Reading 1 hour PART ONE

Questions 1 – 8

Look at the statements below and at the five reports about companies on the opposite page from an article giving

advice to self-employed consultants about negotiating fees for their services.

Which book (A, B, C,D or E) dose each statement 1 –8 refer to ?

For each statement ! – 8, make one letter (A, B, C,D or E) on your Answer Sheet .

You will need to use some of these letters more than once .

Example :

Lack of self-confidence will put you at a disadvantage in a negotiation .

0 A B C D E

This company has been involved in diversifying its business act6ivities.

Although this company is doing well, it has a number of internal difficulties to deal with

This company has reduced the profits it makes on individual items

One statistic is a less accurate guide to this company’s performance than another

The conditions which have helped this company are likely to be less favourable in the future

This company’s share price has been extremely volatile over the last twelve months

This company is likely to be the subject of a takeover bid in the near future

This company’s performance exemplifies a widely held belief

A

Chemical Company

Masterson’s interim pre-tax profits growth of 20% was somewhat inflated as a result of the income received from the

disposal of several of the company’s subsidiaries. The underlying 8% rise in operating profits is a more realistic

gauge of the company’s true progress. However, Masterson’s impending merger with Bentley and Knight and its

appointment of a new chief executive should mean that the company will be able to sustain growth for the foreseeable

fut5ure. The share price has varied little during the course of the year and now stands at ￡ 6.75

B

Hotel Group

During the past year the Bowden Hotel Group has acquired 77 new properties, thus doubling in size . last week the

group reported pre-tax profits of ￡ 88 million in the first six months of the year, ahead of expectations and

helped by a strong performance from its London-based hotels and newly expanded US business. However. There is still

some way to go. Integration of the new acquisitions is still not complete and, while the share price has risen

recently, major problems with integration have yet to be solved.

C

High-tech Company

This time last year a share in Usertech was worth just over ￡ 1. six months ago it was worth ￡ 40. today it is

priced at under ￡ 8 . if proof were need, here is an illustration of how much of a lottery the technology market

can be. But some technology companies are fighting back and Usertech is one of them . What has renewed excitement in

the company is the opening of its new American offices in Dallas and its ambitious plans to expand its user base in

both North and Latin America.

D

Building Company

Renton’s share price has risen gradually over the past year from ￡2.4 to ￡ 3.8 . The company has been successful

in choosing prime location for its buildings and has benefited from the buoyant demand for housing. Whilst this

demand is expected to slow down somewhat during the next year, investors are encouraged by the company’s decision

to move into building supermarkets. Work has already begun on two sites in London, and the company is expected to

sign a contract within the next month for building four large supermarkets in Scotland.

E

Pottery Manufacturer

Milton Dishes has been through a shake-up over the past year. The group, which has been cutting margins and

improving marketing, may post a small profit this year. The many members of the Milton family, who between them own

58 per cent of the business, have been watching the share price rise steadily and several are looking to sell. Trade

rival Ruskin has bought up just over 17 percent of the shares and could well be spurred into further action by the

signs of a recovery at the firm.