bec中级第三辑真题详解test4

Test4

Part one

四个专家分别对一个度假公司的发展给出了自己的意见。怎么锁定目标客户，怎么定价，怎么打折，都是一门学问。题目信息稍微有些隐晦。话说这个BEC阅读的第一部分，普遍难度不是很大，可个别题目一旦含蓄起来，也是很难在文章中找到答案的影子的。

第一题，通过将同样的假日出售给不同收入层次的客户是有风险的。这题的答案够隐晦的，而且不是特别的对应。答案是B段开头的一段话。说该不该将多余的假期打折，是一个有争议的点。这样会导致一些注重预算的人被放在了SunTours’的一些更富裕的客户旁边，从而将品牌给毁了。注重预算的（budget-conscious）和更富裕的（more affluent customers）是两种不同的收入人群，也就是different income brackets，damaging the brand，毁坏了品牌，言下之意，这么做是有风险的，即runs a risk。

第二题，说值得提供打折假期来增加预定的数量。答案是A段的这么一句：Towards the end of the season, reducing the cost of holidays would attract last-minute customers, thus avoiding any possible loss on unfilled accommodation and flights。减少假日的开销可以吸引最后的客户，从而避免空余的住宿和飞行带来的损失。Unfilled accommodation，没有被预定的住宿，对应于题目中的booking。

第三题，如果想要增加回头客，SunTours需要反思它的市场策略。答案在D段，需要提炼：the company should consider that brochure mailings。They encourage summer tourists to take another break and can even be used to send a thank-you letter to returning customers.先说公司应该考虑邮寄宣传册，接着说他们可以鼓励暑假的游客去休另一个假期甚至可以用来给回头客发送感谢信。后面的句子整个说的就是如何boost repeat customer，前面的consider brochure mailings是具体说明如何思考市场策略（reflect on marketing methods）

第四题，说卖其他开发者忽略的地方的假期将会是一个不错的点子。答案是B段的这么一句：SunTours is planning to sell higher-margin holidays to previously 'unmarketed' destinations for which demand is greater than supply。计划出售先前没被开发的地方的更高利润的假期，在那里供不应求。Unmarketed destination也就是other promoters have ignored。在供不应求的地方做生意，但是是a good idea。

第五题，过去SunTours曾采取过一些不利的方法。答案是C段的这么一句：SunTours would then be able to change direction when things go wrong, as they inevitably do from time to time.事情做错了的时候就可以转变方向，正如它们有时不可避免的所做的一样。也就是说，过去曾做错过决定，也就是disadvantage。

第六题，在某些地方，SunTours也许可以协商一些更有利的合同。答案是B段这么一句：It is likely that accommodation providers in these emerging holiday destinations will be more flexible when it comes to setting terms。这些新兴假期市场上的住宿提供者在制定条款时可能更有弹性。合同更有弹性，也就是可以选择的余地更大，也就是越有利，more favourable。Negotiate contracts对应于setting terms。

第七题，有一种打折假期的替代选择，更能让SunTours的客户满意。答案是D段的最后一部分。前面说降价出售假期一定不是一个明智的选择，更好的选择是。。。。。。。这里的a better choice，也就是an alternative to discount holidays，既然better,就是more satisfactory。

Part two

《Human resource management》，人力资源管理。顾名思义，文章讲的是人对于企业的重要性，以亨利?福特的名言开头，列举了一系列专家对人力资源管理的看法。

第八题，这一段是列举了一个作家对人力资源重要性的看法。空格前面说这个人认为人力资源在当今的商业世界有着越来越重要的作用。空格后面是举例说明有着高度员工认同感的公司是竞争对手很难超越的。所以第八空还是讲的人力资源的重要。所以选B：传统的竞争优势已经减弱，有技术的、有动力的、有弹性的员工的作用变得越来越重要。

第九题，前面是列举几个调查结果来支撑上一段的观点：人力资源很重要。后面一个after all，问到怎么才能评估员工对公司的忠诚度呢？从after all可以看出第九空有点转折。人力资源虽然重要，但是员工对公司的忠诚度是无法衡量的。第九空应该选B：收集可信证据的困难，使得调查结果的不确定性。这里的findings就是对应的前面的survey和study，but是个关键的词。

