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052167199X - Cambridge BEC Vantage 3 with Answers

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Cambridge
BEC Vantage
3
WITH ANSWERS

Examination papers from

University of Cambridge
ESOL Examinations:
English for Speakers of
Other Languages

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052167199X - Cambridge BEC Vantage 3 with Answers
Cambridge ESOL
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cambridge university press

Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo
Cambridge University Press
The Edinburgh Building, Cambridge CB2 2RU, UK
www.cambridge.org
Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9780521671996

© Cambridge University Press 2006

It is normally necessary for written permission for copying to be obtained in advance

from a publisher. The candidate answer sheets at the back of this book are designed to
be copied and distributed in class. The normal requirements are waived here and it is
not necessary to write to Cambridge University Press for permission for an individual
teacher to make copies for use within his or her own classroom. Only those pages
which carry the wording ‘© UCLES 2006 Photocopiable ’ may be copied.

First published 2006

Printed in the United Kingdom at the University Press, Cambridge

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN-13 978-0521-671996 Student’s Book with answers

ISBN-10 0-521-67199X Student’s Book with answers

ISBN-13 978-0521-672023 Cassette

ISBN-10 0-521-672023 Cassette

ISBN-13 978-0521-672016 Set of 2 Audio CDs

ISBN-10 0-521-672015 Set of 2 Audio CDs

ISBN-13 978-0521-672009 Self-study Pack

ISBN-10 0-521-672007 Self-study Pack

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052167199X - Cambridge BEC Vantage 3 with Answers
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Contents

Introduction 4

Test 1 Reading 18
Writing 27
Listening 29
Speaking 35

Test 2 Reading 38
Writing 47
Listening 49
Speaking 55

Test 3 Reading 58
Writing 67
Listening 69
Speaking 75

Test 4 Reading 78
Writing 87
Listening 89
Speaking 95

Key (including tapescripts and sample answers)

Test 1 98
Test 2 103
Test 3 109
Test 4 115

Speaking test interlocutor frames 121

Sample Answer Sheets 122

Thanks and acknowledgements 126

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Contents

Introduction 4

Test 1 Reading 18
Writing 27
Listening 29
Speaking 35

Test 2 Reading 38
Writing 47
Listening 49
Speaking 55

Test 3 Reading 58
Writing 67
Listening 69
Speaking 75

Test 4 Reading 78
Writing 87
Listening 89
Speaking 95

Key (including tapescripts and sample answers)

Test 1 98
Test 2 103
Test 3 109
Test 4 115

Speaking test interlocutor frames 121

Sample Answer Sheets 122

Thanks and acknowledgements 126

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Test 1
READING 1 hour

PART ONE
Questions 1–7
● Look at the statements below and the advice of four market experts on the
opposite page.
● Which expert’s advice (A, B, C or D) does each statement (1–7) refer to?
● For each statement (1–7), mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet.
● You will need to use some of these letters more than once.

Example:
0 Flacks’ speed of production should be an advantage for winning certain
contracts.

0 A B C D

1 It would be advisable for Flacks to consult customers before developing a new product.

2 Producing goods for specialist markets might increase Flacks’ profits.

3 Flacks may need to change the function of one of its facilities.

4 Flacks should utilise its current expertise to enter a different market.

5 Flacks may need to consider closing its current production facility.

6 Flacks should develop the connections it has established with leading retailers.

7 Expanding the product range would not be a problem for the workforce.

18

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Reading

Flacks is a UK-based company that produces fashion accessories for

women. How can it continue to grow its business?

A Susan Falmer

Faced with a shrinking market, cheap imports and competitive pricing, Flacks will have
to work hard to increase its margins. They need to move into a more promising market,
one where demand is growing and where the company can exploit existing skills and
contacts. They could think about brand extension – this would not be a giant leap and
the sales force would take it in its stride. Also, they wouldn’t need to re-equip their
factory and could use non-UK sourcing if facilities here are in short supply.

