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商務英語(BEC)考試高級閱讀絕密押題
PART ONE Questions 1 – 8
Look at the statements below and at the five reports about companies only the opposite page from an article giving advice to self-employed consultants about negotiating fees for their services.
Which book (A, B, C,D or E) dose each statement 1 –8 refer to ?l
For each statement ! – 8, make one letter (A, B, C,D or E) on your Answerl Sheet .
You will need to use some of these letters more than once .l
Example :
0 Lack of self-confidence will put you at a disadvantage in a negotiation .
0 A B C D E
1. This company has been involved in diversifying its business activities.
2. Although this company is doing well, it has a number of internal difficulties to deal with
3. This company has reduced the profits it makes on individual items
4. One statistic is a less accurate guide to this company’s performance than another
5. The conditions which have helped this company are likely to be less favourable in the future
6. This company’s share price has been extremely volatile over the last twelve months
7. This company is likely to be the subject of a takeover bid in the near future
8. This company’s performance exemplifies a widely held belief
A
Chemical Company
Masterson’s interim pre-tax profits growth of 20% was somewhat inflated as a result of the income received from the disposal of several of the company’s subsidiaries. The underlying 8% rise in operating profits is a more realistic gauge of the company’s true progress. However, Masterson’s impending merger with Bentley and Knight and its appointment of a new chief executive should mean that the company will be able to sustain growth for the foreseeable fut5ure. The share price has varied little during the course of the year and now stands at ￡ 6.75
B
Hotel Group
During the past year the Bowden Hotel Group has acquired 77 new properties, thus doubling in size . last week the group reported pre-tax profits of ￡ 88 million in the first six months of the year, ahead of expectations and helped by a strong performance from its London-based hotels and newly expanded US business. However. There is still some way to go. Integration of the new acquisitions is still not complete and, while the share price has risen recently, major problems with integration have yet to be solved.
C
High-tech Company
This time last year a share in Usertech was worth just over ￡ 1. six months ago it was worth ￡ 40. today it is priced at under ￡ 8 . if proof were need, here is an illustration of how much of a lottery the technology market can be. But some technology companies are fighting back and Usertech is one of them . What has renewed excitement in the company is the opening of its new American offices in Dallas and its ambitious plans to expand its user base in both North and Latin America.
D
Building Company
Renton’s share price has risen gradually over the past year from ￡2.4 to ￡ 3.8 . The company has been successful in choosing prime location for its buildings and has benefited from the buoyant demand for housing. Whilst this demand is expected to slow down somewhat during the next year, investors are encouraged by the company’s decision to move into building supermarkets. Work has already begun on two sites in London, and the company is expected to sign a contract within the next month for building four large supermarkets in Scotland.
E
Pottery Manufacturer
Milton Dishes has been through a shake-up over the past year. The group, which has been cutting margins and improving marketing, may post a small profit this year. The many members of the Milton family, who between them own 58 per cent of the business, have been watching the share price rise steadily and several are looking to sell. Trade rival Ruskin has bought up just over 17 percent of the shares and could well be spurred into further action by the signs of a recovery at the firm.
【參考答案】:
1 D 2 B 3 E 4 A 5 D 6 C 7 E 8 C
這種類型的題不過是一個句子換一種說法，關鍵是看對每一段話的理解。我們看一下1到8在說什么，然后到A到E中尋找答案。
1.該公司正在對其商業活動進行多樣化。
2.盡管該公司業績不錯，內部也有一些困難需要處理。
3.該公司單個產品收益減少
4.一項統計數據對該公司的表現不像另外一個那樣有準確的指導作用。
5.曾經幫助過該公司的環境在將來可能就不那么好了。
6.該公司的股票價格在過去的一年里變化很大。
7.該公司未來很可能會被收購。
8.該公司的表現讓人很有信心
那么，再讀一下A到E表達的什么意思，很容易對號入座
Questions9– 14
Read the text about career-planning services.
Choose the best sentence from the opposite page to fill each of the gaps .
For each gap 9– 14, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet .
Do not use any letter more than once .
There is an example at the beginning .(0)
Your Career Path Can Lead You Anywhere
We used to be advised to plan our careers. We were told to make a plan during the later stages of our education and continue with it through our working lives.(0)_____ some people still see careers in this way. However, to pursue a single option for life has always been unrealistic.
Planning for a single career assumes that we set out with a full understanding of our likes and dislikes and the employment opportunities open to us. (9)____ For most people this degree of certainty about the future does not exist.
Our initial choice of career path and employer is often based on inadequate knowledge and false perceptions. But with age and experience, we develop new interests and aptitudes and our priorities alter. The structure of the employment market and, indeed of employment itself, is subject to change as both new technologies and new work systems are introduced (10) _____ We must face the uncertainties of a portfolio career.
