1、BEC商务英语（中级）阅读模拟试卷 83及答案与解析 一、 PART ONE 0 The Coaching Industry: A Work in Progress Theres no question that future leaders will need constant coaching and the coaching industry badly needs someone to define the profession. Four experts give their comments on a survey about coaching industry. A Ram Ch
2、aran As the survey results demonstrate, what we think of coaching today is generally a service to middle managers provided by entrepreneurs with a background in consulting, psychology or human resources. This kind of coaching became popular over the past five years because companies faced a shortage
3、 of talent and were concerned about turnover among key employees. Firms wanted to signal their commitment to developing their high potential executives, so they hired coaches. The kind of coaches I am talking about will do more than influence behaviour; they will be an essential part of the leaders
4、learning process, providing knowledge, opinions and judgment in critical areas. B David B. Peterson In the survey, only 3% of the coaches said they were hired primarily to address non-work issues, yet more than three-quarters of the coaches reported having gotten into personal territories at some ti
5、me. It underscores the fact that for most executives, work and life cannot be kept entirely separate. Many of them feel some strain on their personal lives. Not surprisingly, therefore, the more coaches can tap into a leaders motivation to improve his or her home life, the greater and more lasting t
6、he impact of the coaching is likely to be at work. C Michael Maccoby The survey shows more than half of the coaches think their clients do not become overly dependent, which is, in my view, unrealistic. Coaches have an economic incentive to ignore the problem of dependency, creating a potential conf
7、lict of interest. Its natural for them to want to expand their business, but the best coaches, like the best therapists, put their clients interests first. What this means for the companies is that before they hire a coach, they should ask him how he handles dependency in relationships. D Anthony M.
8、 Grant According to the majority of coaches in our survey, coaching differs dramatically from therapy. However, the notion that candidates for coaching are mentally robust flies in the face of academic research. Im not suggesting most executives who engage in coaching have mental health disorders. B
9、ut some might, and coaching those who have unrecognised mental health problems can be counterproductive and even dangerous. Firms should require that coaches have some training in mental health issues for example, an understanding of when to refer client to professional therapists for help. 1 The su
10、rvey shows that many executive clients have consulted their coaches about personal affairs. 2 Coaches are hired because companies want to keep the capable people from leaving. 3 A coachs psychological background will make coaching more effective. 4 A good coach should pay attention to clients self-r
11、aliance in relationships. 5 A good coach should give executives useful information in important fields. 6 Coaches might overlook their clients interest for economic reasons. 7 A good coach should know more about a leaders desire to improve family life. 二、 PART TWO 7 Bimbo Bimbo perhaps is the most p
12、opular local brand in bakery in Mexico. Every day, its products including sliced bread. cakes, and snacks are delivered nationwide by trucks. Executives at the Mexico City company estimate that its army of deliverymen makes the equivalent of dozens of trips around the earth each day. But Bimbos reac
13、h extends well beyond Mexicos borders. On Jan. 22nd, it plunked down $610 million for the Western U. S. division of Canadas George Weston Ltd. The deal gives Bimbo five bakeries and the rights to the Oroweat, Entenmanns, Thomas English Muffins, and Boboli brands everywhere except in Canada and east