第十题，这一空要和下一段联系起来选答案。这一空的前面说，当HR专家建议改变公司的补偿结构或者是在招人时更有选择性一些，他们是在要求需要资源的事情。（意思是需要成本的，不是那么简单容易的），接着下面一段就说为了达成这些要求，一些新的方法涌现出来。新的方案预测这些地方的改进能够给股东带来30%的增加收益。前面一个成本，后面一个收益，说白了，就是钱，这才是最根本的东西。专家虽然给出了建议，但是这些建议必须能保证带来利益，才会得到支持。所以选F，financial benefits是关键词。

第十一题，后面的both很关键，说两者都涉及到合适的决定。那么第十一空应该是两件事情在做对比，找出了共性。选E：将人力资源的积极用处和有效的基金管理做对比。Compare 是关键词。

第十二题，最后一段讲的就是人力资源的回报问题。投入的资源必须得有收获才行。12空

前面说投入巨大但不知投资是否值得，这样是没有意义的。空格后面则是根据这个问题给出的意见：招人需谨慎。可见12空还是和招人的投入有关。并且是负面的，所以才有了后面的advice。选C：一个常见的错误是将钱花费在招人上来弥补培训的不足。一个mistake，一个recruitment，都是信号。

Part three：

《Achieving a successful merger》，实现一个成功的并购。文章没有从技术和经济效益的角度来分析并购成功的因素，而是强调了一个在并购中容易被忽视的重要因素：文化冲突。不同的企业文化走到了一起，能否兼容是并购能否成功的关键因素。一个比较著名的例子是当年惠普与康柏的并购。

第十三题，问什么情况下并购会遇到麻烦。答案是A段的最后一句，关键词是culture clash：如果两个公司的员工在工作方式上存在文化冲突，那么金融专家和律师们为了达成交易所做的一切努力都是徒劳的。所以选C：冲突性的态度无法得到解决。Conflicting attitude对应于culture clash。attitude具体指公司员工做事情的方式和态度。

第十四题，问很多机构为并购所做的准备是什么。答案是第二段的这么一句话：Corporates, he explains, concentrate their efforts before a merger on legal, technical and financial matters。公司都把精力集中在法律、技术和金融事务上了。也就是更多的看重经济等方面的利益，而忽视了人的因素。选A：确保他们的利益得到很好的反映，也就是自己的利益有保障。represent 在这里的意思是be present or found in something, especially to a particular degree。

第十五题，问这俩医药公司并购失败的原因是什么。答案是第三段的倒数第二句：the chief executives of the two companies could not agree which of them was to head up the new organisation.在谁来领导新的机构的问题上无法达成一致。所以选D：人员竞争问题无法得到解决。Personal rivalry就是指两个领导谁也不服谁。

第十六题，问focus group可以帮助公司干什么。先弄明白focus group的意思，看剑桥高阶的解释：a group of people who have been brought together to discuss a particular subject in order to solve a problem or suggest ideas。处理问题的团体。答案在第四段。这一段是举例说明两个合并公司的文化兼容性问题。经过focus group的调查，这两个公司的做事方式有很大差别，不能兼容。所以这一题的答案是选D：评估他们能否匹配。

第十七题，问在一个新合并的公司里创造新的文化意味着什么。答案是第五段的这么一句：This means taking the best from both sides and making a new organisation that everyone can accept。吸取双方的优点，创造一个所有人都能接受的新组织。每个人都能接受，那么合并成功的可能性会大大增加。选B：合并起作用的几率增加了。

第十八题，跨文化分析能够表明什么。答案是最后一段的最后一句：how its politics, economics and history impact on the way business is done.看看这个国家的政治、经济和历史是怎么影响商业行为的。也就是考察宏观的国家背景对微观的经济个体的影响。选B：国家背景怎样影响公司的运行方式。

Part four

21、争议的焦点可能在B和C之间，supplier 还是provider。

supplier更侧重于提供某种产品（朗文：a company or person that provides a particular product）provider强调提供某种服务（朗文：a company or person that provides a service）

