Unit 2-Intensive Reading

INTENSIVE READING
QUESTIONS 1-5: SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions. Use NO MORE THAN 3 WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER
from the passage for each answer.
1. How many years did it take for Haier to transform?
2. What is the frequency of Haier's senior executives' training sessions?
3. What was Haier's previous financial state?
4. How many executives attend the weekly training sessions?
5. What's the location of Haier's headquarters?
QUESTIONS 6-11: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

6. In the executive education sessions described, teams typically consist of how
many members?
A) 4-6 B) 6-8 C) 8-10 D) 10-12
7. Why does the faculty mix executives from different functions, business units,
and provinces?
A) To reduce diversity of viewpoints C) To increase diversity of viewpoints
B) To maintain status quo D) To limit collaboration opportunities
8. How do executives report the results of their proposed solutions back to their
teammates?
A) Through formal presentations C) During later sessions
B) Via written reports D) Through email updates
9. What is one benefit of the executive education approach described?
A) Encourages siloed thinking
B) Builds specialized skills only
C) Fosters collaboration
D) Discourages understanding of organizational interactions
10. How are the executive education courses described in terms of their academic
nature?
A) Divorced from practice C) Closely linked to practice
B) Pejorative D) Academic but practical
11. When is described as an ideal time for companies to reassess their investment
in executive development?
A) During a downturn C) At all times
B) During a boom D) During market stability
Page 1 of 4 COMPILED & DESIGNED BY MS TRANGNGUYEN – MA TESOL

FURTHER PRACTICE
READING PASSAGE 1
Read the sentences below and the extracts from a text about pensions. For
questions 1-8, choose which extract each sentence refers to. The extracts may be
chosen more than once.
A. Businesses are not currently obliged to provide a workplace pension scheme, but
the 2008 Pensions Act requires employers to have a qualifying pension
arrangement in place from 2012. Employers will be obliged to automatically
enrol jobholders onto the scheme and make a minimum contribution to the
arrangement. Providing a workplace pension scheme has a number of benefits.
There is income tax relief available on both the employer’s and employees’
contributions, and where the employer is a corporation, corporation tax is also
available.
B. Of the different work pension plans available, the stakeholder scheme has the
minimum standards. Under this scheme, the money contributed is used to buy
investments, and the investor must be prepared to lose out if these investments
do badly. The benefit of this scheme is that it is flexible in that if employees
change jobs, they can continue to make contributions to the scheme, although
any payments the employer makes will cease. Employees can also make
irregular or low payments with no penalties.
C. If a business has more than five employees over the age of eighteen who earn
more than the lower earnings limit, and offers no other pension arrangement, it
must offer its employees access to a stakeholder pension. If the company has
four employees and takes on a fifth, all employees must be given access to a plan
within three months of the fifth employee’s recruitment.
D. The company need not make any contributions, but must offer its employees a
payroll deduction facility. If the employer does contribute, a condition can be
set up that the employee also contributes. Employers must keep a record of any
payments they make, but beyond this, the scheme requires no administration, as
this is done by the provider. The costs for this are deducted from the fund.
Annual charges are low, capped at one percent of funds.
E. Stakeholder pensions are available from a number of banks and other financial
service providers, and it pays to shop around. Find a reputable pension provider
which is registered by the Pensions Regulator. Although a well-established firm
is preferable, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Also

make sure that your pension all your employees can join the scheme as some
limit membership to people working in certain trades.
Which section, A, B, C, D or E, does each statement 1-8 refer to?
1. In future, it will be necessary for employers to pay into their employees’

pensions.
2. Employers only need to keep minimal paperwork for the stakeholder scheme.
3. A pension from a well-known establishment may not deliver significant profits.
4. Business owners with very few staff need not offer pension schemes.
5. Employees who pay into stakeholder schemes may lose their money.
6. Employees in some occupations may not be eligible for some types of pension.
7. Both large and small businesses can get rebates from paying into employees’
pension funds.
8. If the number of employees on a company’s payroll exceeds a certain figure, a
pension must be offered.
READING PASSAGE 2:
In this section, you read a text with some sentences missing.
You are going to read an article about about Generation Y. Seven sentences have been
removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A-H the one which fits each gap.
There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
A. One company has spent millions on a unique program of team-building activities

and social responsibility initiatives which are aimed to attract Gen Y employees.
B. Meanwhile, if you've got a bone to pick, don't wait for the annual performance
review.
C. Gen Y-ers are the first generation to be unconsciously competent users of digital
technology.
D. Some have interpreted this as a sign of disloyalty, although research shows that
Y-ers are actually no less loyal than their predecessors.
E. But Ys view it as a method of training and an opportunity to improve.
F. As with all generations, Gen-Yers range from the worst slackers to highly
competent individuals.
G. Paying attention to them will keep you on your toes ideas-wise.
H. In response, businesses can hold onto their best young staff by making sure that
different options are open to them.
U Can Totally Manage Gen Y
As the economy gradually shows signs of improvement, many organizations are
thinking once more about the best way to attract and retain employees. But there is some
uncertainty as to how best to attract those currently aged between 22 and 29, commonly
termed Generation Y. (1) ____________. Whether such measures are necessary is
debatable, but there are certainly ways in which businesses can get the best out of their
younger employees.
One thing Ys crave is feedback – a dull word for anyone from former generations, where
the term tends to have negative connotations. (2) ____________. By tapping into this
channel and providing constructive advice, managers can motivate and coach their
young staff. Giving praise can boost morale and will also clarify what you expect from
your employees. (3) ____________. Point out where they went wrong and how they
can improve on the same day.
(4) ____________. They grew up with the internet, and while their written skills and
memorizing skills may not be as honed as their predecessors, the skills gained in front
of the screen can benefit all businesses. Brought up on Google, they know how to do
on-the-spot research to find solutions and information in minutes. Moreover, in a world
of fast-changing technology, they are also best placed to tell you what the next up-and-
coming thing is on the blogosphere. (5) ____________.
Gen Y-ers tend to be optimistic and have a rosy outlook about their long term
opportunities. Consequently, they are switched on to the idea of choice, and so they are
more likely to shop around to find the position they really want, or the organization that
they really want to join. (6) ____________. But since they do not face the same
constraints as previous generations have done in their life decisions, they will explore
different career paths rather than locking on to one. (7) ____________.

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INTENSIVE READING

QUESTIONS 1-5: SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS

QUESTIONS 6-11: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Page 1 of 4 COMPILED & DESIGNED BY MS TRANGNGUYEN – MA TESOL

Page 2 of 4 COMPILED & DESIGNED BY MS TRANGNGUYEN – MA TESOL

Which section, A, B, C, D or E, does each statement 1-8 refer to?

1. In future, it will be necessary for employers to pay into their employees’

A. One company has spent millions on a unique program of team-building activities

Page 4 of 4 COMPILED & DESIGNED BY MS TRANGNGUYEN – MA TESOL

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