1、BEC商务英语（高级）阅读模拟试卷 97及答案与解析 一、 PART ONE 0 Look at the statements below and the five extracts from an article about “Dilution“ of control inward and outward.Which article(A, B, C. D or E)does each statement 1 8 refer to?For each statement 1 8, mark one letter(A, B, C, D or E)on your Answer Sheet.You w
2、ill need to use some of these letters more than once.There is an example at the beginning, (0).AOne dimension of loss of control in management might be labeled “inward“, toward computers, via artificial intelligence and greater sophistication in general. In this ever more pervasive environment, cont
3、rol flows not toward subordinates or teams, but toward electronics. Circuits, memory, and software seem to replace what is in a managers head. One specific example might be the confrontations between man and electronics in chess matches. Granted, winning at chess does not have to mean that “the mach
4、ines are taking over“ any more than cloning a sheep automatically presages doing so with people. Nevertheless, these events should provoke serious thought. In 1997, an IBM computer called “Deep Blue“ was pitted against world champion Gary Kasparov and beat him in a majority of matches, although earl
5、ier in the year the reverse was true. Nagging questions arise: Can the creation surpass the creator? Are humans kidding themselves by thinking they will always be “smarter than the machine“?BManagement, of course, represents only one part of society, but such questions are relevant here too. Program
6、med decision-making is likely to broaden; inevitably, some would say. One reason is, simply, “What can be done will be done. “ Another is that this is essentially applying technology to what management has always been advised to do: set policies. Once made, “generic“ decisions can be efficient time-
7、savers. One “maxi-decision“ can replace repetitive, similar “mini-decisions“. However, both people and situations are infinitely variable. Is it possible to anticipate everything, even with sophisticated software deploying gigabytes of memory and the ability to “learn“ by past mistakes? It will not
8、happen overnight, but the potential clearly exists.CIn addition to a threatened loss of control inward, other threats have also developed, all oriented “outward“. One example is outsourcing in general, and using temporary employment agencies in particular. By trying to reduce costs, companies have d
9、iscovered that letting specializing firms perform certain work can increase efficiency. Often they can remove a substantial work burden and save money at the same time, such as with the initial screening of job applicants. Regardless of advantages, however, if such efforts are not done well and moni
10、tored closely, they risk entropy and decrease management control.DTemporary employment, or “temp“ agencies can involve similar advantages and risks. Because people employed this way are often paid less, have less generous benefits, and are less likely to have union membership security, their service
11、s can be obtained at substantial cost savings to employers. One risk here is displaced loyalty. Because control follows the dollar, and because temp workers are paid directly by the temp agency, problems can be encountered. Even among permanent workers, employee loyalty is said to be weaker today th
12、an earlier. Though not inevitable, a danger exists because a more tenuous relationship is present when a firm employs people only temporarily. Less loyalty, with all the inherent implications, can again mean less management control.ETelecommuting has become another potential challenge to management
13、control. Work formerly done at the office is now done at home, on the road, at satellite offices or at dedicated neighborhood facilities typically shared by employees of several firms. Working at home can have many advantages. However, a disadvantage not yet fully appreciated is how remote control o
14、f employees working at widely scattered locations is likely to affect managing. “Remote“ can be interpreted as outward migration of the essential control function. “Outward“ in turn, can easily translate into “less“ or at least “more difficult“. Supervision at a distance, even with instant communica
15、tion, can require more skills than when employees are physically observable. 1 The advice people get from applying technology to management is to set policies. 2 Besides loss control inward, there is a threat to management outward. 3 It is likely that telecommuting threatens the management control i
16、n some companies. 4 Many people worry about some electronic creations made by human can surpass human creators. 5 Temp workers in companies are paid less and given less benefit than permanent employees. 6 Supervising employees by remote control requires more skills than when employees are within phy
17、sical reach. 7 Loyalty is one of the problems that confront many companies nowadays. 8 It is efficient to employ specializing companies to conduct some specific work. 二、 PART TWO 8 Read this text taken from an article about some key aspects of operations management.Choose the best sentence to fill e
