BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

banking
and stock markets
DICTIONARIES
Longman:
http://www.ldoceonline.com/
Oxford:
http://oald8.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/
Macmillan:
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/
Cambridge:
http://dictionary.cambridge.org/
Collins/Cobuild:
http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english-cobuild-learners
Merriam-Websters (focus on American English):
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

A speaking & writing

Below you may find a set of questions which you can prepare prior to class meetings, at your leisure.
When answering any of these questions, be ready to justify your answer with your own arguments; use
examples and your own experience to support your opinion.
THIS MODULE IS REQUIRED FOR THE SPEAKING AND WRITING TESTS!
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How is a job in banking different from one in accounting / marketing / advertising?

Does a job in banking necessarily require people skills?
Whats the usual hierarchy in the banking profession?
Would you like to have a job in banking? If so, what would it imply in terms of skills? Do you have those
skills?
What is the role of banks nationally / internationally?
Explain the role of the National Bank of Romania (BNR).
Who do you bank with and why?
Explain the English idiom `laugh all the way to the bank` (e.g. Now that Ive come into all this money, Ill
be laughing all the way to the bank). Describe some consequences of this situation.
If you were to recommend a foreigner the best bank in Romania, which would that be and why?
What would you expect from a bank of your choice?
What banking services have you used so far? Were you satisfied? Why (not)?
How can you explain the saying `Neither a borrower, nor a lender be`? Do you believe in it? Explain.
Are banks fair to customers?
Describe a few strategies or `tricks` banks use to attract clients.
Would you choose just one bank for your personal needs or several? Why?
Give one personal example of great satisfaction / bitter disappointment with a bank. Explain.
What is the difference between a debit card and a credit card and which would you consider more
useful? Why?
What do you think about banking commissions? Explain.
Explain the workings of the stock exchange.
If you had a considerable amount of money available, would you play the stock market? Explain.
Is buying shares a worthwhile investment? Explain.
Why would a company choose to sell its shares?
How can the stock market collapse? Explain.
Have the worlds most severe economic recessions been caused by stock markets? Explain.
Explain the procedures that a bank must follow when it goes bankrupt.
How can banks encourage loyalty on the part of their clients?

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

B reading & language

The following practice tests simulate the question formats in your final test and may be used in the
construction of the final test versions. Directions and further explanations will be available in class. The
tests not covered in class are part of your self-study use the dictionaries suggested (see page 1).
THIS MODULE IS REQUIRED FOR THE FINAL TEST!
PRACTICE TEST 01
grace, private, premise, show

Banks and 01 ____ individuals invested 20 million 02 ____ the scheme.

Banks and business 03 ____ were damaged by yesterdays bomb.
A new deal was 04 ____ forked / hammered / nailed / hit out between the two banks.
A(n) 05 ____ DRAW account one from which you have taken more money than you have put in.
06 ____ ADD security for any loan may be required by the bank.
After the 1987 stock market crash, there was a 142-point 07 ____ bound / bind / bounce /
leap .
All credits, debits, and charges will 08 ____ on your bank statement.
All credits, debits, and charges will show 09 ____ your bank statement.
All invoices are issued with the usual 10-day 10 ____ period.
All these are 11 ____ RECEDE -proof shares.
As from today, the bank will be open 12 ____ business from 9.30 am.
At the end of the 13 ____ inferred / implied / deferred / deterred term, you will have a
larger 14 ____ STAND loan to pay off.
BA shares gained 15 ____ NIGHT .

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

PRACTICE TEST 02
bad, business, cash, deposit, leave, work

Banks are trying to cut costs to generate money to write 01 ____ their bad loans.
Banks are willing to lend large amounts of money to people starting up 02 ____ .
Banks still hold several trillion yen of 03 ____ loans.
Billions of dollars are 04 ____ in banks every day.
BTs shares fell dramatically, but 05 ____ jumped / hit / bounced / struck back before the
end of the day.
Buying those shares was a wise 06 ____ move / movement / moving / mover .
Can I 07 ____ a cheque at Reception?
Can I pay 08 ____ cheque?
Can you explain the 09 ____ of the stock market to me?
Cheques should be made 10 ____ PAY to M&D Ltd.
For most people, the most important consideration in choosing a mortgage is the cost of 11 ____
PAY .
Despite all the 12 ____ boom / boost / doom / loom and gloom in the City, there are still some
bright spots in the stock market. Do bank holidays count as part of annual 13 ____ ?
Do you have a(n) 14 ____ DRAFT facility at your bank?
Customers can buy and sell shares 15 ____ the touch of a button.
PRACTICE TEST 03
free, liberal, make, present, stitch, take

