剑桥商务英语BEC高级阅读真题英文

剑桥商务英语BEC高级阅读真题PARTONEQuestions1-8Lookatthesentencesbelowandatfivepassagestakenfromabookaboutfamousmanagementthinkersontheoppositepage.Whichpassagedoeseachsentencereferto?Foreachsentence1-8,markoneletterA1B,C,DorEonyourAnswerSheet.Youwillneedtousesomeoftheselettersmorethaonce.Example:Hehasdevelopedhisowncompanytopromotehis0ABCDEOthersinhisfieldthinkveryhighlyofhim.Hisideashavespreadbeyondthebusinessworld.3Hefeltthatpeopleshouldbeabletoenjoytheir4Hisideasaremorecomplexthantheyseem.Hedidavarietyofinterestingthingsbeforewritinghisbooks.-i---PAGE9-Hismostsuccessfulbookwaswrittenwithacolleague.Heisparticularlyskilledatforecastingimportantdevelopments.Contactwiththemilitarywasanearlyinflueneeonhisthinking.AJohnAdairAdairisthepioneeringBritishthinkerinthetheoryofleadership.HewasthefirstpersonintheUKtoholdaprofessorshipinBusinessLeadershipandhaspublishedaseriesofinfluentialbooksonthesubject.Despitehisquietappearanee,Adairhashadacolourfullife,servinginaBedouinregimentandworkingonanArcticfishingboat!HisinitialinterestinleadershipcamefromhisarmyexperieneeandheusedtolectureatthehighlyprestigiousacademywhereBritisharmyofficesaretrained.Henowworksasaninternationalconsultant.BEdwarddeBonoDeBonoisunusualamongmajorgurusfortworeasons:firstly,hewasbornnotinoneoftheGREatindustrialnationsbutonthetinyislandofMalta.Secondly,hisideashavereachedawideraudieneethanjustmanagers,sothathisbookshaveBEComeessentialrendinginmanydifferentdisciplines.MostofdeBonosworkhasbeenconcernedwiththewayhumanbeingscantrainthemselvestothinkmorecreatively.Thisapparentlysimpleideahasresultedin37booksandahighlysuccessfulcareerasalecturerandconsultant.CPeterDruckerProbablynoothersinglethinkerhasdoneasmuchasDruckertoestablishmanagementasaseriousareaofstudy.Certainly,hisfellowmanagementthinkersconsiderhimoneofthefoundingfathersofthediscipline,andhisbooksandarticlesarequotedmorethanthoseofanyothermanagementwriter.Hisfirstbookwaspublishedasfarbackas1939,yetheisstillwritingandteaching.Hisgreatestdistinctionhasbeenhisabilitytopredictcomingtrendsinbusinessandeconomics.Asaresult,hisideasaretreatedwiththegreatestrespectandinterest.DFrederickHerzbergAlthoughrelativelyfewcontemporarymanagementstudentswillhavereadhisbooks,Herzbergsnameisinstantlyrecognisabletoanyonewhohasstudiedindustrialorganisations.ThisisbecausetheAmericanpsychologistwasresponsibleforintroducingtheconceptofmotivationintomanagementthinking.Asayoungman,Herzbergbecamedeeplyinterestedinillnessandthehumanneedformentalandemotionalsatisfaction.Thisledhimtocriticisetheapproachofmanycompaniestodesign,andtoarguefortheneedforjobenrichmenttostimulateemployeesefforts.ETomPetersTheAmericansreputationwascreatedintheI980sbythespectacularsuccessofonebook,InSearchofExcellenee,co-writtenwithRobertWaterman.Thetwowereworkingtogetherasmanagementconsultantsandno-oneexpectedtheirfirst(andonly)booktoendupselling5millioncopiesworldwide!Althoughhisideashavebeencriticised,Peterspopularityasspeakerandwriterhascontinuedtogrow.SomuchsothatPetershascreatedhisownbusinesstomarketbooks,videosandconsultancybasedonhiswork.PARTTWOQuestions9-14Readthistextfromanarticleabouthealthclubs.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,mostbusinesstravellersfindthatarehavingtodotheworkwhich-evenayearago-wasdonebytwo.12Tomeetthisnewdemand,otherhealthclubsarealsothiofintroducingsimilarschemes.ClareBrandish,thesalesandmarketingdirectorofanotherhealthclub,hasnoticedamarkedchangeintheclienteleatherclub..13Businessesofallkindsareanxioustoreduceabsenteeism..Muchoftheproblemiscausedbylongperiodsawayfromirregularhours,businessentertainingandjetlag.AccordingtotheGuildofBusinessTravelAgents,salesofbusiness-classairlineticketshaverisenby12%inthepastyear,hotelbookingshavegoneupby36%andcarhirehasrisenby24%.DaveReynolds,theGBTAchiefexecutive,saysthatthetroubleisthatthesamenumberofpeoplearebeingaskedtotravelmoreoften.Hecommentsthatitisnowondertheyneedtotakeabreakinahealthclub.AIthasbeencalculatedthatabout40millionworkingdaysarelosteachyearinBritainbecauseofstress,tentimesasmanyarelost10industrialdisputes.BThishasinvolvedaconsiderableriseinthenumberofbusinessbookings,whereaspreviouslymostclientscameasprivateindividuals.CNowtheyarebeingrestored,asindustryrealisesthathealthofitsexecutivesisvital.DButwhowillbenefitmostfromthesedevelopments?EBecauseofthepressuresthisimposes,manycompanieshavenowdecidedthatitisworthwhilepayingfortheirseniorexecutivestotakeaproperbreakandgetadviceonhowtocombatstress.FExecutivestakingpartinitwillbegivenmassagesandhealthtreatments,workoutsandarangeoftalksonhowtodealwithstress,especiallywhentravelling.GSowhatsthereasonforthisnowtrend?-io--io-PARTTHREEQuestions15-20Readthefollowingarticleonrecruitingandmanagingstaffandthequestionsontheoppositepage.Eachquestionhasfoursuggestedanswersorwaysoffinishingthesentence,A,B,CandD.MarkoneletterA,B,CorDonyourAnswerSheet,fortheansweryouchoose.Asamanagerintheserviceindustrysector,I'velookedathundredsofCVsinmytime.Theyarenotnecessarilytheblanddocumentssomebossesmightthinktheyare!Theyarefulloflittlepointerstowardsindividualspersonalitiesandsuitabilityforthejob.ThefirstthingIalwayslookatisanapplicantsemploymentrecord.Icheckforcontinuityandstability.Ifsomebodyhasalonglistofpreviousjobs,allofvaryinglength,alarmbellsstartringing.Rather-ii--ii-thananirregularroutefromjobtojob,whatIhopetoseeisstablecareerproGREssion.Whatdoestheircareerpathlooklike-isitstepsforward,oraretherealotofsidewaysmoves?AndIamalwayspleasedtofindafamilypersonwithchildren,BECauseinmyexperieneetheytendtoberesponsibleandreliable.IneverrelyonCVsalone.Wegetapplicantstofillinoneofourownapplicationforms.Weaskwhythey'veapplied,whattheiraspirationsandpersonalgoalsare,andalsoabouttheirinterestsandhobbiesandanyclubstheybelongto.Thatgivesyouausefulsightintotheirpersonalityandlifestyle.Theapplicationformalsoenablesustotesthowmuchpeoplehaveactuallybeenprogressingintheircareers,becauseweaskfordetailsofthesalariestheyhavereceivedforeachjob.ItsalwaysworthlookingatCVsanddesigningapplicationformswithgreatcare.Takingonemployeesmightberewarding,itisalsoabiginvestmentforanybusiness.Mistakesinchoosingstaffcancostcompaniesdear,soitmakessensetospend--PAGE24-timeensuringyougettherightperson.Intheservicesector,oneoftheaimsofcompaniesistomaintainandimprovecustomerservice,andthisisachievedpartlythroughlowstaffturnover.Youneedtotakeonpeoplewhounderstandthat,andwillwanttostay.Thatswhy,whenyou'vetakenstaffon,thenextthingisgettingthebestoutofthem.MymanagementstylecomesfromthedayswhenItookovermyfirstbusiness,anailingroadhaulagefirmwhichIwascertainIcouldturnintoaprofitablecompany.Thefirstthingistotreatothersasyoudliketobetreatedyourself.AssoonasItookoverthebusiness,Italkedtoeverybodyindividually,andlookedforwaystomakesuretheirparticularskillsbenefitedthecompany.Ididn'thavemuchexperieneethenofmanagingpeople,butaboveallIalwaystriedtobefairandhonestwitheveryone.Asaresult,Ithinkthestaffknewthatandacceptedmydecisions,eveniftheydidn'tagreewiththemall.Also,bossesmustbeabletocommunicate.Youalsoneedtocreateteamspirit,andbuildonthengthoftheteam.Iexplainedmyplansforthecompanytoallthestaff,andletthemallknowwhatIneededfromthem.Thelorrydriversrespondedbrilliantly,andwerethekeytoturningthebusinessround.Theyunderstoodthatwehadtodevelopaprofessionalreputation,andfromthenonthedaysofpoorqualitydeliveriesover.Lastly,Iamagreatbelieverinprofit-sharing.Ittakesateammakeacompanywork,soprofitsshouldbesharedbyall.Jobsatisfactionisimportant,butitdoesn'tpaytherent.Sharedprofitandbonuseshelptostrengthenteamspiritbygivingeveryoneacommongoalthattheyworktowardstogether.WhatfactdoesthewriterhopetolearnfromapplicantsCVs?AthattheyhaveexperieneeofmanydifferentjobsBthattheircareershavedevelopedsteadilyCtheopiniontheiremployershadofthemDwhethertheyaremarriedorsingleThewritersaystheapplicationformisusefulBECauseitArevealssomethingoftheapplicantscharacter.Bgivesinformationabouttheapplicantsfamily.Cexplainswhatskillstheapplicanthasforthejob.Dshowshowmuchtheapplicantwantstoearn.Accordingtothewriter,whyareCVsandapplicationsoimportant?AInterviewingpeopleisanexpensiveprocess.BTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsreallywantthejob.CTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsareefficientornot.DEmployingthewrongpeoplecanbedisastrous.OnereasonwhythewriterwassuccessfulinherfirstbusinesswasthatAshewasusedtodealingwithpeople.Bshewasopenwiththestaff.Cthebusinesswasalreadydoingwellwhenshestarted.DthestaffaGREedwithallherdecisions.Thewriterbelievesprofit-sharingisagoodideabecauseAitencouragesacompetitivespirit.Beveryoneearnsthesamesalary.Ceveryonesharesthesameaim.Ditcreatesjobsatisfaction.Whichwouldmakethebesttitleforthistext?AProfit-sharingasmotivationHowIturnedabusinessroundPeople-thekeytobusinesssuccessTheimportaneeofawell-presentedCVPARTFOURQuestions21-30ReadthearticlebelowaboutamethodoflearningIanguagesforbusinesspeople.Choosethebestwordfromtheoppositepagetofilleachgap.Foreachquestion21-30markoneletterA,B,CorDonyourAnswerSheet.Thereisanexampleatthebeginning(0).LanguagelearningforthebusyexecutiveIfyou'veeverbeentoldbyyourbosstoimproveyourknowledgeofaforeignIanguageyou'llknowthat(0)doesn'tcomequickly.ItgenerallytakesyearstolearnanotherIanguagewellandconstant(21)tomaintainthehighstandardsrequiredforfrequentbusinessuse.Whetheryouinaclass,withaudiocassettes,computersoronyour (22)sooneror(23) everyIanguagecoursefinishesandyoumustdecidewhattodonextifyouneedforeignIanguageforyourcareer.BusinessAudioMagazinesisanewproductdesignedtoyoucontinueIanguagestudyinawaythatfitseasilyintoyourbusyschedule.Eachaudiocassette(24)of anhour-longprogrammepackedwithbusinessnews,featuresandinterviewsintheIanguageofyourchoice.Thesecassetteswontteachyouhowtoordermealsoraskfordirections.Itis(25)…thatyoucandothatalready.Instead,bygivingyouanopportunitytoheartheIanguageasitsreallyspoken,theyhelpyouto(26)yourvocabularyandimproveyourabilitytouserealIanguagerelatingto,forexample,thatall-importantmarketingtrip.TheGREatadvantageofusingaudiomagazinesisthatthey(27)youtoperfectyourIanguageskillsinwaysthatsuityourlifestyle.Forexample,youcanselectatopicandlisteninyourcarorhotelwhenawayonbusiness.Nootherbusinesscourseisas(28)And theuniqueradio-magazineformatisasinstructiveasitisentertaining.Inadditiontotheaudiocassette,thispackageincludesatranwithabusinessglossaryandastudy(29) Thecomponentsarestructuredsothatintermediateandadvaneedstudentsmayusethemseparatelyortogether(30) theirability.Example:ABCDAgainBresultCsuccessDoutcomeAexerciseBperformaneeCpracticeDoperationAselfBindividualCpersonalDownAafterBthenClaterDquickerAconsistsBincludesCcontainsDin25AinsistedBacquiredCassertedDassumedAprolongBextendCspreadDliftAallowBletCsupportDofferAadjustableBflexibleCconvertibleDvariableAadditionBsupplementCextraDmanuscriptAaccordingBdependingCrelatingDbasingPARTFIVEQuestions31-40Readthearticlebelowaboutmeetings.Foreachquestion31-40writeonewordinCAPITALLETTERSonyourAnswerSheet.HowtomakemoreofmeetingsYoushouldknowwhatendsyouwanttoachieveinameetingbeforeitstartsandprepareforit(0)readingpaperscirculatedbeforehand,andcarefullythinkingaboutyouwanttosay.Thismaysoundratherboring,butsolidpreparationisthekeytosuccessfulmeetings:AGREatoftimeandenergycanbewastedthroughsimplelackplanning.Themostimportantissuesarenotalwaysgiventhemosttimeinthegeneralrunningofmeetings.Peopleareoftenunwilling(33)discuss importantbudgetarymattersBECausetheydonotfullyunderstandthem,but(34)becomesanexpertwhenitcomestodiscussingthecolourofthenewcurtains,orwhattypeofcoffeetobuyThediscussionof(35)trivialmattersasthese,therefore,shouldbesavedtheendofthemeeting.Duringthemeetingitisessentialtosticktotheagendaso(36)toavoidthecommonproblemofrepetition.Atthesametimeyou(37)tobesensitivetootherpeoplesideasandfeelings,andneverloseyourtemper.Bepreparedtoaccept(38)implementasuggestionthatiscontraryto(39)ownideasifitisanimprovementonthem;suchhonestyandflexibility