2014商务英语考试高级阅读试题汇总
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2014商务英语考试高级阅读试题1
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
15A 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
文章取材自一本管理手册，说的是一个组织里的有效沟通问题。这套题目有些特别，不像之前的阅读的第三部分，六道题目分别依次对应文章的六个段落，这题的答案稍微分散了些。
15题，答案很明显，但是选项很有迷惑性。答案是第二段的最后一句：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.减少了80000员工(或者说减少了35%的员工)，预期还会减少更多。A选项是对的，made redundant是前面某套题目阅读的第五部分考过的词组;B不对，没有完成(completed)，因为预期还会裁减更多(with further downsizing anticipated);C也不对，迷惑性最大，reduced its workforce of 80.000，用了介词of，所以这句的意思是一共就80000员工，而实际情况是减少了80000员工;D不对，35%的员工被裁减，都是在自愿的基础上的，而不是离开的人中有35%是自愿的。
16题，问根据此人的观点，沟通的角色是什么。也就是问沟通的目的或者作用是什么。答案在第三段。沟通是为了帮助人树立自信，说服他们虽然要面临一些变化，但是同样也会拥有一些新的机会。说白了，就是鼓励这些被裁的人。答案选C，强调变化的积极方面。这里的positive aspects是对前面说的bring with them new opportunities的一个概括。(想起了电影《在云端》，up in the air，里面那个老男人的工作就是职业裁员专家，专门对被裁的人说些这样的话。)
17题，问调查显示大多数人对change的反应是什么。这题在答案中也很明显，但是选项很纠结。都有点似是而非。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.大多数员工的反应就是很失望，甚至会很愤怒。个人觉得这题出的不够严谨，没有哪个选项能严格从原文中提炼出来。对比下D要好点，因为对公司失望和愤怒，就是觉得受到了不公正的待遇。此题有待高手补充更完美的理由。
18题，问沟通过程主要依赖于什么。答案是第五段的这句：people prefer to get their information face-to-face from their line managers。喜欢面对面的从直属经理那里获取信息。所以选C，个人的交流。
19题，问组织内部提供信息的指导准则是什么。最后一段的第一句就是：The general rule in company communication is to tell employees as much as you can as soon as you can。尽可能的快，尽可能的多。不能提供细节的，至少给个大致的背景消息(put the news in context)。时机成熟了，再告知更多。选B：在可能的最早的阶段让人有个总体的印象。
20题，给文章选标题。这种题在BEC的阅读里还真不多见。选标题，就是要挑选文章的最主要意思，从整体上把握文章的main ideas。这篇文章通篇说的就是communication，前面介绍了沟通的背景：裁员;接着说了员工对裁员的反应;然后最后两段，一段说员工喜欢什么样的沟通方式，一段说沟通的原则是什么。综合起来，就是关于怎样进行有效沟通的问题。选B。A不对，片面了，只是文中某部分的内容，并且这部分内容是为后面做背景介绍，不是主要的;C不对，不是简单的research，research仅仅是介绍状况，文章还有关于实现措施的。
2014商务英语考试高级阅读试题2
Problems in the IT industry
In the information technology industry, it is widely acknowledged that how well IT departments of the future can fulfil their business goals will depend not on the regular updating of technology, which is essential for them to do, but on how well they can hold on to the people skilled at manipulating the newest technology. This is becoming more difficult. Best estimates of the current shortfall in IT staff in the UK are between 30,000 and 50,000, and growing.
And there is no end to the problem in sight. A severe industry-wide lack of investment in training means the long-term skills base is both ageing and shrinking. Employers are chasing experienced staff in ever-decreasing circles, and, according to a recent government report, 250,000 new IT jobs will be created over the next decade.