14、of the Mississippi River. The share of Bimbos sales that comes from the U.S. will rise to 30% from 17% “This is a perfect fit for us.“ says Grupo Bimbo Chief Financial officer Guillermo Quiroz. It also builds on a $1.1 billion 12-year international expansion drive that has taken Bimbo into 16 countr
15、ies from Chile to the Czech Republic, elevating it to the rank of No.3 baker worldwide. (8) With a virtual monopoly at home. Bimbo has little choice but to look abroad for new avenues of growth. Yet even admirers of this Mexican blue chip wonder whether it has what it takes to succeed north of the R
16、io Grande. With the notable exception of cement maker Cemex, few Mexican companies have managed to turn a profit in the ultracompetitive U. S. Vitro tried to crack the American glass-container market with its purchase of Anchor Hocking in 1989, but it threw in the towel seven years later. Grupo Cars
17、o, a leading conglomerate. is struggling to turn around troubled computer retailer CompUSA Inc., which it bought in 2000. (9) Mrs. Bairds Bakeries, the Texas-based operation it acquired in 1998 for $300 million, is still in the red, and its collection of bakeries in California are just starting to b
18、reak even. “The company doesnt have a good track record of enhancing shareholder value through overseas acquisitions.“ says Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown Inc. food analyst Joaqun Lpez-Driga. Indeed, while overall sales have climbed as a result of such purchases, profit margins are being squeezed. So why
19、 arent Bimbos shareholders howling? (10) Bimbo spent $500 million last year on a share-buyback programme that left just 15% of shares actively traded. The company, which is controlled and run by the Servitje family, didnt even have an investor-relations department until Quiroz came on board three ye
20、ars ago after a career in Mexicos airline and banking businesses. Quiroz says Chief Executive Daniel Servitje Montull is committed to making Bimbo a more open company, paving the way for a possible New York Stock Exchange listing within two or three years. Bimbos executives claim theyve learned thei
21、r lessons from past acquisitions. (11) Theyve also hired consulting firm Bain 文中的 the greatest danger对应选项中的 the biggest threat。而B、 C、 D项在文中均找不出对应文字。 14 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 题目意为： “根据本文作者的观点，员工对变革的态度受什么影响 ?”文中第二段列出一些人们抗拒变革的原因，例如，不愿意降薪，不希望自己的权威或地位受到威胁等。此外，文中指出 “the wish to maintain group membership can be
22、strong, and workers may resist change because they are worried about what others may think if they do not.”即：成为集体中的一员这种意愿会很强烈，员工可能会因为担心如果自己对变革不持抗拒态度，别人会有不好的看法。由此可见， B项 “同事的看法 ”为正确选项。 15 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 题目意为： “为什么作者说员工应当参与到变革的决策中来 ?”文中第三段指出：让员工对变革不产生抗拒的办法之一就是让员工参与到这个过 程之中，让他们明白为什么需要新的方式，从而希望变革取得成功。这就
23、需要在做决定时，所有关心变革结果的员工都要听取一下提案。接下来指出 “They are then asked to comment on the idea; in this way agreement about the best way forward gradually emerges and a final plan can be developed.”即：他们都要对提案中的想法发表评论，这样可以逐渐得出大家都认同的最好的办法，最终制定出一 个计划来。因此 A项 “员工可能会有更好的提议 ”与文中意思相符。 16 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 题目意为： “为什么员工不一定总是可以参与
24、有关变革的决策 ?”文中第三段阐述了员工参与变革决策的原因和方式。在第四段的第一句，作为承上启下的一句话，指出 “Of course, this is much less useful if rapid change is needed in response to a crisis.”即：当然，当紧急情况出现，需要快速做出变革时，这 (相关员工参与决策 )就不是那 么可行了。由此可见， D项 “情况紧急，不允许长时间的商讨 ”与文意相符。其中选项中的 “urgency of the situation”与文中的 “crisis”对应。 17 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 题目意为： “根据
25、第五段内容，在实施变革的过程中重要的是什么 ?”文中第五段首先指出，开始实施变革后，要对过程进行控制。变革的最终结果应当与计划最初确立的目标是一样的。接着指出 “Targets should be set for each stage to ensure that progress is focused and does not slow down. It is essential that each target is measurable andIf the outcome of each stage is well defined, action can be taken if the
