【www.gbppp.com--私藏美文】
剑桥商务英语BEC中级模拟试题
一.READING
PART ONE
Questions 1-7
. Read these sentences and the three company plans below.
. Which company does each sentence describe?
. For each sentence mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet. Example
To combine its operations in different parts of the world will save a lot of money for the company.
Answer: B
1. The company has businesses in four continents of the world.
2. The company has appointed a new manager in charge of medicines.
3. New automobiles will be developed in its program centers.
4. A reform is being carried out in its organizations.
5. Goods for hair protection make a lot of money for the company.
6. It tries to be more ready to meet the needs of the customers.
7. The company is made up of fourteen sub companies all over the world.
A . FORD
To save up to $ 3 billion a year, Ford is merging its manufacturing, sales, and product development operations in North America and Europe-and eventually in Latin America and Asia. And in a move toward a more horizontal organization the company is setting up five program centers with worldwide responsibility in develop new cars and trucks.
B. IBM
Big Blue is reorganizing its marketing and sales operations into 14 worldwide industry groups, such as banking, retail, and insurance. In moving away from an organization based on geography, IBM hopes to eliminate turf wars and make itself more responsive to customers.
C. BMS
Bristol-Meyers Squibb is revamping its consumer business by appointing a new chief responsible for its worldwide consumer medicines business such as Bufferin and Excedrin. The 11, 400 million U. S. dollars drug company also has formed a new unit with worldwide responsibility for its Clairol and other hair-care products. PART TWO
Questions 8-12
. Read this proposal about the CPT Word Processor.
. Choose the best sentence from the list A-I to fill each of the blanks. . For each blank ( 8 -12) mark one letter(A -I)on your Answer Sheet. . De not mark any letter twice.
. One answer has been given as an example.
15 June 1993
Ms. Martha Weston
Word Processing Supervisor
ABC Company
Post Office Box 1072
28 King's Street London
Dear Ms. Weston.
Performance of the Cpt Equipment
I'm Pleased to tell you about our experience with the CPT Word Processor as you requested recently... ...example ... .. I assume you have looked at several machines and have narrowed down your choices. Here are my observations.
An approach to adopting word processors
Eighteen months ago we adopted CPT equipment on limited scale with the idea in mind that we could gradually get rid of electric typewriters as we became familiar with the word processor. ...... 8 ......The stations are actually in pairs so each pair can share a common printer...... 9......
We use the equipment as dedicated word processors, although we do have the ability to link up with our computer installation.
The step-at-a-time development of our word-processing center has, we think, saved us money and training time. ......10......
Performance
In terms of performance , the CPT equipment is excellent. ... ...11.. ...Moreover our service contract and warranty have covered all maintenance costs.
We have software packages that check spelling and signal when a mistake
occure. ...... 12 .....Using both printers , we recently prepared 1200 individually typed form letter mailings a under four hours. We have no complaint about our preparation of executive reports.
Example: I
A So it works very well and has so many different functions.
B Also it has reduced the confusion that exists about buying software packages .
C The train stops at each station for only fifteen minutes.
D We began with two work stations and now have four.
E Our routine letters are prepared from disc-stored masters.
F The Rotary W printer with a speed of 45 characters a second can easily handle two input stations.
G In contrast ,its size and weight are ideal for carrying.
H We have not yet experienced mechanical problems so far.
I We are pleased with its performance and multi-functions.
PART THREE
Questions 13-20
. Read this text about the problem of Barclays Bank.
The New Look
When Sir John Quinton, then chairman of Barclays Bank, was given his marching orders last April, Britain's biggest bank thought it had found the scapegoat for its sudden fall from grace and profits ,Andrew Buxton, the bank's managing director and an offspring of its founding families ,was a pointed chairman and chief
executive ,with effect from January 1st of next year. It seemed a glorious victory for good business management. Is the problem solve do Certainly not.
1. No sooner had Mr. Buxton been appointed chairman and chief executive than big
shareholders and quite a few board members began quietly to question his ability to do both jobs at once. Now ,weeks before he is due to move up ,the questions are louder. Many wish the bank had seized the opportunity Lasy April to separate the two top posts. And privately. Some wonder whether Mr. Buxton is the right man for either one. What started as a thoroughly British Whispering Campaign has assumed much bigger dimensions..
