Present perfect and past simple
6 Complete the following company profile with either the present perfect or past simple tense of the verb in brackets.
Procter St Gamble ' has been (be) in the soap business since William Procter and
James Gamble 2_________________(form) their partnership in 1837. In order
to raise capital for expansion, the partners 3_________________(set up) a
corporate structure in 1890, with an appointed president at the helm of the
company. It *_________________(undergo) further restructuring in 1955, with
the creation of individual operating divisions to better manage their growing
lines of products. John E. Peppers_________________(lead) the company since
1995, when he was elected Procter & Gamble's ninth Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer. The same year, the company «_________________(move)
from managing the business under two geographic areas, US and International, to four regions - North America, Latin America, Asia, and Europe/Middle East/Africa.
Ivory soap, which ?_________________(become) a common household
name, s_________________(come) onto the market in 1879. With the
introduction and instant success of Tide laundry detergent in 1946, Procter &
Gamble 9_________________(embark) on a strategy of rapid growth into new
product lines as well as new markets around the world. The firm's commitment
to innovation in technology 1"_________________(help) Tide to remain their
single largest brand over the years. Perhaps the product that
11_________________(have) the greatest impact, however, is Pampers, the
disposable nappy which they l2_________________(launch) in 1961.
As a result of their aggressive expansion policy, Procter & Gamble sales
13_________________(reach) $10 billion in 1980. Since then the company
M_________________(quadruple) the number of consumers it can serve with
its brands - to about five billion people around the world. In 1998 sales 15_________________(rise) to $37.2 billion.
Describing changes
7 Read the following sentences describing changes and decide if the verb or noun underlined is correct or incorrect. If it is correct, put a tick (,/) in the space provided. If it is incorrect, write the correction.
1   Domestic sales of toothpaste have raised by 4.5 per cent over last year. risen (or increased/'acne up)
2    Procter is. Gamble increased its market share in the European persona! care category with the acquisition of the Blendax line of products,
3   The consolidation of product development operations in Asia brought about a reduce in the research and development staff._________________
4   The candle part of the business saw a rapid decline after the electric light bulb was invented._________________
5   The successful nationwide marketing campaign rose shampoo sales dramatically.
6   With the introduction of refill packs for liquid laundry detergents, packaging was reduced by 85 per cent._________________
7   Consumption of traditional cotton nappies has dropped dramatically since the introduction of (he disposable nappy._________________
8   There was a 100 per cent raise in business in South Africa in 1994.