Downturn Will Not Stop March of Arab Women: Intermidiate Reading and Writing Exam

INTERMIDIATE READING AND WRITING EXAM
READING
A Read the article and decide whether these statements are true or false.
1 The meeting in Paris was about opportunities in the fashion business. F
2 The French government hopes to bring Arab money to France. F
3 Anne-Marie Idrac is a French investment banker. F
4 The first time a conference like this was held was ten years ago.F
5 Arab women have traditionally had a lot of control over money. F
Downturn will not stop march of Arab women

By Roula Khalaf
The women gathered in a splendid hotel in the heart of Paris on a recent rainy day. They had arrived
in style, some sporting fur coats, others clutching Hermès bags.
Yet this was not a social event nor a fashion show. The guests were some of the Arab world’s top
businesswomen and their trip to Paris was to learn about business opportunities, even in today’s
difficult economic times.
They were letting themselves be charmed by the French government, which has suddenly
discovered that the wealth of Arab women and their rising profile in the business world represents a
good source of capital.
Paris, the businesswomen were told, was now a financial centre. Its important contribution to
the asset management business, they said, had turned it into the ‘Boston’ of Europe. ‘It is time to
invest with us,’ declared Anne-Marie Idrac, minister for foreign trade. ‘You are welcome, you are
welcome,’ she added.
The Paris conference, organised by the Arab International Women’s Forum, would have been
inconceivable a decade ago.
True, many Arab women, particularly in the oil-rich Gulf, have always controlled big fortunes,
largely gained through inheritance. But it is only more recently that they have sought to make their
own investment decisions.
It is also in recent years that the club of Arab businesswomen has expanded, creating a new class
who have worked their way through family businesses or started their own companies. More
confident and determined, Arab businesswomen today are better organised – and more widely heard.
As Fayza Aboulnaga, Egypt’s minister of international cooperation, told the conference, the
number of women’s business associations in her country has grown from a single one in 1995 to as
many as 22 today. Higher levels of education as well as economic need have sent more and more
women into the workforce. Islamic law, meanwhile, allows women to own property and maintain
control over their wealth when they marry. FT
B Choose the best answer to each question according to the article.
6 Where have some Arab businesswomen begun work in business?
a) internships abroad
b) family businesses
c) women’s business organisations
7 How have Arab businesswomen changed?
a) They’ve become wealthier.
b) They’ve begun doing business in Europe.
c) They’ve become better organised.
8 How many women’s business associations were there in Egypt in 1995?
a) none
b) one
c) twenty-two
9 How has education affected Arab women?
a) It has increased their ability to work.
b) It has decreased the amount of time they have available to work.
c) It has doubled their earnings, on average.
10 What does Islamic law say about women’s wealth?
a) Wealthy women should give their money to their husbands.
b) They are not allowed to control property.
c) They are allowed to make financial decisions after they are married.
SKILLS
A Complete the dialogue with the phrases (a–e).
a) I think that’s
b) I was wondering if
c) My name’s
d) I’m calling about
e) I’d like to check
A Good morning._______C________11 Ahmed Saleh. ______D_________12 your advertisement in

Business News.
B For Asia sales manager?
A Yes, that’s the one. I’ve been invited for an interview. _______B________ 13 you’ll be conducting
interviews in Singapore as well as Hong Kong.
B That’s a good question. Mr Wright, who’s running the interviews, splits his time between the two
offices.
A Yes, I know. And I’m going to be in Singapore for the next two weeks.
B OK, let me just check.
...
Mr Wright says no problem, just contact the office there to set up the interview.
A Great. Thanks a lot. There’s just one other thing ____E___________ 14. You want someone who
can start on 1 June in Hong Kong, right?
B Yes, that’s right.
A Thanks. ______A_________15 everything.
B Good luck with the interview!
B Match the statements (41–45) with the best replies (a–e).
16 I got the job! C) a) Help yourself.
17 Thanks for your help. E) b) Bad luck.
18 Do you mind if I have some coffee? A) c) Congratulations!
19 Let me buy lunch. D) d) No, it’s on me.
20 I heard that Ray has lost his job. B) e) Not at all.

SKILLS: NEGOTIATING
4 Correct the sentences below by crossing out the unnecessary word in each sentence.
21 If you place order this week, we’ll give you a bigger discount.
22 What do you have in the mind?
23 Have I got this is right?
24 That would it be difficult for us.
25 I think we’ve covered out everything.

