1. Complete the passage below using the appropriate words from the box.

protectionist quota export import tariff

The exchange of goods and services between different countries is referred to as international trade. Depending on what a country produces or needs, it can either ¹ (send goods to another country) or ² (bring in goods from another country).

A ³ is a tax imposed on imported goods; whereas a ⁴ is the maximum quantity of a product that may be admitted to a country during a certain period of time. These measures are said to be ⁵ in that they raise the price of imported goods so that domestically produced goods will gain a price advantage.

2. Read the text “Profile: Barco of Belgium” on page 87 of nIiB sb and answer the following questions.

1. What is Mr Verbrugge’s opinion about market potential of India? 2. How have the exports of Barco to India changed since 1994? 3. How has Barco changed its strategic focus since 1980? 4. Where is the company’s base? 5. What kind of kits did the company use to sell in India? 6. What kind of investments has the company made for the future? 7. What obstacles are there for the expansion of Barco’s activities in India? 8. How can the infamous Indian bureaucracy hamper importing business? 9. What cultural hurdles can a foreign businessman encounter in India? 10. Why is having a sales office in India better than having just a sales agent there?

3. Read the text about Peugeot on page 88 of nIiB sb and frame questions to which the following words and phrases provide the answers.

1. In 1994. 2. To exploit this vast and quickly growing market. 3. 22,000. 4. 2000. 5. Automotive group Marutti. 6. In the market for upper-range cars. 7. For its 309. 8. On the list of banned products. 9. On the country. 10. By granting licenses to local manufacturers.

4. Listen to the dialogue “Importing and Exporting Goods” and commentaries coming after it. Give English definitions to the words and expressions in bold print. Learn the dialogue by heart and dramatise it with a classmate.

Importing and Exporting Goods

Giselle: Good morning, Brian. This is Giselle calling from Intergroup in Kansas City.

Brian: Hi, Giselle. How are you?

Giselle: I’m great, thanks. Listen, the reason I’m calling is that I wanted to touch base with you about the new proposed regulations. Have you had a chance to review them?

Brian: We’ve only had time to give them a cursory look, but I think we have a grasp on what the changes will be. I don’t think that most of the new regulations would apply to our class of cargo. As long as our certificates of origin are in order and our shipping agents are well informed of the changes, we won’t have anything to be concerned about. Rest assured we’ll take care of all that.

Giselle: That’s good to hear. Won’t the customs procedures be different, though? I understand that there are changes to the regulations affecting which containers we can use and how we transport our freight.

Brian: No, lucky for us, all we need to do is to put some additional information on our waybills and make sure our packing lists reflect the same information.

Giselle: I’m relieved to hear that. You’ve really put my mind at ease, thanks.

Brian: Don’t mention it. While I have you on the phone, do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions about the latest order?

Giselle: No, not at all. Fire away.

(From ESL Podcast 492.)

5. Listen to the dialogue “Using Visuals in a Presentation” and commentaries coming after it. Give English definitions to the words and expressions in bold print. Answer the questions below.

Using Visuals in a Presentation

Rosa: Thanks a lot for offering to give me some pointers on how to use visuals for my presentation. I’ve never given a presentation like this before.

Milo: I’m glad I can help. What do you plan to use?

Rosa: Well, I plan to show these slides for the first part of the talk. First, I have this pie chart that shows the types of services our company provides. Then, I have this bar graph to show how the company has grown in the past 20 years. But, I’m not really sure how to talk about them.

Milo: Okay, first, when you’re using a chart, make sure you explain what each part represents. For example, on this pie chart, I would explain that each slice of the pie represents a percentage of the business. Then, for this bar chart, I’d make sure to tell the audience what the X-axis and Y-axis stand for, and what each increment represents. That way, the trend that the company is following is clear. Are you planning on using this line chart, too?

Rosa: No, I changed my mind about that. I think it’s a little confusing, but your tips on the other charts are really helpful. I have this flip chart, too, that I’m supposed to use but I’m not sure how. I don’t want to turn my back on the audience during the presentation.

Milo: The second half of the presentation includes some audience participation, right? Then, I think it’s fine to use it during that part of the talk. Any other questions?

Rosa: I don’t think so. You’ve been so helpful. I hope you’ll let me take you to lunch as a token of thanks.

Milo: You don’t need to treat, but I’d be happy to have lunch together. Let’s go.

(From ESL Podcast 204.)

• Why is it helpful to use visuals at a presentation?

• What kind of graph is good for representing percentages within the whole business?

• What kind of graph is good for relative growth or decline?

• What kind of graph is good to show trends?

• Can you use a flip chart if your handwriting is barely legible?

• Why is it a bad idea to turn your back to the audience during the presentation?

• How can you thank a person for a service except offering him/her a lunch?