LAN4107 Language Quizzes

Structuring a short report

Below are sentences taken from a short report on staff development. Place them in the correct spaces below.

The report

Introduction

As requested by the Managing Director,. The Committee sent out a survey to all staff members

Findings

The survey showed that six staff members were taking work-related courses.and no junior staff members were taking work-related training. The latter responded they were not participating in work-related training .  In addition, that such extra efforts would bring them any reward or appreciation. to devote their time and energy to enhanced training.

Conclusion

that moral and financial support would encourage junior staff members to take enhanced training. It also remarked that

Recommendations

Therefore, Answer that funding should be allocated to sponsor junior staff members who take work-related training courses. who successfully complete their course(s).

Making a logical link

Below are the main findings from three different reports.  Select the most logical conclusion and recommendation for the findings of each report.

Report 1

Findings

While the salaries of senior technicians have increased by an average of 10% over the last five years, those  of junior technicians have increased only by 5% over the same period.
The most suitable conclusion is

The ever-increasing salary difference between the two groups of technicians is a natural development since a third-party survey showed that the average senior technicians' qualifications are much higher than those of a junior technician.

It has been discovered that there was a 5% difference in the pay rise between the senior technicians and their junior counterparts. This shows a double standard in the pay review policy for these two groups of employees.

To conclude, the findings explain the senior technicians’ grudge against junior technicians since the former believed that the latter’s low pay rise was a disgrace to their profession.

The most suitable recommendation is

We recommend reviewing our senior technicians’ and junior technicians’ pay increase in the light of the current labour market trend in order to determine a reasonable pay rise for both groups of technicians.

We suggest conducting a survey to find out the actual salary increase for both our senior technicians and junior technicians so that we can calculate the percentages of their pay increase again with the new data.

We suggest increasing junior technicians’ salaries by 15% so that junior technicians will have a higher pay rise than senior technicians.

Findings

Our research has shown that 80% of our employees were in favour of the newly proposed remuneration scheme. Only 5% of them showed disagreement and the remaining 15% felt uncertain as they did not have sufficient information.
The most suitable conclusion is

The negative responses from the majority of employees suggest that the new scheme was not well-received and therefore should be abandoned.

The findings suggested that a large number of employees (15%) hated the scheme because it did not improve their fringe benefits.

Favorable responses from 80% of the employees indicate that the new scheme was supported by the majority of employees and stands a good chance of success.

The most suitable recommendation is

We suggest that the company should shelve the scheme until 100% agreement is obtained from employees.

The company should consider hiring a third-party, such as a university, to evaluate the scheme due to the large proportion (5%) of disagreement.

It is therefore recommended that the company provide more data to staff members, especially those who may need more information before being able to commit themselves to the new scheme.

Report 3

Findings

Fifty percent of interviewees had heard of the Acme skincare products but did not know about the products’ anti-aging effects, while 40% had never heard of this brand.  Only 10% of the people interviewed had actually tried the products and all of these people gave highly positive comments on the products. 
The most suitable conclusion is

We can conclude that the promotional strategies for the Acme skincare brand were enormously successful as one in ten interviewees have tried the products and gave positive comments.

The fact that 40% of the interviewees were not aware of the Acme skincare range implies that the rest were familiar with it.

The Acme skincare brand was not very popular as the majority of our interviewees had never used or heard of the products.
The most suitable recommendation is 

It is recommended that more effective promotional strategies should be implemented in order to attract more public attention to the Acme skincare line of products.

Although the Acme skincare range is not popular, we should improve on the quality of the products so that they will attract more customers in the long term.

We recommend withdrawing the Acme skincare line of products from the Hong Kong market since the current promotional strategies are not effective at all.

 

Describing information from charts

In the following sentences, select the right word/expression which accurately describes the data in the chart entitled “Number of monthly visitors” to an Art Gallery in Hong Kong.

