2025年剑桥BEC高级阅读理解实战宝典

剑桥商务英语BEC高级阅读真题

PARTONE

Questions1-8

•Lookatthesentencesbelowandatfivepassagestaken

fromabookaboutfamousmanagementthinkersontheopposite

page.

•Whichpassagedoeseachsentencereferto?

•Foreachsentence1-8,markoneletterAlB,C,DorE

onyourAnswerSheet.

•Youwillneedtousesomeoftheselettersmorethanonce.

Example:

Hehasdevelopedhisowncompanytopromotehiswork.

OABCDE

1Othersinhisfieldthinkveryhighlyofhim.

2Hisideashavespreadbeyondthebusinessworld.

3Hefeltthatpeopleshouldbeabletoenjoytheirwork.

4Hisideasaremorecomplexthantheyseem.

5Hedidavarietyofinterestingthingsbeforewritinghis

books.

6Hismostsuccessfulbookwaswrittenwithacolleague.

7Heisparticularlyskilledatforecastingimportant

developments.

8Contactwiththemilitarywasanearlyinfluenceonhis

thinking.

AJohnAdair

AdairisthepioneeringBritishthinkerinthetheoryof

leadership.HewasthefirstpersonintheUKtoholda

professorshipinBusinessLeadershipandhaspublishedaseries

ofinfluentialbooksonthesubject.

Despitehisquietappearance,Adairhashadacolourfullife,

servinginaBedouinregimentandworkingonanArcticfishing

boat!Hisinitialinterestinleadershipcamefromhisarmy

experienceandheusedtolectureatthehighlyprestigious

academywhereBritisharmyofficesaretrained.Henowworksas

aninternationalconsultant.

BEdwarddeBono

DeBonoisunusualamongmajorgurusfortworeasons:

firstly,hewasbornnotinoneoftheGREatindustrialnationsbut

onthetinyislandofMalta.Secondly,hisideashavereacheda

wideraudiencethanjustmanagers,sothathisbookshave

BEComeessentialrendinginmanydifferentdisciplines.

MostofdeBonosworkhasbeenconcernedwiththeway

humanbeingscantrainthemselvestothinkmorecreatively.This

apparentlysimpleideahasresultedin37booksandahighly

successfulcareerasalecturerandconsultant.

CPeterDrucker

Probablynoothersinglethinkerhasdoneasmuchas

Druckertoestablishmanagementasaseriousareaofstudy.

Certainly,hisfellowmanagementthinkersconsiderhimoneof

thefoundingfathersofthediscipline,andhisbooksandarticles

arequotedmorethanthoseofanyothermanagementwriter.

Hisfirstbookwaspublishedasfarbackas1939,yetheis

stillwritingandteaching.Hisgreatestdistinctionhasbeenhis

abilitytopredictcomingtrendsinbusinessandeconomics.Asa

result,hisideasaretreatedwiththegreatestrespectandinterest.

DFrederickHerzberg

Althoughrelativelyfewcontemporarymanagementstudents

willhavereadhisbooks,Herzbergsnameisinstantly

recognisabletoanyonewhohasstudiedindustrialorganisations.

ThisisbecausetheAmericanpsychologistwasresponsiblefor

introducingtheconceptofmotivationintomanagementthinking.

Asayoungman,Herzbergbecamedeeplyinterestedin

mentalillnessandthehumanneedformentalandemotional

satisfaction.Thisledhimtocriticisetheapproachofmany

companiestojobdesign,andtoarguefortheneedforjob

enrichmenttostimulateemployeesefforts.

ETomPeters

TheAmericansreputationwascreatedintheI980sbythe

spectacularsuccessofonebook,InSearchofExcellence,

co-writtenwithRobertWaterman.Thetwowereworking

togetherasmanagementconsultantsandno-oneexpectedtheir

first(andonly)booktoendupselling5millioncopies

worldwide!

Althoughhisideashavebeencriticised,Peterspopularityas

aspeakerandwriterhascontinuedtogrow.Somuchsothat

Petershascreatedhisownbusinesstomarketbooks,videosand

consultancybasedonhiswork.

PARTTWO

Questions9-14

•Readthistextfromanarticleabouthealthclubs.

