[originaltext]W: Is it true, Mr. Northfield, that Flaxco intends to close down

W: Is it true, Mr. Northfield, that Flaxco intends to close down even more of its European plants?
M: I’m not sure what you are getting at. How do you come to ask such a question? Who’s mentioned any closures of plants in the first place?
W: Well, put it another way then, are European operations going to be reduced along the lines of recent years? I mean, it is true that Flaxco has taken over several companies abroad, particularly in the USA and has even expanded its workforce there.
M: There are a number of developments about which you seem to get confused, if I may say so.
W: A large number of jobs have been lost, though, at your European plants?
M: Look, let me try and put things into perspective for you. I’ll give you some facts first of all. Our production resources have been concentrated steadily over the past few years. So, now we have focused our manufacturing facilities in Europe, but not only here.
W: After closing down two plants in Antwerp and Leeds.
M: Please, let me continue. We have limited our production to certain medicines which are prescribed in large quantities. This appears to be something you’ve neglected to mention, we have been expanding our marketing activities abroad.
W: Have you any plans to increase the workforce here in Europe, Mr. Northfield? I’m sure many people would be keen to hear what you have to say on the subject.
M: I really must insist once more that it’s impossible to view the performance of the company solely from the point of view of Europe, and I’d like to stress the very successful performance of the group over the past few years. Indeed it would be stupid to do so. I mean, we have nearly two thirds of our workforce in subsidiaries and associated companies overseas.
W: Is it true that it wasn’t always like that?
M: As I was saying, we have 60% of our employees involved outside of Europe. That gives you an indication of how international we have become.
W: Could I ask you another question concerning the R&D expenditure of the group? Is this going to be made in Europe or around the world?
M: Again, I can only repeat what I’ve been saying: we are an international corporation and we have a research facility in Italy, which as you know, is very important. Furthermore, we have just started a new research unit in the USA, which is inevitable given the large size of our operations in that country and the expansion of our market share there in the past 6 or 7 years.
1. How many Flaxco’s European plants have been closed down?
2. Where do most of Flaxco’s employees work?
3. Who is Mr. Northfield, most probably?
4. Which of the following statements is true according to the conversation?
5. Where does the talk most probably take place?