2. Mr. Buxton has suffered it all ,but in truth he has no way out. After weeks of talking to shareholders and discussing with his non-executive directors ,he has accepted that Barclays will separate the top jobs sometimes in the future. How7 He says that there has been no formal discussion of it in the boardroom.
3. Formally or informally, it has been agreed that Mr. Buxton will not be moved from his chairmanship, and that Barclays must find a strong chief executive. Opinions
differ as to whether this person should be chosen from inside or outside the bank. Several board members believe that there is no ideal candidate inside Barclays.
4. Neither shareholders nor non-executive directors want to wait long. If the right candidate can be found, the bank could combine the announcement of a new appointment with its annual results at the end of March. Mr Buxton stressed the importance of getting this next step right, particularly since any appointment will mean overturning a management reorganization that was announced only eight months ago.
Questions 13-16
. For questions 13- 16 ,choose the correct title for each paragraph from the box below.
. For each paragraph(l-4) mark one letter (A-G) on your Answer Sheet. . Do not mark any letter twice.
13. Paragraph 1 . . . . . . . . . .
14. Paragraph 2 . . . . . . . . . .
l5. Paragraph 3 . . . . . . . . . .
16. Paragraph 4 . . . . . . . . . .
A Problems facing Mr. Buxton
B Proposals for candidates of the chief executive
C Lack of ideal candidate inside Barclays
D Buxton's agreement to give up one of his two top jobs
E Doubts about Buxton's ability for two top jobs
F Anxieties about choosing the right candidates
G Objections to Buxton's ideas
Questions 17-20
BEC中级真题详细解析：第二辑TEST 1 PART 1 Coaching
1 the contact between coach and employee not solving all difficulties at work
2 the discussion of how certain situations could be better handled if they occur again
3 a coach encouraging an employee to apply what has been taught to routine work situations 4 coaching providing new interest to individuals who are unhappy in their current positions 5 coaching providing a supportive environment to discuss performance
6 employees being asked to analyse themselves and practise greater self-awareness
7 coaching enabling a company to respond rapidly to a lack of expertise in a certain area Coaching
A
Coaching involves two or more people sitting down together to talk through issues that have come up recently at work, and analysing how they were managed and how they might be dealt with more effectively on subsequent occasions. Coaching thus transfers skills and information from one person to another in an on-the-job situation so that the work experience of the coach is used to advise and guide the individual being coached. It also allows successes and failures to be evaluated in a non-threatening atmosphere.
B
Coaching means influencing the learner's personal development, for example his or her confidence and ambition. It can take place any time during an individual's career. Coaching is intended to assist individuals to function more effectively, and it is a powerful learning model. It begins where skills-based training ends, and helps individuals to use formally learnt knowledge in day-to-day work and management situations. Individuals being coached are in a demanding situation with their coach, which requires them to consider their own behaviour and question their reasons for doing things.
C
The coach professionally assists the career development of another individual, outside the normal manager/subordinate relationship. In theory, the coaching relationship should provide answers to every problem, but in practice it falls short of this. However, it can provide a space for discussion and feedback on topics such as people management and skills, behaviour patterns, confidence-building and time management. Through coaching, an organisation can meet skills shortages, discuss targets and indicate how employees should deal with challenging situations, all at short notice.
D
Effective coaches are usually those who get satisfaction from the success of others and who give time to the coaching role. Giving people coaching responsibilities can support their development, either by encouraging management potential through small-scale one-to-one assignments, or by providing added job satisfaction to managers who feel they are stuck in their present jobs. A coach is also a confidential adviser, accustomed to developing positive and effective approaches to complex management, organisational and change problems.
