1、BEC 剑桥商务英语(中级)2 及答案解析(总分：12.97，做题时间：149 分钟)一、PART 1 READING （6(总题数：1，分数：1.00)A Where do you buy your clothes? Well, most of us shop at traditional retailers with increasingly frequent trios to discount stores and Internet. And most of the superrich and trendy buy directly from designers like Gucci,
2、Armani and Chanel. But lately their shopping habits and ours have been converging. Bonita Carol reports that many of the fashion elite are coming out of the closet and going straight to K Mart. Take a peek inside fashion editor Christy Ferrels closet, and youll find couture side by side with K Mart.
3、 B Fashion reporter Jerry Agins calls the trend “cheapskate chic“: the regent fashionable wearing Sears shoes, Wal-Mart pants and Target sweaters, proudly pairing them with designer labels. The whole trend of “cheapskate chic“ is a lot of affluent people are now shopping differently, and theyre just
4、 like everybody, theyre decorating their homes, theyre spending a lot of time in stores like K Mart and Wal-Mart. And youre in there once or twice a week, so while youre in there picking up paper towels and toilet paper and toothpaste, you happen to kind of wander about the fashion aisles. C A water
5、shed event occurred when Sharon Stone wore that Gap T-shirt at the Oscars. She looked terrific. Everybody wondered what she had on and later they found out that she had on that $ 22 Gap turtleneck and that really resonated with a lot of consumers. Stores like the Gap, Sears, K Mart and target are ta
6、king full advantage, offering fashion mavens that perfect denim jacket or pair of jeans, T-shirt or little black dress or top to make them match with high fashion. D Retail Watcher said mass merchants are benefiting greatly from this “cheapskate chic“ trend. In 1998 mass retailers such as K Mart, Wa
7、l-Mart and Target accounted for 43% of all apparel sold. And thats up from 38% five years earlier. And these stores are stealing away customers from more upscale boutiques. In Targets case, or as the fashionably in crowd call it “Tarzhay“, about 80% of its customers are college educated and have a m
8、edium household income of $ 47, 000. Maybe thats why Targets offering Kashmir sweaters for the first time. 0. Most of exclusive stores are not competitive at present. (D) （分数：0.98）(1).When buying necessities, you may walk through the rows of shelves displaying fashionable articles.（分数：0.14）A.B.C.D.(
9、2).Mass stores try to make their design closely keep up with the trend.（分数：0.14）A.B.C.D.(3).Nowadays wealthy people get into the similar shopping habits to ordinaries.（分数：0.14）A.B.C.D.(4).Fashion people mix famous brand with bargained fare.（分数：0.14）A.B.C.D.(5).Famous star wearing cheap clothes to at
10、tend grand ceremony represents a new trend in fashion industry.（分数：0.14）A.B.C.D.(6).Stores like K Mart and Wal-Mart benefit a lot from the new trend in wardrobe.（分数：0.14）A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H.(7).In fashion peoples wardrobe designer labels might be put together with cheap clothes from mass retailers.（分数：0
11、.14）A.B.C.D.E.F.G.H.二、SECTION 2 （Questions(总题数：1，分数：1.00)YESTERDAYS IBM IBM was established in the state of New York on June 15, 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company. (0) . The U.S. Census Bureau knew its traditional methods of counting would not be adequate for measuring the populatio
12、n, so it sponsored a contest to find a more efficient means of tabulating census data. The winner was Herman Hollerith, whose Punch Card Tabulating Machine used an electric current to sense holes in punch cards and keep a running total of data. Capitalizing on his success, Hollerith formed the Tabul
13、ating Machine Co. in 1896. (8). The combined Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co., or C-T-R, manufactured and sold machinery ranging from commercial scales and industrial time recorders to meat and cheese slicers and, of course, tabulators and punch cards. Thomas J. Watson joined the company as genera
14、l manager in 1914, when the diversified businesses of C-T-R proved difficult to manage. Watson boosted company spirit with employee sports teams, family outings and a company band. He preached a positive outlook, and his favorite slogan was “THANK“. (9). He understood that the success of the client
15、translated into the success of his company, a belief that, years later, manifested itself in the popular saying, “Nobody was ever fired for buying from IBM.“ Within 11 months of joining C-T-R, Watson became its president. The company focused on providing large-scale, custom-built tabulating solution
16、s for businesses, leaving the market for small office products to others. During Watsons first four years, revenues doubled to $2 million. He also expanded the companys operations to Europe, South America, Asia and Australia. (10). During the Great Depression of the 1930s, IBM managed to grow while