Do you 01 ____ out a new loan before the old one is paid 02 ____ ?
03 ____ CLOSE is a cheque in 04 ____ SETTLE of the bill.
He always paid by credit card and kept the 05 ____ receipts / recipes / sums / amounts .
Hes 06 ____ up a major deal with one of the European banks.
He had tricked her 07 ____ writing a cheque in his favour.
He 08 ____ a 2,000 cash deposit on 5 April.
He reports an 09 ____ UP move in the stock market.
He was always quite 10 ____ with his cash.
He was caught 11 ____ camera robbing the bank.
He was 12 ____ with a cheque together with good wishes for a long and happy 13 ____ RETIRE .
Hes never been particularly 14 ____ with his cash.
He died owing the bank 10,000, and his widow was unable to 15 ____ CHARGE the debt.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

PRACTICE TEST 04
arrange, close, fix, pay, place, pledge, pot, receive, screw

Hefty fines are 01 ____ PAY for those who exceed their overdraft limit.
Her parents had 02 ____ of cash.
His creditors were putting the 03 ____ on him.
His home is 04 ____ as security against the loans.
How are you 05 ____ for cash?
Id like a job with a nice big 06 ____ cheque.
How soon do you have to pay 07 ____ the loan?
I kept on merrily writing cheques, not realizing that the bank had 08 ____ my account.
I look forward, therefore, to 09 ____ your cheque 10 ____ 1300 in due course.
I must get in touch with the bank and 11 ____ an overdraft.
I receive a bank 12 ____ STATE every month.
I think hes quite right in saying that these shares are 13 ____ VALUE.
I went to the bank to 14 ____ up a loan.
How long will the cheque take to 15 ____ clean / clear / wipe / erase ?
PRACTICE TEST 05
flash, max, qualify, slip, tie

Id like to pay these two cheques 01 ____ .

Ill need to draw 02 ____ more cash tomorrow.
Ill write you a cheque 03 ____ the full amount.
Im hoping the bank will say yes 04 ____ another loan.
Im 05 ____ DRAW by more than 200.
Ive just 06 ____ up arrangements for a bank loan.
Ive 07 ____ out all my credit cards (= I have used up all the money on them).
If you default 08 ____ your payments, the bank will be forced to 09 ____ POSSESS your car.
If you 10 ____ him some cash hell get you good seats.
If youre carrying a lot of cash, dont 11 ____ it around.
In order to 12 ____ for the loan you have to meet strict financial conditions.
In the event of 13 ____ LOSE of money and / or travellers cheques, you must notify the police 14
____ 24 hours.
Investors are still 15 ____ good heart, despite recent stock market falls.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

PRACTICE TEST 06
check, forestall, safe, warn

Investors had little advance 01 ____ of the stock market crash.

It has come to our 02 ____ note / notice / notifying / notification that some cash is
missing.
Its easy to 03 ____ your bank account via the Internet.
Normally he will write a cheque, or 04 ____ DRAW the money and hand it over.
Jim took 05 ____ a loan to pay 06 ____ his car.
Large cash 07 ____ PAY had been made to four government ministers.
Make sure to keep your credit card 08 ____ .
Most banks have 09 ____ put / placed / geared / fixed themselves up for an electronic future.
Most members pay their annual subscription 10 ____ direct debit.
Mr Brown sold it to a 11 ____ TRICK who paid with a 12 ____ WORTH stolen cheque.
Nearly $20 billion was wiped 13 ____ shares yesterday.
Never leave cash or other 14 ____ VALUE just lying around.
Its hoped that the banks measure will 15 ____ a return to high inflation.
PRACTICE TEST 07
file, good, haul, look, put, take, take, wipe

Only a big 01 ____ FUSE of cash can save the business now.
Our bank balance is 02 ____ quite healthy this month.
She has been arrested 03 ____ suspicion of using a stolen credit card.
Overall, we 04 ____ a positive view of the stock markets long-term potential.
People 05 ____ the outside find it difficult to understand how the stock market works.
Persuading the bank to lend you money is a difficult task at the 06 ____ of times.
Please 07 ____ the invoices in chronological order.
Please find enclosed a cheque 08 ____ 12 annual 09 ____ SUBSCRIBE for an organisation.
Property firms have 10 ____ a beating on the stock market.
Shares fell almost 10%, 11 ____ $400 million off the companys value.
Several of the banks have decided to 12 ____ up their interest rates.
Shares remained 13 ____ CHANGE at 48p at the close of business today.
She decided not to follow her mother 14 ____ banking.
Over the long 15 ____ , shares have been the very best investment.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

PRACTICE TEST 08
advance, draw, flat, half, purchase, strait, take

She made 01 ____ a cheque and handed it to me.

