商务英语(BEC)高级阅读真题与答案

PARTONEQuestions1-8Lookatthesentencesbelowandatfivepassagestakenfromabookaboutfamousmanagementthinkersontheoppositepage.Whichpassagedoeseachsentencereferto?Foreachsentence 1-8,markoneletter A1B,C,DorEonyourAnswerSheet.Youwillneedtousesomeoftheselettersmorethanonce.Example:0ABCDEOthersinhisfieldthinkveryhighlyofhim.Hisideashavespreadbeyondthebusinessworld.Hefeltthatpeopleshouldbeabletoenjoytheirwork.4Hisideasaremorecomplexthantheyseem.5Hedidavarietyofinterestingthingsbeforewritinghisbooks.6Hismostsuccessfulbookwaswrittenwithacolleague.7Heisparticularlyskilledatforecastingimportantdevelopments.8Contactwiththemilitarywasanearlyinfluenceonhisthinking.AJohnAdairAdairisthepioneeringBritishthinkerinthetheoryofleadership.HewasthefirstpersonintheUKtoholdaprofessorshipinBusinessLeadershipandpublishedaseriesofinfluentialbooksonthesubject.Despitehisquietappearance,Adairhashadacolourfullife,servinginaBedouinregimentandworkingonanArcticfishingboat!HisinitialinterestinleadershipcamefromhisarmyexperienceandheusedtolectureatthehighlyprestigiousacademywhereBritisharmyofficesaretrained.Henowworksasaninternationalconsultant.BEdwarddeBonoDeBonoisunusualamongmajorgurusfortworeasons:firstly,hewasbornnotinoneofthegreatindustrialnationsbutonthetinyislandofMalta.Secondly,hisideashavereachedawideraudiencethanjustmanagers,sothathisbookshavebecomeessentialrendinginmanydifferentdisciplines.MostofdeBonosworkhasbeenconcernedwiththewayhumanbeingscantrainthemselvestothinkmorecreatively.Thisapparentlysimpleideahasresultedin37booksandahighlysuccessfulcareerasalecturerandconsultant.managementasaseriousareaofstudy.Certainly,hisfellowmanagementthinkersconsiderhimoneofthefoundingfathersofthediscipline,andhisbooksandarticlesarequotedmorethanthoseofanyothermanagementwriter.Hisfirstbookwaspublishedasfarbackas1939,yetheisstillwritingandteaching.Hisgreatestdistinctionhasbeenhisabilitytopredictcomingtrendsinbusinessandeconomics.Asaresult,hisideasaretreatedwiththegreatestrespectandinterest.DFrederickHerzbergAlthoughrelativelyfewcontemporarymanagementstudentswillhavereadhisbooks,Herzbergsnameisinstantly recognisable toanyonewhohasstudied industrialorganisations.ThisisbecausetheAmericanpsychologistwasresponsibleintroducingtheconceptofmotivationintomanagementthinking.Asayoungman,Herzbergbecamedeeplyinterested inmentalillness andthehumanneedfor mental andemotional satisfaction.

Thisled himtocriticise

theapproachofmanycompaniestojobdesign,andtoarguefortheneedforjobenrichmenttostimulateemployeesefforts.ETomPetersTheAmericansreputationwascreatedintheI980sbythe spectacularsuccessofonebook,InSearchofExcellence, co-written with Robert Waterman.Thetwowereworking together asmanagementconsultantsbooktoendupselling5millioncopiesworldwide!