18、ach of the gaps. For each gap 9 14, mark one letter(A H)on your Answer Sheet. Do not use any letter more than once. There is an example at the beginning, (0). The Operations FunctionGoods are tangible items purchased by individuals or organizations for subsequent use. Services are intangible items t
19、hat are consumed at the time of being provided, with the customer taking away or retaining the benefit of that service. However, in many commercial situations, what is provided or produced by an organization can be a mixture of both goods and services.(0)_HThe operations function is the part of the
20、organization that exists primarily to generate and produce the products.(9)_. They have a conversion process, some resource inputs into that process, the outputs resulting from the conversions of the inputs, and the information feedback about the activities in the operations system.(10)_. Economists
21、 refer to the transformation of resources into goods and services as the production function.(11)_. This process is what creates the revenue for the company making the products or providing the services.(12)_When considering the conversion process we must take into account that the process is subjec
22、t to random change and fluctuations. Unplanned or uncontrolled influences may cause the actual output to differ from the planned output. (13)_. If there is a circumstance in which the Yangzi River of China was to flood, the production of rice would suffer, therefore causing an increase fluctuation i
23、n the price of rice.(14)_. Fluctuations may also tend to be caused by internal problems inherent in the conversion process. Faulty equipment, material imperfections, and of course human errors are only a few of the ideas that affect output quality. A Other natural problems such as lightning, frost,
24、drought, too much rain, etc. , will tend to be the major reason for the fluctuation in product quality and price because of availability.B All producers of whether it be a physical object or service have some basic elements in common.C For example, all managers in any organization will need to know
25、how to train their employees, appraise their performance, and so forth.D The end product then becomes an idea where it is deemed a useful idea due to the form, the time, or the place of their availability from the conversion process.E For example, such fluctuations in the product quality or price ma
26、y be due to the growing weather conditions of many plants of fruit and vegetables.F Once a product is made available to the consumer, that product is sold and converted into cash for that company and the cycle continues.G The general goal for all production is to create some kind of value added, so
27、the outputs are worth more to the consumer than just the sum of the individual inputs.H In some situations the product will outweigh the service but in other situations it will be the opposite. 三、 PART THREE 14 Read the following extract from an article about what airline alliances will take to peop
28、le and those airline companies, and the questions followed. For each question 15 20. mark one letter(A, B, C, or D)on your Answer Sheet for the answer you choose. Marketing, a vital part of any business undertaking, is a group of activities designed to facilitate and expedite exchanges. Marketing ac
29、tivities ensure that the products consumers want to purchase are available at a price they are willing to pay and that consumers know that the product is available. These activities occur in a dynamic environment that is, an environment of constantly changing laws, regulations, social pressures and
30、opinions, economic conditions, and technological advances. The marketing concept is the basic philosophy that guides all marketing activities. The marketing concept states that an organization should try to satisfy customers needs by means of a set of coordinated activities. These activities also al
31、low the organization to achieve its own goals. According to the marketing concept, a business must find out what consumers need and want and then develop the product, service, or idea that fulfills their need or want. The business must them get the product(or service, or idea)to the customer. The pr
32、ocess does not stop there. The business must continue to alter, adapt, and develop products to keep pace with the changing needs and wants of consumers. Although customer satisfaction is the goal of the marketing concept, a business must coordinate its marketing activities so that it can achieve its
33、 own objectives. If it does not achieve its own objectives, it will not stay in business for long. For example, a company could sell VCRs $ 100 and give customers a life time guarantee with each one. That would be great for the customers but not so great for the organization. Obviously companies mus