B Mesut Guzel

They have the fundamentals of a survival strategy in a market where outsourced

manufacture and brand differentiation hold the key to success. I think they should
initially locate some of their production in another country, where manufacturing
quality tends to be better and it is easier to meet changing customer demands. But they
should also regularly monitor production in Britain and think about outsourcing all this
work abroad at some point if they need it done faster. The company should continue
to work on innovative products, and thorough market research will help to ensure any
new ideas are well received.

C Gary Wilmot

In order to beat their rivals in a highly competitive market, Flacks should ensure their
products are attractive and build on their relationships with the big stores rather than
trying to go it alone and market directly. They should also consider refocusing
production by using their UK factory for high-specification products. They could
eventually build more production overseas in a cycle of continuous development.

D Michal Kaminski

The demand for fashion acessories is relatively flat and the company should consider
exploiting niche markets to improve its margins. But even within these, Flacks must
distinguish its goods from those of its rivals in terms of quality, performance and
design. Innovative sales, marketing and PR are vital to exploit these niche products. One
competitive advantage that Flacks does have is production times. Many retail chains
now have two-tier supply chains and Flacks could focus on top-up orders. They might
also investigate other sales channels such as mail order.

19

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Test 1

PART TWO
Questions 8–12
● Read the article below about evaluating the work of company directors.
● Choose the best sentence from the opposite page to fill each of the gaps.
● For each gap (8–12), mark one letter (A–G) on your Answer Sheet.
● Do not use any letter more than once.
● There is an example at the beginning, (0).

EVALUATING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BOARD

Few employees escape the annual or twice- So, how should companies assess their
G . The
yearly performance review. (0) ............ board? (10) ............ . At a very basic level,
answer is not a great number. And the smaller this could simply mean getting all the
the company, the fewer checks there are on directors to write down what they have
how well the directors are doing. Some of achieved and how they can improve on it. At
the largest companies formally assess the the other end of the scale is the full ‘360-
performance of their board, but very few new degree’ appraisal. Here, each director is
or growing companies have managed to get appraised in a systematic manner by a
round to establishing any such procedure. combination of the chairman and fellow
directors.
Many business experts believe, however, that
it is important for all companies to review In the largest companies there are many
the performance of the board. (8) ............ . methods for assessing the board. A number
Another reason is that the board itself needs of such companies have self-assessment
information on how well it is doing, just as schemes. The chairman may meet each
much as other employees do. For the chief board member individually to ask how things
executive, appraisal of some sort is absolutely are going, in a fairly informal way. The whole
essential for his or her own sake and for the board might also meet to talk about its
good of the company. Indeed, many of those progress in open session. (11) ............ . These
who have reached this level remark on how might ask for people’s opinions on the board’s
lonely the job of chief executive is and how few main tasks or on how well the committees are
opportunities they get to discuss issues working.
relating to it.
Research indicates there has been some
There is some evidence to show that once improvement in the way the appraisal of
smaller companies put a board appraisal board members is conducted. (12) ............ .
process in place, they find this process The chairman will have been involved directly
relatively easy to operate. (9) ............ . Their or indirectly in the appraisal of all members of
counterparts in larger organisations, the board. Whose job is it, then, to appraise
however, are often afraid that appraisals the chairman?
could be a challenge to their status.

20

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Reading

Example: 0 A B C D E F G

A It is often the case that the directors of such companies are even happy to receive criticism,
as this can prevent them from making basic mistakes.

B The rest of the workforce sees it as unfair if the directors are the only members of the
company to escape appraisal.

C These are encouraging as they put a limit on the power of the chairman to assess
fellow directors.

D Alternatively, questionnaires might be distributed to directors, forming the basis for

future discussion.

E One issue remains, however, when all the others have been dealt with.

F It is generally agreed that it is the chairman’s responsibility to ensure the regular

appraisal of each member of the board.

G However, one wonders how many companies have in place a formal appraisal process
for their board of directors.

21

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Test 1

PART THREE
Questions 13–18
● Read the article below about British companies and their performance in the
American market, and the questions on the opposite page.
● For each question (13–18), mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet.

