商务英语考试BEC高级易错题(2015-12-7) |
第1题: There is a commonly held view that the only way to get (0) decent pay increase is to move on: to go out into the job market and find someone (31) is prepared to pay you a figure more in line (32) the talents you can offer. Whilst changing employers from time (33) time is something we probably all need to do to advance our careers in the directions we want them to take, it is nevertheless an activity that carries quite definite risks. Irrespective of (34) well we research prospective employers, a new jib is still largely a step into the unknown . It may turn (35) to be a good move or it could prove to be a complete disaster : most of us (36) had experience of both. The point here, though, is that changing employers is not something we want to be doing all the time and certainly not (37) time we feel the urge for better pay . We’d (38) taking more risks than we needed to just to achieve a pay rise. Getting a pay rise should always be viewed (39) a serious business. There are no quick fixes or gold methods with “ guaranteed “ results. Quick fixes only serve to trivialize the issues and could (40) some circumstances get you into very serous trouble indeed. |
【分析题】: |
第2、3、4、5、6、7、8、9题:Gianni Agnelli ,Chairman of Fiat , Italy’s largest private industrial corporation ,is known in Italy as the lawyer ,because he trained in law at Turin University. ____example____he has never practiced , his training may soon be useful. On April 17th Mr. Agnelli admitted to a group of Italian industrialists in Venice ____21____ Fiat had been ____22 ____ in some corruptions in Italy. On April 21st, Fiat’s lawyers and Cesare Romiti , its managing director , met Milan magistrates to ____ 23 ____ the firm’s involvement in bribery to win business from state-owned companies. Fiat is not the ____24____ Italian company caught up in Italy’s increasing Political corruption scandal. According to the latest figure ,some 200 businessmen and politicians were sitting in prison ____25 ____ a result of judicial inquiries into kickbacks paid to politicians by firms. Hundreds more are still____26____influence of Fiat, ____27____sales are equal to 4/00 of Italy’s home product ,the scandal at the company has ____28____the industrial establishment. 21. A what B that C when D if 22. A involved B connected C related D done 23. A talk B say C speak D discuss 24. A one B single C worst D only 25. A as B for C with D after 26. A in B under C at D on 27. A who B which C whose D its 28. A rocked B ruined C damaged D destroyed |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
第10、11、12、13、14、15、16、17、18、19题: There was good news in Carter & Sons’ annual (0) yesterday. Three years of restructuring (21) in an upbeat statement from the company in advance of the official announcement of its interim (22) due early in August. The chairman, David Carter, reported a “ strong start to the year”, which, although helped by a rather weak (23) period last year, highlighted the logic of refocusing the group on growth sectors. Three years ago the company (24) a review of all its operations in view of the serious financial difficulties that it was (25) As a result of this, its car (26) business was sold to an American group, and its car sales and repair divisions were (27) down so as to allow the company to (28) on the sale of vans and heavy goods vehicles. Three new showrooms have been opened in the UK and Ireland , and the sales (29) has more than doubled in the last two years. Growth in business across the group has gone up by almost 12 per cent in the first half of the year. This should reassure investors that Carter & Sons is now on (30) to deliver increased earning in the years ahead. Example : A report B Notice C account D information 21 A terminated B culminated C accomplished D completed 22 A economics B finances C outcomes D results 23 A relative B alike C comparative D equivalent 24 A commissioned B assigned C delegated D appointed 25 A dealing B facing C undertaking D withstanding 26 A additions B extras C accessories D supplements 27 A scaled B marked C slowed D put 28 A emphasise B concentrate C specialize D strengthen 29 A bonus B pack c force D band 30 A way B path C road D track |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
第20、21、22、23、24、25题: The quest for international managers is underway in virtually every industrialized economy , the search has been made urgent by the globalization of world markets and the growth in crossborder mergers and acquisitions. (0) Many firms report being so stretched that they simply do not have enough of the high-quality people they require to lead their their global expansion. Other companies are having difficulties releasing experienced people from existing operations in order to lead new international ventures. There are indications that a shorftage of internationally skilled people may be an important constraint on firms’ international ambitions. (9) However, identifying the need for international managers is easier than developing them. So what makes an international manager? Paul Evans, a professor at INSEAD, the European business school, does not believe that any particular nationality produces a more international manager. Neither does he believe that it’s a matter of having the ability to cope with a lifestyle that involves working in Madrid one day, London the next and Berlin the day after. (10) Rather, he believes that the secret of being a good international manger is being comfortable with managing diversity. Ford of Europe, which has encouraged the development of international managers for more than 20 years, says that its managers are globally-minded before they become global operators. (11) a car that you buy in the UK, for example, is going to be the same car that sells in Germany, Finland and Portugal, so the people who are involved in the car’s development have to be aware of the market requirements in all those different