联系这个空后面的banking serving，这里应该选择provider。

23、network 相互关系（配合）的系统

branch network 由分支机构构成的网络。

这个词很好理解，看一遍就会了。如果是第一次选，没准会选中system

28、cope with后接事 deal with可接人和事

handle是及物动词，后面直接接人和事，相当于deal with

31、loan application 贷款申请

apply for loan 固定用法

33、go through 仔细的查看，后面正好和customer service review搭配。

driving force和customer base属于固定用法

Part five：

《Dealing with Expenses》，处理花费。

34题，一个完整的句子，数据需要被处理，句子成分很齐全，不是when引导的时间状语从句，when是多余的

35题，前后没有用such指代的意思，就是说公司的其他的会计系统。Such多余。

36题，不是从句，不需要if来引导。从there开始也是一个完整的句子，成分很齐全。

37题，try在这里从意思上和用法上都不通。没有尝试的意思，就是要确保（ensure），而且就算要用try，后面也不能直接跟ensure，好歹用个try to，可惜BEC里没有这种改法。只能把try去掉。

38题，前面有了谓语动词are，后面冒出一个been，这是什么用法，直接用are authorised，表示被授权。

39题，waste time doing，把时间浪费在什么上面，固定搭配，for多余。

40题，query是询问、质问，及物动词，后面直接跟宾语，不用with.

42题，谓语动词重复。There is little point in doing so，做什么没有意义，常见的说法，are 是多余的。

43题，make sb. do sth. 固定搭配，to多余

45题，every后面不能直接跟名词的复数，除非是every four minutes这样的用法，所以去掉。

BEC中级真题3答案和听力原文

真题3阅读和写作答案 VANTAGE3 KEY TO READING & WRITING TEST 1 Reading Part 1 1 B 2 D 3 C 4 A 5 B 6 C 7 A Part 2 8 B 9 A 10F 11 D 12 E Part 3 13 A 14 B 15 C 16 B 17 A 18 D Part 4 19 A 20 C 21 D 22 D 23 A 24 C 25 B 26 D 27 C 28 D 29 C 30 A 31 B 32 D 33 C Part 5 34 WITH 35 CORRECT 36 TO 37 CORRECT 38 SO 39 THESE 40 ABOUT 41 ALTHOUGH 42 HA VING 43 CORRECT 44 TOO 45 THAT Writing Part 1 From: Petar Koev T o: All Staff Date: 27 March 2004 Subject: Computer System I want to inform you that the computer system will be closed next Wednesday at 12 o'clock. The system will be down for at least two hours, please make sure that you have saved all your work. The whole system will ran on a new server which is faster. Thank vou. Band 5

bec中级第三辑真题详解test2

T est2 Part one： 《Successful Time Management》，成功的时间管理。文章针对怎么利用时间、提高工作效率提出了一些建议。 第一题，为了完成好一个任务，没有必要处理每一个细节。答案是C段的最后一句话，而且这句话同时是第一题和第四题的答案所在：Unless you have spare time, do not spend extra hours on an activity in an effort to cover absolutely everything.除非你有空闲的时间，否则不要在一件事情上花费额外的时间去努力涉及到所有事情。cover absolutely everything可以对应于deal with every detail。 第二题，如果你有很多要做的，也许需要拒绝以后的工作。答案是B段的最后一句，有点绕：This may require you to be firm and avoid agreeing to more than is realistic.这需要你变得坚定，避免答应超出现实的工作。more than is realistic，也就是眼前无法完成的工作，即work in the future。 第三题，任何计划行为都需要建立在一个有规律的基础上。答案在A段。A段整个就是讲的计划的重要性，有计划，才能合理安排时间。中间说有人喜欢在每天开始的时候计划，有人喜欢在结束前。答案是这么一句：you may need to experiment to find what suits you best-find some way of fitting the activity into your schedule.你必须去试验寻找到最适合你的——寻找将这个活动融入到你的时间表的某种方法。要让计划融入进你的时间表，也就是说计划要成为你的日程的固定部分，即题目说的take place on a regular basis。 第四题，在第一题已经说了，C段的最后一句，extra hours可以对应于additional time。 第五题，可能有些例行的任务不需要被执行。答案是D段的第一句：If your review of a period of time shows that you are spending time on things that are not really necessary or important, then think hard about whether you can afford this time如果回顾某段时间发现你在一些并不是真正必要或者重要的事情上花费了时间，那么你需要仔细考虑这次你是否花的起。言下之意，有些things that are not really necessary or important（some routine tasks）可以不必花时间做(do not need to be carried out)。 第六题，如果你觉得自己工作负担过重，那么查明原因很重要。答案是B段的这么一句： This is not a crime, but you must examine the reasons for such a situation and then plan a course of action。examine the reasons可以对应于identify the cause。 第七题，各个等级的人都会进行浪费时间的活动。答案在D段，需要提炼。D段整个讲的都是不要把时间浪费在不必要的事情上。前面说不要干一些routine task，后面说顶端的经理们也会误用他们的努力。最后一段盘点了很多人，前面的many people，后面的even top manager，和在一起就是题目说的people at all levels。不管是routine task，还是misdirecting their efforts，都是time-wasting activities。 Part two： 《Staff appraisals》，员工评估。很多公司的员工和经理都害怕评估，但是好的评估可以增进员工的忠诚度和满意感，给公司带来益处。