It is clear from the recent past that we cannot foresee the changes which will affect our working lives. The pace of change is accelerating , as a result of which traditional career plans will be of very limited use. (11)_____ They will need updating to reflect changes in our own interests as well as in the external work environment. Flexible workers already account for about half the workforce. (12)______ We are likely to face periods as contract workers, self-employed freelances, consultants, temps or part-timers.
Many employers encourage staff to write a personal development development (PDP) (13)_____ Although some people use it only to review the skills needed for their job, a PDP could be the nucleus of wider career plan –setting out alternative long-term learning needs and a plan of self-development.
A report issued by the Institute of Employment Studies advises people to enhance their employability by moving from traditional technical skills towards the attainment of a range of transferable skills. (14)_____ Instead, special schemes should be established to encourage people to examine their effectiveness and to consider a wider range of needs.
0 A B C D E F G H
A This dual effect means that the relationship between employers and workers has evolved to such and extent that we can no longer expect a long-term relationship with one employer.
B. It carries an implicit assumption that we ourselves, and the jobs we enter, will change little during our working lives.
C. This growth suggests that a career plan should not be expressed only in terms of full-time employment but should make provision for the possibility of becoming one of the.
D this is a summary of one’s personal learning needs and an action plan to meet them.
E Consequently, they must now accommodate a number of objectives and enable us to prepare for each on a contingency basis.
F However, it warns that employers often identify training needs through formal appraisals, which take too narrow a view of development.
G . Such a freelance of consultant would be constantly in demand.
H We were expected to work towards that one clear goal and to consider a career change as a bad thing.
答案:9 B 10 A 11E 12C 13D 14F
9.本段是說在職業生涯中設立一個單獨的目標的影響。而且首段也說了assume，根據前后文，應該選擇B。
10.本段說了一些不確定的因素來說明在職業生涯中一直追求一個目標不切實際。而空白前面說的是就業市場結構，new technologies和new work systems這雙重影響，之后說了在一個公司待著不現實，那么中間選擇A。
11.空白前面講傳統的職業規劃用途有限，后面將需要升級和更新來適應我們的興趣和外部工作環境的變化。E.相應的，職業規劃也應該順應這種變化。
12.前面講了Flexible workers占所有勞動力的一半，后面又說了我們可能會面臨**職業，顧問，或者兼職工作。那么中間的空白部分肯定講工作形式的問題。
13.D。前面講到PDP，后面肯定要對其進行說明。
14.F。這段主要講了人們怎樣評測自己的能力和工作有效性以及怎樣提高的問題。空白部分后是轉折，那么空白部分應該是和其相反的。
PART THREE Questions 15– 20
Read the following article on negotiating techniques and the question on the opposite page .
For each question 15 – 20 , mark one letter (A, B, C or D ) on your Answer Sheet for the answer you choose.
The Negotiating Table:
You can negotiate virtually anything. Projects, resources, expectations and deadlines are all outcomes of negotiation. Some people negotiate deals for a living. Dr Herb Cohen is one of these professional talkers, called in by companies to negotiate on their behalf . He approaches the art of negotiation as a game because, as he is usually negotiating for somebody else, he says this helps him drain the emotional content from his conversation. He is working in a competitive field and needs to avoid being too adversarial. Whether he succeeds or not, it is important to him to make a good impression so that people will recommend him.
The starting point for any deal, he believes, is to identify exactly what you want from each other. More often than not, one party will be trying to persuade the other round to their point of view. Negotiation requires two people at the end saying ‘yes”. This can be a problem because one of them usually begins by saying “no”. However, although this can make talks more difficult, this is often just a starting point in the negotiation game. Top management may well reject the idea initially because it is the safer option but they would not be there if they were not interested.
It is a misconception that skilled negotiators are smooth operators in smart suits. Dr Cohen says that one of his strategies is to dress down so that the other side can relate to you. Pitch your look to suit your customer. You do not need to make them feel better than you but, For example, dressing in a style that is not overtly expensive or successful will make you more approachable. People will generally feel more comfortable with somebody who appears to be like them rather than superior to them. They may not like you but they will feel they can trust you.
Dr Cohen suggests that the best way to sell your proposal is by getting into the world of the other side. Ask questions rather than give answers and take an interest in what the other person is saying, even if you think what they are saying is silly. You do not need to become their best friends but being too clever will alienate them. A lot of deals are made on impressions. Do not rush what you are saying---put a few hesitations in , do not try to blind them with your verbal dexterity. Also, you should repeat back to them what they have said to show you take them seriously.
Inevitably some deals will not succeed. Generally the longer the negotiations go on, the better chance they have because people do not want to think their investment and energies have gone to waste. However , joint venture can mean joint risk and sometimes , if this becomes too great , neither party may be prepared to see the deal through . More common is a corporate culture clash between companies, which can put paid to any deal. Even having agreed a deal, things may not be tied up quickly because when the lawyers get involved, everything gets slowed down as they argue about small details.
