BEC中级阅读真题解析
bec真题可以让我们提前了解bec往年的考试范围，题型和内容，对我们有很大的参考价值，为了方便大家备考，下面小编给大家带来BEC中级阅读真题解析。
BEC中级阅读真题解析1
Finding the right people
When a small company grows, managers must take on many new roles. Besides the day-to-day running of the business, they find themselves responsible for, among other things, relations with outside investors, increased levels of cashflow and, hardest of all, recruitment.
For most managers of small and medium-sized enterprises, the job of searching for, interviewing and selecting staff is difficult and time-consuming. (0) ... .G... . Interviewing, for example, is a highly skilled activity in itself.
'We have found the whole process very hard,' says Dan Baker, founding partner of a PR company. 'In seven years we have grown from five to eighteen staff, but we have not found it easy to locate and recruit the right people.' (8).........As Dan Baker explains, 'We went to one for our first recruitment drive, but they took a lot of money in advance and didn't put forward anybody suitable. In the end we had to do it ourselves.'
Most recruitment decisions are based on a pile of CVs, a couple of short interviews and two cautious references. David Rowe, a business psychologist, studied how appointments were made in five small companies. He claims that selection was rarely based on clear criteria. (9).........This kind of approach to recruitment often has unhappy consequences for both employers and new recruits.
Small companies often know what kind of person they are looking for. (10)......... According to David Rowe, this means that small company managers themselves have to devote more time and energy to recruitment. It shouldn't be something that is left to the evenings or weekends.
Many companies start the recruitment process with over-optimistic ideas about the type of person that will fit into their team. 'It's very easy to say you must have the best people in the top positions,' says Alex Jones, managing partner of an executive recruitment company. 'But someone who is excellent in one company may not do so well in another environment.(11).........You can never guarantee a successful transfer of skills.'
Whatever the candidate's qualifications, their personal qualities are just as important since they will have to integrate with existing members of staff. This is where, the recruitment industry argues, they can really help.
According to Alex Jones, 'A good recruitment agency will visit your company and ask a lot of questions. (12).........They can ask applicants all sorts of questions you don't like to ask and present you with a shortlist of people who not only have the skills, but who are likely to fit in with your company's way of doing things.'
A finance director in a big company, for example, will often make a terrible small company finance director because he or she is used to having a team doing the day-to-day jobs.
B More often than not, the people making the choice prioritised different qualities in candidates or relied on guesswork.
C Recruitment would seem an obvious task to outsource, but the company's experience of recruitment agencies was not encouraging.
D They need paying for that, of course, but you will have them working for you and not for the candidate.
E They are usually in very specific markets and the problem they face is that recruitment agencies may not really understand the sector.
F This means that companies cannot spend more than the standard ten minutes interviewing each applicant.
G Yet few are trained and competent for all aspects of the task
Finding the right people，寻找合适的人。是说的小公司在起步发展阶段找到合适人才的难度和重要性。第一段总论小公司的经理们往往身兼数职，而其中最有难度的，还是招人。文章介绍了找到合适的人应该注意的问题，并且说招人这种事不可能过度寄希望于招聘机构。
第八题，这一题的前面说招人相当的困难，后面一个as Dan Baker explains，说曾经找过招聘机构，结果人家要提前收钱并且也没有提供合适的人，最后还是得靠自己。从这里的as …explains和后面的解释可以看出，第八空的内容应该是和招聘机构有关，招聘机构并不能满足公司的需要。选项C正好满足这一特点：招聘看起来像是个很明显的适合交外办理的任务，但是这个公司同招聘机构打交道的经历不那么的鼓舞人。was not encouraging是关键点。
第九题，这一段都是讲招人的决策不够科学。基于简历或者是简短的面试，很少有明确的准则。第九空的后面是This kind of approach to recruitment often has unhappy consequences。可见第九空的内容还是和招聘的方法有关，并且是负面的。B选项符合这一条件：通常(more often than not是often的意思，插入语)，做决定的人将候选人身上的不同素质按优先顺序给排好，或者依赖于猜测。