andno-oneexpectedtheir

first (andonly)Althoughhisideashavebeencriticised,Peterspopularityasaspeakerandwriterhascontinuedtogrow.SomuchsothatPetershascreatedhisownbusinesstomarketbooks,videosandconsultancybasedonhiswork.PARTTWOQuestions9-14Readthistextfromanarticleabouthealthclubs.Choosethebestsentencefromtheoppositepagetofillineachofthegaps.Foreachgap9 -14,markoneletterA-HonyourAnswerSheet.Donotuseanylettermorethanonce.ThereisanexampleatthebeginningTravelstressbringsboomtohealthclubsArapidgrowthinbusinesstravelhasprovidedalucrativespin-offforBritishhealthclubsascompaniestrytopreventhard-workingexecutivesfromsufferingtravel-relatedstress.Healthclubsarefully bookedthroughout thecomingmonthsall aroundthecountryandmanyareplanningtoexpandtheirfacilities.0HAccordingtoGillieTurner,groupmarketingmanagerfortheChampneysgroupofhealthclubs, during thelast recession executives lostmanyoftheir extrabenefits ascompaniescutback..9Shesaysthat companiesalsoseemtohavedecidedthatitisnogoodsendingsomeonetoacountrylikeSpainasarewardfordoingagoodjob,becausetheywillsimplyeattoomuchandflopontoabeach..10Champneys,thecompanyacknowledgedasthemarketleader inthis field,isnowplanningtointroduceaspecial"ProfitingfromStress"course,whichwill runoverthree days..11JonathonStapleton, general managerofChampneys,saysthatmoderncorporatelifebeingwhatitis,mostbusinesstravellers find that theyarehavingtodotheworkwhich-evenayearago-wasdonebytwo.12Tomeetthisnewdemand,otherhealthclubsarealsothinkingofintroducingsimilarschemes.ClareBrandish,thesalesandmarketingdirectorofanotherhealthclub,hasnoticedamarkedchangeintheclienteleatherclub..13Businessesofall kindsareanxious toreduceabsenteeism. .14Muchoftheproblemiscausedbylongperiodsbusinessentertainingandjetlag.

awayfromhome,irregular hours,AccordingtotheGuildofBusinessTravelAgents,salesofbusiness-classairlineticketshaverisenby12%inthepastyear,hotelbookingshavegoneupby36%andcarhirehasrisenby24%.DaveReynolds,theGBTAchiefexecutive,saysthatthetroubleisthatthesamenumberofpeoplearebeingaskedtotravelmoreoften.Hecommentsthatitisnowondertheyneedtotakeabreakinahealthclub.AIthasbeencalculated thatabout40 millionworkingdaysareeachyearinBritainbecauseofstress,tentimesasmanyasarelost10industrialdisputes.BThishasinvolvedaconsiderableriseinthenumberofbusinessbookings,whereaspreviouslymostclientscameasprivateindividuals.CNowtheyarebeingrestored,asindustryrealisesthatthehealthofitsexecutivesisvital.DButwhowillbenefitmostfromthesedevelopments?EBecauseofthepressuresthisimposes,manycompanieshavenowdecidedthat it isworthwhile payingfor their senior executives to takeaproperbreakandgetadviceonhowtocombatstress.FExecutivestakingpartinitwillbegivenmassagesandhealthtreatments,workoutsandarangeoftalksonhowtodealwithstress,especiallywhentravelling.GSowhatsthereasonforthisnowtrend?PARTTHREEQuestions15-20Readthefollowingarticleonrecruitingandmanagingandthequestionsontheoppositepage.Eachquestionhasfoursuggestedanswersorwaysoffinishingthesentence,A,B,CandD.MarkoneletterA,B,CorDonyourAnswerSheet,fortheansweryouchoose.Asamanagerintheservice industry sector, I've lookedathundredsofCVsinmytime. Theyarenotnecessarily theblanddocumentssomebossesmightthink they are!Theyarefull oflittle pointers towardsindividualspersonalities andsuitability forthe job.Thefirst thing I always atisanapplicantsemploymentrecord.Icheckforcontinuityandstability.Ifsomebodyhasalonglistofpreviousjobs,allofvaryinglength,alarmbellsstartringing.Ratherthananirregularroutefromjobtojob,whatIhopetoseeisstablecareerprogression.Whatdoestheir career path look like -isit all steps forward, orare there aofsidewaysmoves?AndIamalwayspleasedtofindafamilypersonwithchildren,becauseinmyexperiencetheytendtoberesponsiblereliable.IneverrelyonCVsalone.Wegetapplicantstofillinoneofourownapplication forms. Weaskwhythey've applied, whattheir aspirationsandpersonalgoalsare,andalsoabouttheirinterestsandhobbiesandanyclubstheybelongto.Thatgivesyouausefulinsightintotheirpersonalityandlifestyle.Theapplicationformalsoenablesustotesthowmuchpeoplehaveactually beenprogressing in their careers, weaskfordetailsofthesalariestheyhavereceivedforeachjob.Itsalwaysworthlooking atCVsanddesigning application forms withgreatcare.Takingonemployeesmightberewarding,butitisalsoabiginvestmentforanybusiness. Mistakesinchoosing staff cancost companiesdear,soitmakessensetospendtimeensuringyougettherightperson.Intheservicesector,oneoftheaimsofcompaniesistomaintainandimprovecustomerservice,andthisisachievedpartlythroughlowstaffturnover.Youneed totakeon peoplewhounderstand that,andwanttostay.Thatswhy,whenyou'vetakenstaffon,thenextthingisgettingthebestoutofthem.MymanagementstylecomesfromthedayswhenItookovermybusiness,anailingroadhaulagefirmwhichIwascertainIcouldturnintoaprofitablecompany.Thefirstthingistotreatothersasyoudlike tobetreated yourself. AssoonasItook overthebusiness, Itoeverybodyindividually,andlookedforwaystomakesuretheirparticularskillsbenefitedthecompany.I didn't havemuchexperience then ofmanaging people, butaboveIalwaystriedtobefairandhonestwitheveryone.Asaresult,Ithinkthestaffknewthat andacceptedmydecisions,eveniftheydidn'tagreewiththemall.Also,bossesmustbeabletocommunicate.Youalsoneedtocreateteamspirit, andbuild onthe strength ofthe team.Imyplansforthecompanytoallthestaff,andletthemallknowwhatIneededfromthem.Thelorrydriversrespondedbrilliantly,andwere

