1、BEC商务英语（中级）阅读模拟试卷 95及答案与解析 一、 PART ONE 0 Demand for Houses Still Running Ahead of Supply A House prices have risen again this month as demand continues to outstrip supply, according to the latest research from the property website Rightmove. co. u. k. National average asking prices asking prices ros
2、e by 2. 3 per cent in September, pushing the average house price through 150,000 and setting the annual rate at 22. 2 per cent. B “The shortage of properties conning on to the market in many areas means that it is still a sellers market, particularly in the lower and middle price brackets. This shor
3、tage and continuing demand are resulting in renewed increases in asking prices overall,“ Rightmoves Miles Shipside said. The findings support the latest survey from the nationwide Building Society, which showed prices rising at their highest rate since 1999, but contradict the latest Halifax survey
4、which reported a slight slowdown in annual inflation from 20. 8 to 18. 8 per cent. C “Its an intriguing situation, with two house price indexes showing the market grinding to a halt, and two showing that the train still has a good head of steam,“ said John Wriglesworth, an independent housing commen
5、tator. He said that property markets should remain “well supported“, thanks to “low interest rates, good affordability and low unemployment“. D At the end of last month, nation wide said house prices surged at their fastest rate for 13 years and said it saw no sign of demand for homes weakening. The
6、 price of the average home jumped by 2. 5 percent in August, for the second month in a row, to 110,890, a gain of 67 for every day of the month. Halifax contradicted that just days later, reporting that prices rose in August at their slowest rate for 10 months. It said house prices rose just 0. 2 pe
7、r cent, after jumping 1. 8 per cent in July, bringing the annual rise down to 18. 8 per cent. 1 It is still a sellers market. 2 Demand continues to outstrip supply. 3 According to Halifax, there is a slight slowdown in annual inflation. 4 There are two entirely different house price indexes. 5 The p
8、rice of average house jumped by 2. per cent in August. 6 The average house price is more than 150,000. 7 Shortage of properties and continuing demand are resulting in renewed increases in asking prices. 二、 PART TWO 7 An assistant store manager at Costco Wholesale Corp. (0) E against the retail chain
9、 Tuesday, alleging that she was passed over for a promotion (8). (9). The suit claims that females rarely get high-level management jobs. The lead attorney in the case, Brad Seligman, executive director of the nonprofit Impact Fund, is also suing Wal-Mart Stores Inc. , alleging that the Arkansas-bas
10、ed retailer pays women lower wages and promotes them less than their male counterparts. (10). But it is stalled in an appeals court, and the merits have not been litigated. The Costco case concerns Shirley “Rae“ Ellis of Aurora, Colo, who was hired six years ago amid what she says were promises of a
11、 promotion within a year from her assistant manager post to an in-store manager at one of the chains 320 U. S. -based outlets. (11). “I would put my management ability against any manager,“ she said. Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco, which employs about 103,000 people worldwide, did not immediately retu
12、rn calls for comment. The suit, which focuses on in-store assistant manager and manager positions, claims that 50 percent of the chains employees are female, but the management “is virtually all male. “ The suit says only 12 percent of Costcos store managers and two of 30 upper-level executives are
13、women. Ellis is seeking unspecified damages, including lost wages, and wants the company to post its managerial positions to its employees. No hearing has been set for a judge to determine whether the lawsuit will represent all current and former female employees (12) . Assistant managers receive ab
14、out $65,000 or more, and managers get more than $100,000 plus bonuses, according to Seligman. He said the suit was about “changing the way Costco does business. “ Costco shares rose 39 cents to $41.21 Tuesday on the Nasdaq Stock Market. A who might have been wrongly passed over for a promotion to as
15、sistant manager or manager B that case, which was granted class-action status, represents as many as 1. 6 million current and former female Wal-Mart employees C because the companys policies discriminate against women in upper management D she said the retailer does not post job offerings for its ma
16、nagerial posts E filed a federal civil rights lawsuit F obviously the managers don t promote female employees G she was supported by most of the female employees in the company H The suit seeks class-action status to represent what the plaintiffs lawyers say could be 650 women 三、 PART THREE 12 Read
17、the article below about the Early Developments in American Economy and questions. For each question (13-18), mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet. Early American industries depended largely on skilled artisans working in small shops to serve a local market. But the Industrial Revoluti