第十题，这一题的后面说this means the small company managers themselves have to devote more time and energy to recruitment。这意味着小公司自己要多花时间和精力在招人上。这里的this means的this是个暗示，可以看出第十题这里应该填入的是一些不太有利的因素，使得公司只有自己去招人。E选项符合这一要求：他们通常处于一些特殊市场上，面临的问题是招聘机构并不真正理解这一行业。
第十一题，这一段是讲招的人能否适应公司的环境的问题。这一空前面说的很明确：But someone who is excellent in one company may not do so well in another environment。在一个公司出色的人并不一定能在另一个环境里干的好。这一空的后面一句也是补充说明这一观点的。可见第十一空的内容仍然是这个，没有转折。A选项填入正好，是举例说明11空前面的观点：比方说，一个大公司的财务总监在小公司往往会干的很糟糕，原因是他或她已经习惯有一个团队来进行每日的工作。
第十二题，最后一段是和招聘机构相关的。前面说招聘机构会上门服务并且询问很多的问题。这一空的后面说的是招聘机构如何帮助招人。选项D可以填入，D的They need paying for that的that是个暗示，指代前面的上门服务。D选项的后半部分说要让招聘公司为你而不是为候选人服务，可以和这一段的后半部分对应上。
BEC中级阅读真题解析2
Department Store Magic
For most of the 20th century Smithson's was one of Britain's most successful department stores, but by the mid-1990s, it had become dull. Still profitable, thanks largely to a series of successful advertising campaigns, but decidedly boring. The famous were careful not to be seen there, and its sales staff didn't seem to have changed since the store opened in 1908. Worst of all, its customers were buying fewer and fewer of its own-brand products,the major part of its business, and showing a preference for more fashionable brands.
But now all this has changed, thanks to Rowena Baker, who became Smithson's first woman Chief Executive three years ago. Since then, while most major retailers in Britain have been losing money, Smithson's profits have been rising steadily. When Baker started, a lot of improvements had just been made to the building, without having any effect on sales, and she took the bold decision to invite one of Europe's most exciting interior designers to develop the fashion area, the heart of the store. This very quickly led to rising sales, even before the goods on display were changed. And as sales grew, so did profits.
Baker had ambitious plans for the store from the start. 'We're playing a big game, to prove we're up there with the leaders in our sector, and we have to make sure people get that message. Smithson's had fallen behind the competition. It provided a traditional service targeted at middle-aged, middle-income customers, who'd been shopping there for years, and the customer base was gradually contracting. Our idea is to sell such an exciting variety of goods that everyone will want to come in, whether they plan to spend a little or a lot.' Baker's vision for the store is clear, but achieving it is far from simple. At first, many employees resisted her improvements because they just wouldn't be persuaded that there was anything wrong with the way they'd always done things, even if they accepted that the store had to overtake its competitors. It took many long meetings, involving the entire workforce, to win their support. It helped when they realised that Baker was a very different kind of manager from the ones they had known.
Baker's staff policies contained more surprises. The uniform that had hardly changed since day one has now disappeared. Moreover, teenagers now get young shop assistants, and staff in the sports departments are themselves sports fans in trainers. As Baker explains, 'How can you sell jeans if you're wearing a black suit? Smithson's has a new identity, and this needs to be made clear to the customers.' She's also given every sales assistant responsibility for ensuring customer satisfaction, even if it means occasionally breaking company rules in the hope that this will help company profits.
Rowena Baker is proving successful, but the City's big investors haven't been persuaded. According to retail analyst, John Matthews, 'Money had already been invested in refurbishment of the store and in fact that led to the boost in sales. She took the credit, but hadn't done anything to achieve it. And in my view the company's shareholders are not convinced. The fact is that unless she opens several more stores pretty soon, Smithson's profits will start to fall because turnover at the existing store will inevitably start to decline.'
13 According to the writer, in the mid-1990s Smithson's department store
A was making a loss.