17、the rest of the U.S. economy struggled. Watson took care of his employees. (11). While most businesses had shut down, Watson kept his workers busy producing new machines even while demand was slack. Thanks to the resulting large inventory of equipment, IBM was ready when the Social Security Act of 1
18、935 brought the company a landmark government contract to maintain employment records for 26 million people. It was called “the biggest accounting operation of all time, “ and it went so well that orders from other U.S. government departments quickly followed. IBMs size and success inspired numerous
19、 anti-trust actions. A 1952 suit by the Justice Department, settled four years later, forced IBM to sell its tabulating machinesat the time, IBM offered them only through leasesin order to establish a competing, used-machine market. Another federal anti-trust suit dragged on for thirteen years until
20、 the Justice Department concluded it was “without merit“ and dropped it in 1982. (12). A. IBM was among the first corporations to provide group life insurance, survivor benefits and paid vacations. B. IBM is the most prominent casualty of the technology spending freeze, but others are suffering as w
21、ell. C. In 1911, Holleriths company was merged with two others, Computing Scale Co. , of America and International Time Recording Co. D. But its origins can be traced back to 1890, when the United States was experiencing waves of immigration. E. IBMs competitors filed 20 anti-trusts during the 1970s
22、 and none succeeded. F. In 1924, to reflect C-T-Rs growing worldwide presence, its name was changed to International Business Machine Corp., or IBM. G. Watson also stressed the importance of the customer, a lasting IBM principle. EXAMPLE：The correct answer for blank (0) is D. （分数：1.00）A.B.C.D.A.B.C.
23、D.E.F.G.A.B.C.D.E.F.A.B.C.D.A.B.C.D.E.三、SECTION 3 (Question(总题数：1，分数：1.00)HOW THE CREDIT CARD CAPTURED AMERICA The proliferation of platinum American Express cards in the 1980s spawned rumors of an ultimate, highly exclusive, never publicized “Black Card“. Carried by billionaires, it reportedly allo
24、wed holders to demand private shopping sprees at the worlds most exclusive shops and to summon helicopters in the middle of Sahara. American express vehemently denies the existence of such a charge card. But the persistence of the myth suggests the social importance credit cards have for so many Ame
25、ricans. As one business writer puts it, “to have ones credit cards canceled is now akin to being excommunicated by the medieval church.“ Americas love affair with the credit card began in 1949, when businessman Frank X. McNamara finished a meal in a New York restaurant and then discovered he had no
26、cash. In those days, gasoline and store charge cards were common, but cash was standard for almost everything else. The embarrassed McNamara called his wife, who rushed over to bail him out. His predicament gave him the idea for Diners Club. Within a year some 200 people carried the worlds first mul
27、ti-use credit card. The problem was to persuade enough people to carry the cards. Diners Club turned to promotions. It gave away a round-the-world trip on a popular television show. The winners charged their expenses and made it “from New York to New York without a die in their pockets“. Banks, sens
28、ing among less affluent a pent-up desire to spend, began issuing cards of their own. The first to turn a profit was Bank of Americas Bank Americard. Bankers from all over the country descended on its California headquarters to learn the secret of its successso many that in 1966 Bank Americard, today
29、 known as Visa, began forming alliances with banks outside the state. The Bank Americard network soon faced a competitor when Wells Fargo Bank joined with 77 others to create what became Master Charge. After scooping up 1.3 million more “Everything Card“ holders from what was then First national Cit
30、y Bank, Maser chargetodays Master cardbecame for a while the biggest bank card in the country. Five million holiday credit-card shoppers would have created a bonanza for the banks, but in the rush to market, the banks had been less than cautious in assembling their lists. Some families received 15 c
31、ards. Dead people and babies got cards. Even a dachshund named Alice Griffin was sent one that promised she would be welcomed as a “preferred customer“ at Chicagos finest restaurants. Hundreds of Chicagoans discovered they could use or sell a car they “found“, and by law, the person whose name appea
32、red on it was liable for the chargeseven if he or she had never requested or received the card. When the prime rate hit 20 % in 1981, the banks found that consumers didnt mind paying rates of 1822% on their credit-card balance. High interest rates helped attract new players into the credit-card area
33、, including sears Discover Card and Visa. Airlines, car and insurance companies, even long-distance phone companies allied themselves with banks to offer credit cards. Experts estimate there are from 15, 000 to 19, 000 different cards available in the country. Of course, credit cards have not only r