这篇文章讲的是培训（coaching）的作用。培训对一个公司的发展和员工的成长都是至关重要的。文章的内容比较泛，但是题目的答案比较明显。
第一题，教练和员工之间的接触不能解决工作中的所有困难。答案是C段的这么一句：In theory, the coaching relationship should provide answers to every problem, but in practice it falls short of this.理论上，培训可以提供所有问题的答案。但是实践中达不到这样。Fall short of是关键词。
第二题，讨论某些情况如果再度出现的话怎么样可以处理的更好。答案是A段的这么一句：analysing how they were managed and how they might be dealt with more effectively on subsequent occasions.分析应该如何进行处理并且在接下来的情况下怎样可以处理的更有效。这里的dealt with more effectively对应于题干中的better handled，on subsequent occasions.也就是occur again。
第三题，教练鼓励员工将所学应用到日常的工作中。答案是B段的这么一句：helps individuals to use formally learnt knowledge in day-to-day work and management situations.帮助个人将学到的正式知识用在日常工作和管理情况下。这里的day-to-day work and management situations就是题干中的routine work situations，what has been taught也就是formally learnt knowledge。
第四题，培训为在现有岗位上不高兴的个人提供了新的兴趣。答案是D段的这么一句：providing added job satisfaction to managers who feel they are stuck in their present jobs。对感觉自己在现有岗位上受困的经理们提供附加的工作满足感。这里的stuck in their present jobs就是题干中的unhappy in their current position，added job satisfaction可以对应于题干中的new interest。
第五题，培训提供了一个有力的、支持性的讨论工作表现的环境。答案是A段的：It also allows successes and failures to be evaluated in a non-threatening atmosphere.它允许成功和失败在一个没有威胁的气氛下被评估。成功和失败也就是performance，supportive environment可以对应于non-threatening atmosphere。
第六题，员工被要求分析他们自己并且培养出更强的自知。有必要理解下self-awareness的含义，不能简单的从中文理解成自我意识，看英文解释：knowledge and understanding of yourself。所以答案是B段的这么一句：requires them to consider their own behaviour and question their reasons for doing things.要求他们考虑自己的行为并且思考这么做的理由。consider their own behaviour可以对应于题干中的analyse themselves，思考这么做的理由也是为了进一步增进对自己的认识。
第七题，培训可以使得公司对某个领域的技术缺失迅速做出反应。答案是C段的最后一句：indicate how employees should deal with challenging situations, all at short notice.指出员工怎样处理有挑战性的情况，在短时间内。At short notice是一接到通知就，短时间内的意思,可以对应这一题的respond rapidly，challenging situations可以指代题干中的a lack of expertise in a certain area.
BEC中级真题详细解析：第二辑TEST 1 PART 2 自助餐领域
BUFFET ZONE
Lucy Robertson started working at a takeaway food business to supplement her income during her student days at Edinburgh University, Several years later she had bought the business and now, 17 years on, she owns Grapevine Caterers, probably Scotland's leading independent caterers, with a turnover of almost ￡6m.
She had never planned to own a business, and had certainly never considered a career in catering. (0)... ... . However, her unplanned career began in 1985, when she returned to Edinburgh and【bec中级真题】
discovered that the takeaway she had worked in was up for sale. On impulse, she bought it, but admits that at the time she knew nothing about catering. (8).........It was a difficult time, but essential in terms of gaining the experience she needed. The late 1980s boom was good for business, with large numbers of office workers wanting takeaway food for their lunches.
(9)........'At one point there were 26 food outlets within a 5-kilometre radius,' Robertson recalls. As the economy changed and the once packed office blocks started to become vacant, it became clear that Robertson would need to diversify.(10)........It changed the direction of the company for good.
As Robertson began to win catering contracts, she decided that the company would have to move to larger premises. In 1994, the move was made when she bought another catering business that already had a number of profitable contracts for boardroom lunches.
Meanwhile, Robertson's main competitor, the oldest catering company in Edinburgh, was causing her some anxiety. 'Customer loyalty is not to be underestimated,' she warns. But Robertson is not someone who is easily put off.(11)........Partly as a result of this, turnover doubled, and having outgrown another site, Robertson bought a city-centre location for the group's headquarters.
By now, Grapevine's main competitor was a new catering company called Towngates. Although Robertson tried to raise enough money to buy Towngates, she did not succeed.Then luck intervened and Towngates went bankrupt. (12)........Many accepted and the company's turnover went from ￡700,000 to ￡l .5 million almost overnight.
