1、口语练习试卷 15及答案与解析 一、 SECTION 3 DISCUSSION (ABOUT 5 MIN) In this part of the test you are given a discussion topic. You have 30 seconds to look at the prompt card, an example of which is below, and then about 3 minutes to discuss the topic with your partner. After that examiner will ask you more questi
2、ons related to the topic. 0 Task 1 Staff Appraisal Scheme The newly appointed Human Resources Director of the company you work for is proposing to introduce an appraisal scheme to assess the performance of staff. You have been asked for your opinion about the proposal. Discuss, and decide together:
3、1 What the likely reactions from staff might be to the introduction of the scheme? How feedback should be given to staff on their performance? 2 Is it important for staff appraisals to be carried out? (Why? / Why not? ) 3 What do you think are the most important criteria for measuring staff performa
4、nce? (Why? / Why not?) 4 Do you think its better for staff to receive written or oral feedback on their performance? (Why? / Why not?) 5 Should staff that performs well at work be rewarded? (Why? / Why not? ) 6 Apart from appraisal schemes, what other measures do you think are effective Improving st
5、aff performance? (Why?) 6 E-Commerce The Retail Company you work for is investigating ways of increasing market share, including a plan to make use of the Internet. You are members of a group, which has been asked to consider the proposal. Discuss, and decide together: 7 What benefits might there be
6、 for the company in using the Internet? What resources would be required to implement the plan? 8 In what other ways de you think market share could be increased? (Why? / Why not?) 9 What do you think are the advantages of e-commerce to customers? (Why? / Why not?) 10 Do you think e-commerce is equa
7、lly suitable for small and large businesses? (Why? / Why not?) 11 Do you think conventional retail outlets will decline in future? (Why? / Why not?) 口语练习试卷 15答案与解析 一、 SECTION 3 DISCUSSION (ABOUT 5 MIN) In this part of the test you are given a discussion topic. You have 30 seconds to look at the prom
8、pt card, an example of which is below, and then about 3 minutes to discuss the topic with your partner. After that examiner will ask you more questions related to the topic. 【知识模块】 口语 1 【正确答案】 Suggested discussion: Candidate A: ABC Company is going to introduce an appraisal scheme to assess the perf
9、ormance of staff. It is supposed to benefit both individual and company. Individual appraisals are not always very effective. People think that there are too many categories. They are not sure how the system works. They are not happy with the legal aspects. What the likely reactions staff might be t
10、o the introduction of the scheme? Candidate B: I think some employees would accept the appraisal scheme, hoping that introduction of the scheme will benefit both individual and company. Some would see it as an opportunity to improve their salary. Some others may dislike it. They dont like the way th
11、ey are assessed. Many more are doubtful about the value of the staff appraisal. Everybody works in teams these days. Team members share liability for results. And team leaders sense resentment between members. Teams much prefer to be awarded a group rating. We often find a complaint about the system
12、 of performance appraisals. What do you see the feedback on appraisal? I think the feedback on performance appraisal is most likely not so positive as the leaders expected. Candidate A: I agree with you. The staff appraisal is perhaps one of the biggest causes of dissatisfaction at work. In America,
13、 the unhappy workers even take their employers to court over appraisal interviews. Problems with appraisals can fall into two main areasthose arising from the scheme itself and those arising from the implementation and understanding of that scheme. Senior staff find difficult about doing appraisals.
