BULATS Practice Test No. 1

Question 1

Read the question and then click on the best answer.Yes, I made the right choice but only by...

reason

lucky

chance

guess

Question 2

Read the question and then click on the best answer.My boss says he will not tolerate any more accusations against the company and is _____ to prove them false.

decided

determined

promised

refusing

Question 3

Read the question and then click on the best answer.I really wanted to start a new blog this week but I'm so busy I will have to put it _____.

back

over

postpone

off

Question 4

Read the question and then click on the best answer.I'm afraid Henry is _____ leave this week

in

for

on

at

Question 5

Read the question and then click on the best answer.No, sorry you can't wait there until David _____ back!

will get

gets

get

is getting

Question 6

Read the question and then click on the best answer.I’m doing the charity walk to raise _____ for the new hospital.

capitals

cheques

funds

accounts

Question 7

Read the question and then click on the best answer.The last time we played backgammon you lost by seven games _____ zero!

from

to

with

by

Question 8

Read the question and then click on the best answer.If only I _____ buy that house I know I would be very happy there

will

would

might

could

Part 2FILL THE GAP Read this short passageChoose the best word to fill each space from the words below.For each question, choose one answer A, B, C or D.

Question 9

Click in each gap. A choice of words will appear. Click on the word you think completes the phrase or sentence.WORKING FROM HOME There are a number of things you need to check before you begin to work from home.

Depending on the type of work you propose apply chance aiming to do

it is a good idea to find out these what to if kind of decisions you might have to make. Will it be necessary to get permission from the local government? Will

you ask your family to put share add take the cost of starting the business? If you live alone it may be simpler but many people find it difficult to

combine cover like adapt working from home and balancing family life

Question 10

Click in each gap. A choice of words will appear. Click on the word you think completes the phrase or sentence.

New business identity card launchedThe new business identity card was first launched in November 2009. The Identity card is similar to the new passports used today and includes a chip with biometric data

(photo and fingerprints) as well as other personal information briefing belongings matters on the card. The cardholders name and expiry date are printed on the card

since which as this can only be used by the person the card was issued to. There are many uses of the new

business card and students in particular can receive at once quick instant rapid discounts on all purchases at participating shops and businesses throughout the

country. Any business wishing to participate in the card idea scheme plan is given a sign which they can display to show they are willing to accept the new business card and offer the agreed discount, which is many cases is over twenty per cent.

Part 3

 WRITE IN THE GAP Read the text below and think of the word which best fits each space.Write only one word in each space.

Question 11

Click in each gap, then type the word you think completes the phrase or sentence.FAST INTERNET FOR A PRICE!

 Are you paying too much for your internet connection?

Today the internet become essential in our everyday lives and most of us

spend many hours every day searching internet. However, if we want to

use internet outside the home office we usually need to have wireless access and this often costs more.

Imagine telling your grandchildren in the future that you were young you sometimes had to find a coffee shop to get wireless access and this will seem

unbelievable to them as the idea of internet did to our grandparents thirty years ago.

Part 3

 READING – GROUPED QUESTIONS Read the article and answer the questions.In the following questions, choose one answer.

Question 12

Find the answer by reading the passage using the scrollbar.

The History of Mail In Babylon people put their messages into thin packs of clay which had been previously baked. It was not uncommon to find envelopes made of cloth or animal skins and this continued until well into the seventeenth century. A Frenchman, De Valayer commenced a postal system in Paris in 1653. He delivered letters to postal boxes, which he himself had set up throughout the town but he only delivered letters if they were in envelopes he sold. His business was quite successful for a time but then someone put mice into the letter boxes and destroyed De Valayer’s business. The invention of the postage stamp is traced to a schoolmaster from England who invented the adhesive postage stamp in 1837. This was so popular that he was even knighted for his invention. Due to his idea the first stamp in the world was issued in 1840. People could now send letters or packages to anywhere in the country and eventually abroad. This was the first time that the cost of delivery was calculated on weight and

not size which meant that it became possible to know how much you would pay for the service every time you sent something and also it opened up new business opportunities around the world Today there are close to twenty million stamp collectors in the USA alone and stamp collecting is one of the world’s most popular hobbies. Collecting stamps was initially considered to be a childish pursuit but today many collectors are in fact adults and the value of some collections can be very significant. In 1872 Montgomery Ward despatched his first mail order catalogue - for his business in Chicago. The catalogue was simple, just one page with a price list and a list of items for sale together with instructions on how to order. Today ordering by mail is common practice and while most of us no longer send an order by mail as we can order online, a common means of receiving physical goods ordered over the internet is still by mail. Will there be a future for mail? Some people say the future for mail is bright and while email has replaced many of the traditional means of communicating, including mail, they argue that some things are better by mail. One area they point to is marketing and the evidence suggests that mail gets a better response than other means of media. Of course most people would agree that receiving an invitation to a wedding by email would not have the same effect as receiving an invitation through the post and this is perhaps where tradition dictates the means of communication rather than efficiency.

