下面小编给大家整理如何报考剑桥商务英语(BEC)考试(共含10篇),希望大家喜欢!同时,但愿您也能像本文投稿人“曌知”一样,积极向本站投稿分享好文章。
如何报考剑桥商务英语(BEC)考试
剑桥商务英语BEC考试是目前较少的外语求职考试之一,它是就业领域中商务英语沟通能力的证明,是择业求职的重要砝码,尤其是外资企业招聘雇员优先录用的主要条件。
何为BEC证书
剑桥商务英语证书?Cambridge Business English Certificate,简称BEC?考试,是英国剑桥大学考试委员会专门为非英语母语国家的人员进行国际商务活动的需要而设计的。它根据商务工作的实际需要,对考生在商务和一般生活环境下使用英语的听、说、读、写四个方面进行全面考核,对成绩及格者提供由英国剑桥大学考试委员会颁发的标准统一的成绩证书。该证书由于其颁发机构的.权威性,在欧洲大多数国家的商业企业部门获得认可,作为确认证书持有者英语能力证明的首选证书。也是在所有举办该项考试的国家和地区求职的“通行证”。在一些国家,许多大学要求获得BEC3(第三级)证书者才能获得工商管理硕士(MBA)学位或参加学位课程学习。
BEC考试测试考生在读、写、听、说四个方面的语言交际能力,着重考查学生的应用能力与接受能力,并对考生的能力概况做出比较全面、客观的评价。
BEC考试分三级,BEC1为初级语言水平考试,难度相当于我国大学英语四级,就剑桥英语考试系列来说,它介于入门英语考试(Key English Test)和初级英语考试(Preliminary English Test)之间;BEC2介于我国大学英语四、六级之间,相当于剑桥第一证书英语考试(First Certificate in English);BEC3介于我国大学英语六级和英语专业八级之间,相当于剑桥熟练英语证书考试(Certificate of Proficiency in English)。
报考者不受限制
BEC考试报名不受年龄、性别、职业、地区、学历等限制,任何人(包括学生、待业人员等)均可持本人身份证到当地考点报名。而且任何时间都可以报名,上半年报名截止时间为3月20日,下半年报名截止时间为9月17日。目前BEC考试在全国27个省自治区、直辖市36个城市共设有个58个考点。
每次报名收费(含口试费)如下:BEC1约290元人民币,BEC2约370元人民币,BEC3约490元人民币。考试时间为每年5月的第三个周六(BEC3)、第四个周六(BEC1)、6月第一个周六(BEC2)、11月第四个周六(BEC3)、12月第一个周六(BEC1)、第二个周六(BEC2)。
考试成绩由海外考试处打印成绩通知单,剑桥大学地方考试委员会印发成绩合格证书,由教育部考试中心寄给各考点向考生颁发(笔试成绩合格而口试成绩不合格也发给证书,若口试成绩合格而笔试成绩不合格则不发给证书)。
剑桥商务英语bec初级考试报名条件
参加BEC考试不需要任何特殊资格,报名不受年龄、性别、职业、地区、学历等限制,适用人群为具有初、中、高级英语水平者,且以从事商务工作为学习目的。任何人(包括学生、待业人员等)均可持本人身份证到当地考点(全国考点汇总)报名。在华工作的外籍人员和现役军人亦可持本人有效身份证件及两张照片报名参加考试,也可持工作证和单位介绍信报名。
BEC报名费(略有上涨)
据BEC官方网站消息,新的BEC报名费为:
BEC初级(BEC Preliminary):465元
BEC中级(BEC Vantage): 580元
BEC高级(BEC Higher):725元
BEC考试该如何备考?
