BFA Mock Test
Match the words to their definitions.
1. customise
2. encrypted
3. accept
4. gather
5. browse
6. showcase
a. a place for displaying things
b. look around
c. change according to specific needs
d. in code
e. agree to receive
f. collect
Complete the sentences with the words below.
Sensible – handmade – intentions - allow – prevent – intermediary – packaging
1. Insead of giving the money directly to the suppplier, we gave it to an
_____________________ who will give it to the supplier once we receive the goods.
2. Despite the shipper’s good _____________________ the cargo was late because of
the stormy weather.
3. He collects a lof of information and analyses it before making decisions. He’s very
_____________________.
4. The sum of cash we received will _____________________ us to purchase a colour
photocopier.
5. The _____________________ isn’t very strong. I hope nothing breaks on the way.
6. We work carefully, but we can’t _____________________ all errors.
7. These clothes are _____________________. They aren’t created by machines.
The words in bold are in the wrong sentences. Write the words or phrases next to
the correct sentences.
1. To create your online store, you have to choose your shopping cart that you will
provide you with everything you need. _____________________
2. It’s important to have all the unlimited bandwidth you can get when you start a
business because you will need help and advice. _____________________
3. If your online store becomes popular, then you’ll have a lot of customers at the
same time and will need a platform. _____________________
4. When you shop online, you can see what you have chosen by looking at templates.
_____________________
5. You can use our support as models to create your own website.
_____________________
Listen to the podcast on corporate team building
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-160310)
answer the questions:
1. What are the team building activities mentioned in the podcast?
2. What did Chairman Mao introduce in China in1951 as a compulsory activity for
workers and was reintroduced by the government a few years ago?
Vocabulary
awayday: a day that employees spend together away from their usual workplace
guru: an expert in something
team building: encouraging employees to work well together as a team by getting them to engage in
different types of activities
cerebral: intellectual or 'brainy'
bootcamp: a short course of hard physical training
callisthenics: a type of gentle physical exercise
calligraphy: the art of writing by hand with a special brush
synchronise: (in this context) beat at the same time
intimidating: something that makes you feel nervous
gel: to connect or get on well with someone
shake a leg: get moving
Read the text.
Match the headings to the paragraphs below (1-5).
Failing to get the message – The physical element – How can good communication be
fostered? - Selective perception – Breakdown in communication
Then find words or expressions in the article which have the following meanings:
a. very large
b. try
c. likelihood
d. changed (in a negative way)
e. encouraged to develop
BUSINESS TALK
A vital factor in a company's success is good communication among its employees. According to the
book In Search of Excellence (Peters and Waterman) excellent companies have a vast network of
informal, open communication. Their staff keep in contact with one another on an informal and
formal basis. Management encourages easy and frequent communication.
How do you rate communication within your own company? Are you happy with it or do you think it
could be improved? Perhaps some of the following factors affecting in-company communication are
familiar to you?
1. Many managers believe they give clear instructions to their employees. In fact, research has shown
that employees very often do not realise they have been told to do something. When managers give
instructions they should endeavour to ensure that these have been understood and
2. People can have difficulty communicating with other employees of higher job status. This "social
distance" may affect how openly employees speak about their work. People of the same rank may talk
frankly to one another about how things are going. However, they may be less honest with someone
higher up in the hierarchy - for fear of prejudicing their position in the company. For this reason
employees often "filter" information. They alter the facts to tell the boss what s/he wants to hear. One
way of reducing social distance is to cut down the ways in which employees can indicate higher status.
In Japanese companies, for example, it is usual for all staff to wear the same uniform. Many
companies have a common dining area for all staff.
3. Physical surroundings and distance can affect how well people communicate. The farther away one
person is from another, the less often they communicate. Some research has shown that when the
distance is more than 10 metres, the probability of communicating at least once a week is only 8%.
This compares with 25% for people less than 5 metres apart! The physical layout of an office should
therefore be carefully planned. Open-plan offices, for example, are designed to encourage quick and
easy communication. Some companies prefer to install escalators, rather than lifts, to increase the
chances of employees meeting face-to-face.
4. People perceive things in different ways. The world of a sender of a message is not the same as that
of the receiver. Because their knowledge and experience is different, the sender and receiver are
always on slightly different wavelengths. So the message may get distorted.
5. The most important thing for all managers to remember is that communication is a two-way
process. They should encourage their employees to ask questions and to react to what the managers
are saying. Feedback is vital. The most useful question a manager can ask is "Did you understand
that?"
Further reading practice:
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/jtypes2.asp