BEC中级真题第三辑阅读及答案解析版

TEST1 PART ONE B 1 It would be advisable for Flacks to consult customers before developing a new product. D 2 Producing goods for specialist markets might increase Flacks' profits. C 3 Flacks may need to change the function of one of its facilities. A 4 Flacks should utilise its current expertise to enter a different market. B 5 Flacks may need to consider closing its current production facility. C 6 Flacks should develop the connections it has established with leading retailers. A 7 Expanding the product range would not be a problem for the workforce. Flacks is a UK-based company that produces fashion accessories for women. How can it continue to grow its business? A Susan Falmer Faced with a shrinking market, cheap imports and competitive pricing, Flacks will have to work hard to increase its margins. They need to move into a more promising market, one where demand is growing and where the company can exploit existing skills and contacts. They could think about brand extension - this would not be a giant leap and the sales force would take it in its stride. Also, they wouldn't need to re-equip their factory and could use non-UK sourcing if facilities here are in short supply. B Mesut Guzel They have the fundamentals of a survival strategy in a market where outsourced manufacture and brand differentiation hold the key to success. I think they should initially locate some of their production in another country, where manufacturing quality tends to be better and it is easier to meet changing customer demands. But they should also regularly monitor production in Britain and think about outsourcing all this work abroad at some point if they need it done faster. The company should continue to work on innovative products, and thorough market research will help to ensure any new ideas are well received. C Gary Wilmot In order to beat their rivals in a highly competitive market, Flacks should ensure their products are attractive and build on their relationships with the big stores rather than trying to go it alone and market directly. They should also consider refocusing production by using their UK factory for high-specification products. They could eventually build more production overseas in a cycle of continuous development. D Michal Kaminski The demand for fashion accessories is relatively flat and the company should consider exploiting niche markets to improve its margins. But even within these, Flacks must distinguish its goods from those of its rivals in terms of quality, performance and design. Innovative sales, marketing and PR are vital to exploit these niche products. One competitive advantage that Flacks does have is production times. Many retail chains now have two-tier supply chains and Flacks could focus on top-up orders. They might also investigate other sales channels such as mail order. 这篇文章是关于一个女性时尚饰品公司——Flacks的发展战略问题，四个专家给出了自 己的建议。这套题目的答案稍微有些隐晦。 第一题，说在开发新产品前咨询客户的意见对于Flacks来讲是很明智的。答案是B段 的最后一句：thorough market research will help to ensure any new ideas are well received.彻底的市场调查能够确保新的思想很好的被接受。Market research，市场调查，在很大程度上就

BEC中级真题第三辑TEST2kj140219154154

BEC 中级第三辑Test 2 READING 1 hour PART ON E Questions 1-7 ●Look at the s t a t emen t s below and the text about time mana g emen t on the opposite page. ●Which section (A, B, C or D) does each s t a t emen t(1-7) refer to? ●For each s t a t emen t(1-7), mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet. ●You will need to use some of these le tt er s more t han once. 1 In order to c omple t e a t a sk well, it may not be necessary to deal with every detail. 2 lf you have too much to do, you may need to turn down work in the future. 3 Any planning activity needs to t ake place on a regular ba si s. 4 You should avoid giving additional time to a particular task. 5 It is possible that some routine t a sk s do not need to be carried out. 6 lf you are overloaded with work, it is important to identify the cause. 7 People at all levels perform t ime-w a s ting act ivi tie s. Successful Time Mana g eme n t

