimes two questions focus on the same paragraph, but the first question will
focus on the first part of the paragraph and the second on the second part, with no
overlap.

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BEC Preliminary Reading Part 5 – Student’s Worksheet 2

• Read the article below about an insurance company.

• The answers that are given are all correct. Write two wrong answers to each question.

Success story
Journalist Mark Stretton examines the growth of an insurance company
which now has sales of £300 million per year.

Ten years ago American-born Henry Eastman got a call from a recruitment consultancy,
inviting him to give up his successful marketing career in one insurance company to become
the head of another, in the UK. This new job was to work for an investment company called
Brinscombe’s, which wanted him to create a brand new car insurance company. Despite the
risks involved, Eastman agreed.
A lot of young drivers in the 20 to 35 age range, especially the ones who have already had
accidents, have difficulties in getting car insurance because most companies think they are
too big a risk. However, Eastman believes there are no problems if their annual payments
are large enough. He offered them insurance cover through television commercials and
attracted many customers by giving out folders in which to keep their policies safe. His
strategy was a good one. Within eight years he had built the business into a national
company with 500,000 customers and sales of £300 million per year.
The company is based in Manchester. The authorities there wanted to increase employment
and offered Eastman a £1 million grant to start up after he promised to create 350 new jobs.
He is now a major employer in the area with 1,400 staff and has also created new specialist
insurance companies for women, credit-card users and people using the internet.
Eastman believes in American management methods: working as a team to get better
results; not being allowed to miss lunch because you are too busy; and having fun. This
belief has recently won him a place in a ‘50 Best Companies to Work For’ survey.
Brinscombe’s later decided to withdraw their investment and offered the company to the
management team. They said ‘yes’, borrowed £80 million from a bank and bought it.
Eastman is pleased with his success. ‘We’re a great and growing company,’ he says, ‘and
we give our customers better service than they can dream of!’

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1 Henry Eastman’s previous job was in
A ……………………………………………………………… .
B marketing.
C ……………………………………………………………… .

2 He was offered the opportunity to

A ……………………………………………………………… .
B ……………………………………………………………… .
C set up a company for someone else.

3 The company’s success is due to

A ……………………………………………………………… .
B ……………………………………………………………… .
C targeting a particular market.

4 He chose the present company location because

A financial support was available in that part of the country.
B ……………………………………………………………… .
C ……………………………………………………………… .

5 Eastman’s strategy is to
A produce a happy working environment.
B ……………………………………………………………… .
C ……………………………………………………………… .

6 The company is now owned by

A ………………………………………………………………
B Eastman and his colleagues.
C ………………………………………………………………

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BEC Preliminary Reading Part 5 – Student’s Worksheet 2 www.teachers.cambridgeesol.org

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