B had a problem keeping staff.
C was unhappy with its advertising agency.
D mostly sold goods under the Smithson's name.
14 According to the writer, Smithson's profits started rising three years ago because of
A an improvement in the retailing sector.
B the previous work done on the store.
C Rowena Baker's choice of designer.
D a change in the products on sale.
15 According to Rowena Baker, one problem which Smithson's faced when she joined was that
A the number of people using the store was falling slowly.
B its competitors offered a more specialised range of products.
C the store's prices were set at the wrong level.
D customers were unhappy with the service provided.
16 According to the writer, many staff opposed Baker's plans because
A they were unwilling to change their way of working.
B they disagreed with her goals for the store.
C they felt they were not consulted enough about the changes.
D they were unhappy with her style of management.
17 Baker has changed staff policies because she believes that
A the corporate image can be improved through staff uniforms.
B the previous rules were not fair to customers.
C customers should be able to identify with the staff serving them.
D employees should share in company profits.
18 What problem does John Matthews think Smithson's is facing?
A More money needs to be invested in the present store.
B The company's profits will only continue to rise if it expands.
C The refurbishment of the store is proving unpopular with customers.
D Smithson's shareholders expect a quick return on their investments.
《Department store magic》，字面上是百货公司的魔力。讲的是英国的一个百货公司如何摆脱困境。第一段是点明公司所遭遇的困境，接着第二段讲一个女CEO上台开始转变局面，第三段和第四段具体讲这位女CEO的应对措施，最后一段总结：革命尚未成功，同志仍需努力。
13题，问在90年代中期这个百货公司的情况是什么样的。答案是第一段的最后一句：its customers were buying fewer and fewer of its own-brand products, the major part of its business, and showing a preference for more fashionable brands.这个题目的答案有相当的迷惑性。整个句子都是在讲客户购买的越来越少，偏好更多的时尚品牌。所以很容易误选A，但实际上这里并没有说亏损。关键是这个地方：its own-brand products, the major part of its business。自由品牌仍然是公司业务的主要部分。所以应该选D：主要销售Smithson名下的产品。Under the Smithson’s name也就是its own brand products。
14题，问Smithson的利润从三年前开始增长，原因是什么。答案是第二段的这么一句：she took the bold decision to invite one of Europe's most exciting interior designers to develop the fashion area她做出了一个大胆的决定，邀请了欧洲最刺激的室内设计师来开发时尚领域。后面紧接着就说This very quickly led to rising sales，所以答案选C：Rowena Baker的设计师选择。
15题，问当Rowena Baker加入时公司面临的一个问题是什么。这题的关键是要理解一个句子中一个词的含义：It provided a traditional service targeted at middle-aged, middle-income customers, who'd been shopping there for years, and the customer base was gradually contracting.。它提供的传统服务目标人群是中年中等收入者，这些人已经在那购物多年。并且客户基数逐渐减少。Contracting:缩小，收缩的意思。所以答案选A。
16题，问很多员工反对Baker计划的原因是什么。答案是这么一句：many employees resisted her improvements because they just wouldn't be persuaded that there was anything wrong with the way they'd always done things。不愿意被说服他们以前做事情的方式有什么问题。意思也就是不愿意改变他们工作的方式。选A。
17题，问Baker改变员工政策的原因是什么。答案在第四段，Baker的原话：How can you sell jeans if you're wearing a black suit? Smithson's has a new identity, and this needs to be made clear to the customers。你怎么能穿着黑西服卖牛仔?Smithson有一个新的身份，这些必须对客户很明确。也就是C选项说的“客户必须能辨别出服务他们的员工”，A不对，没有提到改善公司形象，B和C在原文没有提到。
18题，问John认为Smithson面临的问题是什么。答案是最后一段的最后一句：The fact is that unless she opens several more stores pretty soon, Smithson's profits will start to fall because turnover at the existing store will inevitably start to decline.事实上除非她尽快的开更多的店，Smithson的利润将会减少因为现有商店的营业额将不可避免的开始下降。也就是B所说的除非扩张，公司的利润才会继续增长。
BEC中级阅读真题解析3
Managing a career on the way up is quite different from managing one at the top of an organisation. Individuals on the way up have to build relationships with the people they (19)to.They usually have to (20) with subordinates in addition to people at the same level as themselves. The most senior staff only have those under them to relate to. This book (21)the idea that all working relationships, including the relationship with one's boss, can and should be managed.
