2023年剑桥商务英语高级阅读真题

剑桥商务英语BEC高级阅读真题

PARTONEQuestions1-8·Lookatthesentencesbelowandatfivepassagestakenfromabookaboutfamousmanagementthinkersontheoppositepage.·Whichpassagedoeseachsentencereferto?·Foreachsentence1-8,markoneletterA1B,C,DorEonyourAnswerSheet.·Youwillneedtousesomeoftheselettersmorethanonce.Example:Hehasdevelopedhisowncompanytopromotehiswork.0ABCDE1Othersinhisfieldthinkveryhighlyofhim.2Hisideashavespreadbeyondthebusinessworld.3Hefeltthatpeopleshouldbeabletoenjoytheirwork.4Hisideasaremorecomplexthantheyseem.5Hedidavarietyofinterestingthingsbeforewritinghisbooks.6Hismostsuccessfulbookwaswrittenwithacolleague.7Heisparticularlyskilledatforecastingimportantdevelopments.8Contactwiththemilitarywasanearlyinfluenceonhisthinking.AJohnAdairAdairisthepioneeringBritishthinkerinthetheoryofleadership.HewasthefirstpersonintheUKtoholdaprofessorshipinBusinessLeadershipandhaspublishedaseriesofinfluentialbooksonthesubject.Despitehisquietappearance,Adairhashadacolourfullife,servinginaBedouinregimentandworkingonanArcticfishingboat!HisinitialinterestinleadershipcamefromhisarmyexperienceandheusedtolectureatthehighlyprestigiousacademywhereBritisharmyofficesaretrained.Henowworksasaninternationalconsultant.BEdwarddeBonoDeBonoisunusualamongmajorgurusfortworeasons:firstly,hewasbornnotinoneofthegreatindustrialnationsbutonthetinyislandofMostofdeBonosworkhasbeenconcernedwiththewayhumanbeingscantrainthemselvestothinkmorecreatively.Thisapparentlysimpleideahasresultedin37booksandahighlysuccessfulcareerasalecturerandconsultant.CPeterDruckerProbablynoothersinglethinkerhasdoneasmuchasDruckertoestablishmanagementasaseriousareaofstudy.Certainly,hisfellowmanagementthinkersconsiderhimoneofthefoundingfathersofthediscipline,andhisbooksandarticlesarequotedmorethanthoseofanyothermanagementwriter.Hisfirstbookwaspublishedasfarbackas1939,yetheisstillwritingandteaching.Hisgreatestdistinctionhasbeenhisabilitytopredictcomingtrendsinbusinessandeconomics.Asaresult,hisideasaretreatedwiththegreatestrespectandinterest.DFrederickHerzbergAlthoughrelativelyfewcontemporarymanagementstudentswillhavereadhisbooks,Herzbergsnameisinstantlyrecognisabletoanyonewhohasstudiedindustrialorganisations.ThisisbecausetheAmericanpsychologistwasresponsibleforintroducingtheconceptofmotivationintomanagementthinking.Asayoungman,Herzbergbecamedeeplyinterestedinmentalillnessandthehumanneedformentalandemotionalsatisfaction.Thisledhimtocriticisetheapproachofmanycompaniestojobdesign,andtoarguefortheneedforjobenrichmenttostimulateemployeesefforts.ETomPetersTheAmericansreputationwascreatedintheI980sbythespectacularsuccessofonebook,InSearchofExcellence,co-writtenwithRobertWaterman.Thetwowereworkingtogetherasmanagementconsultantsandno-oneexpectedtheirfirst(andonly)booktoendupselling5millioncopiesworldwide!Althoughhisideashavebeencriticised,Peterspopularityasaspeakerandwriterhascontinuedtogrow.SomuchsothatPetershascreatedhisownbusinesstomarketbooks,videosandconsultancybasedonhiswork.PARTTWOQuestions9-14·Readthistextfromanarticleabouthealthclubs.·Choosethebestsentencefromtheoppositepagetofillineachofthegaps.·Foreachgap9-14,markoneletterA-HonyourAnswerSheet.·Donotuseanylettermorethanonce.