商务英语(BEC)高级阅读真题及答案

PARTONEQuestions1-8Lookatthesentencesbelowandatfivepassagestakenfromabookaboutfamousmanagementthinkersontheoppositepage.Whichpassagedoeseachsentencereferto?Foreachsentence1-8,markoneletterA1B,C,DorEonyourAnswerSheet.Youwillneedtousesomeoftheselettersmorethanonce.Example:Hehasdevelopedhisowncompanytopromotehiswork.ABCDEOthersinhisfieldthinkveryhighlyofhim.Hisideashavespreadbeyondthebusinessworld.Hefeltthatpeopleshouldbeabletoenjoytheirwork.Hisideasaremorecomplexthantheyseem.Hedidavarietyofinterestingthingsbeforewritinghisbooks.Hismostsuccessfulbookwaswrittenwithacolleague.Heisparticularlyskilledatforecastingimportantdevelopments.Contactwiththemilitarywasanearlyinfluenceonhisthinking.AJohnAdairAdairisthepioneeringBritishthinkerinthetheoryofleadership.HewasfirstpersonintheUKtoholdaprofessorshipinBusinessLeadershipandhaspublishedaseriesofinfluentialbooksonthesubject.Despitehisquietappearance,Adairhashadacolourfullife,servinginaBedouinregimentandworkingonanArcticfishingboat!HisinitialinterestinleadershipcamefromhisarmyexperienceandheusedtolectureatthehighlyprestigiousacademywhereBritisharmyofficesaretrained.Henowworksasaninternationalconsultant.BEdwarddeBonoDeBonoisunusualamongmajorgurusfortworeasons:firstly,hewasbornnotinoneofthegreatindustrialnationsbutonthetinyislandofMalta.Secondly,hisideashavereachedawideraudiencethanjustmanagers,sothathisbookshavebecomeessentialrendinginmanydifferentdisciplines.MostofdeBonosworkhasbeenconcernedwiththewayhumanbeingscantrainthemselvestothinkmorecreatively.Thisapparentlysimpleideahasresultedin37booksandahighlysuccessfulcareerasalecturerandconsultant.CPeterDruckerProbablynoothersinglethinkerhasdoneasmuchasDruckertoestablishmanagementasaseriousareaofstudy.Certainly,hisfellowmanagementthinkersconsiderhimoneofthefoundingfathersofthediscipline,andhisbooksandarticlesarequotedmorethanthoseofanyothermanagementwriter.Hisfirstbookwaspublishedasfarbackas1939,yetheisstillwritingandteaching.Hisgreatestdistinctionhasbeenhisabilitytopredictcomingtrendsinbusinessandeconomics.Asaresult,hisideasaretreatedwiththegreatestrespectandinterest.FrederickHerzbergAlthoughrelativelyfewcontemporarymanagementstudentswillhavereadbooks,Herzbergsnameisinstantlyrecognisabletoanyonewhohasstudiedindustrialorganisations.ThisisbecausetheAmericanpsychologistwasresponsibleforintroducingtheconceptofmotivationintomanagementthinking.Asayoungman,Herzbergbecamedeeplyinterestedinmentalillnessandthehumanneedformentalandemotionalsatisfaction.Thisledhimtocriticisetheapproachofmanycompaniestojobdesign,andtoarguefortheneedforjobenrichmentstimulateemployeesefforts.TomPetersTheAmericansreputationwascreatedintheI980sbytspectacularsuccessofonebook,InSearchofExcellence,co-writtenwithRobertWaterman.Thetwowereworkingtogetherasmanagementconsultantsandno-oneexpectedtheirfirst(andbooktoendupselling5millioncopiesworldwide!Althoughhisideashavebeencriticised,Peterspopularityasaspeakerandwriterhascontinuedtogrow.SomuchsothatPetershascreatedhisownbusinesstomarketbooks,videosandconsultancybasedonhiswork.PARTTWOQuestions9-14Readthistextfromanarticleabouthealthclubs.Choosethebestsentencefromtheoppositepagetofillinofthegaps