教材推荐:
经济科学出版社的学生用书(很应试,而且每篇文章都写得很好很实用,一定要用好);经济科学出版社的教师用书(主要拿来看范文);经济科学出版社的同步辅导(有vocabulary和其他关于课文的提示,跟学生用书一起用感觉轻松很多);人民邮电出版社的两本真题、一本模拟题
使用建议:先看学生用书的课文再看同步辅导里的词汇表。
而且看课文时不要见到不认识的单词就立刻查,训练自己在没任何帮助的情况下理解一篇文章。因为在考试时当然没得查,如果养成了那种习惯,很可能在考试在做阅读的时候心会慌。
做题建议:建议有时间的话每套题起码做两三遍,是从套做到后一套再回过头来做套这样循环,用铅笔做。跟做题同等重要的是:平时做题做完后一定一定要认真对答案!不单只是算正确率,而是要看自己哪部分错的多,错在哪里,为什么错。这很重要,不要让自己在同一个point上犯第二次同样的错误。同一份题,第二第三次做正确率一定要比次高,第三次争取起码90%以上。
考试前一个星期不要做新题目!翻翻旧题,保持着语感就可以了。
BEC考试须知:BEC考试报名费用
BEC剑桥商务英语证书考试是由剑桥大学外语考试部研发的考试。BEC考试分为初中高三个级别的考试,每个级别的考试费用略有不同。由于BEC 考试的试卷全部要送到英国剑桥去批改,再加上BEC考试包含口语考官现场考试的口试费用,因此BEC的报名费用会根据汇率不同有所变化。
据悉,从起,BEC考试费用会有微调,具体各级别考试报名费如下:
BEC初级(标准级Preliminary):约395元人民币;
BEC中级(中高级Vantage):约500元人民币;
BEC高级(高级Higher):约630元人民币。
因人民币汇率可能变化,每次考试收费标准以所在考点公布的为准。
温馨提示:由于各方面情况的不断调整与变化,本网所提供的所有考试信息仅供参考,敬请考生以权威部门公布的正式信息为准。
注:以上是大部分考点的收费标准,因人民币汇率可能变化,有部分或个别考点的收费标准不一样,请考生以考点公布的为准。
考生在报名后可得到一本内容包括考试范围、考试题型的《考生手册》,供考生参照复习。
【 经验】会员积分怎么获得?怎么查询?积分可以如何使用?可以直接转换为现金吗?
〔
剑桥商务英语(BEC)考试口语考试技巧
〕随文赠言:【受惠的人,必须把那恩惠常藏心底,但是施恩的人则不可记住它。――西塞罗】剑桥BEC考试是教育部考试中心和英国剑桥大学考试委员会合作,于1993年起举办的商务英语证书考试,该系列考试是一项水平考试,根据商务工作的实际需要,对考生在商务和一般生活环境下使用英语的能力从听说读写四个方面进行全面考查。由此我们可以看出,BEC考试并不是单纯的考察考生的英语能力,也非商务技巧,而考核考生是否具备在一个商务环境中恰当的使用英语进行沟通的能力。这就是要在商务中学英语,在英语中学商务,二者相辅相成。
商务英语和我们日常交流所使用的英语有很多不同:
第一,单词的含义发生变化。在BEC商务英语中,很多单词的意思都发生了很大的变化,下面给大家列举一些单词。
1. 比如minute这个单词,大家都是知道这个单词表示的是分钟,例如:I'll meet you at the car in five minutes。但是在商务英语中,这个词却有其他的含义―会议记录,例如:Will you take the minutes? (你可以记会议记录吗?)。
2. 比如margin这个词,日常英语中表示边缘,边际,例如:Someone had scribbled a note in the margin。但是在商务英语中,它则表示利润,例如:Margins are lowand many companies are struggling。
3. 再比如balance, 日常英语中表示平衡,I've got a good sense of balance and learnt to ski quite quickly. 但是在商务英语中,这个单词则表示负债的意思,The balance is due at the end of the month. Balance sheet即为公司三大财务报表之一的资产负债表。
所以,同学在学习商务英语的时候要注意辨析单词在不同语境中含义的变化,多阅读商务英语类文章,积累词汇量。
第二个特点为,商务英语中经常会使用一个单词的很多个词性。例如:
1. approach. 这个单词有两个词性,大多数考生可能都知道这个单词有动词词性,表示靠近,接近,另外为名词词性,表示方法,其实作为动词approach还有一个含义是处理,相当于deal with, 如:It might be possible to approach the problem in a different way。
2. address,名词词性为地址,动词词性则表示处理,如:Our products address the needs of real users。
3. launch,动词词性为发射,发布,发行产品,名词为发射和发行,The company hopes to launch the new drug by next October。
在商务英语中,经常会使用单词的众多含义和词性,这也是体现了语言的多样性和灵活性的特点,因此,考生在学习商务英语,或者平时积累英语知识的时候,要注意了解词汇的各个词性和用法,含义。