14、 They have to listen to staff complaining about the company in the course of appraisal. Candidate B: Therefore, I suggest that before reversing the appraisals negative associations, an organization needs to pinpoint the underlying reasons, which have contributed to them. The management should give t
15、he employees the guidelines. These guidelines suggest that a successful scheme should have a clear appeal process, that any negative feedback should be accompanied byevidencesuch as dates, times and outcomes and that, most importantly, ratings should reflect specific measurable elements of the job r
16、equirements. Candidate A: I suggest we should make some changes to current schemes. But how feedback should be given to staff on their performance? Candidate B: Thats the question we need to discuss and make decision. Yes, youre right. Some changes to current schemes are simply a matter of logic. Ca
17、ndidate A: For instance, if employees are constantly encouraged to work in teams and to assume joint responsibility for their successes and failures, it makes little sense for the appraisals to focus on individuals, as this may lead to resentments and create divisions within the group. It is possibl
18、e, and in some cases more suitable, to arrange appraisals where performance is rated for the group. Candidate B: And whats more, staff members also need to be educated about the best way to approach appraisals. They are uncomfortable being asked to take on a more supportive role than they are used t
19、o without having had any training. I think it is advisable to give written feedback to most staff members. For some employees, its better to give them oral feedback on their performance in addition to the written one. Candidate A: Your idea is acceptable. However, those being appraised may see it as
20、 a chance to air their grievances and highlight the companys failings rather than consider their own role. Therefore, the feedback given to staff should not be too negative. All in all, the appraisal needs to be positive. 【知识模块】 口语 2 【正确答案】 Suggested answers: Candidate A: Yes, its important for staf
21、f appraisals to be carried out, because personal appraisals will provide valuable information to the employer. They can help the company meet legal requirements. They provide the best way to build new targets. They can also help HR managers to talk to staff. Candidate B: No, I dont think staff appra
22、isals are important. Individual appraisals are not always very effective because teams much prefer to be awarded a group rating. Everyone nowadays works in teams. Team leaders sense resentment between members. And almost all employees complain about the way they are assessed. Individual appraisals m
23、ay bring the company the negative results. 【知识模块】 口语 3 【正确答案】 Suggested answers: Candidate A: I think productivity is the most important criterion for measuring staff performance. Productivity is tile measured ability to grow things or the rate of making profits. If an employee makes very little pro
24、fit for the company, he or she is not a good staff. Candidate B: I dont think productivity is the most important criterion for measuring staff performance. I think achievement is tile most important criterion for measuring staff performance. He, who has successfully finished his demanding tasks or m
25、ade great achievements, be it material ,or nonmaterial, through skill and hard work, is a good staff. 【知识模块】 口语 4 【正确答案】 Suggested answers: Candidate A: I think its better for staff to receive written feedback on their performance. If manager gives his / her subordinates written feedback, he or she
26、does not need to talk to staff face-to-face, thus avoiding troubles. Giving oral feedback on staff performance may put supervisor / manager in a position where he or she is blamed for doing wrong or thought to have done wrong in meeting legal requirements. Its not necessary for senior staff to liste
27、n to staff when they complain about the company. Candidate B: I think it is advisable to give oral feedback on staff performance. Face-to-face communication is helpful to improving relations between managers and staff. It can boost staff morale. Giving staff oral feedback is also an opportunity to d
28、iscuss the goals and targets together. The managers / supervisors can get valuable information from staff to employer. This valuable information can be used to build new targets. 【知识模块】 口语 5 【正确答案】 Suggested answers: Candidate A: In my opinion, staff that performs well at work should be rewarded. St
29、aff members always expect some reward after working so hard. They deserve reward, if they perform well. Giving reward to good employee means encouraging him/her to do even better job. As a result, it will benefit both individual and company. Candidate B: I dont think that staff that performs well at
30、 work should always be rewarded. Motivation stems from job satisfaction and not financial reward. Besides, staff should perform well because they get salary and fringe benefits. If they work overtime, they may get overtime payment. Of course, employer expects miracles from employees all the time. So
31、metimes, if the staff may not be able to repeat last years performance due to changeable conditions, the employer should not reduce his / her salary as well. Employer should praise staff, if he or she performs well at work. 【知识模块】 口语 6 【正确答案】 Suggested answers: Candidate A: Almost all organizations