1. In February, the number of visitors decreased slightlydramaticallyto a certain extent.
2. By March, there was a minorsteepsystematic increase in the number of visitors.
3. In April, there was a dramaticrestrainedinsignificant rise of 10,000 visitors.
4. In May, there was a significantsignificant increase of approximately 3,000 visitors.
5. In June, there was a slightsatisfactoryadequate drop to 27,000 visitors.
6. In July, the total number of visitors remained unchangedsynonymoussame.
7. In August, the number of visitors went up by approximatelysomewhatsuddenly 2,000.
8. In September, there was a substantialstep-by-stepsubstantial jump to 35,000 visitors.
9. In October, the number of visitors increased sharplyfiercelyagain to 42,000.
10. Whilst in November, the number of visitors rose dramaticallyequallyhappily by 13,000.

Expressing recommendations using the appropriate tone and style

From each pair of recommendations below, select one with the most appropriate tone and style.

Select one:

a. As most employees show their willingness to work irregular hours, we can implement the flexible working hours system as scheduled.

b. It seems that most employees are happy about the proposal to introduce flexi-hours. Perhaps we should give it a try.

Select one:

a. It shouldn’t take more than two months to get the construction permit for building the new factory after submission of the building plan to the Buildings Department.

b. It is expected that the construction permit for the new factory building will be issued within two months after submission of the building plan to the Buildings Department

Select one:

a. The research team suggests developing new products to attract overseas buyers

b. In my opinion, there is no reason why we shouldn’t develop new products. Overseas buyers like to see something different.

 

Select one:

a. Whether feasible or not, the company should upgrade the machinery to be able to manufacture a better quality product.

b. Provided that the budget permits, the company should upgrade the machinery to be able to manufacture a better quality product.

 

Select one:

a. Given the huge success of the pilot scheme, it is strongly recommended that the scheme should be a permanent practice

b. Given the huge success of the pilot scheme, why don’t we make it a permanent practice?

 

Select one:

a. If safety is the major concern, then the LB830 is most probably our only choice. -------

b. The fact is that there is only one model suitable for us and that is the LB830, in the event that safety is the major concern.

 

 

Using a more neutral and tentative tone

Read the following sentences extracted from a report on the investment market. Select from the options the best way to present the message in a more neutral and tentative tone. 

• The Hong Kong stock market will rise next year.

The Hong Kong stock market will not rise next year.

The Hong Kong stock market is likely to rise next year.

The Hong Kong stock market will definitely rise next year.

• Property is a very unpredictable market.

Property tends to be a very unpredictable market.

Property is by no means a very unpredictable market.

Property is by all means a very unpredictable market.

• Financial analysts believe that the retailing sector has better potential than the rest of the market.

All the financial analysts believe that the retailing sector has substantially better potential than the rest of the market.

None of the financial analysts believe that the retailing sector has substantially better potential than the rest of the market.

Many financial analysts believe that the retailing sector has substantially better potential than the rest of the market.

 

• Inflation is at a more dangerous level now than in the 1970s.

It is probable that inflation is at a more dangerous level now than in the 1970s

With no doubt, inflation is at a more dangerous level now than in the 1970s.

It is uncertain whether inflation is at a more dangerous level now than in the 1970s.

• Shares are a safer investment than real estate. Real estate gives a better return on the long term.

Shares are a considerably safer investment than real estate, so the real estate market must be riskier.

Shares are a considerably safer investment than real estate, but real estate tends to give a better return in the long term.

Shares are a considerably safer investment than real estate, but real estate will definitely give a better return in, say, 50 years.

• Gasoline prices will not drop any lower.

Gasoline prices are not expected to drop any lower.

Gasoline prices are not able to drop any lower.

It is impossible that gasoline prices drop any lower.

• Young people invest for income and old people invest for capital growth, but this is not always true.

Strictly speaking, young people invest for income and old people usually invest for capital growth, however, this is not always true.

In general, young people invest for income and old people usually invest for capital growth, however, this is not always true.

With no exception, young people invest for income and old people usually invest for capital growth, however, this is not always true.

• The best option is to spread your money over several different forms of investment.

In any situation, the best option is probably to spread your money over several different forms of investment.

If you have a big fortune, the best option is probably to spread your money over several different forms of investment.

Taking everything into consideration, the best option is probably to spread your money over several different forms of investment.