However, the company's growth was not as smooth as it sounds in retrospect. Robertson admits, 'We were close to the edge during the growth period. Like many under-capitalised companies trying to grow, it might easily have collapsed.' But that, she feels, is the challenge of developing your own business.
A But there are plenty of similar contracts to be won in the east of Scotland before Robertson turns her attention elsewhere.
B Her way round this particular problem was to recruit the catering manager of the rival company.
C But this demand was short-lived, and before long, increasing competition made it harder to make a profit.
D 'It was a dramatic learning curve and very small amounts of money were earned at first,’says Robertson.
E She decided that the solution, since many companies required working lunches for meetings with clients, was to prepare and deliver meals to business premises. F On hearing this, Robertson immediately contacted all of their clients and offered the services of Grapevine Caterers.
G Instead, she studied accountancy after leaving university, and a steady if unspectacular professional path seemed set.
《Buffet Zone》，自助餐区域，在这篇文章里的意思应该是自助餐领域，讲的是一个在自助餐领域取得了惊人成绩的杰出女性创业的故事。这套题目不难，尤其比起第四辑的题目。文章本身有很清晰的故事发展脉络，选项和原文的对应也比较明显。文章的几个段落是按照时间先后、故事发生的先后进行的，很明确。第一段是总括，第二段是讲的创业起步阶段的一些困难以及应对困难的对策，第三段是公司好转后的办公室重置（relocation），第四、
五段是公司的竞争情况，最后一段总结。
第八题，前面说一时冲动她买下了这个外卖餐馆（takeaway），事实上那个时候她对餐饮业一无所知。空格后面说的是这段时间很困难，但是对获得所需要的经验却是很有必要的。所以第八题的空格部分应该填入跟学习、积累经验有关的内容。D选型最吻合，It was a dramatic learning curve，这里的learning是关键词，很明显的答案信号。还有very small amounts of money were earned at first，at first也是关键词。
第九题，空格前面说large numbers of office workers wanting takeaway food for their lunches，大量的办公室员工需要外卖食品做午饭，这里的wanting是个很关键的词。空格后面话锋一转，说曾经一度5公里内有26家食品商店，但是经济转变了，一条街都空了（blocks started to become vacant）。从上下文来分析，第九空的内容应该和办公室员工的外卖需求有关，同时带有转折意思。C选项完全符合这一条件：但是这种需求是短暂的，不久，逐渐增长的竞争使得赢得利润变得更加困难。
第十题，上文说经济形势转变了，所以Robertson决定从事多样化的经营。后面说这种做法永远的改变了公司的经营方式。所以第十空应该填入相应的对策，怎么样来应对经济形势的转变。符合这一条件的是B和E，都是关于解决问题的，但是B选项所说的招募竞争对手的餐厅经理在上下文内容中没有提到。应该选D，为商业大厦送饭，正好对应下一段所说的。 第十一题，这一题才应该选B，前面说竞争对手给自己造成了很大的困扰。但是Robertson却不是那么容易屈服的人。后面说部分原因是这个，营业额翻倍了。所以中间应该也是填入对策。和竞争对手有关的，应该选B，B的particular是个关键词，rival company也很明显。【bec中级真题】
第十二题，前面说Robertson想收购一个竞争对手，但是没成功，结果人家公司自己破产倒闭了。后面来了一个many accepted，可以看出这中间应该填入的是人家公司破产后Robertson的一些举措。F满足这一条件：一听到这些，Robertson马上联系他们的客户并且提供了自己公司的服务。
BEC中级真题详细解析：第二辑TEST 1 PART 3 怎样开发自己
HOW TO MARKET YOURSELF
We manage our own careers now. So knowing how to brand and position yourself in the market as 'Me plc' at different stages of your working life is becoming an increasingly vital skill. At least that is what image expert Mary Spillane believes. 'Employment as we know it is decreasing. Jobs don't exist, work exists. In the next decade most of us will be suppliers, not staff. We will have clients not bosses. If you are under 30, you probably know that there is only one firm to join for life: Me plc. It promotes you and your potential to others.'
