Question 1-2 refer to the following email.
From: Helen Martin
To: All advertising associates
Subject: Employee Lunch

Hello everyone,
I just wanted to remind you all that the annual employee luncheon will be held this Friday, March 16^th. It will be held at 1 p.m. at the Emerald Country Club. Lunch will be provided, but we would like each associate to bring one dessert. There is a sign-up sheet in the break room next to the water cooler. Also, this year we will be celebrating the achievements of Bob Hopey, the Director of Advertising, who will be retiring at the end of March. Mr. Hopey has worked for Best Advertising for thirty years, and was responsible for the successful merger with McKinley Advertising in 2004. He will be missed greatly, and we are asking each associate to contribute $25 for a goodbye gift. The gift will be handed to him at the luncheon. Please give the money to Barbara Whales in Human Resources by Thursday, March 15^th.

Question 1: What information is discussed in the email?

Question 3-5 refer to the following letter.
12 Blue Bird Drive
Newark, NJ
064587
12 May 2007

Paul Thorntree
Spotless Cleaner’s
145 Market Drive
Newark, NJ

Dear Mr. Thorntree,
I recently had three jackets dry cleaned at Spotless Cleaner’s. Unfortunately, when I got home and looked at one of the jackets, I noticed there was a large rip on one of the sleeves. I immediately returned the item to your building on Market Drive, but the sales clerk told me that the company was not responsible for any damages incurred during cleaning. I have been doing business with Spotless Cleaner’s for three years and have always received excellent service, but I am quite distressed about this recent incident. I would like the company to pay for the repair of this item, and to give me a full refund on the cost of dry cleaning all three items. Please contact me as soon as possible to discount this matter. I can be reached Monday to Friday after 6 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday any time. My home number is 632-365-1456. You can also reach me at any office at 653-362-9876.

Regards,
Linda Applebee

Question 3: What is the purpose of the letter?

Question 6-10 refer to the following article. 

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.

Question 6: The word “losses” in line 5 is closest in meaning to