De Cohen thinks that children are the masters of negotiation. Their goals are totally selfish. They understand the decision-making process within families perfectly. If Mum refuses their request , they will troop along to Dad and pressure him. If al else fails, they will try the grandparents, using some emotional blackmail. They can also be very single-minded and have an inexhaustible supply of energy for the cause they are pursuing. So there are lesson to be learned from watching and listening to children.
15 Dr Cohen treats negotiation as a game in order to
A put people at ease
B remain detached
C be competitive
D impress rivals
16 Many people say “no” to a suggestion in the beginning to
A convince the other party of their point of view
B show they are not really interested
C indicate they wish to take the easy option
D protect their company’s situation
17 Dr Cohen says that when you are trying to negotiate you should
A adapt your style to the people you are talking to
B make the other side feel superior to you
C dress in a way to make you feel comfortable.
D try to make the other side like you
18 According to Dr Cohen, understanding the other person will help you to
A gain their friendship
B speed up the negotiations
C plan your next move.
D convince them of your point of view
19 Deals sometimes fail because
A negotiations have gone on too long
B the companies operate in different ways
C one party risks more than the other.
D the lawyers work too slowly
20 Dr Cohen mentions children’s negotiation techniques to show that you should
A be prepared to try every route
B try not to make people feel guilty
C be careful not to exhaust yourself
D control the decision-making process.
【參考答案】:15 B 16D 17A 18D 19B 20 A
15.第一段有這樣一句話needs to avoid being too adversarial，也就是說要保持客觀，公正，超然，所以選擇B。
16.從第二度最后一句話可以看出，Top management may well reject the idea initially because it is the safer option but they would not be there if they were not interested.應該選擇D。
17.第三段，Dr Cohen says that one of his strategies is to dress down so that the other side can relate to you. Pitch your look to suit your customer.所以選擇A。
18.You do not need to become their best friends but being too clever will alienate them. you should repeat back to them what they have said to show you take them seriously.所以選擇D。
19.從第四段的這句話可以看出，More common is a corporate culture clash between companies, which can put paid to any deal.選擇B
PART FOUR Questions 21 -30
Read the article below about the methods some companies are now using for recruitment.
Choose the correct word to fill each gap from (A, B, C or D) on the opposite page.
For each question 21-30,mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet.
There is an example at the beginning, (0)
The Scientific Approach to Recruitment
When it (0) to selecting candidates through interview, more often than not the decision is made within the first five minutes of a meeting. Yet employers like to (21) themselves that they are being exceptionally thorough in their selection processes. In today’s competitive market place, the (22) of staff in many organizations is fundamental to the company’s success and, as a result , recruiters use all means at their disposal to (23) the best in the field.
One method in particular that has (24) in popularity is testing , either psychometric testing, which attempts to define psychological characteristics , or ability￡aptitude testing (25) an organization with an extra way of establishing a candidate’s suitability for a role. It (26) companies to add value by identifying key elements of a position and then testing candidates to ascertain their ability against those identified elements.
The employment of psychometric or ability testing as one (27) of the recruitment process may have some merit, but in reality there is no real (28), scientific or otherwise, of the potential future performance of any individual. The answer to this problem is experience in interview techniques and strong definition of the elements of each position to be (29) as the whole recruitment process is based on few real certainties, the instinctive decisions that many employers make, based on a CT and the first five minutes of a meeting, are probably no less valid than any other tool employed in the (30) of recruitment.
Example :
A have B decide C do D make
0 A B C D
21.A suggest B convince C advise D believe
22.A worth B credit C quality D distinction
23.A secure B relies C attain D achieve
24.A lifted B enlarged C expanded D risen
25.A provides B offers C contributes D gives
26.A lets B enables C agrees D admits
27. A portion B member C share D component
28. A extent B size C amount D measure
29.A occupied B met C filled D appointed
30 A business B topic C point D affair
[NextPage]
【參考答案】:
21 B 22C 23 A 24 D25 A
26-30 B D D C A
21.這這句話的意思來看，應該是使自己確信……，所以應該選擇B. convince
22.根據意思理解，肯定是員工的質量對企業的作用，而且質量包含了所有工作需要的方面，所以應該選擇C. quality.
23.應該是確保他們在這一行業是最好的，應該選擇A. secure.
24.受歡迎程度應該是提高，A.lift是及物動詞。B和C都是范圍擴大的意思，所以只有D.risen是合適的選項。
25.從意思看是提供，幾個選項差不多都有這個意思，但是offer和give后面直接跟所提供的物，不需要加with.而只有provide sb with sth是固定用法。所以選擇A。
26.從意思來看，因該是使某事成為可能，而不是允許或同意，所以C和D排除了。而let后跟動詞原形，只有B. enable后加動詞不定式。
27.成分，一部分，應該選擇component. Protion 著重于份額的意思，member是成員，share分享或貢獻的一份，股份。
28.應該是衡量的意思，只有D合適。
29.在這里看是填補空缺職位的意思。但是occupy和appoint主語都是人，某人被委任某職位。而這里是職位做主語，所以應該選擇C。
30.business除了商業，還有事務的意思
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