26、process shows any sign of moving out of control.”即：每一阶段都应当树立目标，以确保变革的进展是有中心的，速度没有放慢。关键的是每一个目标 (是否完成 )都是可以衡量的 如果每个阶段的目标都非常明确，一旦发现任何失控的迹象，就可以采取行动。由此可以判断出，实施变革的过程中，重要的是明确每一阶段的目标，以确保变革过程的每一步都保证可以实现最终的目标。因此 C项 “要清楚变革讨程中的每一阶段是否已经完成 ”与文中意思相符。 18 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 题目意为： “Martin chambers认为他的公司之所以能够成功是因为什么 ?”文中
27、最后一段首先说明： Martin Chambers的公司在变革管理方面比较有经验。 Martin Chambers是这样评价自己成功的原因的： “The secret is to build an organisation that isnt afraid to make changes while its still on top, when its not a matter of survival.”即： (成功的 )秘诀是建立一个不惧怕变革的团队，即便居于领先位置，变革不关乎生死存亡时也敢于变革。可见， B项 “不是无可选择的时候才进行变革 ”与文中意思相符。 四、 PART FOUR
28、19 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 此处考查对文章的理解。 A项意为 “卖 ”， B项意为 “(正式或礼貌地 )要求或请求 ”， C项意为 “想要，想得到 ”， D项意为 “希望 (不可能的事 )发生 ”。根据句意， C项为正确答案。此处句意为：通常价格被认为是人们为了得到想要的东西而必须支付的钱的数量。 20 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 此处考查名词近义词的辨析以及对文章的理解。 A项意为 “比例，比率 ”， B项意为 “商，份额 ”， C项意为 “价值 ”， D项意为 “百分比 ”。根据句意，A项为正确答案。此处句意为：我们把价格看作是比率，它表明为了获得一 定数量商品或服务所需要的
29、钱的数量。 21 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 此处考查对文章内容的理解。 A项意为 “陈述 ”， B项意为 “提到，说起 ”， C项意为 “引用 ”， D项意为 “标价 ”。根据句意， D项为正确答案。此处句意为：一条面包标价为 0.5美元。 22 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 此处考查对文章内容的理解。 A项意为 “赠送 ”， C项意为 “屈服 ”，D项意为 “分发 ”。文中此处句意为：如果一条面包标价为 0.5美元，就意味着卖方提供给买方一条面包，而买方要什么 0.5美元。 B项 give up有 “to hand something over to somebody else”(把
30、 -交给 /让与 )的意思。故根据句意， B项为正确答案。 23 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 此处考查对文章内容的理解以及名词同义词的辨析。 A项意为 “增加 ”， B项意为 “短缺 ”， C项意为 “需要 ”， D项意为 “缺乏，不足 ”，但通常是指 “a lack or shortage especially of something essential to health”(尤指缺乏对健康十分必要的东西 )。根据文意， B项为正确答案。此处 句意为：蔗糖短缺，糖的价格才会上涨。 24 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 此处考查连词以及对上下文的理解。上文中提到：假设蔗糖短缺，糖的价格就
31、会上涨。根据句意，应选择表示顺接关系的连词，故 D项正确。此处句意为：这样的话，卖方就可以通过涨价来改变商品的价格。 25 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 考查形容词辨析以及对文章的理解。 A项意为 “永久的 ”， B项意为“平稳的 ”， C项意为 “不变的 ”， D项意为 “低的 ”。根据句意， C项为正确答案。此处句意为：如果某种商品或服务的数量保持不变，而质量却 降低了，那么这种产品的价格实际上提高了。 26 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 此处考查副词辨析。 A项意为 “结果 ”， B项意为 “实际上 ”， C项意为 “据此 ”， D项意为 “表面上，似乎 ”，根据句意， B项为正确答
32、案。此处句意为：如果某种商品或服务的数量保持不变，而质量却降低了，那么价格实际上是提高了。 27 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 此处考查形容词辨析。 A项意为 “附加的 ”， B项意为 “过剩的，多余的 ”， C项意为 “令人满意的 ”， D项意为 “充足的 ”。根据句意， A项为正确答案。此处句意为：价格也 可由商家通过提供打折，附加商品或服务而改变。 28 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 此处考查介词搭配。 in this case意为 “在这种情况下 ”， B项为正确答案。此处句意为：在这种情况下，商品的实际价格就降低了。 29 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 此处考查对文章内容的理解
33、以及名词的辨析。 A项意为 “(物价 )暴涨 ”， B项意为 “政策 ”， C项意为 “因素 ”， D项意为 “变动 ”。这一段主要讲述价格变动对市场的影响。根据句意， D项为正确答案。此处句意为：价格变动在市场经济中发挥着重要的作用。 30 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 此处考查动词辨析。 A项意为 “询问 ”， B项意为 “指挥 ”， D项意为“命令 ”。 C项意为 “出价 ”，接副词 up是 “抬高价格 ”的意思。故 C项符合句意，为正确答案。此处句意为：当对某个产品或服务的需求大于供给的时候，买方把价格抬高。 31 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 此处考查动词词组。 A项意为 “制造
34、 ”， B项意为 “导致，造成 ”， C项意为 “提出 ”， D项意为 “要求 ”。根据句意， B项为正确答案。此处句意为：如果成本保持不变，更高的价格就会导致更大的利润。 32 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 此处考查动词搭配。四个选项中，只有 B项 invest与 in搭配表示“投资，购进 ”，根据句意，正确答案为 B项。此处句意为：如果成本保持不变，更高的价格就会产生更大的利润，而且生产商就能够购进资源以生产更多数量的产品。 A项通常和介词 to搭配，意为 “捐赠，贡献 ”， C项意为 “犯 (错误 )，干 (坏事 )，把 交托给 ” ， D项通常和介词 to搭配，表示 “献身于 ” ，
35、均不符合句意，故排除。 33 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 此处考查名词辨析。 A项意为 “影响 ”， B项意 为 “负担 ”， C项意为“结果，效果 ”， D项意为 “压力 ”。根据句意， D项符合句意，为正确答案。此处句意为：另一方面，如果供给大于需求，就会有各种压力导致价格降低及产量减少。 五、 PART FIVE 34 【正确答案】 ON 35 【正确答案】 THE 36 【正确答案】 CORRECT 37 【正确答案】 ALL 38 【正确答案】 CORRECT 39 【正确答案】 ONE 40 【正确答案】 BY 41 【正确答案】 IT 42 【正确答案】 CORRECT 43 【正确答案】 THE 44 【正确答案】 WITH 45 【正确答案】 THEY