'We're working in multi-national, multicultural, multi-corporate teams and it's important to understand the implications of this. We need to create a personal brand that is unique, but complements the brand of the corporation we are working for. You have to find a way to do it so that you are not just a typical employee,' advises Spillane. 'You have to decide what central values you want to project, and also what may need to alter from situation to situation.'
Many people only remember Mary Spillane for the years she spent running a cosmetics company, but she actually has masters degrees in information science and politics. She used to hide that hard-hitting side, but is now eager to show it and forget about cosmetics. 'Now that I'm working in the boardrooms of major plcs and global companies, I'm playing up my degrees and management background so that the image side is seen only as an addition to the value side,' says Spillane.
Some contracts take longer than others. 'The City law firms I'm currently working for are really difficult because they don't have any idea of what their brand should be, and are still very traditional even when talking about becoming modern. I'm showing them how to do everything from changing their reception areas -which tend to be very off-putting with their high-fronted reception desks - to how to make small talk that is less formal and rigid. Companies rebrand themselves all the time, spending millions on new office interiors and so on. But without an underlying change of attitudes, it can prove an empty exercise.'
She argues that for individuals too, there must be more than a surface change, as rebranding goes deeper than a mere change of wardrobe. Beyond advice on appearance, she tells clients, 'Remind yourself of what you are selling: the personal values that comprise your brand. Learn to present yourself in a way that will project what you want to deliver. Lifelong learning is essential, together with the sort of discovery and adventure that promote personal growth. Always have an up-to-the-minute CV ready to print out, refreshing it every few months with your most recent achievements, just to remind others of your brand value.'
She believes it is essential that you understand both your public self and your private self, as well as your blind spots and your potential, in order to create an effective brand. The public self is the image you project to the world, the private self is what you know about yourself but others don't, arid blind spots are those things that others see about you but you can't see for yourself. By deciding what image you want other people to see, emphasising more of your private self and sorting out a few blind spots, you will increase not only your potential to influence others, but also your self-esteem and self-confidence.'
《How to market yourself》，怎样开发你自己。这篇文章主要是一个专家（Mary Spillane）对个人在职业生涯中的一些建议，包括怎么定位、怎样正确认识自己等等。很实用很中肯的一篇文章。看来这国外的专家并不也是夸夸其谈之辈啊。
13题，问第一段Mary Spillane认为人们应该学会开发他们自己的原因是什么。第一段里这个专家认为就业机会在减少，job不存在了，存在的是work，在未来十年所有人都将成为才华和能力的提供者（supplier），而不是员工（staff），老板将变成自己的客户。从专家的这段话可以看出她认为人们应该学会开发自己的原因是适应就业市场的发展，也就是D答案所说的。A在原文没有提到，B的理解有误，原文说there is only one firm to join for life: Me plc。生活中只有一个值得加入的公司：自我公司。这句的意思还是说人们要学会开发自己，而不是将来有公司需要。C在原文中也没有提到。
14题，问在创造个人品牌的时候，很重要的是什么。答案是第二段的最后一句：You have to decide what central values you want to project, and also what may need to alter from situation to situation.你必须决定自己要建立的中心价值什么，同时还有哪些是需要随着环境的改变而改变的。A的表述正确，根据环境来改变事情。B不对，不是说决定人们想要你呈现的形象，而是自己决定自己想要建立的中心价值。C、D在原文都没有提到。 15题，问第三段可以了解到Spillane的什么事。第三段介绍说这个女人曾经经营过一家化妆品公司，但其实她还拥有信息科学和政治的硕士学位。当在化妆品公司的时候她试图把学历的一面深藏不露，但是现在换了一家公司，她迫不及待的想将这一面给展现出来。从这些可以看出这个女人的思路：需要哪一面就表现哪一面。15题的答案是C：她拥有的素质很多人都不知道。A不对，没有提到尴尬，B不对，在适当的时候才会去谈论自己的学历背景，D在原文也没有提到。
16题，问Spillane指出了现在工作公司的什么问题。答案是第四段的这么一句：they don't
BEC中级考试真题
READING
QUESTIONS 1-45
PART ONE
Questions 1-7
Look at the sentences below and the job advertisements on the opposite page.
