1、BEC商务英语（高级）阅读模拟试卷 73及答案与解析 一、 PART ONE 0 A ABC International) one of Europes leading educational organizations, has warned shareholders to expect a fall in full year profits. The company, whose flagship training centre in Copenhagen is currently being modernized and refurbished, made an interim prof
2、it of $ 12m, compared with $ 23m in 1998. In response to its poor financial results, ABC has announced plans to cut jobs in its French and Spanish centres. An employee spokesman said that the move would prove unpopular and that with insufficient employees, some centres would struggle to deliver the
3、high level of service demanded. B Maarit Ehlers, former government adviser and the new CEO at CTAD in Finland, has announced cost-cutting measures at the company. This decision has already led to the resignation of one of the companys most respected employees. Niina Rantanen had been with CTAD for o
4、ver 15 years, most recently as its Head of Operations. It is believed that she objected to company plans to reduce staffing levels at two of CTADs plants. Indications are that further high level resignations will follow in the next few months. C ITNET has finalised merger terms with AREN to create o
5、ne of Romanias largest computer software companies. Details of the merger are expected to be released later today. However, it is believed that ITNETs plans to break into France and Germany have been put on hold for the time being and that major job losses will soon be announced. ITNET looks set to
6、benefit from the merger with AREN, which has recently been awarded a number of major contracts, including a contract with the Romania Ministry for Finance, which will be worth in excess of $ 345, 000 for the company. D Sam Cargo has responded to redundancy rumours by revealing that it is to cut the
7、number of office-based staff employed in its Scandinavian division by 25% over the next 24 months. The announcement follows confirmation that the company has also decided to postpone the planned upgrading of haulage systems at its Stockholm subsidiary. A senior staff member has revealed that Sam Car
8、gos business has deteriorated in recent months due to the escalating price war with central and eastern European rivals. E Trivoli Chemicals, British industrial chemical company, announced yesterday that it is to cut 600 blue-collar jobs in a series of downsizing measures at three of its German plan
9、ts. The news coincided with confirmation that the company also plans to dispose of its loss-making operations, SolvPaints, the industrial solvent and paint division. This restructuring comes as the company reported a sharp drop in pre-tax profits. According to a company spokesman, the proposed joint
10、 venture with DTR International, one of Trivoli Chemicals main competitors, is likely to be shelved. 1 This company is in the process of upgrading some of its facilities. 2 This company will sell off assets to offset poor financial results. 3 This company will be working with a government organizati
11、on. 4 This company is suffering from the effects of increased competition. 5 This companys decision to restructure will result in staff shortages. 6 This company has postponed its entry into new western European markets. 7 This company has made cuts which are unpopular with senior staff. 8 This comp
12、any is to reduce the number of administrative posts. 二、 PART TWO 8 Read the policies of an American assurance firm. Choose the sentence from the list A- I to fill each of the blanks. For each blank, mark one letter (A I) on your Answer Sheet. Do not use any letter more than once. There is an example
13、 at the beginning (0). One answer has been given as an example. Merrill Lynch to act as responsible citizens in the communities in which we live and work; and, above all, to maintain our reputation for integrity. Our world is being brought together, not simply by the authority of nations but by the
14、power of individuals; individuals who allow themselves to hope for a better life 12 . Although the road may not be easy or quick, we believe we can help our clients achieve even greater successes, in a world brought together by individuals with hope 13 . The difference is Merrill Lynch. In brief, Me
15、rrill Lynch demonstrates its commitments to clients and shareholders through the firms emphasis on excellence, integrity and ethical behaviour. We maintain a strong and engaged board of independent directors to oversee our business practices and make recommendations for improvement, if needed. 14 .
