Another successful year

The UK-based agricultural and garden equipment group PLT has had another successful year and is looking forward to the future with confidence. The group, which also has distribution and fuel (19),has enjoyed record profits for the fifth year in a (20) . Pre-tax profits for the year (21) March 31 rose by 24 per cent to £4.2 million.

Total group sales (22) by five per cent to £155 million, with the agricultural business delivering yet another record (23), despite the somewhat difficult trading (24) in the industry. Sales in the garden equipment (25) were slow in the early months of the year, but increased dramatically in the final quarter.

Chairman Suresh Kumar said, ‘It is my (26) that we have continued to grow by (27) our customers well. I am delighted to (28) the continued development of our customer (29) and I would like to thank all our customers for their (30).As well as an increase in customers,our staff numbers also continue to grow. During the year, we have taken(31)58 new employees, so that our total workforce now numbers in excess of 700. All of the staff deserve my praise for their dedication and continued efforts in (32) these excellent results.’

The group has proposed a final (33) of 9.4p per share, bringing the total to 13p for the year.

19 A commitments B interests C responsibilities D benefits

20 A row B series C line D sequence

21 A completing B closing C finalising D ending

22 A extended B lifted C expanded D climbed

23 A display B production C performance D demonstration

24 A conditions B features C states D aspects

25 A part B division C component D side

26 A certainty B thought C belief D idea

27 A caring B dealing C providing D treating

28 A inform B notify C comment D report

29 A source B base C foundation D origin

30 A support B favour C assistance D service

31 A up B back C on D over

32 A winning B gaining C achieving D earning

33 A dividend B recompense C return D interest

这是一篇总结性的文章，讲述了一个公司一年的业绩状况，形势喜人。

19题，interests在这里的用法比较特殊，不是兴趣，而是股权，权益的证明：

1)Something in which such a right, claim, or share is held:

权益、债权或股权的证明：

has interests overseas.

有海外产权

2)A person or group of persons holding such a right, claim, or share:

持有此种权益、债权或股权的人或集团：

a petroleum interest.

石油业者