BRITISH COMPANIES CROSS THE ATLANTIC

Next month a large group of British business management decided it should take on the
people are going to America on a venture which middle market, this success rapidly drained
may generate export earnings for their com- away. It was a disastrous mistake and the high
panies’ shareholders in years to come. A long list cost of the failed American expansion plans
of sponsors will support the initiative, which will played a large role in its declining fortunes in the
involve a £3-million media campaign and a mid-nineties.
fortnight of events and exhibitions. The ultimate Sarah Scott, managing director of Smythson,
goal is to persuade more Americans that British the upmarket stationer, has had to think long and
companies have something to interest them. hard about what it takes to succeed in America
While there have been plenty of trade and she takes it very seriously indeed. ‘Many
initiatives in the past, the difference this time British firms are quite patronising about the US,’
round is that considerable thinking and planning she says. ‘They think that we’re so much more
have gone into trying to work out just what it is sophisticated than the Americans. They
that Americans look for in British products. obviously haven’t noticed Ralph Lauren, an
Instead of exclusively promoting the major American who has been much more skilled at
corporations, this time there is more emphasis tapping into an idealised Englishness than any
on supporting the smaller, more unusual, niche English company. Also, many companies don’t
businesses. bother to study the market properly and think
Fresh in the memories of all those concerned that because something’s successful in the UK,
is the knowledge that America has been the end it’s bound to be successful over there. You have
of many a large and apparently successful to look at what you can bring them that they
business. For Carringtons, a retail group much haven’t already got. On the whole, American
respected by European customers and investors, companies are brilliant at the mass, middle
America turned out to be a commercial disaster market and people who’ve tried to take them on
and the belief that they could even show some of at this level have found it very difficult.’
the great American stores a retailing trick or two This time round it is just possible that
was hopelessly over-optimistic. changing tastes are running in Britain’s favour.
Polly Brown, another very British brand that The enthusiasm for massive, centralised retail
rode high for years on good profits and huge city chains has decreased. People want things with
confidence, also found that conquering America, some sort of individuality; they are fed up with
in commercial and retailing terms, was not as the banal, middle-of-the-road taste that America
easy as it had imagined. When it positioned itself does so well. They are now looking for the small,
in the US as a niche, luxury brand, selling shirts the precious, the ‘real thing’, and this is precisely
that were priced at $40 in the UK for $125 in the what many of the companies participating in the
States, the strategy seemed to work. But once its initiative do best.

22

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Reading

13 The main reason that the British business people are going to America is to
A encourage American consumers to buy their products.
B analyse how American companies attract media coverage.
C look for financial backing from American investors and banks.
D investigate how British and American companies could form partnerships.

14 In the writer’s opinion, the proposed venture will be different to previous ones
because
A fewer British business leaders will be making the trip.
B less well-known companies will be better represented.
C the larger companies have decided they will not be participating.
D it involves research into how British companies market themselves.

15 The writer states that Carringtons was wrong to

A be cautious about trading in America.
B borrow money from its European investors.
C assume it was superior to American rivals.
D ignore the advice of its American managers.

16 According to the writer, Polly Brown’s mistake occurred when it

A continued to trade despite making a loss.
B attempted to attract a different type of customer.
C tried to break into too many markets at the same time.
D expected American consumers to pay British prices for goods.

17 Sarah Scott states that British companies hoping to succeed in America should
A focus on a gap in the market.
B be less concerned with their image.
C concentrate on selling products in the mid-price range.
D carry out research into the pricing policies of American companies.

18 The writer suggests that success in America depends upon

A adopting a more American approach to marketing.
B persuading the mid-range consumer to pay for quality.
C copying the strategies of American companies.
D building a reputation as a supplier of unique goods.

23

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Test 1

PART FOUR
Questions 19–33
● Read the article below about plans for a new telephone banking centre.
● Choose the best word to fill each gap from A, B, C or D on the opposite page.
● For each question (19–33), mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet.
● There is an example at the beginning, (0).