She 02 ____ shares in the company.
She was in dire 03 ____ and couldnt get a loan.
She was refused a loan because of her credit 04 ____ literacy / history / mathematics /
economics .
Shes made millions 05 ____ the stock market.
Some of the supermarket checkouts only 06 ____ cash.
Sterling fell two cents 07 ____ the dollar on the Stock Market today.
The accused 08 ____ by cheque card on a bank balance which had 09 ____ SUFFICE funds to
meet the sum.
The bank advised us that we should increase our insurance 10 ____ cover / recover / recovery
/ retrieval .
The bank can 11 ____ arrange / handle / borrow / lend travel insurance for you.
The bank charges a 12 ____ fee of 5 for money transfers.
The bank had to 13 ____ its discount rate.
The bank is refusing to 14 ____ him any money.
The bank makes loans 15 ____ easy terms.
PRACTICE TEST 09
amid, bank, foreclose, interest, ring, source

The bank makes loans 01 ____ easy terms.

The Bank of England had pushed up 02 ____ rates sharply to protect the pound from 03 ____
SPECULATE .
The bank 04 ____ up about 600 million in trading 05 ____ LOSE .
The bank was closed down 06 ____ allegations of corruption and fraud.
The bank was threatening to 07 ____ on his mortgage.
The bank will lend us more money, should the need 08 ____ arise / rise / raise / arouse .
The banks collapse 09 ____ EXAMPLE the risks of large-scale currency dealing.
The banks collapse led to a cascade of business 10 ____ FAIL .
The banks failure sent shock 11 ____ waves / bombs / bullets / vibrations through
international 12 ____ FINANCE circles.
The banks financial 13 ____ WEAK became a 14 ____ of worry.
The 15 ____ profession was dominated by Anglo-Saxon males.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

PRACTICE TEST 10
drain, file, issue, nudge, pay, price, set

The banks are revising their 01 ____ policy.

The banks have 02 ____ a warning that charges are likely to rise 03 ____ SHARP .
The banks now pay a lower rate of interest to 04 ____ SAVE .
The banks were 05 ____ railing / reeling / rolling / ruling from the unexpectedly large 06
____ LOSE .
The bill may be 07 ____ by cheque or by credit card.
The board has 08 ____ EVENT given its 09 ____ APPROVE to the loan.
The board regulates the 10 ____ LOT of shares to employees.
The central bank can 11 ____ rates lower if necessary.
The central bank is responsible for 12 ____ interest rates.
The cheap loans were 13 ____ RESIST .
The company 14 ____ for court protection from its creditors.
The company has steadily 15 ____ its cash reserves.
PRACTICE TEST 11
draw, fail, freeze, freeze, rescue, see, wage

The company needs a huge 01 ____ INJECT of cash, and better trained staff.
The company will hire bankers and lawyers to 02 ____ praise / appraise / appeal / appease
the terms of the deal.
The companys assets could be 03 ____ by the banks.
The country announced its intention of 04 ____ PAY the loan ahead of schedule.
The court held that the bank was 05 ____ an obligation to return the deposit.
The courts have 06 ____ her bank account.
The damage 07 ____ the banks image is extremely serious.
The decline in the stock market, though dramatic, has to be 08 ____ in context.
The deposit has to be paid in cash or 09 ____ draft.
The 10 ____ company is hoping international banks will come to the 11 ____ .
The firm is planning a 30 million stock market 12 ____ FLOAT .
The firm says it cannot find the cash to meet its 13 ____ bill.
The funds are then available to be 14 ____ on by cheque as above.
The government has cash 15 ____ of about 500 billion.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

PRACTICE TEST 12
account, chalk, fall, find, interest, lodge, operate, price, secure, trade, walk

The government will 01 ____ an interest-free loan system.