explainedkeytoturningthebusinessround.Theyunderstoodthatwehadtodevelopaprofessionalreputation,andfromthenonthedaysofpoorqualitydeliverieswereover.Lastly,Iamagreatbelieverinprofit-sharing.Ittakesateamtomakeacompanywork,soprofitsshouldbesharedbyall.Jobsatisfactionisimportant,butitdoesn'tpaytherent.Sharedprofitandbonuseshelptostrengthenteamspiritbygivingeveryoneacommongoalthattheyworktowardstogether.WhatfactdoesthewriterhopetolearnfromapplicantsCVs?AthattheyhaveexperienceofmanydifferentjobsBthattheircareershavedevelopedsteadilyCtheopiniontheiremployershadofthemDwhethertheyaremarriedorsingleThewritersaystheapplicationformisusefulbecauseitArevealssomethingoftheapplicantscharacter.Bgivesinformationabouttheapplicantsfamily.Cexplainswhatskillstheapplicanthasforthejob.Dshowshowmuchtheapplicantwantstoearn.Accordingtothewriter,whyareCVsandapplicationformssoimportant?AInterviewingpeopleisanexpensiveprocess.BTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsreallywanttheCTheyindicatewhetherapplicantsareefficientorDEmployingthewrongpeoplecanbedisastrous.Onereasonwhythewriterwassuccessfulinherfirstbusinesswasthat