bec中级第三辑真题详解test1

第三辑 Test1 Part one 这篇文章是关于一个女性时尚饰品公司——Flacks的发展战略问题，四个专家给出了自己的建议。这套题目的答案稍微有些隐晦。 第一题，说在开发新产品前咨询客户的意见对于Flacks来讲是很明智的。答案是B段的最后一句：thorough market research will help to ensure any new ideas are well received.彻底的市场调查能够确保新的思想很好的被接受。Market research，市场调查，在很大程度上就是咨询客户的意见（consult customers），any new ideas可以对应于developing a new product,能够well received，那么对于公司来讲当然就是advisable了。选B。 第二题，说为专业市场生产产品可以增加利润。答案是D段的这么一句：the company should consider exploiting niche markets to improve its margins这题关键是要理解一个市场的含义：niche market。看英英解释：a small area of trade within the economy, often involving specialized products。improve its margins也就是increase profits，选D。 第三题，说Flacks可能需要改变它的一个设备的功能。这里答案不是太明显，是C段的这么一句：They should also consider refocusing production by using their UK factory for high-specification products。他们也需要考虑通过利用英国工厂生产高规格产品来调整生产焦点。也就是说，英国工厂原来不是生产高规格产品的，即题目说的改变它的一个设备的功能。第四题，说Flacks可以利用现有的技能来进入一个新的市场。答案是A段的这么一句：They need to move into a more promising market, one where demand is growing and where the company can exploit existing skills and contacts。他们需要进入一个更有发展前景的市场，一个需求增长并且公司可以利用现有技能和合同的市场。exploit existing skills也就是utilise its current expertise。 第五题，说Flacks可以考虑关闭现有的生产设备。这题也有些隐晦，答案是这么一句：think about outsourcing all this work abroad。关键就在于outsource这个词的意思：turn to outside suppliers or manufacturers外购。既然是要考虑outsource——turn to outside manufactures，那么也就是可以考虑关闭自己的生产设备了。选B。 第六题，说Flacks应该考虑发展同领先的连锁商已经建立起来的关系。答案在C段：build on their relationships with the big stores发展他们同大商店的关系。 第七题，说扩展产品范围对劳动力来讲不是问题。答案在A段：They could think about brand extension - this would not be a giant leap and the sales force would take it in its stride.他们可以考虑品牌扩张——这不是一个巨大的跳跃，在销售力量的步调范围之内。言下之意，不是问题。选A。 Part two： 《Evaluating the performance of the board》，评估董事局的表现。众所周知一个公司里面是经常对员工的表现进行评估的，那么谁又来评估董事局的表现呢？这篇文章讲了对董事局表现进行评估的重要性和一些方法。 第八题，前面说对董事局的表现进行评估是很重要的。空格后面的句子中有another reason，可见这个第八空应该填入对董事局表现进行评估原因的句子。B符合这一特点，为什么要进行评估，因为“如果决策层是公司唯一逃避评估的成员的话，其他的员工会视之为不公平。”第九题，前面说小公司会发现这种评估过程更容易操作。空格后面一个however，说大公司的决策层会认为评估是对他们地位的一种挑战。可见这个空格应该填入表示小公司愿意接受评估的句子。A符合这一特点：通常这些公司的决策层会很乐意接受批评，因为这可以防止

bec中级第三辑真题详解test4

Test4 Part one 四个专家分别对一个度假公司的发展给出了自己的意见。怎么锁定目标客户，怎么定价，怎么打折，都是一门学问。题目信息稍微有些隐晦。话说这个BEC阅读的第一部分，普遍难度不是很大，可个别题目一旦含蓄起来，也是很难在文章中找到答案的影子的。 第一题，通过将同样的假日出售给不同收入层次的客户是有风险的。这题的答案够隐晦的，而且不是特别的对应。答案是B段开头的一段话。说该不该将多余的假期打折，是一个有争议的点。这样会导致一些注重预算的人被放在了SunTours’的一些更富裕的客户旁边，从而将品牌给毁了。注重预算的（budget-conscious）和更富裕的（more affluent customers）是两种不同的收入人群，也就是different income brackets，damaging the brand，毁坏了品牌，言下之意，这么做是有风险的，即runs a risk。 第二题，说值得提供打折假期来增加预定的数量。答案是A段的这么一句：Towards the end of the season, reducing the cost of holidays would attract last-minute customers, thus avoiding any possible loss on unfilled accommodation and flights。减少假日的开销可以吸引最后的客户，从而避免空余的住宿和飞行带来的损失。Unfilled accommodation，没有被预定的住宿，对应于题目中的booking。 第三题，如果想要增加回头客，SunTours需要反思它的市场策略。答案在D段，需要提炼：the company should consider that brochure mailings。They encourage summer tourists to take another break and can even be used to send a thank-you letter to returning customers.先说公司应该考虑邮寄宣传册，接着说他们可以鼓励暑假的游客去休另一个假期甚至可以用来给回头客发送感谢信。后面的句子整个说的就是如何boost repeat customer，前面的consider brochure mailings是具体说明如何思考市场策略（reflect on marketing methods） 第四题，说卖其他开发者忽略的地方的假期将会是一个不错的点子。答案是B段的这么一句：SunTours is planning to sell higher-margin holidays to previously 'unmarketed' destinations for which demand is greater than supply。计划出售先前没被开发的地方的更高利润的假期，在那里供不应求。Unmarketed destination也就是other promoters have ignored。在供不应求的地方做生意，但是是a good idea。 第五题，过去SunTours曾采取过一些不利的方法。答案是C段的这么一句：SunTours would then be able to change direction when things go wrong, as they inevitably do from time to time.事情做错了的时候就可以转变方向，正如它们有时不可避免的所做的一样。也就是说，过去曾做错过决定，也就是disadvantage。