·Thereisanexampleatthebeginning(0).TravelstressbringsboomtohealthclubsArapidgrowthinbusinesstravelhasprovidedalucrativespin-offforBritishhealthclubsascompaniestrytopreventhard-workingexecutivesfromsufferingtravel-relatedstress.Healthclubsarefullybookedthroughoutthecomingmonthsallaroundthecountryandmanyareplanningtoexpandtheirfacilities.0HAccordingtoGillieTurner,groupmarketingmanagerfortheChampneysgroupofhealthclubs,duringthelastrecessionexecutiveslostmanyoftheirextrabenefitsascompaniescutback..9ShesaysthatlargecompaniesalsoseemtohavedecidedthatitisnogoodsendingsomeonetoacountrylikeSpainasarewardfordoingagoodjob,becausetheywillsimplyeattoomuchandflopontoabeach..10Champneys,thecompanyacknowledgedasthemarketleaderinthisfield,isnowplanningtointroduceaspecial"ProfitingfromStress"course,whichwillrunoverthreedays..11JonathonStapleton,generalmanagerofChampneys,saysthatmoderncorporatelifebeingwhatitis,mostbusinesstravellersfindthattheyarehavingtodotheworkwhich-evenayearago-wasdonebytwo.12Tomeetthisnewdemand,otherhealthclubsarealsothinkingofintroducingsimilarschemes.ClareBrandish,thesalesandmarketingdirectorofanotherhealthclub,hasnoticedamarkedchangeintheclienteleatherclub..13Businessesofallkindsareanxioustoreduceabsenteeism..14Muchoftheproblemiscausedbylongperiodsawayfromhome,irregularhours,businessentertainingandjetlag.AccordingtotheGuildofBusinessTravelAgents,salesofbusiness-classairlineticketshaverisenby12%inthepastyear,hotelbookingshavegoneupby36%andcarhirehasrisenby24%.DaveReynolds,theGBTAchiefexecutive,saysthatthetroubleisthatthesamenumberofpeoplearebeingaskedtotravelmoreoften.Hecommentsthatitisnowondertheyneedtotakeabreakinahealthclub.AIthasbeencalculatedthatabout40millionworkingdaysarelosteachyearinBritainbecauseofstress,tentimesasmanyasarelost10industrialdisputes.BThishasinvolvedaconsiderableriseinthenumberofbusinessbookings,whereaspreviouslymostclientscameasprivateindividuals.CNowtheyarebeingrestored,asindustryrealisesthatthehealthofitsexecutivesisvital.DButwhowillbenefitmostfromthesedevelopments?EBecauseofthepressuresthisimposes,manycompanieshavenowdecidedthatitisworthwhilepayingfortheirseniorexecutivestotakeaproperbreakandgetadviceonhowtocombatstress.FExecutivestakingpartinitwillbegivenmassagesandhealthtreatments,workoutsandarangeoftalksonhowtodealwithstress,especiallywhentravelling.GSowhatsthereasonforthisnowtrend?PARTTHREEQuestions15-20·Readthefollowingarticleonrecruitingandmanagingstaffandthequestionsontheoppositepage.·Eachquestionhasfoursuggestedanswersorwaysoffinishingthesentence,A,B,CandD.·MarkoneletterA,B,CorDonyourAnswerSheet,fortheansweryouchoose.Asamanagerintheserviceindustrysector,I'velookedathundredsofCVsinmytime.Theyarenotnecessarilytheblanddocumentssomebossesmightthinktheyare!Theyarefulloflittlepointerstowardsindividualspersonalitiesandsuitabilityforthejob.ThefirstthingIalwayslookatisanapplicantsemploymentrecord.Icheckforcontinuityandstability.Ifsomebodyhasalonglistofpreviousjobs,allofvaryinglength,alarmbellsstartringing.Ratherthananirregularroutefromjobtojob,whatIhopetoseeisstablecareerprogression.Whatdoestheircareerpathlooklike-isitallstepsforward,oraretherealotofsidewaysmoves?AndIamalwayspleasedtofindafamilypersonwithchildren,becauseinmyexperiencetheytendtoberesponsibleandreliable.IneverrelyonCVsalone.Wegetapplicantstofillinoneofourownapplicationforms.Weaskwhythey'veapplied,whattheiraspirationsandpersonalgoalsare,andalsoabouttheirinterestsandhobbiesandanyclubstheybelongto.Thatgivesyouausefulinsightintotheirpersonalityandlifestyle.Theapplicationformalsoenablesustotesthowmuchpeoplehaveactuallybeenprogressingintheircareers,becauseweaskfordetailsofthesalariestheyhavereceivedforeachjob.ItsalwaysworthlookingatCVsanddesigningapplicationformswithgreatcare.Takingonemployeesmightberewarding,butitisalsoabiginvestmentforanybusiness.Mistakesinchoosingstaffcancostcompaniesdear,soitmakessensetospendtimeensuringyougettherightperson.Intheservicesector,oneoftheaimsofcompaniesistomaintainandimprovecustomerservice,andthisisachievedpartlythroughlowstaffturnover.Youneedtotakeonpeoplewhounderstandthat,andwillwanttostay.Thatswhy,whenyou'vetakenstaffon,thenextthingisgettingthebestoutofthem.MymanagementstylecomesfromthedayswhenItookovermyfirstbusiness,anailingroadhaulagefirmwhichIwascertainIcouldturnintoaprofitablecompany.Thefirstthingistotreatothersasyoudliketobetreatedyourself.AssoonasItookoverthebusiness,Italkedtoeverybodyindividually,andlookedforwaystomakesuretheirparticularskillsbenefitedthecompany.Ididn'thavemuchexperiencethenofmanagingpeople,butaboveallIalwaystriedtobefairandhonestwitheveryone.Asaresult,Ithinkthestaffknewthatandacceptedmydecisions,eveniftheydidn'tagreewiththemall.Also,bossesmustbeabletocommunicate.Youalsoneedtocreateteamspirit,andbuildonthestrengthoftheteam.Iexplainedmyplansforthecompanytoallthestaff,andletthemallknowwhatIneededfromthem.Thelorrydriversrespondedbrilliantly,andwerethekeytoturningthebusinessround.Theyunderstoodthatwehadtodevelopaprofessionalreputation,andfromthenonthedaysofpoorqualitydeliverieswereover.Lastly,Iamagreatbelieverinprofit-sharing.Ittakesateamtomakeacompanywork,soprofitsshouldbesharedbyall.Jobsatisfactionisimportant,butitdoesn'tpaytherent.Sharedprofitandbonuseshelptostrengthenteamspiritbygivingeveryoneacommongoalthattheyworktowardstogether.15WhatfactdoesthewriterhopetolearnfromapplicantsCVs?AthattheyhaveexperienceofmanydifferentjobsBthattheircareershavedevelopedsteadilyCtheopiniontheiremployershadofthemDwhethertheyaremarriedorsingle16ThewritersaystheapplicationformisusefulbecauseitArevealssomethingoftheapplicantscharacter.Bgivesinformationabouttheapplicantsfamily.Cexplainswhatskillstheapplicanthasforthejob.Dshowshowmuchtheapplicantwantstoearn.17Accordingtothewriter,whyareCVsandapplicationformssoimportant?AInterviewingpeopleisanexpensiveprocess.BTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsreallywantthejob.CTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsareefficientornot.DEmployingthewrongpeoplecanbedisastrous.18OnereasonwhythewriterwassuccessfulinherfirstbusinesswasthatAshewasusedtodealingwithpeople.Bshewasopenwiththestaff.Cthebusinesswasalreadydoingwellwhenshestarted.Dthestaffagreedwithallherdecisions.19Thewriterbelievesprofit-sharingisagoodideabecauseAitencouragesacompetitivespirit.Beveryoneearnsthesamesalary.Ceveryonesharesthesameaim.Ditcreatesjobsatisfaction.20Whichwouldmakethebesttitleforthistext?AProfit-sharingasmotivationBHowIturnedabusinessroundCPeople-thekeytobusinesssuccessDTheimportanceofawell-presentedCVPARTFOUR

