UNIT 1 - (READING 1) Saving Our Precious Earth

It is the responsibility of everyone, from industries to families and individuals, to save our precious earth through pollution prevention and conservation of natural resources---through reduce, reuse and recycle. Your actions today will decide the quality of tomorrow's world.

Everyone must join in to make a difference for all generations to come.

Air and water are life's most valuable resources, without them no living thing on earth can survive. Free the air and water from pollutants.

The two major pollutants are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Emissions of sulfur dioxide are mostly from fossil fuel (coal and oil), combustion in electric power production, and industrial processes (the primary metals, petroleum industry, chemical manufacturing, and mineral products). Emissions of nitrogen oxides are mostly from the transportation industry and fossil fuel (coal, oil and natural gas) combustion.

When water vapor and droplets in the air combine with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, they fall to the earth as acid rain (sulfates and nitrates).
Acid rain is harmful to aquatic life---fish populations and water plants---and the terrestrial ecosystem. It may damage or slow the growth of crops and forests. In addition, it may affect drinking water quality by causing the release of heavy metals from soil.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Help preserve our world for all generations to come.

Recycling (Paper, Plastic, Metal, and Glass)

Paper

Most paper can be recycled and made into new paper products, which helps save our forest---recycling one ton of newspapers conserves the equivalent of 19 pine trees. Recycled paper production reduces related air pollution by 95% and uses 30-55% less energy.

Plastic

The two most commonly recycled plastics are PETE or PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and HDPE (high density polyethylene). Please refer to the Plastic Recycling Code for other recyclable plastics. Many plastic products like bottles and containers are marked with the recycling code these days to facilitate sorting by their particular resin type.
Five recycled 2-liter PET bottles make enough fiberfill to stuff a ski jacket, and 35 2-liter PET bottles make enough for a sleeping bag.

Metal

Metals are made from minerals that are non-renewable. A ton of steel cans recycled saves 1.36 tons of iron ore. Recycling saves 74% of the energy needed to make new steel from iron ore and 95% of the energy needed to produce new aluminum from bauxite ore.

Glass

Glass is one of the easiest and best materials to recycle. It recycles completely, meaning one kilogram of old glass can be turned into one kilogram of new glass, and it can be recycled repeatedly without loss of quality to the new product. A ton of glass recycled saves the equivalent of 34 liters of fuel oil. In addition, recycled glass requires 30% less energy than glass manufactured from silica.

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INFORMACION 1 A LOS ESTUDIANTES DEL CURSO INGLES VI

Les he puesto a su disposición una serie de ejercicios relacionados con lo impartido en clase durante esta semana:

• Parts of the English speech
• Spelling Definitions
• International Commerce Vocabulary List 1
• Worksheet Model

Confío que puedan hacer todo antes de nuestra próxima clase, de modo que les ayude a afianzar sus conocimientos. No olviden practicar la voz pasiva.

Mucho éxito,

Francisco J. Salinas B.

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Worksheet sample

MODELO DE PRUEBA ESCRITA


I. Vocabulary

Mark the word that doesn’t belong in each group.

EXAMPLE: a) plane b) train c) car d) airport e) truck

1 a) container b) freight c) shipment d) cargo e) luggage
1 a) profit b) loss c) revenues d) growth e) earnings
1 a) free market b) marketplace c) buy and sell d) marketing e) international trade (...)

II. Grammar

Complete this extract from a CEO’s speech about his company. Write the verb in the correct tense: present simple or present continuous.

‘As you know, our company (grow) ___________________________________ 21 rapidly at present. We are employing 10 percent more staff than we did last year, and we (recruit) ___________________________________ 22 more staff all the time. We also are producing 150 machines per month – that’s an increase of 15 percent since last year. We (develop) ___________________________________ 23 a new model of the Turbomaster at the moment, which we think will be a big success. We (know) ___________________________________ 24 our markets well. Our customers (like) ___________________________________ 25 our existing products, and we feel confident that they will like the improvements we have made in the new design. We (launch) ___________________________________ 26 the new model next May, in time for the Munich Trade Fair.’ (...)


III. Reading

Read the article and choose the best answer to each question.

Ten years ago a small boy fell off his bicycle because he wanted to look behind. This gave Billy Morgan, a British businessman, a new idea. He designed a bicycle helmet with a built-in mirror: the Reevu Vutech.

Mr. Morgan launched the product six months ago, and it now has sales of 27,000 and sells in twelve countries from South Korea to Finland. The target for the second year is for sales of nearly a1 million.

But it wasn’t easy for Mr. Morgan to become successful. He had problems when he tried to interest UK manufacturers in making the helmet. It cost Mr. Morgan a1 million of his own money to develop the helmet for the mass market (...)

31 This article is about …
a) a product launch that didn’t succeed.
b) a new idea that became a commercial success.
c) a manufacturing problem.

32 To develop the helmet for the mass market, Mr Morgan …
a) got help from a British manufacturing company.
b) got credit from a bank.
c) spent a1 million.

