0102 Test of English

Английский язык. Контрольная работа №2
Test 0102
1. Ознакомьтесь с содержанием статьи и вставьте предложение (a-f) там, где оно подходит по смыслу (1-5). Одно предложение по смыслу не подходит.
aThe total amount raised could top $22 billion if these and other types of stock are sold.
bIn a competitive market, GM now has Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac amongst its main brands.
cBarack Obama´s government argued that keeping GM alive was essential because of the extent to which so many jobs depended on its survival.
dThe US and the Canadian governments eventually stepped in and provided a rescue plan.
e478 million shares priced at $33 have raised around $15.8 billion so far.
fIt resulted in significant job losses around the world - 65 000 according to some reports.
General Motors
GM used to be one of the world´s biggest car makers. It suffered financial difficulties when sales fell dramatically during the financial crisis and as the recession took hold.
The reasons for that were years of under investment in newer, more fuel efficient models and lack of flexibility in its operations. (1) …
Billions of dollars were channeled to the car maker to help it survive. The result was that they ended up owning 61 % of GM and the Ontario government owning 11 %. The amount used to support GM topped $60 billion.
GM had to make a number of very difficult decisions which led to plant closures, selling off assets, the phasing out of certain brands and sale of others. (2)… .
Today GM is on the way back to becoming more independent. As part of that process, it has been involved in an initial public offering (IPO) which looks like being the second biggest in US history. (3)… .
There are additional 71.7 million shares still available if underwriters choose to release them to the market. Given the demand for GM´s new shares it looks likely that some of these will be made available. (4) … The IPO will mean that the US government will reduce its interest in the firm from over 60 % to around 37 %. GM will now have to consolidate the changes it has made to its operations and hope to build its brands and reputation once again. (5) …
Whether GM can get back to anything like the position it held twenty years ago is debatable. It has to pay back around $50 billion to the US taxpayer and share prices would have to rise significantly to enable the government to be able to sell its stake in the company and generate a return on its investment. Its challenge is to produce new vehicles that can compete on price and performance with it major competitors, in particular Ford, Honda, Nissan and Toyota.

2. Найдите в статье английские эквиваленты следующих фраз.
o…компания столкнулась с финансовыми трудностями…
o…полученная сумма может превысить…
o…правительство вмешалось…
o…результатом этого стало сокращение рабочих мест…
o…учитывая спрос на акции GM…

3. Ответьте на вопросы относительно содержания статьи. Выписывать похожие на вопросы предложения из статьи не нужно.
1.How much was GM given by the governments to survive the crisis?
2.What did the US government say on the bailout of GM?
3.Were any workers laid off as a result of the factory closures?
4.Why has GM been involved in the IPO?
5.Will the US government reduce its interest in the company?

4. Отметьте предложенные предложения T (True - верно), F (false - не верно), NM (Not Mentioned – не упоминается).
1.Years of under investment in newer, more fuel efficient models were one of the reasons GM suffered financial difficulties.
2.The IPO will help to raise $15.8 billion.
3.GM has not issued details yet of the IPO so whilst markets do not know the number of shares that will be issued nor the prices.
4.About $60 billion of the taxpayers money were used to support GM during the financial crisis.
5.The government rescue was controversial at the time with many asking why so much money should be ploughed into a failing company