34、eplaced cash for many purposes, but also in effect have created cash by making it instantly available virtually everywhere. The credit-card advance is becoming as ubiquitous as the automated teller machine. （分数：1.02）(1).What is the rumor of “Black card“?（分数：0.17）A.The holder can spend freely at the
35、best shopsB.The credit card allows holders to pay their check without cashC.The holders can summon helicopters in desertD.The credit card is very important in American society.(2).What did McNamaras wife do to help him?（分数：0.17）A.Paid money for the mealB.Brought him a credit cardC.Came to release hi
36、mD.Helped him finish the meal.(3).What does “promotions“ mean in paragraph 3?（分数：0.17）A.EncouragementB.AdvertisingC.AdvancementD.Supports.(4).How did Master Card, became for a while the biggest card in the country?（分数：0.17）A.It joined with 77 other banksB.It won a large group of customers over Every
37、thing CardC.It began forming alliances with banks outside the stateD.It learned the secret of its success from California headquarters.(5).Which of the following statements suggests the carelessness of the banks?（分数：0.17）A.Alice Griffin got a cardB.Credit card shoppers had created a bonanza for the
38、bankC.Many Chicagoans could use the card they foundD.Chicagos finest restaurants had a policy of “preferred customers“.(6).Why did even long distance phone companies offer credit cards?（分数：0.17）A.Because the continuing competition forced themB.Because credit cards replaced and created cashC.Because
39、credit cards can be used as ATMD.Because consumers didnt mind paying high rates of their credit cards.四、SECTION 4 (Question(总题数：1，分数：1.00)Advertisement Too much to read! Its impossible to find time to read todays (0) business booksand thousands are published each year. Yet not keeping up with those
40、books could be a serious and (19) mistake. Often the ideas and insights they contain are (20) nowhere else. But how can you even know which (21) are worthwhilelet alone find time to read them? Fortunately, theres a (22) Soundview Executive Book Summaries. It really works. In fact, its guaranteed to
41、(23). It is ingenious and essential. Every month, you receive two or three quick reading, time saving summaries of the best new business books. Each (24) all the key points in the original book. The big (25), instead of 200 to 500 pages, the summary is only several pages. Instead of taking five, ten
42、 or more hours to read, it (26) just 15 minutes. Of the thousands of business books published (27), only a (28) are really worth reading. To save your time, our Editorial Board goes (29) them all eliminating 90%. Our (30) are high, and the criteria rigorous. When a book meets all our (31), we prepar
43、e a Summary, instead of a review or a digest. You get a skillful distillation that (32) the content ad spirit of the entire books. The titles cover every subject of (33) to business people today. Theres nothing else like Soundview Executive Book Summaries. A. good B. excellent C. first D. top EXAMPL
44、E：The correct answer for blank (0) is D. （分数：1.05）A.expensiveB.cheapC.severeD.badA.accessibleB.availableC.reachedD.gotA.booksB.onesC.subjectsD.titlesA.solutionB.wayC.keyD.methodA.functionB.workC.enterD.operateA.includesB.concludesC.containsD.takesA.similarityB.differenceC.resemblanceD.disagreementA.
45、takesB.costsC.spendsD.sharesA.separatelyB.differentlyC.partlyD.annuallyA.handfulB.severalC.littleD.scoreA.throughB.overC.inD.outA.requestsB.requirementsC.standardsD.needsA.testsB.needsC.claimsD.proclaimsA.reservesB.keepsC.maintainD.preservesA.careB.concernC.interestD.firm五、SECTION 5 (Question(总题数：1，
46、分数：1.00)Marketing Information 0. Sales and marketing messages are illegal if they falsely advertise prices, CORRECT 00. performance capability, quality, or the other product characteristics, or deceive THE 34. the buyer in what any way. A Western Canadian electronics firm was convicted 35. recently
47、of bait-and-switch selling (selling products with deceptive advertising). 36. This practice occurs when a company advertises at a very low price on a 37. product, but the customer has great many difficulty getting the special price. 38. Rather that, the company attempts to sell the customer a simila
48、r but 39. higher-priced product or offers a rain check that it will not be honored. This 40. tactic for attracting customers is a form of deceptive marketing. Furthermore, 41. sellers of services must also be cautious about how the language they use to 42. describe what they will do. Letters, report
49、s, and proposals that they describe 43. services to be performed are interpreted as contracts in courts. Sales and 44. marketing messages must not make claims that cannot be verified, so that 45. language must not promise more than which intended. （分数：0.96）填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_