32、have thequit-but-stayemployees who have severed their psychological contract with the organization. There are many techniques available to motivate staff. Among them, the most effective one is to give employees as much meaningful work as possible. The less intrinsically interesting the work, the mor
33、e needs to be done to make it acceptable: job enrichment, job rotation and job sharing. Candidate B: Apart from appraisal schemes, there are other measures to improve staff performance. Of these, the most important is to give staff due trustworthiness. If you have confidence in your staff, and trust
34、 your staff, you will give them the information and resources needed to do a good job. Also ensure, through ongoing training, that employees have the necessary skills to meet the requirements of the job. Consequently, I believe, most of your staff members will certainly demonstrate their commitments
35、 to do the job well. Candidate C: In addition to appraisal schemes, the employer should demonstrate a commitment to career development and promotion from within. If the employees feel that they have a bright prospect here, they will certainly try their best to improve their performance. Candidate D:
36、 I think fostering a sense of team spirit is an effective measure to improve staff performance. You do not have to organize outdoor assault courses. It is enough to provide opportunities for people to meet, talk and share together. Candidate E: If employer wants to motivate its employees, he or she
37、must publicly recognize and congratulate employees for good work. He or she must do something to celebrate success. Encouragement creates heroes. I just sometimes think that staff efforts arent always rewarded. I know different managers have different styles, but, well, everyone likes to feel apprec
38、iated, dont they? Candidate F: If employer wants to improve staff performance, he must provide regular and specific feedback to all staff through both formal appraisals and informal channels of communication. Encourage feedback from staff and involve employees in decisions that affect their work. Ca
39、ndidate G: Some people are fortunate enough to have a good boss, who may have modeled positive motivational behaviors. A good boss will pay people what they are worth. Consider such factors as market forces, predatory competitors and the contribution each individual makes. 【知识模块】 口语 【知识模块】 口语 7 【正确答
40、案】 Suggested discussion: Candidate A: Using the Internet will benefit the company obviously. As we all know, online shopping is quick and crowd-free. More and more consumers have come to like online shopping, because they find it very helpful. They can save money, time, energy and stress. Nobody rea
41、lly wants to spend three hours of a precious weekend on his / her local high street looking for a book thats sold out, or a CD thats not stocked by the chains. Candidate B: Think of the time wasted and sheer misery generated each Christmas by high street shopping: 20 millions people took the easy wa
42、y our last year and shopped online, a 56 per cent increase in 2004. Further-more, US online retail sales are on track to be worth at least $80 billion this year, up from 60 billion last year. E-commerce benefits both customers and companies. However, there are still a great number of consumers being
43、 stopped from using online-shopping. Why? Can you give the reasons for that? Candidate A: Sure. Well have to figure out whats stopping consumers from joining tile online retail revolution. Many people, reasonably, are wary of online security. It seems so risky, just tapping your credit card details
44、into a computer, pressing button and sending them into the other. We should be aware of their fears and should invest considerable amount in security. Candidate B: Youre right! Be thankful, then, that our company as well as other online retailers are aware of customers fears and have invested heavil
45、y in security. We should have skilled professionals to operate the online business. We must let consumers know that using credit card online is now safer than using it in the real wordcertainly safer than faxing their details to an unknown recipient. Candidate A: Some people have encountered faulty
46、goods or poor service. So they are cautious about online shopping. We must offer good customer service and high quality goods. We must dispel peoples misgivings and doubt about online shopping. We must demonstrate ourselves that we the online traders are extra keen to offer impeccable service. Candi
47、date B: I agree with you. Only first-rate and non-hassle service will convince online shoppers that they are doing the right thing. If some people are now feeling slightly less uneasy about online shopping, what can we do about it? Candidate A: Good question. I think, we should persuade them to try
48、something small at first, such as a book, DVD or CD, to build confidence. We can give them somewhat discount. We must offer them excellent service and great prices. We can also provide customers with new and used products. We can give customers necessary guidelines. They may find this especially han
49、dy when looking for deleted CDs or out-of-print books. Candidate B: Good idea! And we should also try to mm our company into a one-stop-shop for the home as we also sell video games and domestic appliances, with flee delivery on orders of more than $30. Once comfortable with our first online business, they can branch out. If some consumers still feel nervous then let them stick initially to well-known brand names with an online presence, even if they dont have the most competitive prices. Thereafter they will have nothing to fear. 【知识模块】 口语 8 【正确答案】 Suggested a