,Choosethebestsentencefromtheoppositepagetofillin

eachofthegaps.

•Foreachgap9-14,markoneletterA-HonyourAnswer

Sheet.

•Donotuseanylettermorethanonce.

•Thereisanexampleatthebeginning(0).

Travelstressbringsboomtohealthclubs

Arapidgrowthinbusinesstravelhasprovidedalucrative

spin-offforBritishhealthclubsascompaniestrytoprevent

hard-workingexecutivesfromsufferingtravel-relatedstress.

Healthclubsarefullybookedthroughoutthecomingmonths

allaroundthecountryandmanyareplanningtoexpandtheir

facilities.

0HAccordingtoGillieTurner,groupmarketingmanager

fortheChampneysgroupofhealthclubs,duringthelast

recessionexecutiveslostmanyoftheirextrabenefitsas

companiescutback..9Shesaysthatlargecompaniesalsoseem

tohavedecidedthatitisnogoodsendingsomeonetoacountry

likeSpainasarewardfordoingagoodjob,BECausetheywill

simplyeattoomuchandflopontoabeach..10

Champneys,thecompanyacknowledgedasthemarket

leaderinthisfield,isnowplanningtointroduceaspecial

"ProfitingfromStress"course,whichwillrunoverthreedays..

11JonathonStapleton,generalmanagerofChampneys,saysthat

moderncorporatelifebeingwhatitis,mostbusinesstravellers

findthattheyarehavingtodotheworkwhich-evenayearago-

wasdonebytwo.12

Tomeetthisnewdemand,otherhealthclubsarealso

thinkingofintroducingsimilarschemes.ClareBrandish,thesales

andmarketingdirectorofanotherhealthclub,hasnoticeda

markedchangeintheclienteleatherclub..13

Businessesofallkindsareanxioustoreduceabsenteeism..

14Muchoftheproblemiscausedbylongperiodsawayfrom

home,irregularhours,businessentertainingandjetlag.

AccordingtotheGuildofBusinessTravelAgents,salesof

business-classairlineticketshaverisenby12%inthepastyear,

hotelbookingshavegoneupby36%andcarhirehasrisenby

24%.DaveReynolds,theGBTAchiefexecutive,saysthatthe

troubleisthatthesamenumberofpeoplearebeingaskedto

travelmoreoften.Hecommentsthatitisno

wondertheyneedtotakeabreakinahealthclub.

AIthasbeencalculatedthatabout40millionworkingdays

arelosteachyearinBritainbecauseofstress,tentimesasmany

asarelost10industrialdisputes.

BThishasinvolvedaconsiderableriseinthenumberof

businessbookings,whereaspreviouslymostclientscameas

privateindividuals.

CNowtheyarebeingrestored,asindustryrealisesthatthe

healthofitsexecutivesisvital.

DButwhowillbenefitmostfromthesedevelopments?

EBecauseofthepressuresthisimposes,manycompanies

havenowdecidedthatitisworthwhilepayingfortheirsenior

executivestotakeaproperbreakandgetadviceonhowto

combatstress.

FExecutivestakingpartinitwillbegivenmassagesand

healthtreatments,workoutsandarangeoftalksonhowtodeal

withstress,especiallywhentravelling.

GSowhatsthereasonforthisnowtrend?

PARTTHREE

Questions15-20

•Readthefollowingarticleonrecruitingandmanaging

staffandthequestionsontheoppositepage.

•Eachquestionhasfoursuggestedanswersorwaysof

finishingthesentence,A,B,CandD.

•MarkoneletterA,B,CorDonyourAnswerSheet,for

theansweryouchoose.

Asamanagerintheserviceindustrysector,I'velookedat

hundredsofCVsinmytime.Theyarenotnecessarilythebland

documentssomebossesmightthinktheyare!Theyarefullof

littlepointerstowardsindividualspersonalitiesandsuitabilityfor

thejob.ThefirstthingIalwayslookatisanapplicants

employmentrecord.Icheckforcontinuityandstability.If

somebodyhasalonglistofpreviousjobs,allofvaryinglength,

alarmbellsstartringing.Ratherthananirregularroutefromjob

tojob,whatIhopetoseeisstablecareerproGREssion.What

doestheircareerpathlooklike-isitallstepsforward,orare

therealotofsidewaysmoves?AndIamalwayspleasedtofinda

familypersonwithchildren,BECauseinmyexperiencetheytend

toberesponsibleandreliable.