Questions21-30·Readthearticlebelowaboutamethodoflearninglanguagesforbusinesspeople.·Choosethebestwordfromtheoppositepagetofilleachgap.·Foreachquestion21-30markoneletterA,B,CorDonyourAnswerSheet.·Thereisanexampleatthebeginning(0).LanguagelearningforthebusyexecutiveIfyou'veeverbeentoldbyyourbosstoimproveyourknowledgeofaforeignlanguageyou'llknowthat……(0)……doesn'tcomequickly.Itgenerallytakesyearstolearnanotherlanguagewellandconstant……(21)……tomaintainthehighstandardsrequiredforfrequentbusinessuse.Whetheryoustudyinaclass,withaudiocassettes,computersoronyour……(22)……sooneror……(23)……everylanguagecoursefinishesandyoumustdecidewhattodonextifyouneedaforeignlanguageforyourcareer.BusinessAudioMagazinesisanewproductdesignedtohelpyoucontinuelanguagestudyinawaythatfitseasilyintoyourbusyschedule.Eachaudiocassette……(24)……ofanhour-longprogrammepackedwithbusinessnews,featuresandinterviewsinthelanguageofyourchoice.Thesecassetteswontteachyouhowtoordermealsoraskfordirections.Itis……(25)……thatyoucandothatalready.Instead,bygivingyouanopportunitytohearthelanguageasitsreallyspoken,theyhelpyouto……(26)……yourvocabularyandimproveyourabilitytousereallanguagerelatingto,forexample,thatall-importantmarketingtrip.Thegreatadvantageofusingaudiomagazinesisthatthey……(27)……youtoperfectyourlanguageskillsinwaysthatsuityourlifestyle.Forexample,youcanselectatopicandlisteninyourcarorhotelwhenawayonbusiness.Nootherbusinesscourseisas……(28)……Andtheuniqueradio-magazineformatisasinstructiveasitisentertaining.Inadditiontotheaudiocassette,thispackageincludesatranscriptwithabusinessglossaryandastudy……(29)……Thecomponentsarestructuredsothatintermediateandadvancedstudentsmayusethemseparatelyortogether……(30)……ontheirability.Example:ABCD20AgainBresultCsuccessDoutcome21AexerciseBperformanceCpracticeDoperation22AselfBindividualCpersonalDown23AafterBthenClaterDquicker24AconsistsBincludesCcontainsDinvolves25AinsistedBacquiredCassertedDassumed26AprolongBextendCspreadDlift27AallowBletCsupportDoffer28AadjustableBflexibleCconvertibleDvariable29AadditionBsupplementCextraDmanuscript30AaccordingBdependingCrelatingDbasingPARTFIVE

Questions31-40·Readthearticlebelowaboutmeetings.·Foreachquestion31-40writeonewordinCAPITALLETTERSonyourAnswerSheet.HowtomakemoreofmeetingsYoushouldknowwhatendsyouwanttoachieveinameetingbeforeitstartsandprepareforit(0)……readinganypaperscirculatedbeforehand,andcarefullythinkingabout(31)……youwanttosay.Thismaysoundratherboring,butsolidpreparationisthekeytosuccessfulmeetings:Agreat(32)……oftimeandenergycanbewastedthroughsimplelackofplanning.Themostimportantissuesarenotalwaysgiventhemosttimeinthegeneralrunningofmeetings.Peopleareoftenunwilling(33)……discussimportantbudgetarymattersbecausetheydonotfullyunderstandthem,but(34)……becomesanexpertwhenitcomestodiscussingthecolourofthenewcurtains,orwhattypeofcoffeetobuyThediscussionof(35)……trivialmattersasthese,therefore,shouldbesaveduntiltheendofthemeeting.Duringthemeetingitisessentialtosticktotheagendaso(36)……toavoidthecommonproblemofrepetition.Atthesametimeyou(37)……tobesensitivetootherpeoplesideasandfeelings,andneverloseyourtemper.Bepreparedtoa