Questions 1-7 Look at the statements below and the company news Which news report (A, B, C or D) does each statement 1-7 refer to? You will need to use some of the letters more than once. 1 A strong currency has had a negative effect on the company. 2 The workforce has made it difficult for this company to become more efficient. 3 The use of specialists led to very high costs. 4 Increased competition has contributed to this company’s difficulties. 5 This company has reached an agreement on a new project. 6 Part of this company was up for sale. 7 This company has expanded its manufacturing base. C GRD, the manufacturing giant, plans to cut 1,500 jobs at its Portland factory over the next five years after union refusal to increase productivity. A company representative said that although they have invested more than $42 million in the new plant and improved technology, the trade unions are still unwilling to increase output. As a result, GRD have been forced to down sized the Portland plant. D Maybrooke, the Scottish department store, reported a fall in trading profits in the first half of the year from £ 545,000 to £ 462,000, on sales which were down two per cent. They blame the disappointing first half on the strength of the pound, which hit the company’s tourist business, as well as an increase in traffic and parking problems in the city center, and the growth of out-of-town shopping centers.