Which job does each sentence 1-7 refer to?
For each sentence, mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet.
You will need to use some of these letters more than once.
0 A B C D
This post involves some secretarial duties.
1 You will be responsible for the operation of a computer system.
2 You must be able to forecast what people will want to wear.
3 You will be able to work with people from many different countries and backgrounds. 4 You will have a qualification which covers two subject areas.
5 It is necessary to have worked in this sector before.
6 You will need to keep in contact with the headquarters of the organization.
7 The advertisement emphasises the need to have a suitable approach to important people. A
BUSINESS MANAGERYou will be responsible for our global business within specific countries and will have a good understanding of international distribution, possibly based on previous experience, plus the ability to work in markets that are highly varied in their culture. You will be fluent in a second language, be willing to travel extensively, and preferably have a degree.
B
DEPARTMENT STORE BUYERBased at our head office in London, you will select and order
stock from our suppliers in Italy. You will need to predict fashion trends and build a strong relationship with our Italian office. You will have gained your buying experience in women's fashion and will hold a degree in design with a business studies component.
C
LEGAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATORAs head of the legal office, your work will include managing the office IT network, typing reports, diary maintenance and supervision of another staff member. You will need good organizational skills in order to keep ahead of a varied
workload. You will be dealing with senior executives and government offi cials, so a mature and efficient manner is essential.
D
REGIONAL LEISURE SITES MANAGERYou will be responsible for budgetary planning, contract negotiations, local marketing and effective administration. You will communicate frequently with our main office using the latest technology. Your experience could be from any business sector but you should enjoy outdoor life and will ideally possess an estate management qualification.
PART TWO
Questions 8-12
Read the extract below from an article about the coffee industry.
Choose the best sentence from the list on the opposite page to fill each of the gaps.
Each gap 8-12, mark one letter (A-I)on your Answer Sheet.
Not use any letter more than once.
Coffee is worth approximately $50-60bn per annum in terms of world sales. It is a
truly international commodity, and today more than 50 countries in the world grow coffee
beans. (example) ______I_____. ICO organization helps coffee producers and promotes coffee conumption worldwide.ICO estimates that world production next year will reach 97.5 million bags.11.3 million bags higher than the current year. (8) ____________. As the largest producing country, Brazil is particularly important in the coffee world. In 1994 Brazil was responsible for 25% of world production, Colombia was next with 13.4%, Indonesia had 7.5%, Mexico 4.7%,
Guatemala 3.8% and Ethiopia and Vietnam were equal with 3.4%.Coffee is a tough crop, and can be grown in areas where it is difficult or impossible to grow other crops. (9) However, disease is always problem for coffee production, as we can see in some parts of South America at the moment.ICO is active in educating farmers about avoiding disease and dealing with
problems when they occur.The distribution chain varies from country to country, explains Pablo Dubois. In most countries the smaller farmers sell their crop to a local trader, who then sells it on to exporters. There are, however, other distribution systems. (10) ____________. Some countries, like Vietnam, have special government marketing organizations for coffee.Coffee prices often vary greatly from one year to the next. In 1997, for example, there was a large rise in the world price, which was immediately felt by the consumer. Rising prices always result in a drop in sales, which will have a bad effect on those developing countries, which are highly
dependent on foreign exchange from coffee exports. (11)____________.In the opinion of Pablo Dubois, the biggest problem for his organisation is to create greater consumer awareness of the different varieties of coffee and different ways of preparing it. (12)____________. ICO is therefore concentrating its promotional activities on Russia and China. It is also encouraging environmentally friendly coffee production, and last year's seminar on coffee and the environment created a lot of interest.The future looks bright for the coffee industry. It is
estimated that consumption over the next few years will continue to rise steadily. New markets like Eastern Europe and China are expected to develop fast.
A. As a result, the membership now represents 94% of all exporters and 60% of all importers.
B. In some of these countries, this can amount to as much as 50% of all export earning.
C. In North America, most consumers already have above average knowledge of the range available.
D. For example, frost and wind are particularly damaging to coffee crops.
E. Larger coffee growers, for example, frequently export directly.
F. The main reason for this is higher Brazilian output as production recovers from
weather damage to crops.