countries. Generally, it seems that the only effective way to develop international skills and perspectives is through direct international experience. (12) Such experiences open people’s minds to the fact that things are done differently lese where and encourages them to think in a wilder context.. Formulating effective strategies for developing a company’s management resource is a demanding exercise, with conflicting issues to be solved (13) Another dilemma is whether to use local managers or expatriates. The recruitment and development of effective international managers requires considerable financial resources and can be hard to justify at budget meetings. (14) however , without them, companies will continue to find their expansion plans frustrated by a lack of internationally effective managers. A from the moment they join the company, employees are faced with having to think internationally B This can be through involvement in international task forces or through living and working abroad. C Should , for example, only an elite few receive international experience in preparation for top jobs or should it be offered to a wider group? D these problems mean that developing managers who think and operate globally is absolutely vital for companies operating in foreign markets. E Language training , overseas visits and in-house management courses are all expensive to implement. F Jet-setting between international operations merely creates a business equivalent of the over-packaged tourist G Companies are now emphasizing the human skills involved in managing other people H These trends are pushing companies’ existing management resources to the limit PART THREE |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
第26、27、28、29、30、31题: In the last few years, managers throughout industry have seen more changes than many of them could have expected to see in their entire working lives having to communicate information which often leads to feelings of insecurity has become a key activity. From being regarded as relatively unimportant in many companies , management employee communication has become a central corporate need. Concordia International provides a good example of a company that has adjusted well to the changing needs for communication . since 1995 , Concordia has been turned inside-out and upside-down, to ensure that it is a marketing –led, customer-responsive business, one that looks outwards at customers and competitors, rather than inwards at its own processes and the way things were done in the past. In the last eight years, Concordia has reduced its workforce by more than 80.000 people - or 35% -on a voluntary basis, with further downsizing anticipated. From being an engineering company, Concordia is now remaking itself as a service company. The role of employee communication in such a context is to build people’s self-confidence, to persuade them that, although it is inevitable that the changes will go ahead, they also bring with them new opportunities for employees. However, this is not an easy task. People tend to be skeptical of these claims and to feel that they are losing touch with the company they have worked for over many years. This is understandable, since many of the old certainties are being swept away , including the core activities of the company they work for. Above all , they have had to face up to the fact that they no longer have a job for life. Research indicates that people respond to this predicament in a variety of ways. The bulk of employees fall into two main categories in terms of their response to the new situation: on the one hand there are the “ pragmatists” and on the other “ the highly anxious” the former see their job as a means to an end and have a relatively short-term perspective, with strong loyalty to their local term , rather than the company as a whole . the second category, usually the majority, may respond to threatened changes with a feeling of having been let down, and even feel anger at the company for what they see as changing the terms of their employment. ` The employee communication process needs to be capable of accurately directing its messages at a variety of employee groups and departments within the workforce . this is why middle managers and line managers are so key to communication. They are the people who know about the full rage of concerns among the workforce. The problem in the past was that this crucial area was often the responsibility of a separate, relatively isolated unit. Concordia puts responsibility for communication firmly on line managers. All their research points to the same conclusion: people prefer to get their information face-to-face from their line managers. That is the key relationship and where arguments and hearts and minds –are lost. The general rule in company communication is to tell employees as much as you can as soon as you can. If you can’t provide details, then at least put the news in context and commit yourself to providing greater detail when it becomes available another rule of company communication is that there must be a fit between what the company is telling its employees and what it is telling its shareholders. 15: in the last eight years, Concordia has A made over 80.000 employees reduncdant B completed a period of downsizing C reduced its workforce of 80.000 by 35% D given 35% of departing employees voluntary redundancy 16 from Concordia’s point of view, the role of communication is to A win employee support before going ahead with the changes B change the company’s core activities. C emphasise the positive aspects of the changes D explain the need for the changes 17 what does research show about most employees’ response to change? A they expect it to have a bad effect on the company B they feel completely powerless C they become less loyal D they fell they have been treated unfairly 18 Concordia’s communication process mainly relies on A printed communication B departmental heads C personal communication D a separate, specialized unit 19 According to the writer, what is the guiding ;principle about giving information within an organization? A Never make promises about future developments B Give people an overall view at the earliest possible stage C always include plenty of hard information D Hold back until all the details can be provided 20 which of the following would be the most suitable title for the article? A employee attitudes to company communication B making company communication more effective C Researching company commmucation D Making employees feel less powerless |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
