General Motors Co (text)

Read the following text, and then answer the questions:

General Motors Co will build the next generation of its Astra compact in Britain after workers at its factory in Ellesmere Port, northwest England, overwhelmingly agreed to a new labour deal, leaving its plant in Bochum, Germany in danger of closure.

The U.S. carmaker said on Thursday it would invest 125 million pounds in the Ellesmere Port plant, where assembly of the new vehicle will start in 2015.

Britain's Unite union said 94 percent of those balloted voted in favour of changes to working conditions and that some 700 jobs would be created at the plant, securing its future until 2020.

"It's almost certain that one of GM's German plants will now be closed, probably the plant in Bochum," a source close to the negotiations said.

GM, which sells under the Vauxhall brand in Britain, is expected to halt production of the Astra, its most important model, at its main plant in Russelsheim, Germany, making the car only at Ellesmere Port and at Poland's Gliwice plant from 2015.

The source added that some production of GM's Chevrolet marque could be shifted from Asia to Europe, with Russelsheim the likely beneficiary. This would leave the Opel factory at Bochum as the most likely site to be closed.

The decision is one of the most dramatic so far as Europe's carmakers look to restructure or consolidate in response to more than four years of falling demand and profits.

Many factories are running at partial capacity - analysts estimate automakers have cut some 3 million cars, or 20 percent, from their production lines - and still producers struggle to sell their wares.

I. Comprehension Questions

Where will General Motors Co build the next generation of its Astra compact?

What percentage of workers voted in favor of the new labor deal at the Ellesmere Port plant?

How much will General Motors invest in the Ellesmere Port plant?

Which plant is most likely to be closed as a result of this decision?

What is the significance of the Ellesmere Port plant’s future being secured until 2020?

Why are European carmakers restructuring or consolidating their operations?

What is the estimated reduction in car production by automakers, according to analysts?

Which GM brand is sold in Britain, and what is its most important model?

II. Vocabulary Questions

Answer these questions (choose the best answer):

1). According to the article, which GM plant will likely be closed?

  - The plant in Russelsheim, Germany

   -The plant in Ellesmere Port, England

   -The plant in Bochum, Germany

 2). The article states that from 2015, the Astra will no longer be produced in.......................

   -Russelsheim, Germany

   -Ellesmere Port, England

 3). Does GM own the Vauxhall brand?

   -Yes

   -No

   -It's not specified in the article.

 4). How many years of falling demand and profits has GM seen, according to the article?

   -three

  - four

   -two

 5). The workers at GM's UK plant .............................

   -will soon be voting on a new labor contract

   - rejected a proposed labor contract

   -agreed to a new labor contract

6). What does the word "overwhelmingly" mean in the context of the text?

  a) Slightly

  b) By a large majority

  c) Reluctantly

  d) Equally

7). What is the meaning of "balloted" as used in the text?

  a) Protested

  b) Voted

  c) Negotiated

  d) Worked

8). What does the term "marque" refer to in the text?

  a) A type of car

  b) A brand or make of a product

  c) A factory

  d) A labor union

9). What does "partial capacity" imply about the factories?

  a) They are operating at full efficiency.

  b) They are not producing at their maximum potential.

  c) They are producing more than they can sell.

  d) They are shutting down completely.

10). What is the meaning of "consolidate" in the context of the text?

  a) To expand operations

  b) To combine or streamline resources

  c) To increase production

  d) To close down factories

III. Grammar Questions

1). Identify the passive voice in the sentence: "The U.S. carmaker said on Thursday it would invest 125 million pounds in the Ellesmere Port plant."

  a) The U.S. carmaker said

  b) it would invest

  c) in the Ellesmere Port plant

  d) None of the above

2). What is the function of the word "where" in the sentence: "The U.S. carmaker said on Thursday it would invest 125 million pounds in the Ellesmere Port plant, where assembly of the new vehicle will start in 2015."

  a) To indicate time

  b) To introduce a relative clause

  c) To show contrast

  d) To emphasize location

3). Rewrite the following sentence in the active voice: "Some production of GM's Chevrolet marque could be shifted from Asia to Europe."

  a) GM could shift some production of its Chevrolet marque from Asia to Europe.

  b) Some production of GM's Chevrolet marque might be shifted from Asia to Europe.

  c) Shifting some production of GM's Chevrolet marque from Asia to Europe could happen.

  d) None of the above

4). Identify the modal verb in the sentence: "GM is expected to halt production of the Astra at its main plant in Russelsheim, Germany."

  a) is

  b) expected

  c) to halt

  d) None of the above.

5). What tense is used in the sentence: "Many factories are running at partial capacity"?

  a) Present simple

  b) Present continuous

  c) Past simple

  d) Future continuous