Promise of Jobs with Telephone Banking Centre

An £80-million telephone banking centre is to open in Scotland, with the
D of about 500 new jobs. Grand Union Group, which owns the Dundee and
(0) …………
Western Bank, said today it hopes to have the (19) ………… fully operational by next
August. It will be based at the new Caledonian Industrial Estate currently being built
near Edinburgh.
The centre is being (20) ………… through a joint partnership (21) ………… global
telecommunications firm Concept and customer care specialists Businesslink.
Sara Grimaldi, chief executive of the Dundee and Western Bank, said, ‘I’m delighted
we will be working in (22) ………… with Concept and Businesslink and I’m confident
we will (23) ………… from their considerable experience. The new centre will make
(24) ………… use of innovative business procedures which will (25) ………… to an
improved service and experience for our valued customers.’ Callum Martin, president
of global accounts for Grand Union Group, added that he was very pleased his
company will play a key role in such an important development employing state-of-
the-art technology.
The local council said new jobs were (26) ………… of the efforts made to (27) …………
investment to the region. Council leader Hugh MacArthur said, ‘It’s good news for
Grand Union, but it will also (28) ………… us to promote Edinburgh to companies
considering a (29) ………… to Scotland. The council will continue to work hard to
ensure that today’s (30) ………… is just the latest (31) ………… in our attempt to create
high quality jobs in the area.’
Scotland has become a European leader in terms of telephone banking centres and has
(32) ………… itself an excellent reputation. The call centre sector as a whole employs
more than 28,000 people at more than 170 sites in Scotland. Taking this into
(33) …………, it seems likely that this new centre will be another success story.

24

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Reading

Example:

A production B design C invention D creation

0 A B C D

19 A facility B plant C function D situation

20 A assisted B invested C funded D paid

21 A consisting B engaging C containing D involving

22 A venture B teamwork C enterprise D collaboration

23 A benefit B improve C grow D advance

24 A inclusive B uniform C extensive D universal

25 A help B contribute C provide D combine

26 A facts B reasons C data D evidence

27 A acquire B gain C attract D win

28 A necessitate B ease C support D enable

29 A reorganisation B reassignment C relocation D replacement

30 A announcement B publication C notice D acknowledgement

31 A method B step C point D action

32 A achieved B taken C drawn D earned

33 A mind B regard C account D note

25

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Test 1

PART FIVE
Questions 34–45
● Read the text below about how consumers decide what to buy.
● In most of the lines (34–45) there is one extra word. It is either grammatically incorrect
or does not fit in with the meaning of the text. Some lines, however, are correct.
● If a line is correct, write CORRECT on your Answer Sheet.
● If there is an extra word in the line, write the extra word in CAPITAL LETTERS on
your Answer Sheet.
● The exercise begins with two examples, (0) and (00).

Examples: 0 C O R R E C T

00 O F

Consumer Behaviour
0 The consumer is the focus of all retail business and it is important to appreciate how

00 consumers are influenced in their buying decisions. Most of consumers, before making a

34 purchase, gather information and evaluate with the alternatives, but the extent to which

35 they look for information depends on the type of purchase. For example, in the case of

36 routine grocery purchases most consumers respond to automatically. However, for

37 purchases where the risk of making the wrong decision is greater, like buying a new

38 car, so the search for information is more important. The decision to purchase is never a

39 single decision but a number of these separate decisions, and at any time during this

40 process, consumers can change their minds about and choose an alternative route. For

41 example, although a consumer may have decided where to buy a product only to realise

42 at the last moment that this is, in fact, having the wrong choice. The price in the store may

43 be too high or the staff unhelpful. On the other hand, a lack of queues, favourable credit

44 facilities and efficient staff all lead to a too positive impression, so retailers should

45 remember how difficulties in these areas that can affect a sale or even lose a customer

permanently.

26

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Writing

WRITING 45 minutes

PART ONE
● You have been informed that next Wednesday your company’s computer system
will be closed down so that improvements can be made.
● Write an email to all staff in your department:
● saying what time on Wednesday the system will be closed down

● suggesting how staff should prepare for this

● saying how the system will be better after the improvements.

● Write 40–50 words.

All Staff

Computer System

27

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