Most employers are confining themselves to dealing with the immediate problems. There is little evidence, for example, that they are stepping up their intake of raw recruits for in-house training, or retraining existing staff from other functions. This is the course of action recommended by the Computer Software Services Association, but research shows its members are adopting the short-term measure of bringing in more and more consultants on a contract basis. However, this approach is becoming less and less acceptable as the general shortage of skills, coupled with high demand, sends contractor rates soaring. An experienced contract programmer, for example, can now earn at least double the current permanent salary.
With IT professionals increasingly attracted to the financial rewards and flexibility of consultancy work, average staff turnover rates are estimated to be around 15%. While many companies in the financial services sector are managing to contain their losses by offering skilled IT staff 'golden handcuffs' - deferred loyalty bonuses that tie them in until a certain date - other organisations, like local governments, are unable to match the competitive salaries and perks on offer in the private sector and contractor market, and are suffering turnover rates of up to 60% a year.
But while loyalty bonuses have grabbed the headlines, there are other means of holding on to staff. Some companies are doing additional IT pay reviews in the year and paying market premiums. But such measures can create serious employee relations problems among those excluded, both within and outside IT departments. Many industry experts advise employers to link bonuses to performance wherever possible. However, employers are realising that bonuses will only succeed if they are accompanied by other incentives such as attractive career prospects, training, and challenging work that meets the individual's long-term ambitions.
This means managers need to allocate assignments more strategically and think about advancing their staff as well as their business. Some employers advocate giving key employees projects that would normally be handled by people with slightly more experience or capability. For many employers, however, the urgency of the problem demands a more immediate solution, such as recruiting skilled workers from overseas. But even this is not easy, with strict quotas on the number of work permits issued. In addition, opposition to the recruitment of IT people from other countries is growing, as many professionals believe it will lead to even less investment in training and thus a long-term weakening of the UK skills base.
13 According to the first paragraph, the success of iT departments will depend on
A their success at retaining their skilled staff.
B the extent to which they invest in new technology.
C their attempts to recruit staff with the necessary skills.
D the ability of employees to keep up with the latest developments.
14 A problem referred to in the second paragraph is that
A the government needs to create thousands of new IT posts.
B the pool of skilled IT people will get even smaller in the future.
C company budgets for IT training have been decreasing steadily.
D older IT professionals have not had adequate training.
15 What possible solution to the long-term problems in the IT industry is referred to in the third paragraph?
A ensure that permanent staff earn the same as contract staff
B expand company training programmes for new and old employees
C conduct more research into the reasons for staff leaving
D offer top rates to attract the best specialist consultants
16 In some businesses in the financial services sector, the IT staffing problem has led to
A cash promises for skilled staff after a specified period of time.
B more employees seeking alternative employment in the public sector.
C the loss of customers to rival organisations.
D more flexible conditions of work for their staff.
2014商务英语考试高级阅读试题3
The Stars of the Future
A Existing management research does not tell us much about how to find and develop high-flyers, those people who have the potential to reach the top of an organisation. As a result, organisations are left to formulate their own systems. A more effective overall policy for developing future leaders is needed, which is why the London Business School has launched the Tomorrow's Leaders Research Group (TLRG). The group contains representatives from 20 firms, and meets regularly to discuss the leadership development of the organisations' high-flyers.
B TLRG recognises just how significant line managers are in the process of leadership development. Unfortunately, with today's flat organisations, where managers have functional as well as managerial responsibilities, people development all too often falls victim to heavy workloads. One manager in the research group was unconvinced by the logic of sending his best people away on development courses, 'only to see them poached by another department or, worse still, another firm'. This fear of losing high-flyers runs deep in the organisations that make up the research group.
C TLRG argues that the task of management is not necessarily about employee retention, but about creating 'attraction centres'. 'We must help line managers to realise that if their companies are known as ones that develop their people, they will have a greater appeal to high-flyers,' said one advisor. Furthermore, selecting people for, say, a leadership development programme is a sign of commitment from management to an individual. Loyalty can then be more easily demanded in return.
