MATOLA INDUSTRIAL AND COMERCIAL INSTITUTE

Title of the Module: Read and respond to English Written Material

Code of the Module: MOHG023003

EXERCISES

I. Put these verbs into the correct form, Present Continuous or Simple Present

1. I__________(not belong) to a political party.

2. Hurry! The bus __________ (come). I__________ (not want) to miss it.
3. The river __________ (flow) very fast today – much faster tha usual.
4. We usually __________ (grow) vegetables in our garden but this year we __________ (not grow) any.
5. You can borrow my umbrella. I __________ (not need) it at the moment.

II. Choose the correct verb form, Simple Past or Past Continuous.

1. I saw / was seeing a very good programme on TV last night.

2. While I shopped / was shopping, I lost / was losing my money. I don’t know how.
3. How did you cut / were you cutting your finger?
4. I cooked / was cooking and I dropped / was dropping the knife.
5. Did you have / Were you having a good time last night?

III. Complete these pairs of sentences with the correct verb form, will or going to.

1.A: Look! There’s smoke coming out of the house. It’s on fire!
B: Good heavens! ____________________ (call) the fire-brigade immediately!
2. A: The ceiling in this room doesn’t look very safe, does it?
B: No, it looks as if it ____________________ (fall) down.
3. A: I can’t work out how to use this camera.
B: It’s quite easy. I ____________________ (show) you.
4. A: Whay are you filling that bucket with water?
B: I____________________ (wash) the car.
5. A: Have you decided what to do after work today?
B: Oh yes. Everything is planned. I____________________(do) the shopping and then
____________________ (collect) the children from school.
The Passive

Form
We form passive verbs with the different tenses of be (is, was, is being, have been) + past participle.
Present simple am/are/is + past participle
The office is cleaned every morning.
Present continuous am/are/is + being + past participle
The house is being painted at the moment.
Past simple was/were + past participle
My car was stolen last night.
Past continuous was/were + being + past participle
The bridge was being repaired last week.
Present perfect simple Have/has + been + past participle
Sarah has been invited to the party.
Past perfect simple Had + been + past participle
I thought that you had been told the news.

Now do the following exercises using the rules above

1. Active: I keep the butter in the fridge.

Passive: The butter is kept in the fridge.

2. Active: They stole the painting.

Passive: ______________________________.

3. Active: They are repairing the road.

Passive: ____________________________________.

4. Active: Shakespeare wrote Hamlet.

Passive: ____________________________________.

5. Active: A dog bit him.

Passive: ____________________________________.

6. Active: I was writing the test this time.

Passive: ____________________________________.
 7. Active: she tells her friends that she will marry.
Passive: _____________________________________.

8. Active: Thomas sends some money to his Uncle.

Passive: ____________________________________.

9. Active: Teresa welcomes the visitors.

Passive: _________________________________.

10. Active: I have done the homework.

Passive: ___________________________________.

Now read the text carefully

The Marketing Environment

To market a product successfully, a marketer must develop a strategy. He makes decisions within
the framework of that plan. His decisions depend upon many variables, or factors that are
constantly changing. Some variables are internal. The marketer has some control over the variables
that affect the product: its nature, promotion of it, the path it will follow from producer to
consumer, and its price. But when something is produced, it enters an existing external
environment of law, economy, and society or culture. Intelligent decisions about the product can
be made only within the current, and changing, environment. The marketer cannot control these
external variables; instead, they control him.

Suppose a company has developed a new kind of light bulb, one that works better and lasts longer
than any other. Laws might exist that regulate its packaging, its labeling, and its distribution. There
could be legal restrictions on safety, advertising, and price. Laws might discourage or 15 encourage
a competitive economy. Even if there are no legal limits, there can be too much competition from
other producers of light bulbs. A company competes not only with other companies that make
similar products, but also with all other companies. All want their share of the same consumer
market. In a competitive economy, a company depends upon 20 the approval and support of the
public.
The social and cultural nature of that public further influences the marketer’s decisions. He must
know what kind of people will need and use the product. Are they rich or poor? What is their level
of education and sophistication? Are they increasing or decreasing in numbers and buy- 25 in
power? What are their interests, attitudes, and values? The marketer must not only know the way
of life of his potential market. He must also realize that today a business is expected to take
responsibility for the quality of life in a society. If the product, or its means of production, is seen
by people as harmful in any way, they will withdraw their approval and support. Without a market,
the product is useless.

Knowledge of the environmental factors is necessary in marketing any product. It is especially

crucial in international marketing, where one must understand the legal, economic, and socio-
cultural differences of a foreign country.

Facts and figures may give the answers to these questions; however, cultural differences may
be much more difficult to learn and understand.

A. Questions about the socio-cultural environment

1. Is there a need for the product? Is the attitude toward it the same as it is in this country?

2. Will people reject the product because of taboos against its name, color, packaging, unit size,
shape? Because of nationalism or local labor conditions?

3. Is the society concerned with the quality of life?

4. How do people dress and act when doing business? Is it appropriate to be casual, aggressive,
punctual, direct? Is it acceptable to give money to government officials for their support?

B. Read the text again and decide if these statements are true (T) or false (F).

1. A car can be a consumer good or an industrial good. ____

2. A company competes only with other companies that make similar products._____

3. A legal restriction is an internal variable._____

4. Quality control is an internal variable.______

5. In the current marketing environment, a firm is responsible for a society’s quality of life.____

6. Even if there is not a market for them, products can be useful._____

7. The marketer has no control over the external environment._____

8. Marketing can affect the legal environment.______

C. Write appropriate questions for the answers below.

1. Q: With whom does a company compete?

A: With all other companies.

1. Q: ________________________________________________________________?
A: They are legal, economic, and socio-cultural.
2. Q: ________________________________________________________________?
A: The product’s nature, promotion, distribution, and price.
3. Q: _________________________________________________________________?
A: The approval and support of the public.