Ashewasusedtodealingwithpeople.Bshewasopenwiththestaff.Cthebusinesswasalreadydoingwellwhenshestarted.Dthestaffagreedwithallherdecisions.Thewriterbelievesprofit-sharingisagoodbecauseAitencouragesacompetitivespirit.Beveryoneearnsthesamesalary.Ceveryonesharesthesameaim.Ditcreatesjobsatisfaction.Whichwouldmakethebesttitleforthistext?AProfit-sharingasmotivationBHowIturnedabusinessroundCPeople-thekeytobusinesssuccessDTheimportanceofawell-presentedPARTFOURQuestions21-30Readthearticlebelowaboutamethodoflearninglanguagesforbusinesspeople.Choosethebestwordfromtheoppositepagetofilleachgap.eachquestion 21-30markoneletter A,B,CorDonyourAnswerSheet.isanexampleatthebeginni ngLanguagelearningforthebusyexecutiveIfyou'veeverbeentoldbyyourbosstoimproveyourknowledgeofaforeign languageyou'll knowthat ⋯⋯(0)⋯⋯doesn't comequickly. generallytakesyearstolearnanotherlanguagewellandconstant⋯⋯(21)⋯⋯tomaintainthehighstandardsrequiredforfrequent businessuse.Whetheryoustudy inaclass, withaudiocassettes,computersoronyour ⋯⋯(22)⋯⋯sooneror ⋯⋯(23)⋯⋯everylanguagecoursefinishes andyoumustdecide whatto donextif youneedaforeignlanguageforyourcareer.BusinessAudioMagazinesisanewproductdesignedtohelpyoucontinue languagestudy inawaythatfits easily into yourbusyschedule.Eachaudiocassette ⋯⋯(24)⋯⋯ofanhour -longprogrammepackedwithbusinessnews,featuresandinterviewsinthelanguageofyourchoice.Thesecassettes wontteachyouhowtoorder mealsor askfordirections.Itis ⋯⋯(25)⋯⋯thatyoucandothatalready.Instead,bygivingyouanopportunitytohearthelanguageasitsreallyspoken,theyhelpyouto⋯⋯(26)⋯⋯yourvocabularyandimproveyourabilitytousereallanguagerelatingto,forexample,thatall-importantmarketingtrip.Thegreatadvantageofusingaudiomagazinesisthatthey⋯⋯(27)⋯⋯youtoperfectyourlanguageskillsinwaysthatsuityourlifestyle.Forexample,youcanselectatopicandlisteninyourcarorhotelwhenawayonbusiness.Nootherbusinesscourseisas

⋯⋯(28)⋯⋯Andtheuniqueradio-magazine formatis asinstructive asit isentertaining. Inadditiontothe audiocassette, this packageincludes atranscript with aglossaryandastudy ⋯⋯(29)⋯⋯Thecomponentsarestructuredsothatintermediateandadvancedstudentsmayusethemseparatelyortogether⋯⋯(30)⋯⋯ontheirability.Example:ABCDAgainBresultCsuccessDoutcomeAexerciseBperformanceCpracticeDoperation22AselfBindividualCpersonalDownAafterBthenClaterDquickerAconsistsBincludesCcontainsDinvolves25AinsistedBacquiredCassertedDassumed26AprolongBextendCspreadDliftAallowBletCsupportDofferAadjustableBflexibleCconvertibleDvariable29AadditionBsupplementCextraDmanuscript30AaccordingBdependingCrelatingDbasingQuestions31-40Readthearticlebelowaboutmeetings.eachquestion 31-40write onewordinCAPITALLETTERSonAnswerSheet.HowtomakemoreofmeetingsYoushouldknowwhatendsyouwanttoachieveinameetingbeforeitstarts andprepareforit (0)⋯⋯reading anypaperscirculated beforehand,andcarefullythinkingabout(31)

⋯⋯youwanttosay.Thismaysoundratherboring,butsolidpreparationisthekeytosuccessfulmeetings:Agreat(32)⋯⋯oftimeandenergycanbewastedthroughsimple lackplanning.Themostimportantissuesarenotalwaysgiventhemosttimeinthegeneral running ofmeetings. Peopleareoftenunwilling

(33)⋯⋯discussimportantbudgetarymattersbecausetheydonotfullyunderstandthem,but(34)⋯⋯becomesanexpertwhenitcomestodiscussingthecolourofthenewcurtains,orwhattypeofcoffeetobuyThediscussionof(35)⋯⋯trivialmattersasthese,therefore,shouldbesaveduntiltheendofthemeeting.Duringthemeetingitisessentialtosticktotheagendaso(36)⋯⋯toavoidthecommonproblemofrepetition.Atthesametimeyou(37)⋯⋯tobesensitivetootherpeoplesideasandfeelings,andneverloseyourtemper.Bepreparedtoaccept(