16、A. We think that make the difference all the difference in the world. B. With the exception of our CEO, all members of our board are independent. C. It also requires global resourcefulness: intelligence, creativity, agility and understanding. D. Today, trading alliances are being formed that promise
17、 to become stronger than the nations that comprise them. E. We believe that nothing holds greater possibility than a world of individuals with hope for their own future. F. We have people and capabilities in place throughout the world, and our reach is unmatched. G. We treat equally people of differ
18、ent colours and different cultures. H. Through us people in different places depend mutually upon each other. I. Command economies have gradually fallen and free markets are flourishing in nearly every corner of our world. 三、 PART THREE 14 Read the following article about a successful British busine
19、ssman and the questions on the opposite page. For each question 15-20, mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet for the answer you choose. Every year British universities turn out 15,000 graduates in business studies. Many dream that they will one day be running a major business, wielding
20、 power and influencing markets. But only a very few will climb to the top and realise their fantasies. For the rest, compromise, disappointment, mediocrity and an alternative career away from the mainstream action will be their lot. Peter Blackburn is chairman and chief executive of Nestle UK, which
21、 employs more than 12,000 people and has a turnover of 1.8 billion. His advice to those who wish to move ahead of the pack is as straightforward as the man. “Take all your qualifications seriously. Although many top executives do not have first-class honours and it is often a disadvantage to be an i
22、ntellectual, qualifications are increasingly important, as is the quest for improvement. “ “I do feel that an international dimension helps every career. It says something about the person and if they have worked in another language, it gives a manager the important dimension of realising that each
23、market is part of something bigger. Also it is always important in any career to keep your options open as events can take an unexpected turn. When they did for me, I acted accordingly. I still have to pinch myself to remind myself what I am doing. Even 10 years ago I didnt think this is what I woul
24、d end up having achieved.“ “In the end, those that get right to the top retain their “people touch“, which can be very difficult as one gets swept up on the fast track of corporate life. But those who never forget where they have come from and keep their feet on the ground have a real advantage. The
25、 important thing is that you should never ask someone else to do something you couldnt do yourself. I am always looking for those who have the determination, the steel to see through our corporate objectives. I also want managers who can be role models for the next generation, people who will be an
26、inspiration.“ Blackburn started out working for a small confectionery company and was responsible for clearing up a major financial scandal when it was taken over by a larger company, Rowntrees. This was a project which marked him out and gave him visibility in Rowntrees. While many successful caree
27、rs can easily be seen as an almost predictable procession, there are always one or two moments when success in a project promotes the executive, bringing star quality and something of an aura. However, if at the decisive moment a mistake is made, then the executive, instead of moving sharply forward
28、, disappears into the pack and others are given their chance. When Rowntrees was later taken over by Nestle, Peter Blackburn went on television and argued against the takeover. When the dust settled, the winners rewarded their spirited adversary. “I have always believed in doing the best that I can
29、in any situation. Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions and then its important to meet them square on. I have been fortunate in that the evolving company that I am now involved with has always believed in strong social values and has behaved as humanely as possible when it has been forced t
30、o close or to sell one of its businesses. “ Peter Blackburns career has been marked by two company take-overs. Many successful takeovers have been characterised by the new owners looking at the second layers of management and giving them a free rein. Mr. Blackburn has benefited from this process twi
31、ce and says: “In both the take-overs I have been involved with, success has been achieved because the new owners have not gone in for wholesale clearouts. They have realised that it is the existing people who understand the business and they must be the platform for any growth.“ 15 Peter Blackburn s
32、ays that to compete successfully in the job market, people should_. （ A） be realistic about their abilities （ B） make sure they choose the right post （ C） improve their relations with other executives （ D） have a good educational background 16 In the second paragraph, Blackburn says his present day