BEC中级真题解析_第三辑T3P4

Who Benefits Most from Company Training? According to recent research, the better educated and the higher up the socio?economic scale you are, the more likely you are to be offered workplace training. And, incidentally, the more likely you are to then turn (19) the offer, pleading family and personal commitments or (20) of work. Less qualified staff, on the other hand, are offered fewer training opportunities, but are more eager to (21) them up. In fact, people with few or no educational qualifications are three times more likely to accept training when it is offered. In the majority of companies, more (22) are allocated to management training than to other areas. Employers (23) their better qualified staff as more important to the business, so they pay them accordingly and invest more in them in (24) of training. This is (25) by the fact that organisations are dependent on properly (26) managers making the right decisions. But this (27) may mean that companies are (28) other parts of the workforce down. The researchers found a growing demand for training among the lower-skilled.Unfortunately this demand is not being (29)by employers, even though there are strong indications that companies would benefit from doing so. They also discovered that, despite the substantial (30) between the training provided for managers and that offered to other staff, there was still widespread endorsement of training. For the purposes of the research, training was defined as any (31) of planned instruction or tuition provided by an employer with the aim of helping employees do their work better. It therefore included a wide variety of approaches. On-the-job and classroom training (32) to be used equally by employers. But learning on the job, which involved observing a certain procedure and then practising it, was easily the most popular method for all categories of employee. While many felt that learning from colleagues was best,very few (33) the internet as an effective way to train. 19 A back B over C down D off 20 A force B pressure C strain D load 21 A pick B keep C take D put 22 A means B reserves C finances D resources 23 A imagine B regard C suppose D know 24 A requirements B specifications C states D terms 25 A allowed B approved C justified D accepted 26 A understanding B intelligent C informed D knowledgeable 27 A stress B emphasis C weight D strength breaking D setting 28 A letting B cutting C 29 A reached B achieved C gained D met 30 A space B gap C hole D room 31 A frame B structure C form D order 32 A showed B appeared C demonstrated D presented 33 A rated B thought C marked D believed https://www.sodocs.net/doc/3e17016577.html,/forum-90-1.html

BEC中级真题集第3辑

第3辑阅读【TEXT 1】 『part 1』 1 It would be advisable for Flacks to consult customers before developing a new product. 2 Producing goods for specialist markets might increase Flacks' profits. 3 Flacks may need to change the function of one of its facilities. 4 Flacks should utilise its current expertise to enter a different market. 5 Flacks may need to consider closing its current production facility. 6 Flacks should develop the connections it has established with leading retailers. 7 Expanding the product range would not be a problem for the workforce. Flacks is a UK-based company that produces fashion accessories for women. How can it continue to grow its business? A Susan Falmer Faced with a shrinking market, cheap imports and competitive pricing, Flacks will have to work hard to increase its margins. They need to move into a more promising market, one where demand is growing and where the company can exploit existing skills and contacts. They could think about brand extension - this would not be a giant leap and the sales force would take it in its stride. Also, they wouldn't need to re-equip their factory and could use non-UK sourcing if facilities here are in short supply. B Mesut Guzel They have the fundamentals of a survival strategy in a market where outsourced manufacture and brand differentiation hold the key to success. I think they should initially locate some of their production in another country, where manufacturing quality tends to be better and it is easier to meet changing customer demands. But they should also regularly monitor production in Britain and think about outsourcing all this work abroad at some point if they need it done faster. The company should continue to work on innovative products, and thorough market research will help to ensure any new ideas are well received. C Gary Wilmot In order to beat their rivals in a highly competitive market, Flacks should ensure their products are attractive and build on their relationships with the big stores rather than trying to go it alone and market directly. They should also consider refocusing production by using their UK factory for high-specification products. They could eventually build more production overseas in a cycle of continuous development. D Michal Kaminski The demand for fashion accessories is relatively flat and the company should consider exploiting niche markets to improve its margins. But even within these, Flacks must distinguish its goods from those of its rivals in terms of quality, performance and design. Innovative sales, marketing and PR are vital to exploit these niche products. One competitive advantage that Flacks does have is production times. Many retail chains now have two-tier supply chains and Flacks could focus on top-up orders. They might also investigate other sales channels such as mail order.