The interest rate 02 ____ the loan is fixed.
The Italian stock market 03 ____ sharply.
The loan is 04 ____ -free.
The loan is 05 ____ by a mortgage 06 ____ our house.
The loan must be repaid 07 ____ full.
The man 08 ____ in possession of her stolen cheque book and card has been allowed to 09 ____ free
from court.
The money had been 10 ____ with a Swiss bank.
The money should reach your bank account 11 ____ three working days.
The money will all come out of my personal bank 12 ____ .
The shares could be 13 ____ freely on the open market.
The shares were too highly 14 ____ .
The stock market fell back after 15 ____ up record gains.
PRACTICE TEST 13
buoy, charge, charge, extend, hold, oodle, reverse

The stock market 01 ____ course and closed with a modest gain.
The stock market was 02 ____ by comments from the Bank of England chairman.
The whole deal was put on 03 ____ rock / stone / ice / ground when the stock market fell
sharply.
Their bank account was in the 04 ____ blue / red / brown / green again.
There are several banks that 05 ____ loans to small businesses.
There has been a recent controversy over the rates banks 06 ____ for exchanging currencies.
There is no possibility of salary increases, especially when the company is pressed 07 ____ cash.
Theres a 1 service 08 ____ for using another banks cash 09 ____ application / apparatus /
machine / device .
Theres a 10 ____ REDUCE if you pay cash.
They hack 11 ____ banks and transfer huge amounts of cash.
They robbed the bank in 12 ____ wide / broad / complete / total daylight.
Theyve got 13 ____ of cash.
Three banks have already refused his request 14 ____ a loan.
Three per cent of our shares are now 15 ____ by US investors.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

PRACTICE TEST 14
acquire, expiry, head, light, pad, ready, submit

Todays figures continue the 01 ____ DOWN trend in the stock market.
Tonights lucky winner will go away with a cheque 02 ____ 100,000!
Traders said domestic institutions are selling stock in order to raise money to 03 ____ their bottom
lines and help 04 ____ SET bad loans.
Trading 05 ____ the Milan stock market was 06 ____ .
Under the new policy, many students will become 07 ____ ELIGIBLE for loans, unfortunately.
Usually, 08 ____ cash is more versatile than credit cards and cheque books.
We 09 ____ the shares for 1.75 each.
We bank at their 10 ____ offices.
We became suspicious 11 ____ the frequency and size of his bank 12 ____ DRAW .
We need the 13 ____ date on your credit card.
We said wed give her the cash, and we must stick 14 ____ our agreement.
We 15 ____ our invoices on a monthly basis.
PRACTICE TEST 15
bank, bank, extend, go, make, value

We 01 ____ over to Internet banking because it saved time and money.

We were 02 ____ to our last travellers cheque when we got back to the airport.
Well pay the money directly 03 ____ your bank account.
When they sell those shares, theyll be 04 ____ for life.
Who do you 05 ____ with?
Will the bank give you an extension 06 ____ the loan?
Will you accept a cheque in 07 ____ of a bill for 15?
You can get a refund 08 ____ any unused travellers cheques.
You can make a lot of money 09 ____ gambling / playing / toying / swinging the stock
market.
You can make a 10 ____ DRAW from most cash machines.
You must repay the loan, and any interest that is due 11 ____ it.
You need to arrange cover 12 ____ your travellers cheques being stolen.
Your bank might agree to 13 ____ the period of the loan.
You can now do your 14 ____ on-line.
What is the aggregate 15 ____ of all shares purchased?

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015

BANKING AND STOCK MARKETS

C listening & language

The task sheets and directions will be available in class only. After this course unit has been covered in
class, you will receive web links to the audio scripts (+ sound). The audio scripts will be used in the
construction of the final test versions, based on the question formats practised in module B.
THIS MODULE IS REQUIRED FOR THE FINAL TEST!
After the listening exercises done in class, you will have access (via the Internet) to the audio scripts for the
recordings used. Approximately half of the number of questions in your final test will be based on these
audio scripts. The scripts are intended for your self-study, as an extension of your listening comprehension,
towards further language building (grammar structures and vocabulary). When you work with these audio
scripts on your own, focus on the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

collocations;
fixed expressions containing dependent prepositions;
phrasal verbs;
idioms;
derivatives (word building).

You have already been introduced to problems 1-5 above by the PREPARATORY COURSE MODULE A FINAL TEST LANGUAGE SKILLS module, covered at the start of the first semester of this academic year.
For all of your self-study tasks, including this, make sure that you use the dictionary links suggested on page
1 of this unit.

Adrian Ciupe, 2014-2015