33、achievements are due to_. （ A） being able to adapt to changing circumstances （ B） deciding to learn other languages （ C） having worked for an international company （ D） staying in the same job for several years 17 Blackburn says that its important for a manager to_. （ A） lead their staff by example
34、（ B） put ambition above everything else （ C） demand high standards from their workforce （ D） move as quickly as possible up the corporate ladder 18 The writer uses the example of Blackburns involvement in the Rowntrees Project to show_. （ A） how problems within a company can be highlighted （ B） how
35、competitive executives are within a company （ C） how easily mistakes can be made by executives （ D） how the managements attention can be drawn to someone 19 What is Blackburns attitude towards the company he now works for? （ A） He has some regrets about its public image. （ B） He approves of the way
36、it treats its employees. （ C） He dislikes the demands it makes on him. （ D） He admires the way it explains its decisions. 20 Blackburn attributes the success of the company that have involved him to_. （ A） the role he played in each of them （ B） the abilities of the new managers （ C） the decision no
37、t to make radical personnel changes （ D） the financial support provided by the owners 四、 PART FOUR 20 Read the article below about foreign language skills. Choose the best word to fill each gap. For each question 21-30, mark one letter A, B, C or D.There is an example at the beginning (0).UK comes b
38、ottom of European language league The United Kingdom has the poorest language skills base in Europe, according to research findings published today. A European Union 0 found that UK companies could be losing billions of pounds worth of 21 exports due to their poor foreign language skills. Nearly twi
39、ce as many UK companies 22 experiencing difficulties due to language barriers as other European companies. Furthermore, one in eight UK companies thought they had probably missed out on a business 23 due to their inability to communicate effectively in an international 24 . According to the report,
40、“failure to communicate effectively and efficiently with 25 export markets in Europe, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region means that for many British firms more than a quarter of their possible revenues are at risk. “ The UK was 26 last in a European league table, with only 74 percent of compa
41、nies saying they had employees with foreign language skills, compared with 89 percent in Germany arid 84 percent in France. This is of particular 27 to UK exporters, who now ship less than 25 percent of their total 28 to traditionally English-speaking markets. A government spokesman said that new 29
42、 were needed to encourage companies to develop their language skills. Many companies come away from negotiations convinced that they have secured a good deal with an overseas client only to find out that the 30 they had agreed on are not as profitable as they had hoped.0. A. study B. examination C.
43、inspection D. enquiry （ A） likely （ B） feasible （ C） potential （ D） conceivable （ A） announced （ B） accounted （ C） informed （ D） reported （ A） favour （ B） opportunity （ C） chance （ D） fortune （ A） scene （ B） neighbourhood （ C） environment （ D） atmosphere （ A） lucrative （ B） fertile （ C） beneficial （
44、 D） fruitful （ A） ranked （ B） classed （ C） graded （ D） listed （ A） distress （ B） anxiety （ C） worry （ D） concern （ A） commodities （ B） holdings （ C） goods （ D） assets （ A） ambitions （ B） enterprises （ C） ventures （ D） initiatives （ A） specifications （ B） terms （ C） conclusions （ D） clauses 五、 PART F
45、IVE 30 Read the article below about a booklet published by a bank.For each question 31-40, write one word in CAPITAL LETTERS on your Answer Sheet.There is an example at the beginning (0).A USEFUL BOOKLET Fear has been expressed by the managers of 0 number of small companies about the possibility of
46、a downturn in the economy. As a response to this 31 of the major banks is offering small businesses a free practical guide to help them 32 problems should occur. The booklet is about helping firms identify and cope with a changing economic climate. Each chapter of the booklet highlights a key area t
47、hat a small business needs to examine and sets 33 a survival plan to follow, assisting businesses to anticipate problems and be better prepared. The bank has published the guide as it is keen to help its customers survive and thrive no 34 what the climate. The guide should allow them to consider the
48、 issues facing business and to understand the way in 35 their customers attitudes and values are likely to change if times do get hard. 36 the bank does not believe that we are on the verge of entering a recession, many businesses are facing a slowdown. In 37 a climate, cash flow is crucial. Just 38
49、 cars do not run without fuel, so firms do not run without cash. Clearly, managers need to know how to make the 39 of their cash and how to avoid running out of it. Small businesses are always on the lookout for information that is clearly and simply laid on. This guide provides exactly 40 , and is a must for every small business. 六、 PART SIX 40 Read the text below about brand. In most of the lines 41 -52,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
