Reading Passage 2 has SEVEN paragraphs, A-G.

Which paragraph contains the following information?

Write the correct letter, A-G.

14 ABCDEFG some specific predictions about businesses and working practices

15 ABCDEFG  reference to the way company employees were usually managed

16 ABCDEFG  a warning for business leaders

17 ABCDEFG the description of an era notable for the relative absence of change 

18 ABCDEFG  a reason why customer satisfaction was not a high priority 

• 14 Answer: F
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  Q14. Some specific predictions about businesses and working practices	in the post-industrial age, most people agree that organisational life is becoming ever more uncertain, as the pace of change quickens and the future becomes less predictable. Writing in 1999, Nadler and Tushman, two US academics, said: ‘Poised on the eve of the next century, we are witnessing a profound transformation in the very nature of our business organisations….. Graeme Leach, Chief Economist at the British Institute of Directors, claimed in the Guardian newspaper (2000) that: ‘By 2020, the nine-to-five rat race will be extinct and present levels of self-employment….
  After reading paragraph F, we can see that the author suggested “the future becomes less predictable” and gave some predictions of Nadler and Tushman and Graeme Leach about business organizations and employment… it means that they are specific predictions of some experts. Thus, the correct answer for Q14 should be “F”

• 15 Answer: B
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  Q15. reference to the way company employees were usually managed	It was characterised by a series of inventions and innovations that reduced the number of people needed to work the land and, in turn, provided the means of production of hitherto rarely obtainable goods. That is as systems of strict hierarchical structures and firm means of control.
  After reading paragraph B, “That is as systems of strict hierarchical structures and firm means of control”, we can see that employees were managed by means of control and affected by series of inventions and innovations…” Thus, the correct answer for Q15 should be “B”

• 16 Answer: G
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  Q16. a warning for business leaders	Consequently, it is crucial that organisational managers and decision makers are aware of, and able to analyse the factors which trigger organisational change.
  After reading paragraph G, we can see that “the author reminded that organisational managers and decision makers are aware of, and able to analyse the factors which trigger organisational change”, refers to a warning for business leaders. “Business leaders” and “organizational managers” and “decision makers” refer to the same people in this case. Thus, the correct answer for Q16 should be “G”

• 17 Answer: A
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  Q17. the description of an era notable for the relative absence of change	Sometimes, however, the winds die down to give periods of relative calm, periods of relative organisational stability.
  After reading paragraph 5, we can see that: “Relative absence of change” and “relative calm” & “relative organizational stability” have the same meaning in this case. we can easily see that only paragraph A mentioned “periods of relative calm, relative organizational stability” Thus, the correct answer for Q17 should be “A”

• 18 Answer: C
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  Q18. a reason why customer satisfaction was not a high priority	This situation prevailed for some time, with demand still coming mainly from the domestic market and organisations striving to fill the ‘supply gap’. Thus the most disturbing environmental influence on organisations of this time was the demand for products, which outstripped supply. Organisations of this period can be regarded as ‘ task-oriented ’, with effort being put into increasing production through more effective and efficient production processes .
  After reading paragraph C, we can see that “demand for products, which outstripped supply” and “Organizations of this period can be regarded as task-oriented” refer to the meaning that “organizations can decide to produce, not rely on customer satisfaction” Thus, the correct answer for Q18 should be “C”

Look at the following characteristics (Questions 19-23) and the list of periods below.

Match each characteristic with the correct period, A, B or C.

Write the correct letter, A, B or C.

NB You may use any letter more than once.

19 ABC   a surplus of goods.

20 ABC   an emphasis on production quantity. 

21 ABC   the proximity of consumers to workplaces.

22 ABC   a focus on the quality of goods.

23 ABC   new products and new ways of working.

• 19 Answer: C
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  Q19.a surplus of goods	In the neo-industrial age,people became more discriminating in the goods and services they wished to buy and, as technological advancements brought about increased productivity, supply overtook demand
  After reading paragraph D, we can see that “in the neo-industrial age, supply overtook demand”, it means that there was a surplus of goods. “A surplus of goods” and “supply overtook demand” have the same meaning in this case. Thus, the correct answer for Q19 should be “C”

• 20 Answer: B
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  Q20.an emphasis on production quantity.	…the demand for products, which outstripped supply. Organisations of this period can be regarded as ‘ task-oriented ’, with effort being put into increasing production through more effective and efficient production processes
  After reading paragraph C, we can see that: “Demand for products outstripped supply” refers to “quantity of products” “Emphasis on production quantity” and “task-oriented” have the same meaning in this case. This characteristic in the industrial age. Thus, the correct answer for Q20 should be “B”

• 21 Answer: A
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  Q21.the proximity of consumers to workplaces.	During this period, wealth was created in the context of an agriculturally based society influenced mainly by local markets (both customer and labour) and factors outside people’s control, such as the weather
  After reading paragraph A, we can easily see that only paragraph A mentioned the consumers and workplaces, it refers to the characteristic in agricultural age. Thus, the correct answer for Q21 should be “A”

• 22 Answer: C
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  Q22.a focus on the quality of goods.	In the neo-industrial age , people became more discriminating in the goods and services they wished to buy In the neo-industrial age of western countries, the emphasis moved towards adding value to goods and services
  After reading paragraph D and E, we can see that: “Focus on” and “emphasis” have the same meaning in this case. “people became more discriminating in the goods and services they wished to buy” and “emphasis moved towards adding value to goods and services” refer to the meaning that all customers and suppliers focus on quality and value of products Thus, the correct answer for Q22 should be “C”

• 23 Answer: B
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  Q23. new products and new ways of working.	It was characterised by a series of inventions and innovations that reduced the number of people needed to work the land and, in turn, provided the means of production of hitherto rarely obtainable goods; for organisations, supplying these in ever increasing numbers became the aim.
  After reading paragraph B, we can see that: “Series of inventions and innovations” and “provided the means of production of hitherto rarely obtainable goods” refer to development of new products and new ways of working. This characteristic in the industrial age. Thus, the correct answer for Q23 should be “B”