18、on that started in England during the 18th century did not take long to cross the Atlantic. It brought many changes to American industry between 1776 and 1860. Because labor was scarce in the United States and wages were high, employers welcomed any new method that could reduce the requirement for l
19、abor. One key development was the introduction of the factory system, which gathered many workers together in one workplace and produced goods for distribution over a wide area. The first factory in the United States is generally dated to 1793, when an Englishman named Samuel Slater came to America
20、to build a cotton cloth factory. He built the machinery from memory, because it was a crime to carry factory plant out of England. The success of Slaters factory started a process of change that turned the northeastern region of the United States into an important manufacturing center. The making of
21、 textiles also meant increased demand for cotton, grown in the southern region for the United States. As a result, the nation became a major cotton producer. Another important development was the “American system“ of mass production, which originated in the firearms industry about 1800. The new syst
22、em required precision engineering to create parts that were interchangeable. This, in return, allowed the final product to be assembled in stages, each worker specializing in a specific operation. Just as Slaters new factory system was being introduced, an American named Eli Whitney made cotton prod
23、uction more efficient by inventing a machine the cotton gin-that rapidly removed the seeds from the bolls of cotton. Removing the seeds by hand was a difficult task; Whitneys machine made the job almost easy. Whitney also began manufacturing rifles in a new way. Guns had always been made by gun make
24、rs working in their homes or small shops. Because the guns were handmade individually, a part from one gun would not necessarily fit another gun. Whitney began making guns with machinery, so that all the parts were the same in each gun. This method of manufacturing goods in a factory, with interchan
25、geable parts, helped to advance American industry. In 1913, the automaker Henry Ford introduced the “moving assembly“ line. This was a variation on the earlier practice of continuous assembly. By improving efficiency, it made possible a major saving in labor costs. A new breed of industrial managers
26、 began the careful study of factory operations with the aim of finding the most efficient ways of organizing tasks. Their concepts of “scientific management“ helped to lower the costs of production still further. Lower costs made possible both higher wages for workers and lower prices for consumers.
27、 More and more Americans were gaining the ability to purchase products made in the United States. During the first half of the 20th century, mass production of consumer goods such as cars, refrigerators and kitchen ranges helped to revolutionize the ways in which Americans lived. 13 In the first par
28、agraph, the author intends to tell us that （ A） early American industries mainly depended on new methods. （ B） early American industries mainly depended on people who did skilled work with their hands. （ C） early American industries mainly depended on England industries. （ D） early American industri
29、es mainly depended on new changes. 14 The first factory in the United States was （ A） built by an American engineer named Henry Ford. （ B） built by an American named Eli Whitney. （ C） built by an Englishman who built it from memory. （ D） built by an American who wanted to build a cotton cloth factor
30、y. 15 Another important development was concerning （ A） the steam engines. （ B） the mass production. （ C） the mobile operation. （ D） the textile industry. 16 Which of the following statements is NOT true? （ A） Henry Ford influenced American peoples life. （ B） Henry Ford influenced all manufacturing
31、systems. （ C） Henry Ford influenced the manufacture of cars. （ D） Henry Ford influenced the system of business. 17 According to the passage, we can draw the conclusions except that （ A） the production efficiency has greatly been improved by the “American System“. （ B） many other machines such as ref
32、rigerators, washing machines and vacuum cleaners are produced on the assembly line. （ C） with the interchangeable parts, American industries advanced greatly. （ D） the industrial managers began the careful study of the operations with the aim of reducing the methods. 18 The passage is mainly discuss
33、ing about （ A） introduce the early period of industry development in the United States. （ B） how important the economic life is in the America society. （ C） the early development of American economy in 17th century. （ D） how difficult the early life was in the 18th century of America. 四、 PART FOUR 1