D TLRG has concluded that a company's HR specialists need to take action and engage with line managers individually about their role in the development of high-flyers. Indeed, in order to benefit fully from training high-flyers as the senior managers of the future, firms must actually address the development of all managers who will be supporting the high-flyers. Without this, managers will not be in a position to give appropriate advice. And when eventually the high-flyers do move on, new ones will be needed to replace them. The next challenge will be to find a new generation of high-flyers.
首先得搞明白的是这篇文章到底讲的什么。不用看具体内容，有两个地方直接告诉了。一个是题目说明的第一句话，另一个是正文的标题。从这两个地方就可以看出全文探讨的是公司未来接班人——也就是潜力股——的培养问题。
A段讲了TLRG这个贯穿全文的研究组织诞生的原因：现行的研究满足不了需要，于是大多数公司只能自己探索发掘接班人的模式;(即第五题的答案)
B段讲了直属经理(line managers)对于发掘接班人的重要性(真是干什么都要从基层抓起)，以及经理们的一些疑虑;
C段讲的是接班人问题对公司的重要性，并且应该让院线经理们明白这种重要性;
D段是针对前面列出的问题，提出的解决建议，什么专家协助等等。
整篇文章分为四个部分，层层递进，有很强的逻辑性。拿这样的文章来做阅读材料应该是相对容易把握的图中蓝色的线为答案潜伏的地方。7个题干基本是将原文中的句子用另外的词语和句型表述出来，所以题干中的关键词都能在正文里 找到与之匹配的，比如第四题题干里的expert对应D段的specialists,第六题的too busy to对应于B段里的heavy workloads，第七题的interest对应于C段的appeal。
第一题说“经理们必须采取措施使潜力股们相信他们对公司的价值”，也就是要让潜力股们对公司忠诚，即C段说的creating “attraction centres”和loyalty。
第二题说“组织必须把目光投向正在培养中的潜力股以外的地方”，即D段最后两句话所说的寻找新一代的潜力股。
第三题和B段的最后一句话完全是一个意思：怕培养潜力股的投入收不回成本。
第四题说开发潜力股，经理们需要在公司内部得到专家支持。答案是D段的第一句话：公司的人力资源专家需要采取行动。HR specialists就是expert。
第五题说公司现在没有在指导策略的支持下辨别潜力股。也就是说公司是依靠自己来发掘人才的。答案是A段的第一句：现行的研究满足不了需要，所以公司只能形成自己的一套体系。
第六题，经理们太忙了，无暇顾及潜力股的发展。答案是B段的：Unfortunately, with today's flat organisations, where managers have functional as well as managerial responsibilities, people development all too often falls victim to heavy workloads.。不幸落在了高工作负荷的人的肩上。高工作负荷，也就是too busy。
第七题，看重作为雇主名声的公司可以吸引潜力股。答案是C段的这么一句：if their companies are known as ones that develop their people, they will have a greater appeal to high-flyers。如果公司是以开发员工而着称的话，将会对潜力股产生更大的吸引。以开发员工而着称(known as ones that develop their people)，名声很好，也就是看重自己作为雇主的名声。
疑似生词：
1. line managers 直属经理，业务经理
2. flat organization 扁平化的组织，即企业中的单层管理组织对应的单词hierarchy 等级制的公司
3. poach vt. (侵入他人地界)偷猎(或捕鱼), 水煮，剽窃，挖角
eg: A rival firm poached our best computer programmers.
我公司的竞争对手把我们最好的计算机程序编制员挖走了。
4. runs deep 纯粹是想说一下那句着名的谚语：Still water runs deep静水流深。
5. fall victim to 成为......的受害者
B段中的原话：People development all too often falls victim to heavy workloads.人员发展成为高负荷工作的受害者，也就是说经理们因为太忙而无暇顾及潜力股的培养，即第六题的答案。
6. retention 保留，在文中指留住员工。是风险管理中常见的专业名词。
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