“历年BEC中级真题阅读精讲”系列之四十六：第三辑T2P1 成功的时间管理

人邮第三辑真题TEST 2 READING PART 1 1 In order to complete a task well, it may not be necessary to deal with every detail. 2 If you have too much to do, you may need to turn down work in the future. 3 Any planning activity needs to take place on a regular basis. 4 You should avoid giving additional time to a particular task. 5 It is possible that some routine tasks do not need to be carried out. 6 If you are overloaded with work, it is important to identify the cause. 7 People at all levels perform time-wasting activities. Successful Time Management A The secret of avoiding work pressure is thinking ahead. Every day you need to review your progress towards objectives and decide how you can best use the time available to make further progress. You may find this is best done at the start of your working day but some people prefer to have a planning session just before they finish. Whichever you select - and you may need to experiment to find what suits you best-find some way of fitting the activity into your schedule. Never say, 'I don't have time to plan today'. B Managers at all levels occasionally find they have taken on more than they can cope with. This is not a crime, but you must examine the reasons for such a situation and then plan a course of action. Until the problem is resolved, most of your time and energy will go into worrying about the situation and you will feel unmotivated. Think too about how to prevent it happening again. This may require you to be firm and avoid agreeing to more than is realistic. C If a review of your working practices shows that you are too much of a perfectionist, do something about this. Modern definitions of quality refer to Witness for purpose'. If you bear this in mind, you may find it easier to persuade yourself to settle for an acceptable level of quality rather than perfection. When thinking about objectives and planning how to achieve them, consider how

“历年BEC中级真题阅读精讲”系列之五十七：第三辑T4P2 人力资源管理

人邮第三辑真题TEST 4 READING PART 2 Human resource management It is nearly a century since the car manufacturer Henry Ford said, 'You can destroy my factories and offices, but give me my people and I will build the business right back up again.'(0) .....G..... But a few business theorists are beginning to argue that managing people well can add more to the bottom line than anything else. Mike Manzotti, a leading American author in this area, has strong views about the growing importance of human resources in today's business world. (8) .............. A company with high staff commitment, for example, has an asset that its rivals find hard to copy. Research in Britain would appear to support this notion. A recent business school survey into the performance of eight multinationals found that people management could be the most decisive factor in a company's performance. Another study indicated the same thing in medium-sized manufacturing firms. (9) .............. After all, how can an organisation evaluate the commitment of its staff? For this reason, the researcher George Hessenberg argues that a scientific approach is needed. He feels that when HR professionals suggest changing an organisation's compensation structure or being more selective in recruiting, they are asking for things that require resources. (10)............ Some new approaches are emerging that attempt to do just that, including the scheme devised by consultants Couze Jordan. The scheme, which covers communication, recruitment, and use of resources, predicts that significant improvements in these areas achieve an increase in shareholder value of up to 30 per cent. Another programme, launched by James Lester, an independent human resources expert, approaches the problem from a perspective that is designed to appeal to a wide range of managers. (11)..............Both, he argues, involve appropriate decisions being made about the allocation of resources within a particular budget. Lester's expertise enables him to carry out an organisational audit for his clients to identify which areas of HR are in most need of improvement. This is because there is no point in businesses spending large amounts without knowing if the investment is worthwhile. (12) ............. Lester's advice, however, is for companies to think twice before hiring people, since it is vital they assess whether they are getting value for money. A But the findings are inconclusive because of the difficulty of collecting reliable evidence. B He argues that the role of a skilled, motivated and flexible workforce has become more significant as traditional sources of competitive advantage diminish.