45. Look at the graphs and complete these presentation extracts, using the correct form of the verbs in brackets

1. I’d like to show you the budget for sponsorship and event marketing in the last five years. As you can see, it was at about €1 million five years ago and (1) ………… (climb) considerably in the next three years. But please note that it ………… (rocket) since then and is now at the €5 million mark. The budget (3) ………… (go up) again next year.

2. Let’s take a detailed look at customer complaints about the hotline last year. We started with a total of 127 in January and this (1) ………… (rise) sharply to 185 in April and this level (2) ………… (remain) steadily until June. The number (3) …………. (reach) a peak in July with 250 during the summer holiday period. We introduced a thre-shift system on the hotline at the end of December. Complaints (4) …………. (fall) dramatically before that but were still at an unsatisfactory level. I’m pleased to report that there (5) ……….. (be) a gradual drop in complaints since then. At the moment the number of complaints (6) ………… (level off) a little but we believe that we (7) ……….. (hit) an all time low by December.

46. Now, look at this graph and complete sentences 1 – 6, describing the sales. What tenses did you use and why?

………………………………………… last June. ………………………………………… before the joint venture. ………………………………………… last November. ………………………………………… from last November to now. Now…………………………………………………… . …………………………………………. next January.

47. Read the statements below and write a rhetorical question that could go before each of them.

Example

We employ around 150 people in China. How many people do we employ?

1. We employ around 150 people in China.

2. Last year we hired 50 new engineers in the Netherlands.

3. We are currently recruiting ten new sales office staff.

4. We are going to start recruiting for the Hong Hong office in June next year.

5. One solution is to use consultants to examine the problem.

6. No, we’ve never used an external company on this kind of project.

7. I strongly recommend buying a new office building.

8. The next step is to arrange a meeting with the client.

9. In my second point I’ll be looking at where we can go from here.

10. I am now going to deal with this in my third point.

48. Read the statements below and write a rhetorical question that could go after each of them.

Example

We’ve solved the problem. How did we do this?

1. We’ve solved the problem

2. The client insists that we increase internal security.

3. The plant has had its best year as regards safety.

4. We are going to have to go after new business in the next year.

5. That brings me to the end of my second point.

6. We have increased market share in Europe.

7. However, we have lost market share in North America.

8. This is the not the first time we have made such a mistake.

9. To tell the truth I found this quite a difficult task.

10. We thought it was the best campaign we had ever created but the client hated it!