33 Mr. Morgan has an arrangement to manufacture the helmet …
a) in South Korea.
b) in France.
c) in England. (...)


IV. Writing

Replace the words and phrases in italics in the memo with the best word or phrase below.

Memo
To: Ramola Santos
From: Peter Stott
Subject: Prices

I would like to draw your attention to the attached price lists from two of our main competitors. As you can see, both have reduced their prices by about 3 to 4 per cent. I would like to suggest that we reduce ­­­­______________________________ 45 our prices by at least the same amount.

As you know, we face intense ______________________________ 46 competition in this market, and our revenue ______________________________ 47 from sales has fallen considerably ______________________________ 48 in the last year. It will not be easy to market ______________________________ 49 our products if they are seen as overpriced______________________________ 50. Could we have a meeting as soon as possible to discuss this?

45 a) fall b) cut c) make lower
46 a) unfair b) open c) tough
47 a) income b) cash c) deposit
48 a) plummeted b) soared c) leveled off
49 a) reposition b) develop c) try to sell
50 a) inexpensive b) too expensive c) affordable (...)


V. Listening

Nelson Ferreira works for an aircraft manufacturer. He is making a presentation to some people who are interested in buying aircraft. Read the first three questions. Then listen and mark your answers.

1 The part of the presentation which you hear is …
a) the introduction.
b) some basic facts that come before the main part.
c) the main part.
d) the conclusion.

2 The company is …
a) a state-owned company.
b) a family-owned company.
c) a multinational company.
d) a company which has shares traded on the stock exchange.

3 The customers are mainly interested in …
a) an executive jet plane.
b) military aircraft.
c) commercial aircraft.
d) aircraft in general. (...)

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International Commerce Vocabulary List 1

República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Universidad Nacional Experimental Marítima del Caribe
English VII, FG-701 – Prof. Francisco Javier Salinas Bello

1. Deal
2. Supply
3. Supplier
4. Demand
5. Success
6. Train
7. Trade
8. Owner
9. Customer
10. Custom
11. Customs
12. Freight forwarder
13. Gross/net weight
14. Insurance
15. Employee
16. Employer
17. Wrong/Right
18. Attorney/lawyer
19. Allow
20. Concern
21. Entrepreneur
22. Package
23. Budget
24. Task
25. Job
26. Job duties
27. At least
28. At last
29. Knowledge
30. Investment
31. Assests
32. Citizen
33. Tariff
34. Quote
35. Invoice
36. Goal
37. Seaman
38. Top down/bottom up
39. Inventory
40. Maintenance

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Exercise 3 - Parts of the English Speech

República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Universidad Nacional Experimental Marítima del Caribe
English VII, FG-701 – Prof. Francisco Javier Salinas Bello

Identify the parts of the English speech by underlining with colors.

Prepositions: blue
Conjunctions: orange
Pronouns: purple
(possessive, demonstrative, interrogative, relative, indefinitive, reflexive)
Phrasal verbs: green
Modal verbs: brown

1. The smallest gift is mine. U.S. business people give out many promotional items, which are not gift-wrapped. Formal gift-giving among U.S. executives is usually limited to Christmas/Hannukah and commemorative events. Some U.S. executives who deal with foreigners have learned to give gifts on other occasions. Gadgets are popular, and gifts may display a corporate logo. Gifts are opened immediately.

2. This is yours. Ours is the green bottle on the corner. Invocations over drinks are customary wherever alcohol is consumed. The English word for this custom, "toasting," derived from the tradition of dipping a piece of scorched bread into a tankard of beer or wine, to improve the taste of the drink. Different countries offer some interesting variations on toasting habits.

3. This must not continue. It is undeniable that garments form a large part of people's first impressions. In much of the world, a person dressed inappropriately will not be taken seriously, especially in a business situation.

4. Who will meet the delegates at the airport? Starting out on the right foot in a business speech is crucial. But when cultural differences come into play, this can be a real challenge.

5. Whom do you think should be invited? To make an appointment, an introduction is usually required. This can come from a person known to both parties, a trade organization, or a professional "go-between" (sometimes called an "enchufado"). But family is always important in Latin America, so an introduction by a businessperson's relative is often the best way.

6. You may invite whomever you like to dinner. For a business traveler, sharing a meal with an international client is a necessary part of establishing a relationship. And just as each culture has its own cuisine, it has its own dining etiquette. If you want to create a good impression when dining abroad, here are some tips.

7. The office had been searched and everything was thrown onto the floor. At the start of a new year, many of us assess our physical, emotional and professional states. If your goals include a new international job, get ready by testing your knowledge of some of the differences in interviewing around the world. Good luck!

8. Richard usually remembers to send a copy of his e-mail to himself. You should find a knowledgeable, in-country attorney who can ensure that your contracts are prepared with all the clauses required by their legal systems.

9. The CEO himself said that he would lower the prices. Most of us think we know a "Yes" from a "No." But if you’re crossing some multi-lingual lines, even basic communications can take a wrong turn.

10. Unfortunately, the bank closed at three today. What happens when one culture’s method of selling and negotiating is applied to different international business and social situations?