34、t strike a balance between achieving organizational objectives and satisfying customers. To understand the marketing concept, it is also important to note what marketing is not manipulation to get consumers to buy products they dont want. Marketing is not just selling and advertising. It is a system
35、atic approach to satisfying customers. An exchange doest not necessarily take place just because buyers and sellers have something of value to exchange. Each party must be willing to give up its respective “something of value“ to receive the “something“ held by the other. Your money or credit-for co
36、mpact discs, Codes, football tickets, or a new pair of shoes, because you consider these products more valuable or important to you than holding on to your money or credit potential. As a matter of fact. Marketing has evolved from a production to a consumer orientation. From the Industrial Revolutio
37、n until the 1920s, most companies were in the production era. Producers believed that consumers would open their arms and pocketbooks to buy whatever they produced. “If we can make it, it will sell“ was the management thinking characteristic of the production era. By about 1930, companies had more p
38、roduction capability than ever before. The good quality product not longer sold itself. This led many firms to enter the sales era in which they believed that a good sales force could sell almost anything. It was a time when a company emphasizes selling because of increased competition. 15 According
39、 to the first paragraph, one of the marketing activities is to provide consumers with products_. （ A） at a low price （ B） in a quiet environment （ C） at the right price （ D） in the public market 16 According to the third paragraph, before a business develops a new product, it must first find out_. （
40、 A） how much it can earn （ B） what the customer wants （ C） how to improve its quality （ D） how to reduce its cost 17 According to the fourth paragraph, a successful business deal can take place only when_. （ A） each party is willing to exchange （ B） priority is given to the requirements of customers
41、 （ C） a company makes a big profit （ D） the customer is satisfied at the expense of the manufacturer 18 According to the fifth paragraph, to be knowledgeable of the marketing concept, we should be aware of the fact that_. （ A） marketing is manipulation to get consumers to buy products （ B） advertisi
42、ng plays an important role in marketing （ C） marketing is a systematic process of satisfying consumers （ D） sales and promotion are critical 19 According to the last paragraph, companies used to focus on_. （ A） producing and selling goods （ B） the needs and wants of consumers （ C） the selling of new
43、 products （ D） moving goods to market 20 From the passage, we know that marketing is the creative process of_. （ A） meeting customer needs （ B） specifying manufacturer profit objectives （ C） finding out what customers need and want （ D） satisfying customers needs profitably 四、 PART FOUR 20 Read the
44、article below about Talent Management.Choose the correct word or phrase to fill each gap from A, B, C, or D.For each question 21 30, mark one letter(A, B, C, or D)on your Answer Sheet.There is an example at the beginning, (0). Targeted Talent ManagementMost large organizations(0)D about Talent Manag
45、ement as part of their wider(21)_. It is a crucial way of securing, developing and motivating people with the right skills and approaches to meet business(22)_But how many of our strategic goals are fully(23)_by our talented people? All too often, we find that we dont have the right people in place
46、to fill a (24)_when it appears, or we simply cant keep(25)_of the individuals we want. Even worse, talented people may simply not be operating at the(26)_we require.So what can we do to(27)_these missed opportunities? I believe that the biggest single challenge is achieving genuine “connectedness“ b
47、etween Talent Strategy and Business Strategy. A wide range of people processes often take place without a clear relationship with the(28)_ aims and culture of the business.Think about(29)_, performance management and development to what extent are these processes based on a clear analysis of the tal
48、ents and skills that people will need to operate at the next level? To what extent do you build peoples capability and(30)_to meet the needs of the business in a few years time? It is vitally important to build a clear definition of what each organisation really means by talent throughout the organi
49、sation. The acid test is simple do people with these qualities deliver the kinds of business success we are aiming for?（ A） strategy （ B） opportunities （ C） approaches （ D） processes （ A） target （ B） aim （ C） objectives （ D） destination （ A） fulfilled （ B） met （ C） accomplished （ D） performed （ A） blank （ B） break （ C） space （ D） gap （ A） clutch （ B） grip （ C） grasp （ D） hold （ A） layers （ B） levels （ C） class （ D） rank （ A） snatch （ B） grip （ C） seize （ D） clutch
