Cau 176 – 180.

McDowell Publishing plans to merge with Harvey Media this January, a spokesman for McDowell Publishing said. The new company will be called McDowell and Harvey Media. The decision comes after both companies experienced their third straight year of losses. Both companies have struggled to compete with the world's largest publishing company, Watson Media Inc., which accoUnts for about 75 percent of the market. Since Watson Media Inc. was foUnded by Charles Duvet Jr. in 1999, the company has successfully forced ten other small publishing companies to declare bankruptcy. According to a spokesman from Harvey Media, after the merger is completed, the new company will launch a 3-million-dollar marketing campaign. Jackson Polkins, the famous children's writer, has already announced he will be leaving Watson Media Inc. to pursue a contract with the new company.

176. The word "losses" in line 5 is closest in meaning to

a)  Deficits

b) Fortunes

c)  Properties

d) Resources

177. According to the article, why are the two companies making the change?

a)  To induce voluntary retirement

b) To hire more employees

c)  To reduce operation costs

d) To remain competitive

178. According to the article, what happened in 1999?

a)  Watson Media Inc. went bankrupt

b) Charles Duvet Jr. started a company

c)  Harvey Media introduced a new campaign

d) Jackson Polkins published a book

179. What can be inferred from the newspaper article?

a)  The new company will lay off many workers

b) McDowell Publishing will invest considerable money

c)  Watson Media Inc. is a huge company

d) Harvey Media will change locations

180. What is Jackson Polkins's occupation?

a)  Company spokesman

b) Financial advisor

c)  Children's writer

d) Publishing assistant