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Exercise 2 - Parts of the English Speech

República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Universidad Nacional Experimental Marítima del Caribe
English VII, FG-701 – Prof. Francisco Javier Salinas Bello

Identify the parts of the English speech underlining with colors. Circle verb tenses.

Nouns: blue (proper, common, countable, uncountable)
Articles: orange (definitive and indefinitive)
Personal Pronouns: red
Object Pronouns:pink
Adjectives: green
(Possessive, Demonstrative, Comparative, Superlative, Interrogative, Indefintive)
Adverbs: purple
Circle Verbs tenses

1. When she was a young woman, she earned her living as a coal miner.

   Employers across Venezuela have become significantly more concerned over the levels of sickness absence in their workforce. Paradoxically, this concern has grown during a period when the headline rate of sickness absence in the Venezuela economy has been declining. Today, the average Venezuelan employee has just over seven days off work through sickness absence each year. This equates to about 3.5% of all available working days being lost to absence, at an estimated cost to the economy of over US$11 billion. Despite recent evidence of a slight increase in absence rates – the first rise in six years – the overall picture has remained stable, at least on the surface.

2. After reading the pamphlet, Judy threw it into the garbage can.

   The term ‘knowledge economy’ is often used but seldom defined. Essentially, it refers to a transformed economy where investment in ‘knowledge based’ assets such as R&D, design, software, and human and organizational capital has become the dominant form of investment compared with investment in physical assets – machines, equipment, buildings and vehicles. Thus, the term ‘knowledge economy’ captures the subsequently changed industrial structure, ways of working, and the basis on which organizations compete and excel.

3. The truck-shaped container was taken over the bridge to Mac Donald's warehouse.

   Attitudes about punctuality vary from country to country. What is important, however, are subjective attitudes toward time. The question isn't "Aren't 90 seconds the same everywhere?" but rather "Are attitudes toward those 90 seconds the same?" And the answer is an emphatic no. Perceptions of time vary widely in different cultures.

4. What's your phone number?

   Preparing for the worst may be the best thing you do for yourself, your employees, and your company's bottom line.

5. When the ship came to that port, the workers went on strike.

   To be accepted around the world, a company must be a good corporate citizen. Doing business overseas have become very important. But not everyone sees the benefits of world trade. Disaffected people in many nations see the price of globalization as too high. Violent protests over the influence of multinationals have become routine ever since the 1999 World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle. How can your company deal with opponents of globalization?

6. Which high tech plants will be built in that industrial park?

   Whether you have one job or a hundred, we can work out the best option for you. Post a job and get applications direct to your inbox. That's why the team put together an enhanced package of options at a price that was compatible with our budget, and managed to do so very quickly.

7. Tell me again. Which invoice was paid last month?

   Negotiation is one of the most vital skills any entrepreneur can have. It’s not just in sales meetings, but in every-day situations where you’ll be using negotiating skills – for example negotiating with staff over time off, or department budgets, or suppliers who want to hike prices and so on. But most of all, you’ll need those negotiation skills in securing a deal.

8. Many people believe that corporations are under-taxed.

   Mr. Anatoly is convinced that successful, socially motivated enterprises like Fifteen, which for the past seven years has been giving disadvantaged young people the chance to work and train in the restaurant business, can restore people’s belief in commerce.

9. The boldly spoken words would return to haunt the rebel.

   Winning clients is one thing, but keeping them requires effort. If you're a small business owner with fewer clients than your larger counterparts, exemplary customer service can often give you the edge by allowing you to be more responsive to their needs or offer a personal touch.

10. We urged him to dial the number more expeditiously.

    Effective internal communication is essential for the smooth running of your business, both to convey your company culture and values and to stay on top of employee concerns. However, it needs to come from the top down and the bottom up.

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Exercise 1 - Spelling Definitions

República Bolivariana de Venezuela
Universidad Nacional Experimental Marítima del Caribe
English VII, FG-701 – Prof. Francisco Javier Salinas Bello


Match the vocabulary words on the left with the definitions on the right. Use the numbers.

1. Bill .......... one who buys goods or services; shopper

2. Office .......... the handing over or surrender of something

3. Price ......... a subdivision of a larger organization or system

4. Purchase .......... exempt from a tax

5. Order ......... someone who works for a person or business in return for wages

6. Sales ........ a numerical value or amount

7. Department ....... a document with empty spaces provided for the insertion of information

8. Manager ........ a communication of information by various means.

9. Export ........ a place where business transactions are conducted

10. Import ......... involved in, or related to selling

11. Employee ........ one who directs, controls, or administers a business

12. Colleague ..... a request to produce or deliver goods

13. Duty-free ..... to bring in from a foreign country

14. Sales ..... a written statement listing items or services and their cost; invoice

15. Figures ..... the sum of money required in exchange for an item or service; cost.

16. Bill ..... the practice of sending goods abroad for sale or trade

17. Manufacture ..... to obtain by exchanging money for; buy

17. Succeed ...... a small retail store

18. CEO ....... to deduct (an amount or percentage) from a cost or price

19. Customer .......... someone who shares the same profession, work, or employer

20. Discount ........ Chief Executive Officer

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