IneverrelyonCVsalone.Wegetapplicantstofillinoneof

ourownapplicationforms.Weaskwhythey'veapplied,what

theiraspirationsandpersonalgoalsare,andalsoabouttheir

interestsandhobbiesandanyclubstheybelongto.Thatgives

youausefulinsightintotheirpersonalityandlifestyle.The

applicationformalsoenablesustotesthowmuchpeoplehave

actuallybeenprogressingintheircareers,becauseweaskfor

detailsofthesalariestheyhavereceivedforeachjob.

ItsalwaysworthlookingatCVsanddesigningapplication

formswithgreatcare.Takingonemployeesmightberewarding,

butitisalsoabiginvestmentforanybusiness.Mistakesin

choosingstaffcancostcompaniesdear,soitmakessenseto

spendtimeensuringyougettherightperson.

Intheservicesector,oneoftheaimsofcompaniesisto

maintainandimprovecustomerservice,andthisisachieved

partlythroughlowstaffturnover.Youneedtotakeonpeoplewho

understandthat,andwillwanttostay.Thatswhy,whenyou've

takenstaffon,thenextthingisgettingthebestoutofthem.

MymanagementstylecomesfromthedayswhenItook

overmyfirstbusiness,anailingroadhaulagefirmwhichIwas

certainIcouldturnintoaprofitablecompany.Thefirstthingisto

treatothersasyoudliketobetreatedyourself.AssoonasItook

overthebusiness,Italkedtoeverybodyindividually,andlooked

forwaystomakesuretheirparticularskillsbenefitedthe

company.

Ididn'thavemuchexperiencethenofmanagingpeople,but

aboveallIalwaystriedtobefairandhonestwitheveryone.Asa

result,Ithinkthestaffknewthatandacceptedmydecisions,even

iftheydidn'tagreewiththemall.Also,bossesmustbeableto

communicate.Youalsoneedtocreateteamspirit,andbuildon

thestrengthoftheteam.Iexplainedmyplansforthecompanyto

allthestaff,andletthemallknowwhatIneededfromthem.The

lorrydriversrespondedbrilliantly,andwerethekeytoturningthe

businessround.Theyunderstoodthatwehadtodevelopa

professionalreputation,andfromthenonthedaysofpoorquality

deliverieswereover.

Lastly,Iamagreatbelieverinprofit-sharing.Ittakesateam

tomakeacompanywork,soprofitsshouldbesharedbyall.Job

satisfactionisimportant,butitdoesn'tpaytherent.Sharedprofit

andbonuseshelptostrengthenteamspiritbygivingeveryonea

commongoalthattheyworktowardstogether.

15WhatfactdoesthewriterhopetolearnfromapplicantsCVs?

Athattheyhaveexperienceofmanydifferentjobs

Bthattheircareershavedevelopedsteadily

Ctheopiniontheiremployershadofthem

Dwhethertheyaremarriedorsingle

16ThewritersaystheapplicationformisusefulBECauseit

Arevealssomethingoftheapplicantscharacter.

Bgivesinformationabouttheapplicantsfamily.

Cexplainswhatskillstheapplicanthasforthejob.

Dshowshowmuchtheapplicantwantstoearn.

17Accordingtothewriter,whyareCVsandapplication

formssoimportant?

AInterviewingpeopleisanexpensiveprocess.

BTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsreallywantthejob.

CTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsareefficientornot.

DEmployingthewrongpeoplecanbedisastrous.

18Onereasonwhythewriterwassuccessfulinherfirst

businesswasthat

Ashewasusedtodealingwithpeople.

Bshewasopenwiththestaff.

Cthebusinesswasalreadydoingwellwhenshestarted.

DthestaffaGREedwithallherdecisions.

19Thewriterbelievesprofit-sharingisagoodideabecause

Aitencouragesacompetitivespirit.

Beveryoneearnsthesamesalary.

Ceveryonesharesthesameaim.

Ditcreatesjobsatisfaction.

20Whichwouldmakethebesttitleforthistext?