第32、33、34、35、36、37、38、39、40、41题: Two year ago we undertook to increase our sales and to at least (10) our earnings. We published this (21) in order to demonstrate our resolve to lead the business successfully through the demanding period following the expiry of patents which had given us the exclusive right to develop two of our major products. I am very please to (22) that we achieved what we set (23) to do. We have achieved increased of 4% and 6% in sales and earnings (24) this comes despite considerable losses (25) the expiry of the patents. It is testimony to the depth and vitality of our portfolio of medicines that we have been able to survive the largest single patent expiry our industry has known. Looking further ahead, I firmly believe that this company can continue to deliver strong , sustainable growth, enabling us to stay at the (28) of the research-based pharmaceutical industry. The power and pace of technological and scientific development, combined with economic and social pressures, are (29) huge changes in our industry, the successful companies of the future will be those that anticipate and (30) to this change, integrate new technologies effectively, and are closest to their customers. I have full confidence in our ability to remain a major player in our industry. 21 A warranty B obligation C commitment D contract 22 A inform B specify C notify D report 23 A in B out c aside D up 24A respectively B serially C consecutively D sequentially 25 A pursuing B resulting C following D depending 26 A contribution B donation C investment D subsidy 27 A numbers B figures C sums D points 28 A foreground B forefront C lead D advance 29 A forcing B impelling C urging D thrusting 30 A meet B suit C correspond D respond |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
【单选题】: |
第42、43、44、45、46、47、48、49题:You will need to use some of these letters more than once . 1 Genuine feedback would release resources to be used elsewhere. 2 Managers are expected to enable their staff to work effectively. 3 Experts are unlikely to facilitate a move to genuine feedback. 4 There are benefits when methods of evaluating performance have been negotiated. 5 Appraisals tend to focus on the nature of the face-to-face relationship between employees and their line managers. 6 The idea that employees are responsible for what they do seems reasonable. 7 Despite experts’ assertion, management structures prevent genuine feedback 8 An increasing amount of effort is being dedicated to the appraisal process. A Performance appraisal is on the up and up. It used to represent the one time of year when getting on with the work was put on hold while enormous quantities of management hours were spent in the earnest ritual of rating and ranking performance. Now the practice is even more frequent. This of course makes it all the more important how appraisal is conducted. Human resources professionals claim that managers should strive for objectivity and thus for feedback rather than judgement. But the simple fact of the matter is that the nature of hierarchy distorts the concept of feedback because performance measure are conceived hierarchically. Unfortunately, all too many workers suffer from the injustices that this generates. B The notion behind performance appraisal- that workers should be held accountable for their performance-is plausible. However, the evidence suggests that the premise is wrong. Contrary to assumptions appraisal is not an effective means of performance improvement- it is judgement imposed rather than feedback, a judgement imposed by the hierarchy. Useful feedback , on the other hand, would be information that told both the manager and worker how well the work system functioned, and suggested ways to make it better. C Within the production system at the car manufacturer Toyota, there is nothing that is recognizable as performance appraisal. Every operation in the system has an associated measure. The measure has been worked out between the operators and their manager. In every case, the measure is related to the purpose of the work. That measure is the basis of feedback to the manager and worker alike. Toyota’s basic idea is expressed in the axiom “bad news first” . Both managers and workers are psychologically safe in the knowledge that it is the system- not the worker –that is the primary influence on performance. It is management’s responsibility to ensure that the workers operate in a system that facilitates their performance. D In many companies , performance appraisal springs from misguided as assumptions. To judge achievement, managers use date about each worker’s activity, not an evaluation of the process or system’s achievement of purpose. The result is that performance appraisal involves managers’ judgement overruling their staff’s, ignoring the true influences on performance. Thus the appraisal experience becomes a question of pleasing the boss, particularly in meetings, which is psychologically unsafe and socially driven, determining who is “in” and who is “ out”. E When judgement is replaced by feedback in the true sense, organizations will have a lot more time to devote to their customers and their business. No time will be wasted in appraisal . This requires a fundamental shift in the way we think about the organization of performance appraisals, which almost certainly will not be forthcoming from the human resources profession. |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