G. It is cultivated in mountain regions which can only be reached by animal transport, and in other difficult areas where modern agricultural equipment cannot be used.
H. This is because there is a demand for coffee in Germany, and it is also sold in the UK and in the US.
I. This make the coffee industry fairly universal, acc ording to Pablo Dubois, Head of the International Coffee Organisation (ICO), based in London.
PART THREE
Questions 13-20
Read the article below about stress management, and answer questions 13-20 on the opposite page.
A Lesson In Stress Management
Demands placed on us at work can often lead to considerable worry and discomfort. There are, however, ways of protecting ourselves from the stress we face at work. We interviewed Jane Collard, a consultant in stress management.
1. In Jane Collard's opinion, stress is becoming an increasingly common feature of
the workplace. Stress is a highly individual reaction, which varies considerably from person to person, and it is difficult for some employees to avoid it. Indeed, stress is regarded by many as part of the organizational culture of our institutions: it comes with the job. Recent figures indicate that time taken off work because of stress has increased by 500 per cent since the 1950s. Undoubtedly, changes in working conditions have led to greater pressure at work at all levels. With reductions in staffing, workloads for individual employees have increased. In addition, many employees are left worrying about the security of their jobs.
2. On the stress management courses that she runs, Jane Collard tries to make the
trainees realise that stress in itself is not harmful. Everyone needs a certain level of stress to enable them to feel motivated and to perform effectively. A complete absence of stress can be as damaging as overstress, since it can make people lose interest in their work, and even lead to depression. The difficulties occur when the amount of stress rises above a level which is healthy for a particular individual. If this happens, the effects are very obvious and
the trainees are taught to recognize the signs. Stress may be expressed physically, for
example through headaches and tiredness, or through emotional problems such as depression. A person suffering from stress ma y also start to behave differently, and can be difficult to deal with.
3. While it may not always be possible to prevent stress, there are a number of ways in which it can be controlled. The first thing that the trainees learn is how to manage their
time effectively. This involves, first of all, setting realistic goals for both the short and
long term. Once this framework has been established, tasks are then prioritised on a daily basis. The trainees are also reminded that when they are under pressure the less important items should be left, and they should never hesitate to delegate. Everyone is encouraged to look at ways of reducing 'wasted time ', for example by grouping similar tasks together or dealing with items immedkiately.
4. Jane feels that one of the most useful features of the course is that it enables trainees to deal with those demands or deadlines that they regard as unreasonable. They are encouraged to avoid being defensive, but at the same time they are advised not to be afraid of saying 'no'. They are asked to give reasons only if necessary. The training helps them to foresee difficult situations or unwanted demands, and they learn how to prepare themselves mentally. Everyone is encouraged not to get stuck in negative thought patterns, where stress can feed a circular sense of
helplessness. One solution they discuss is to think of a more encouraging alternative for each negative message. They learn, for example, to remind themselves that nothing terrible happens when a demand is refused or a deadline missed. Life goes on.
Questions 13-16
For questions 13-16, choose the best title for each numbered paragraph from the list below. For each numbered paragraph 1-4, mark one
letter (A-G) on your Answer Sheet.
Do not use any letter more than once.
13 Paragraph 1 ___________
14 Paragraph 2 ___________
15 Paragraph 3 ___________
Questions 1-7
Look at the statements below and the article about the development of future business leaders on the opposite page. Which section of the article (A, B, C or D) does each statement (1-7) refer to?
For each statement (1-7), mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet.
You will need to use some of these letters more than once.
1 Managers need to take action to convince high-flyers of their value to the firm.
2 Organisations need to look beyond the high-flyers they are currently developing.
3 There is a concern that firms investing in training for high-flyers may not gain the benefits themselves.
4 Managers need expert assistance from within their own firms in developing high-flyers.
5 Firms currently identify high-flyers without the support of a guidance strategy.
6 Managers are frequently too busy to deal with the development of high-flyers.
7 Firms who work hard on their reputation as an employer will interest high-flyers.
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。 题目解析：
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
本文来源：http://www.gbppp.com/jd/434868/
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