34、8 Read the article below about the job of store assistants. Choose the best word to fill each gap from A, B, C or D. For each question (19-33), mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet. There is an example at the beginning, (0). The move to self-service has meant that in many shops, fewer
35、 tasks are now performed by store assistants. Typical tasks which remain are making (0) C that shelves and counters are fully (19) , taking the customers payment, and (20) the purchases. However, in some shops, the more traditional selling skills are still important. In larger stores, it is normal f
36、or a range of (21) to be rotated among staff, giving greater work variety. Every customer has different (22) , and different reasons for coming into the store. Some know (23) what they want, ask for it and buy it. Many, however, are not sure, and if they are not (24) correctly they may go somewhere
37、else to buy. The store assistant must (25) when and how to offer help, and gain the customers confidence with the (2$) amount of questioning about what they are looking for. They can then give information and advice about the products which might (27) the customers requirements. This demands both co
38、mmunication skills and knowledge of the product. Finally, they have to persuade the customer to make the (28) to buy, and “ close the deal “ . If the customer is just (29) , the store assistant needs to offer efficient and friendly service, hoping that the customer will return when he or she is read
39、y to buy. It is worth remembering that many stores depend on their (30) customers for a large part of their (31). The actual tasks of a store assistant vary with the type of goods sold. In a mens outfitters these could include (32) a customer for a suit. In an electronics store, it is vital to be ab
40、le to (33) how a computer or hi-fi unit works and to ensure that the customer has any accessories they might need. （ A） stored （ B） provided （ C） stocked （ D） packed （ A） watching （ B） surrounding （ C） enclosing （ D） covering （ A） acts （ B） duties （ C） requirements （ D） actions （ A） needs （ B） neces
41、sities （ C） targets （ D） incentives （ A） obviously （ B） surely （ C） carefully （ D） exactly （ A） conducted （ B） treated （ C） serviced （ D） controlled （ A） assess （ B） validate （ C） test （ D） question （ A） adequate （ B） calculate （ C） right （ D） just （ A） balance （ B） suit （ C） equal （ D） reach （ A） d
42、ecision （ B） conclusion （ C） contract （ D） engagement （ A） reviewing （ B） observing （ C） looking （ D） watching （ A） regular （ B） constant （ C） continuous （ D） fixed （ A） proceeds （ B） business （ C） assets （ D） dealings （ A） grading （ B） rating （ C） estimating （ D） measuring （ A） present （ B） prove （
43、 C） demonstrate （ D） acknowledge 五、 PART FIVE 33 Read the text below about Milairs letter of apology. In most of the line (34-45) there is one extra word. It is either grammatically incorrect or does not fit in with the meaning of the text. Some lines, however, are correct. If a line is correct, wri
44、te CORRECT on your Answer Sheet. If there is an extra word in the line, write the extra word in CAPITAL LETTERS on your Answer Sheet. The exercise begins with two examples, (0) and (00). Milair Letter of Apology Dear Customer, 0 Over the last two years, Milair has been experienced unprecedented grow
45、th. While we are 00 delighted at the increasing popularity of our products, this success has brought with 34 it some problems. Even though with over 450 trained customer service staff, our telephone 35 answering standards have fallen on a number of occasions, particularly during July and 36 August.
46、The vast majority of our customers have continued so to receive a good quality of 37 service, but some have experienced by a service well short of their, and our, expectations. 38 As a result, we speed up our recruitment programmed to have the 39 more people available 40 to take your calls. We are a
47、lso making much greater use of automated telephone technology. 41 As Managing Director of Milair, I want to take this opportunity to contact those of you 42 who have been affected and for assure you that my colleagues and I are dedicated to 43 delivering the highest possible standard of a service. I
48、 am confident that the steps we are 44 taking in will help us to do this, and apologize for any inconvenience caused. 45 Your sincerely BEC商务英语（中级）阅读模拟试卷 95答案与解析 一、 PART ONE 1 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 本题意为：这仍然是卖方市场。比照原文，在 B文中有原句与题干相同 “The shortage of properties coming on to the market in manyareas means that
49、 it is stiU a sellers market” 故选 D。 2 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本题意为：需求继续大于供给。比照原文，在 A文中有原句为：demand continues tooutstrip supply。故选 A。 3 【正确答案】 B 【试题解析】 本题意为：根据 Halifax调查显示，年度通胀有所下滑。比照原文，在 B文中有原句为： a slight slowdown in annual inflation，与题干完全吻合。故选 B。 4 【正确答案】 C 【试题解析】 本题意为：有两个完全不同的房价指标。比照原文，在 C文中有原句 “with two houseprice indexes showing the market grinding to ahalt”。故选C。 5 【正确答案】 D 【试题解析】 本题意为：平均房价在八月份上涨了 2 5。比照原文，在 D文中有原句与题干完全吻合。故选 D。 6 【正确答案】 A 【试题解析】 本题意为：房子平均售价超过了 150， 000英镑。比照原文，在 A文中有原句为： pushing the average house price through 150， 000，意思是推动平均房价超过 150， 00
