Questions 153-156 refer to the following article.
Park and Smith, a financial planning
company based in Lakeview, has
opened a branch office in downtown
Salem in the building owned by the Salem
Office Properties real estate company. Park
and Smith is taking over office space formerly
occupied by the law offices of James
Robertson. The space had been vacant for a
Year and a half. The new Park and Smith
office was open for business as of yesterday.
Greta Park, president of Park and Smith, says
that her company chose the Salem location
because of a rising demand for financial
planning services in the area. "Salem is a
growing community," she explained, "and
the town's citizens are becoming more affluent.
It is just the type of community where
services such as ours are needed." Park and
Smith closed its branch offices in Johnstown
and Freeburg at the end of last year. These
communities are close enough to Lakeview
to be served by the main office there,
Ms.Park explained, but having an office in
Salem will facilitate expanding services to the
entire eastern part of the state. The branch's
opening comes just a few months after the
opening of the PD Miller stock brokerage
firm at the Salem Center office complex.
153. What kind of a business is Smith and Park?
(A) Financial planning
(B) Law office
(C) Real estate
(D) Stock brokerage
154. When did Park and Smith open its branch office in Salem?
(A) Yesterday
(B) A few months ago
(C) At the end of last year
(D) A year and a half ago
155. Why did Smith and Park open a branch office in Salem?
(A) They closed their other branch offices.
(B) It's close to the main office.
(C) There is a need for their services there.
(D) The rent is reasonable.
156. The word facilitate in line 24 is closet in meaning to
(A) fund.
(B) assist.
(C) impede.
(D) upgrade.
