3. Controlled practice
Complete the following dialogue by putting the verbs in brackets in the right tense.
A: When _____________ the project ____________ (start)?
B: It ___________ (begin) at the end of last year.
A: What _______ the results _______ (be) like so far?
B: Rather disappointing. We _________ (hope) to reach our targets before now.
A: How ___________ you ________ (account) for these results?
B: It ________ (be) difficult to say. The retailers ___________ (think) the product is over-priced.
A: Really?
B: Yes. As you ______ (know), this product ______ (target) at the 30-40 age group. I ______ not ______ (think) it _______ (reach) them.
A: So what ___________ you _________ (do) about it?
B: We ______ just _________ (commission) some new research into our target consumer group.
A: Surely we _________ not _________ (need) more research!
B: I’m afraid so. We _______ simply not _____ (reach) our target and we _______ (need) to know how to get to them.
A: Of course, but we _____ (carry out) pretty exhaustive research before the project ____ (begin).
B: True, but we obviously _____ (reach) the wrong conclusions, so it _______ (mean) we ________ (have to) go back to square one.

4. Word study
Match the words on the left with their closest equivalents (synonyms) on the right.
1. preliminary
2. to run (a test)
3. to reach (a target)
4. to scale up (production)
5. to work on (something)
6. a phase
7. on a small scale
8. (keep me up to date
9. to hold (a press conference)
10. (tell me) where we stand

a. to prepare…
b. in limited quantities
c. to have…
d. …informed
e. a stage
f. initial
g. to increase…
h. to carry out
i. to achieve
j. … what the position is

Key to 3
A: When did the project start?(When was the project started?)
B: It began at the end of last year.
A: What have the results been like so far? (What are the results like so far?)
B: Rather disappointing. We (had) hoped to reach our targets before now.
A: How do you account for these results?
B: It is difficult to say. The retailers think the product is over-priced.
A: Really?
B: Yes. As you know, this product targeted at the 30-40 age group. I do not think it reaching/has reached them.
A: So what are you do about it?
B: We have justcommissioned some new research into our target consumer group.
A: Surely we do not need more research!
B: I’m afraid so. We are simply not reaching our target and we need to know how to get to them.
A: Of course, but we carried out pretty exhaustive research before the project began.
B: True, but we obviously reachedthe wrong conclusions, so it means we ________ (have to) go back to square one.

Key to 4
1. f
2. h
3. i
4. g
5. a
6. e
7. b
8. d
9. c
10. j