Read the question and then click on the best answer.

1. What are we told about the early use of envelopes?

clay envelopes were used until the 17th century

Dr Valayer stopped people using these early kinds of envelopes

early envelopes did not have a standard format

envelopes were baked before the 17th century

2. Why did Dr Valayer set up post boxes in Paris

to stop the use of envelopes which were not his

it provided motivation for people to purchase his products

Paris was the only city without post boxes at that time

he believed nobody would destroy his business

3. Why was the invention of the postage stamp considered important?

it allowed people to order by mail

it provided income for the postal service

it made it possible to have standardised costs for delivery

it encouraged people to write more letters to their friends

4. The writer argues that one reason mail will survive is that

people are reluctant to depart from tradition

traditionally mail has always been more important

mail can make marketing more efficient

people still need mail to send wedding invitations

5. The writer believes that

it is more efficient to send mail than email

efficiency is not always the determining factor in communication

considering efficiency is never the prime reason for choosing mail

mail cannot be as efficient as email but is the preferred means of communicating

LISTENING

 CHOOSE ONE ANSWER

 You will hear 10 short recordings.For questions 13 to 22, choose the correct answer.You will hear each recording twice.….….….

Question 23Read ALL the questions. Click on the audio button to hear the long passage. Click on each question. Then choose the best answer.Read the question and then click on the best answer.

1. Sally finishes her studies

in two weeks.

in a month.

in six weeks.

2. Sally would like to work in

marketing.

retailing.

finance.

3. Manson’s want employees who are

academically clever.

dynamic personalities.

keen to learn.

4. In an employee’s first year, Manson’s offer training in

management.

sales techniques.

market development

5. Trainees are assessed every

3 months.

6 months.

12 months.

6. Sally’s application form is going to be

filled in now.

sent to Head Office.

taken by Dan to Head Office.

Question 24

Read ALL the questions. Click on the audio button to hear the long passage. Click on each question. Then choose the best answer.Read the question and then click on the best answer.

1. According to Ed Mason, why may succession planning be a problem for business owners?

They do not have time to make a succession plan.

They are unwilling to hand over control to another person.

They feel other members of the firm should choose the successor.

2. Ed Mason says it is necessary to have a formal succession plan because

it will expose any weaknesses.

legal issues have to be taken into account.

it will simplify the initial stages of the hand-over.

3. According to Ed Mason, why is it important to get succession planning right?

Staff might leave the company if they do not know what is happening.

There is danger of a take-over bid if appointing a successor is delayed.

The company might be run inefficiently if a leader is appointed too quickly.

4. What does Ed Mason say about getting support for succession planning?

Obtain guidance on finance from specialist advisers.

Consult senior members of staff about timing.

Ask suppliers for their cooperation during the period of change.

5. Ed Mason says one difficulty a retiring owner may face is having to

spend less time working in the company.

help prepare the company for a management buy-out.

accept the possibility that the business should be closed down.

6. What advice does Ed Mason give on choosing a successor?

Appoint someone educated in modern business practice.

Consider an outsider who can contribute new ideas.

Appoint someone who is familiar with the company.

Part 3 LISTENING – GROUPED QUESTIONSRead the article and answer the questions.In the following questions, choose one answer.

Question 25

Read ALL the questions. Click on the audio button to hear the long passage. Click on each question. Then choose the best answer.Read the question and then click on the best answer.

1. Ian Cole says the problem in trying to measure customer satisfaction is that

customers are unwilling to spend time participatingin research.

the results of the research sometimes fail to reflect the real situation.

the cost of research outweighs the advantages gained by the company.

2. According to Cole, why are customer surveys sometimes found to be unhelpful?

The surveys are not carried out frequently enough.

Customers do not complete the questionnaires correctly.

Companies misinterpret the information.

3. When trying to get an accurate picture of consumers, Cole says that

it is necessary to take current economic conditionsinto account.

it is important to conduct longer surveys to obtainnew information.

it is risky to assume that a positive response willguarantee loyalty.

4. According to Cole, customers should take into account whether the company

asks good questions in their survey.

takes note of their feedback.

deserves a good score.

5. Why does Cole criticise senior executives?

They are too ready to accept what they are told about survey results.

They are not prepared to handle negative feedback themselves.

They do not understand the importance of surveys assources of information.

6. What does Cole say about the internet and customer research?

Customers turn to the internet if they cannot give feedback to providers.

Companies are failing to check internet forums for opinions of their products.

Surveys conducted online are likely to get a positive response from customers.