Exercise 1. Reread the article's headline and first three paragraphs and find the prepositions that go with these verbs. 1 stir 2 replace 3 lose 4 focus 5 take
1. stir up (headline)
2. replace by (lines 6-7)
3. lose out to (line 12)
4. focus on (line 23)
5. take on (line 31)
Exercise 2. Match the verbs and prepositions in Exercise 1 (1-5) with the meanings (a-e). a) to not get something because someone else gets it instead lose out to b) to compete or fight against someone take on c) to give all your attention to a particular thing focus on d) to take something else's place replace by e) to deliberately cause problems stir up Task 3. Grammar
Exercise 1. Match the phrasal verbs with take (1-5) with the meanings (a-e). 1 be taken aback a) grow rapidly
2 take off b) give employment to
3 take on c) be surprised
4 take out d) gain control of a company
5 take over e) arrange (of money)
1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-E, 5-D.
Exercise 2. Complete the sentences with an appropriate form of take and a preposition. 1 We were going to take on five new staff next month, but then the economy
crashed.
2 They pretended it was a merger, but it feels like we were taken over. 3 We were taken aback when the president announced his resignation.
4 It is very difficult to take out a loan these days.
5 After the new product launch, sales are expected to take off Task 4. Writing Answer the questions in written form.
1 Do you think that McDonald's strategy will be successful?
2 How do you think Starbucks will respond?
Write your own opinion (150 words)
What business strategies separate companies like McDonalds and Starbucks from competitors?
Their systems and processes are important, but anyone can set it up. I believe there are two strategies that really distinguish them. The first is economies of scale using these systems and processes in many locations, which increases profits by reducing material and labor costs on a large scale. The second is name recognition. Branding. Most of them know the name and know what they are getting. We are more comfortable with the familiar and even more trust in what is familiar, regardless of the facts. When we are faced with a choice of not so important things, we tend to choose the familiar. Choosing McDonalds over a local restaurant usually has nothing to do with the quality of the food. If we were asked to think about it, most of us would say that the local restaurant probably has the best quality food. We still choose McDonalds more often because it looks like a known quantity - often because of systems and processes throughout the chain.
Branding is so difficult to measure the profitability associated with it, but this branding and marketing that goes along with it creates a sense of familiarity that triggers the gut reaction of choosing a “famous” product over a less well-known one. It is very difficult to measure the value of IT, but it is one of the most valuable marketing tactics that you can use to run a new and repeat business.