WRITING
A You work for a printing firm. You recently received the quote below for some computer
hardware. Write a brief letter of reply (40-50 words), accepting the quote
COMPUTER HARDWARE SUPPLIES
Riverside Industrial Estate, Unit 7A, Selby, YO8 9JH
01757 998 099
Joshua Clemmins
Leeway Printing Services
45 Lee Hill Wynd
York
YO26 5MM
6th December 20-
Dear Mr Clemmins,
With reference to your enquiry of 25 November I am pleased to submit the following quotation.
XLogix 6995 20-port fibre channel switch (installed, incl. VAT) £6,330.00
Powerhead Storage Loader PSL-445 (installed, incl. VAT) £2,609.00
TOTAL £8,939.00
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely
Don Alexandre Avenue
Maputo, Mozambique
1 st July 2020
Dear Joshua Clemmins
RE: Quotation Acceptance

I am writing to inform you that after review the quotation we are delighted to accept, therefore we
would like to know how long would it take to be installed from the day of payment? Cause the
payment will be done next week.
I am looking to seeing your reply
Yours sincerely
Mr Clemmins
B You work for Va-Va-Voom Toys, a toy manufacturer. You receive this note from your boss asking
you to order some LED bulbs. Write an email (120-140 words) to Mary Ong.
10 March
Please email Mary Ong and South China lights ([email protected])

Need 5,000 A-988 bulbs in our warehouse by 27 March (so please air freight – we’ll pay as usual)
Last order was late; won’t order again if this delivery is late
Will order 5,000 at 10% discount
Will they give us 15% discount for double order (10,000)?
Additional 5,000 bulbs can be sent by sea freight, their cost, as usual
Ask for an answer tomorrow, if possible; we may try another supplier
To: [email protected]
From: Modestao66@gmail .com
Subject: LED Bulbs Order
Dear Ms Mary Ong
I am emailing you to order 5000 LED bulbs, with the following features A-988, if you don’t have please
don’t replace inform us, we hope it to be sent by 27 March by airline freight due the sensitive of the
material avoiding any damage on it. The payment will be done as usually, due the amount ordered in
question, we request a discount of 10%.
We had an order delayed last time so in that time, we expect no delay in order to maintain the good
business relationship.
So we would like to know if we double the order to 10000 will you provide us a discount of 15%?
Therefore, we will order in total 10000 LED Bulbs, half will be made by sea freight and other half by
airline freight with the usual cost.
I am looking forward to seeing your repaly.
Mr Cleto
Yours Sincerely

Downturn Will Not Stop March of Arab Women: Intermidiate Reading and Writing Exam

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Downturn Will Not Stop March of Arab Women: Intermidiate Reading and Writing Exam

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Downturn Will Not Stop March of Arab Women: Intermidiate Reading and Writing Exam

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

INTERMIDIATE READING AND WRITING EXAM

1 The meeting in Paris was about opportunities in the fashion business. F

2 The French government hopes to bring Arab money to France. F

3 Anne-Marie Idrac is a French investment banker. F

5 Arab women have traditionally had a lot of control over money. F

Downturn will not stop march of Arab women

B Choose the best answer to each question according to the article.

6 Where have some Arab businesswomen begun work in business?

c) women’s business organisations

7 How have Arab businesswomen changed?

a) They’ve become wealthier.

b) They’ve begun doing business in Europe.

c) They’ve become better organised.

8 How many women’s business associations were there in Egypt in 1995?

9 How has education affected Arab women?

a) It has increased their ability to work.

b) It has decreased the amount of time they have available to work.

c) It has doubled their earnings, on average.

10 What does Islamic law say about women’s wealth?

a) Wealthy women should give their money to their husbands.

b) They are not allowed to control property.

d) I’m calling about

e) I’d like to check

A Good morning._______C________11 Ahmed Saleh. ______D_________12 your advertisement in

B For Asia sales manager?

B OK, let me just check.

B Yes, that’s right.

A Thanks. ______A_________15 everything.

B Good luck with the interview!

B Match the statements (41–45) with the best replies (a–e).

16 I got the job! C) a) Help yourself.

17 Thanks for your help. E) b) Bad luck.

18 Do you mind if I have some coffee? A) c) Congratulations!

19 Let me buy lunch. D) d) No, it’s on me.

20 I heard that Ray has lost his job. B) e) Not at all.

22 What do you have in the mind?

23 Have I got this is right?

24 That would it be difficult for us.

25 I think we’ve covered out everything.

COMPUTER HARDWARE SUPPLIES

Riverside Industrial Estate, Unit 7A, Selby, YO8 9JH

01757 998 099

Leeway Printing Services

45 Lee Hill Wynd

6th December 20-

Powerhead Storage Loader PSL-445 (installed, incl. VAT) £2,609.00

I look forward to hearing from you.

Don Alexandre Avenue

Dear Joshua Clemmins

RE: Quotation Acceptance

I am looking to seeing your reply

Please email Mary Ong and South China lights ([email protected])

From: Modestao66@gmail .com

Subject: LED Bulbs Order

Dear Ms Mary Ong

I am looking forward to seeing your repaly.

You might also like

A Good morning._C11 Ahmed Saleh. D_____12 your advertisement in

A Thanks. A___15 everything.