.Foreachgap9-14,markoneletterA-HonyourAnswerSheet.Donotuseanylettermorethanonce.Thereisanexampleatthebeginning(0).TravelstressbringsboomtohealthclubsArapidgrowthinbusinesstravelhasprovidedalucrativespin-offforBritishhealthclubsascompaniestrytopreventhard-workingexecutivesfromsufferingtravel-relatedstress.Healthclubsarefullybookedthroughoutthecomingmonthsallaroundthecountryandmanyareplanningtoexpandtheirfacilities.0HAccordingtoGillieTurner,groupmarketingmanagerfortheChampneysgroupofhealthclubs,duringthelastrecessionexecutiveslostmanyoftheirextrabenefitsascompaniescutback..9ShesaysthatlargecompaniesalsoseemtohavedecidedthatitisnogoodsendingtoacountrylikeSpainasarewardfordoingagoodjob,becausewillsimplyeattoomuchandflopontoabeach..10Champneys,thecompanyacknowledgedasthemarketleaderinthisfield,isnowplanningtointroduceaspecial"ProfitingfromStress"course,whichwillrunoverthreedays..11JonathonStapleton,generalmanagerofChampneys,saysthatmoderncorporatelifebeingwhatitis,mostbusinesstravellersfindthattheyarehavingtodotheworkwhich-ayearago-wasdonebytwo.12Tomeetthisnewdemand,otherhealthclubsarealsothinkingofintroducingsimilarschemes.ClareBrandish,thesalesandmarketingdirectorofanotherhealthclub,hasnoticedamarkedchangeintheclienteleatherclub..13Businessesofallkindsareanxioustoreduceabsenteeism..14Muchoftheproblemiscausedbylongperiodsawayfromhome,irregularhours,businessentertainingandjetlag.AccordingtotheGuildofBusinessTravelAgents,salesofbusiness-classairlineticketshaverisenby12%inthepastyear,hotelbookingshavegoneupby36%andcarhirehasrisenby24%.DaveReynolds,theGBTAchiefexecutive,saysthatthetroubleisthatthesamenumberofpeoplearebeingaskedtotravelmoreoften.Hecommentsthatitisnowondertheyneedtotakeabreakinahealthclub.AIthasbeencalculatedthatabout40millionworkingdaysarelosteachyearinBritainbecauseofstress,tentimesasmanyasarelost10industrialdisputes.Thishasinvolvedaconsiderableriseinthenumberofbusinessbookings,whereaspreviouslymostclientscameasprivateNowtheyarebeingrestored,asindustryrealisesthattheofitsexecutivesisvital.Butwhowillbenefitmostfromthesedevelopments?Becauseofthepressuresthisimposes,manycompanieshavenowdecidedthatitisworthwhilepayingfortheirseniorexecutivestoaproperbreakandgetadviceonhowtocombatstress.Executivestakingpartinitwillbegivenmassagesandhealthtreatments,workoutsandarangeoftalksonhowtodealwithespeciallywhentravelling.Sowhatsthereasonforthisnowtrend?PARTTHREEQuestions15-20Readthefollowingarticleonrecruitingandmanagingstaffandthequestionsontheoppositepage.Eachquestionhasfoursuggestedanswersorwaysoffinishingthesentence,A,B,CandD.MarkoneletterA,B,CorDonyourAnswerSheet,fortheyouchoose.Asamanagerintheserviceindustrysector,I'velookedathundredsofCVsinmytime.Theyarenotnecessarilytheblanddocumentssomebossesmightthinktheyare!Theyarefulloflittlepointerstowardsindividualspersonalitiesandsuitabilityforthejob.ThefirstthingIalwayslookatisanapplicantsemploymentrecord.Icheckforcontinuityandstability.Ifsomebodyhasalonglistofpreviousjobs,alloflength,alarmbellsstartringing.Ratherthananirregularroutefromjobtojob,whatIhopetoseeisstablecareerprogression.Whatdoestheircareerpathlooklike-isitallstepsforward,oraretherealotofsidewaysmoves?AndIamalwayspleasedtofindafamilypersonchildren,becauseinmyexperiencetheytendtoberesponsibleandreliable.IneverrelyonCVsalone.Wegetapplicantstofillinoneofourownapplicationforms.Weaskwhythey'veapplied,whattheiraspirationsandpersonalgoalsare,andalsoabouttheirinterestsandhobbiesandanyclubstheybelongto.Thatgivesyouausefulinsightintotheirpersonalityandlifestyle.Theapplicationformalsoenablesustohowmuchpeoplehaveactuallybeenprogressingintheircareers,becauseweaskfordetailsofthesalariestheyhavereceivedforeachjob.ItsalwaysworthlookingatCVsanddesigningapplicationformswithgreatcare.Takingonemployeesmightberewarding,butitisalsoainvestmentforanybusiness.Mistakesinchoosingstaffcancostcompaniesdear,soitmakessensetospendtimeensuringyougettherightIntheservicesector,oneoftheaimsofcompaniesistomaintainandimprovecustomerservice,andthisisachievedpartlythroughlowstaffturnover.Youneedtotakeonpeoplewhounderstandthat,andwillwanttostay.Thatswhy,whenyou'vetakenstaffon,thenextthingisgettingthebestoutofthem.MymanagementstylecomesfromthedayswhenItookovermyfirstbusiness,anailingroadhaulagefirmwhichIwascertainIcouldintoaprofitablecompany.Thefirstthingistotreatothersasyouliketobetreatedyourself.AssoonasItookoverthebusiness,Italkedtoeverybodyindividually,andlookedforwaystomakesuretheirparticularskillsbenefitedthecompany.Ididn'thavemuchexperiencethenofmanagingpeople,butaboveallIalwaystriedtobefairandhonestwitheveryone.Asaresult,Ithestaffknewthatandacceptedmydecisions,eveniftheydidn'tagreewiththemall.Also,bossesmustbeabletocommunicate.Youalsoneedtocreateteamspirit,andbuildonthestrengthoftheteam.Iexplainedmyplansforthecompanytoallthestaff,andletthemallknowwhatIneededfromthem.Thelorrydriversrespondedbrilliantly,andwerethekeytoturningthebusinessround.Theyunderstoodthatwehadtodevelopaprofessionalreputation,andfromthenonthedaysofpoorqualitydeliverieswereover.Lastly,Iamagreatbelieverinprofit-sharing.Ittakesateammakeacompanywork,soprofitsshouldbesharedbyall.Jobsatisfactionisimportant,butitdoesn'tpaytherent.Sharedprofitandbonuseshelptostrengthenteamspiritbygivingeveryoneacommongoalthattheyworktowardstogether.WhatfactdoesthewriterhopetolearnfromapplicantsAthattheyhaveexperienceofmanydifferentjobsBthattheircareershavedevelopedsteadilyCtheopiniontheiremployershadofthemDwhethertheyaremarriedorsingleThewritersaystheapplicationformisusefulbecauseArevealssomethingoftheapplicantscharacter.givesinformationabouttheapplicantsfamily.explainswhatskillstheapplicanthasfortheDshowshowmuchtheapplicantwantstoearn.Accordingtothewriter,whyareCVsandapplicationformsimportant?AInterviewingpeopleisanexpensiveprocess.BTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsreallywantthejob.CTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsareefficientorDEmployingthewrongpeoplecanbedisastrous.OnereasonwhythewriterwassuccessfulinherfirstbusinessthatAshewasusedtodealingwithpeople.Bshewasopenwiththestaff.Cthebusinesswasalreadydoingwellwhenshestarted.Dthestaffagreedwithallherdecisions.Thewriterbelievesprofit-sharingisagoodideaAitencouragesacompetitivespirit.Beveryoneearnsthesamesalary.Ceveryonesharesthesameaim.Ditcreatesjobsatisfaction.WhichwouldmakethebesttitleforthisAProfit-sharingasmotivationHowIturnedabusinessroundPeople-thekeytobusinesssuccessDTheimportanceofawell-presentedPARTFOURQuestions21-30Readthebelowaboutamethodoflearninglanguagesbusinesspeople.Choosethebestwordfromtheoppositepagetofilleachgap.Foreachquestion21-30markoneletterA,B,CorDonyourSheet.ThereisanexampleatthebeginningLanguagelearningforthebusyexecutiveIfyou'veeverbeentoldbyyourbosstoimproveyourknowledgeaforeignlanguageyou'llknowthat……(0)……doesn'tcomequickly.Itgenerallytakesyearstolearnanotherlanguagewellandconstant……(21)……tomaintainthehighstandardsrequiredforfrequentbusinessuse.Whetheryoustudyinaclass,withaudiocassettes,computersoronyour……(22)……sooneror……(23)……everycoursefinishesandyoumustdecidewhattodonextifyouneedaforeignlanguageforyourcareer.BusinessAudioMagazinesisanewproductdesignedtohelpyoucontinuelanguagestudyinawaythatfitseasilyintoyourbusyschedule.Eachaudiocassette……(24)……ofanhour-longprogrammepackedwithbusinessnews,featuresandinterviewsinthelanguageofyourchoice.Thesecassetteswontteachyouhowtoordermealsoraskfordirections.Itis……(25)……thatyoucandothatalready.Instead,bygivingyouanopportunitytohearthelanguageasitsreallyspoken,theyhelpto……(26)……yourvocabularyandimproveyourabilitytousereallanguagerelatingto,forexample,thatall-importantmarketingtrip.Thegreatadvantageofusingaudiomagazinesisthatthey……(27)……youtoperfectyourlanguageskillsinwaysthatsuityourlifestyle.Forexample,youcanselectatopicandlisteninyourcarorhotelwhenawayonbusiness.Nootherbusinesscourseisas……(28)……Andtheradio-magazineformatisasinstructiveasitisentertaining.Inadditiontotheaudiocassette,thispackageincludesatranscriptwithabusinessglossaryandastudy……(29)……Thecomponentsarestructuredsointermediateandadvancedstudentsmayusethemseparatelyortogether……(30)……ontheirability.Example:ABCDAgainBresultCsuccessDoutcomeAexerciseBperformanceCpracticeDoperationAselfBindividualCpersonalDownAafterBthenClaterDquickerAconsistsBincludesCcontainsDinvolvesAinsistedBacquiredCassertedDassumedAprolongBextendCspreadDliftAallowBletCsupportDofferAadjustableBflexibleCconvertibleDvariableAadditionBsupplementCextraDmanuscriptAaccordingBdependingCrelatingDQuestions31-40Readthearticlebelowaboutmeetings.Foreachquestion31-40writeonewordinCAPITALLETTERSonyourAnswerSheet.HowtomakemoreofmeetingsYoushouldknowwhatendsyouwanttoachieveinameetingbeforestartsandprepareforit(0)……readinganypaperscirculatedbeforehand,andcarefullythinkingabout(31)……youwanttosay.Thismaysoundratherboring,butsolidpreparationisthekeytosuccessfulmeetings:Agreat(32)……oftimeandenergycanbewastedthroughofplanning.Themostimportantissuesarenotalwaysgiventhemosttimeingeneralrunningofmeetings.Peopleareoftenunwilling(33)……discussimportantbudgetarymattersbecausetheydonotfullyunderstandthem,but(34)……becomesanexprtwhenitcomestodiscussingthecolouofthenewcurtains,orwhattypeofcoffeetobuyThediscussionof(35)……trivialmattersasthese,therefore,shouldbesaveduntiltheendofthemeeting.Duringthemeetingitisessentialtosticktotheagendaso(36)……toavoidthecommonproblemofrepetition.Atthesametimeyou(37)……tobesensitivetootherpeoplesideasandfeelings,andneverlosetemper.Bepreparedtoaccept(38)……implementasuggestionthatiscontraryto(39)……ownideas