第50题: “losing your job isn’t the end of the world: it gives you’re the chance the a new beginning (0) says Caroline Poole, 30, Who was made redundant (31) her role as head of marketing campaigns with an insurance group two years ago. The news was a blow, especially after a successful nine-year career with the business, but she was determined to see redundancy (32) a positive force for change. (33) it seemed a tough lesson at the time, redundancy was the catalyst that redirected my career, “ says Caroline “It gave me the break I needed to understand (34) my career objectives lay.” Working with a consultant, Caroline explored a number of work options that oppealed to her. She also took advantage of workshops on issues (35) as setting up your own business, and managing your finances. A key consideration for her was (36) easy it would be to balance working in London with home life 100 kilometers away. She was encouraged to network (37) other marketing professionals and via this route made contact with a communications agency. She took time out to go travelling , and on her return was offered a role in the agency. (38) was proof to her that she still had marketable skills. Two years (39) from redundancy, Caroline is planning another career break . “ The experience of redundancy has made me view my options with more confidence. I now know that I can dictate my own career path, even (40) it were to mean resigning first and then taking time to find the right direction” she says. |
【分析题】: |
第51、52、53、54、55、56题: The Danish electronics manufacturer, Oticon, is a leader in the move towards the paperless office, In their cafeteria a huge glass pipe runs from ceiling to floor. When the mail comes in, it is immediately scanned into the computer, shredded, and thrown down the tube to the general cheers of the employees. (0) Having all mail and memos available only as computer files to be read on the screen makes it easy to dispense with large physical storage spaces for people who work at desks (9) Changing over to the paperless office required a rapid increase in computer literacy, but rather than set up a corporate training programme they turned the problem over to employees. Eight months before the system was installed , they offered each employee a powerful personal computer for use at home in exchange for training themselves to use it. (10) The big change was not the move from paper memos to computer messages. Oticon realised that the more radical transformation is from written to verbal communication.(11) that adds up to a large number of face-to-face exchanges, a big improvement over memos and the occasional multi-hour sit-down consultation typical of the old culture. People do not send each other memos, they talk. As the CEO puts it, “ We have jumped through the memo wall and gone right to action.” On the eighth of August 1991 , the company left their old wood-panelled offices .(12) Since then they have cut in half the “ time to market” on new products. The following year, sales and profits grew more than ever before. (13) in fact, despite a downsizing of 15 per cent employee satisfaction is hitting record highs. Oticon has created an organizational pattern that supports great freedom iof action for individuals and terms. They have tied it together with a minimum hierarchy. The first clear results to show up were in the greater efficiencies generated by the fact that less time needed to be spent on management activities . (14) they also have some investment in the success of the project they choose. Oticon has succeeded in breaking the mould mould and taking a lead in non-bureaucratic organizational design. Example : A This saving was possible because when people have real choice in the nature of their jobs, they commit themselves to being responsible for their areas of choice. B They were headed for a new building and a new era in communication. C Instead, they have large private areas on their hard disks for their correspondence. D In spite of this, the physical office layout at Oticon is one of its most charming features. E Over 90 per cent accepted , and they organized a club to help one another learn. F To facilitate this, the on-site coffee bars have now become the venue for about twenty meetings a day, averaging ten minutes and 2.7 participants each. G So, are people happy with the change” H Only about ten documents a day, items like legal contracts, escape this treatment. |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
【分析题】: |
第57题: 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) Temporary staff required 0 Data Facts Limited is an expanding management services company whose 00 based in the north of England. We are undertaking a major piece of research 41for a leading financial institution . Part of the research is being a nationwide 42 telephone survey in early part December. Phone calls will be made from an 43 office in the centre of Manchester. The temporary staff will receive a fully day’s 44 training. They will then phone people who have been agreed to take part in the 45 survey and will go on through a questionnaire with them. They will be required 46 to record the responses accurately in writing. It will be necessary for those who 47 appointed to work a certain number of evenings and weekends. We are 48 looking for people who have a good telephone manner. A good level of their 49 education is desirable, but what we most require of people taking on this 50 work is common sense and the experience of getting thins done over\ 51 the telephone. Some knowledge although of banking or insurance would be an 52 advantage. Interested candidates should contact with our Recruitment Officer by phone or email to request an application form. |
【分析题】: |