You do not have to be (22) than your manager in order to manage the relationship. Nor do you have to be better than your manager in any (23).Your manager may well be your career (24) and guide: he or she may have taught you almost everything you know about your(25) of business - and may continue to teach you more. You may be planning to remain under his or her guidance in the future. None of these (26)should alter your relationship with your manager or (27) you off 'managing upwards'. I use this phrase to (28) to the management of one's bossbecause, for many people on the way up, it is the first relationship they have to get right.
You can, of course, get on at work just by (29) positively to your manager, but that is not likely to be the most successful way to (30) your working life. An active policy of managing upwards will make you more successful and, at the same time, make the business of going to work more enjoyable. It can also be a way to show (31) to your manager for the efforts he or she has made on your (32) Finally, managing upwards will make it easier for your manager to manage you,leaving him or her more time for other (33) and tasks.
19 A notify B inform Caccount D report
20 A unite B contact C handle D deal
21 A promotes B presses C advertises Dconvinces
22 A clearer B deeperCsmarter Dfuller
23 A respect B fashion Cpart D means
24 A leader B supporter C adviser D helper
25 A courseB line C path Droute
26 A factors B aspects Ccauses D topics
27 A put B see C keep D take
28 A specify B identify C indicate D refer
29 A giving B operating C reacting D co-operating
30 A run B forward C move D make
31 A appraisal B value C appreciation D regard
32 A advantage B benefit C side D behalf
33 A posts B roles C positions D acts
Managing upwards，打理同上司的关系。
19题，report to，对什么。。。负责，隶属;从属。用在这里句子意思正好：处于上升阶段的个人需要同他们所从属的人处理好关系。A、B的词后面都接of，account to 是解释的意思，用在这里意思不对。
20题，联系此空上下文，应该是说处理与下属的关系。deal with后接somebody是表示处理和某人的关系。A、B意思不对，C是及物动词，后面不需要with。
21题，promote促进，推动。promote the idea，推动某个想法。
22题，根据意思选词。处理与上司的关系不需要比上司更聪明。其他几个词用在此处的话都有些怪异，很容易排除。
23题，respect，指方面。与aspect同义。常见的用法。
24题，这个空要联系上下文，并且参考后面的guide。“he or she may have taught you almost everything you know”，也就是说TA会对你的工作进行很多指导，因为有taught，所以不是supporter或者helper，选leader又感觉拉远了距离，因此选adviser。
25题，一个让人头疼的商业英语固定词组。line of business，有业务和经营产品的意思。提供几个例句就很好理解含义了：
We specialize in this line of business我们专门经营此项服务;
Does this item come under your line of business? 我想知道这种产品属您经营的范围吗?
You meet some very interesting people in my line of business干我们这行，你会遇到很多有趣的人。
26题，根据前后文意思，选factors，因素。
27题，put off一般表示延迟，但它还有一个不太出名的意思是阻碍。see off，送行;keep off,远离;take off，起飞。
28题，根据意思选refer to，提及，描述。
29题，react to，固定搭配，对什么作出反应。用在这里意思也吻合。
30题，the most successful way to (30) your working life，意思上应该填入表示经营、管理等的意思，run有这个意思。C和D 用法不对，forward something是指转发邮件。
31题，appreciation，，表示感激之情。
32题，on one’s behalf，站在某人的立场上，为某人的利益。此处的意思是对他为你所做出的努力表示感激。
33题，role，职能，角色。为经理腾出空来扮演其他的角色。position是位置，位置一直是经理，没别的;act是行为，法案。
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BEC中级阅读真题解析