AProfit-sharingasmotivation

BHowIturnedabusinessround

CPeople-thekeytobusinesssuccess

DTheimportanceofawell-presentedCV

PARTFOUR

Questions21-30

•Readthearticlebelowaboutamethodoflearning

languagesforbusinesspeople.

•Choosethebestwordfromtheoppositepagetofilleach

gap.

•Foreachquestion21-30markoneletterA,B,CorDon

yourAnswerSheet.

•Thereisanexampleatthebeginning(0).

Languagelearningforthebusyexecutive

Ifyou'veeverbeentoldbyyourbosstoimproveyour

knowledgeofaforeignlanguageyou'llknowthat(0)

doesn'tcomequickly.Itgenerallytakesyearstolearnanother

languagewellandconstant(21)tomaintainthehigh

standardsrequiredforfrequentbusinessuse.Whetheryoustudy

inaclass,withaudiocassettes,computersoron

your(22)sooneror(23)everylanguage

coursefinishesandyoumustdecidewhattodonextifyouneeda

foreignlanguageforyourcareer.

BusinessAudioMagazinesisanewproductdesignedto

helpyoucontinuelanguagestudyinawaythatfitseasilyinto

yourbusyschedule.Eachaudiocassette(24)ofan

hour-longprogrammepackedwithbusinessnews,featuresand

interviewsinthelanguageofyourchoice.Thesecassetteswont

teachyouhowtoordermealsoraskfordirections.It

is(25)thatyoucandothatalready.Instead,bygiving

youanopportunitytohearthelanguageasitsreallyspoken,they

helpyouto(26)yourvocabularyandimproveyour

abilitytousereallanguagerelatingto,forexample,that

all-importantmarketingtrip.

TheGREatadvantageofusingaudiomagazinesisthat

they(27)youtoperfectyourlanguageskillsinways

thatsuityourlifestyle.Forexample,youcanselectatopicand

listeninyourcarorhotelwhenawayonbusiness.Noother

businesscourseisas(28)Andtheunique

radio-magazineformatisasinstructiveasitisentertaining.In

additiontotheaudiocassette,thispackageincludesatranscript

withabusinessglossaryandastudy(29)The

componentsarestructuredsothatinteiTnediateandadvanced

studentsmayusethemseparatelyortogether(30)on

theirability.

Example:ABCD

20AgainBresultCsuccessDoutcome

21AexerciseBperformanceCpracticeDoperation

22AselfBindividualCpersonalDown

23AafterBthenClaterDquicker

24AconsistsBincludesCcontainsDinvolves

25AinsistedBacquiredCassertedDassumed

26AprolongBextendCspreadDlift

27AallowBletCsupportDoffer

28AadjustableBflexibleCconvertibleDvariable

29AadditionBsupplementCextraDmanuscript

3()AaccordingBdependingCrelatingDbasing

PARTFIVE

Questions31-40

•Readthearticlebelowaboutmeetings.

,Foreachquestion31-40writeonewordinCAPITAL

LETTERSonyourAnswerSheet.

Howtomakemoreofmeetings

Youshouldknowwhatendsyouwanttoachieveina

meetingbeforeitstartsandprepareforit(0)readingany

paperscirculatedbeforehand,andcarefullythinkingabout

(31)youwanttosay.Thismaysoundratherboring,but

solidpreparationisthekeytosuccessfulmeetings:AGREat

(32)oftimeandenergycanbewastedthroughsimplelackof

planning.

Themostimportantissuesarenotalwaysgiventhemost

timeinthegeneralrunningofmeetings.Peopleareoften

unwilling(33)discussimportantbudgetarymatters

BECausetheydonotfullyunderstandthem,but(34)

becomesanexpertwhenitcomestodiscussingthecolourofthe

newcurtains,orwhattypeofcoffeetobuyThediscussionof

(35)trivialmattersasthese,therefore,shouldbesaveduntil

theendofthemeeting.

Duringthemeetingitisessentialtosticktotheagendaso

(36)toavoidthecommonproblemofrepetition.Atthesame

timeyou(37)tobesensitivetootherpeoplesideasand

feelings,andneverloseyourtemper.Bepreparedtoaccept

(38)imp