LESSON 1 CONTRACTS
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Read the following passage and write the words in
the blanks below.
abide by agreement assurance determine
cancel establish engaging resolve
provide obligates specifies parties
Contracts are an integral part of the workplace. The
purpose of a contract is to
(1) _____________ an (2) ____________ between two or more
(3) _______________. The contract (4) ______________ the
terms and (5) _________________ the parties to follow them.
Contracts often include the amount that a client will pay
contractors and what services will be provided. For
example, in your office, you may have a contract that
provides (6) ________________ that your copier machine or
phones will be repaired within a certain amount of time. A
contract often states ways to (7) _________________ if
quality of work delivered is acceptable. Well-written
contracts usually (8) _____________ ways to (9)
_______________ problems like these when they happen.
Before (10) _____________ in a contract, both parties should
think carefully, as they will have to (11) _______________the
conditions specified in it. A contract usually specifies how
the two parties can (12) ______________ it if either party
fails to meet the terms.
LISTENING COMPREHENSION
PART 1: PHOTO
Look at the picture and listen the sentences. Choose the
sentence that best describes the picture.
1.
Ⓐ Ⓑ Ⓒ
Ⓓ
PART 2: QUESTION-RESPONSE
Listen to the question and the three responses. Choose the
response that best answers the question.
1. Ⓐ Ⓑ Ⓒ
2. Ⓐ Ⓑ Ⓒ
PART 3 SHORT CONVERSATION
Listen to the dialogue. Then read each question and
choose the best answer.
4. What problem do the speakers have with the
computer company?
(A) It won't renew the contract.
(B) It can't repair the computer.
(C) It sends incorrect bills.
(D) It charges them for extra spare parts.
5. When will the contract run out?
(A) In two months.
(B) In nine months.
(C) In one year.
(D) In four years.
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6. What does the woman suggest doing?
(A) Asking the company to write a new contract.
(B) Cancelling the contract.
(C) Renewing the contract.
(D) Waiting until the contract runs out.
PART 4: TALK
Listen to the talk. Then read each question and choose the
best answer.
7. Who is talking?
(A) A lawyer.
(B) An upset signer of the contract.
(C) A secretary.
(D) Someone who has cancelled his agreement.
8. Which part of the contract are they looking at?
(A) A cancellation clause.
(B) The assurance of quality.
(C) The agreement on payment.
(D) A provision in case of bankruptcy.
9. When can the parties sign the contract?
(A) In two days.
(B) At the end of the week.
(C) Next week.
(D) In thirty days.
READING
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PART 5
INCOMPLETE SENTENCES
Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
10. The two sides were no closer to a final --------- at
midnight than they were at noon.
(A) agreement
(B) agreeable
(C) agree
(D) agreed
11. Our union representative -------- members that
our rights would be defended.
(A) assured
(B) assurance
(C) assuredly
(D) assure
12. If you -------- your reservation 48 hours in
advance, you will not be billed.
(A) oblige
(B) cancel
(C) engage
(D) determine
13. I don't feel any -------- to give my boss more than
two weeks notice when I leave.
(A) oblige
(B) obligatory
(C) obliged
(D) obligation
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14. The -------- for terminating the contract were not
discussed.
(A) provide
(B) provisions
(C) provider
(D) provisioning
15. The contract calls for the union to -------- who
their bargaining representative will be.
(A) specific
(B) specification
(C) specifying
(D) specify
PART 6 TEXT COMPLETION
Choose the word or phrase that best completes the
sentence.
Rental Property for Everyone
More and more people are investing in rental property
these days. Whether you have a small apartment in your
house to rent, or decide to invest in an apartment or office
building, rental property can provide extra income for you
and your family. What does every landlord need to know?
Leases
A lease is an _____________ between a landlord and a
tenant. Standard
16. (A) agree
(B) agreed
(C) agreeable
(D) agreement
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leases are available at most office supply stores, and
many property owners find them quite satisfactory. Read
the standard lease carefully to determine if it meets the
needs of your situation. You may want to make some
additional _____________.
17. (A) provision
(B) provisions
(C) provider
(D) providers
You may want to add a pet clause, for example, or make
different specifications pertaining to the security deposit. If
you decide to make changes to the standard lease, you
should meet with a lawyer. The lease is the most
important tool you have if you need to resolve 8 a dispute
with your tenant. When you have a lease written by a
lawyer, you _____________ that you have the protection you
need.
18. (A) assure
(B) will assure
(C) are assuring
(D) are assured
PART 7
READING COMPREHENSION
Questions 19-23 refer to the following letter and
form.
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Santos Office Cleaners Santos Office Cleaners
112 Main St. Customer Questionnaire
Windsor, Ontario Date contract signed:
December 15, 20- March 23, 20-
Mr. James Harrison Type of facility:
17 Hartland Road single office
Windsor, Ontario office building
private home
Dear Mr. Harrison, other
Frequency of service:
We are very sorry that you daily
have decided to cancel weekly
your cleaning service monthly
contract with us. In order other
to assure that we provide Reason for contract
our customers with the cancellation (choose one):
best possible service, we no longer need service
always try to determine signed contract with a
the reasons for contract different company
cancellations. Please take payment dispute not
a few minutes to fill out satisfactorily resolved
the enclosed form. This is specific complaint not
for our information only; resolved
completing the form does other
not obligate you to buy Comments: I was always
satisfied with the service provided
any product or enter into by your employees. However, I am
any new agreement with frustrated by your inability to
our company. We resolve the payment issues.
appreciate your
cooperation. If at any time
in the future you decide to
renew your contract with
us, please don't hesitate
19. What is the purpose of
to contact me.
Sincerely, the letter?
Rosa Santos
Rosa Santos
Owner
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(A) To find out why Mr. Harrison no longer wants this
service.
(B) To ask Mr. Harrison to renew his contract.
(C) To advertise new services provided by the company.
(D) To offer the customer a better contract.
20. What is Ms. Santos's business?
(A) Customer relations.
(B) Cleaning service.
(C) Contract review.
(D) Conflict resolution.
21. Why did this customer cancel the contract?
(A) The company damaged something in his office.
(B) The employees provided unsatisfactory service.
(C) He had a disagreement about his bill.
(D) He doesn't want this type of service anymore.
22. The word assure in letter one, line 3, is closest
in meaning to
(A) guarantee.
(B) discover.
(C) prove.
(D) advertise.
23. The word specific in form two, line 15, is closest
in meaning to
(A) personal.
(B) important.
(C) repeated.
(D) particular.