第三个特点就是商务英语中特有的商务词汇。
1. value for money 例如:value for money product
2. turnover: 例如:The illicit drugs industry has an annual turnover of some £200 bn,
例如:a high degree of labour turnoveramong women
3. undercut the price:例如:Online bookstores can undercutretailers by up to 30%。
这几个词的含义分别为:物有所值的产品,营业额或者是员工离职,最有一个为比其他公司低的价格出售。
第四个特点是商务英语在写作与口语表达方面的格式。
其中尤其以商务写作的特点突出。商务写作,即商务信函,主要是用于商务沟通所需要,因此比较正式,却别于一般性质的信函和写作。这里我们举一些简单的例子来说明商务信函的正式方式,我们以信件为例。
商务信函首先是构架有规则。
商务信件的格式为:
1. 称呼,Opening
2. 首段(多为提及上次信件或本封信的目的),The first paragraph
3. 信的主体(根据内容分段)Body
4. 最后一句话(期待回函或见面) Final sentence
5. 结束语closing phrase
6. 姓名Name
7. 职位(根据需要决定是否写职位)Position
Tips:
请求对方做某事:
商务英语当中表示请求时可以用问句来表示写信人的客气,如:Could you please send us recent updates of. 另外就是使用套句,如:We would be grateful if you could please send…
给出信息:
在告诉其他人信息时,不要直接就说出信息的内容,如:Just to letyou know that…而是遵循商务英语的语言方式和风格,We are pleased to inform. you that…
进行指示:
不要说Call me if you need moreinformation。而是需要用正式的说法Forfurther information, please contact our sales office
信件的最后一句话:
See you next week! 这类的话非常的随意,因此要注意使用的场合。We look forward to hearing from you. 这样的句子是非常正式的。
结束语:
我们日常信函中经常会说Best
商务英语BEC考试的写作分为两个部分:
Part 1
这部分要求考生写40-50词的短信息,会考到的文体有通知、留言、备忘录、电子邮件等,
如:
You are the General Manager of a large computer company. Next week you are going to Shanghai to discuss an important contract. Write a note to your secretary: Saying when you want to leave and return; Asking her to book flights; Telling her to which hotel to book a room. Write 40-50 words.
写作时,考生首先要明白
shareba挣钱秘籍分享: 如何挣钱
【 经验】会员积分怎么获得?怎么查询?积分可以如何使用?可以直接转换为现金吗?
〔
剑桥商务英语(BEC)写作考试应试技巧
〕随文赠言:【受惠的人,必须把那恩惠常藏心底,但是施恩的人则不可记住它。――西塞罗】205月18日: BEC初级(BEC Preliminary)
年5月25日: BEC高级(BEC Higher)
2019年6月1日: BEC中级(BEC Vantage)
2019年11月16日:BEC高级(BEC Higher)
2019年11月23日:BEC初级(BEC Preliminary)
2019年11月30日:BEC中级(BEC Vantage)
一篇很实在的BEC考试心得,出自BEC高级B获得者之手
我是11月考的BEC高级,准备了两个月,考了B级。这篇东西一直放在qq空间里面,放上来跟大家分享一下,也许能解答很多童鞋心里的疑问……以下内容纯属个人意见和经验,只希望对大家有点帮助,不能作准。
写在前面:
(一)首先,有很多同学有关于BEC考不考、考来有没有用、考中级还是高级之类的疑问,我有些话要说:
对于这种考试,大家可以考,可以不考,但请不要在考与不考之间犹豫良久,宝贵的时间没了,却抓不住一点实在的东西。
选择考,你将得到的不只是一张证书,还是很多你以前不知道的商务英语知识,和听说读写能力的全面提高。
选择不考,把时间和精力放在其他有意义的事情上,一样可以创造价值。
但如果在考与不考,考中级和考高级之间一直徘徊,甚至有以月为单位的,那真的很浪费时间!
我从报名到考完最后的口试的那一刻心态都一直是——不怕死。
我真的是在查到成绩之后才知道,原来B已经很难得了,很多人都没过……
刚开始准备了不久,就发觉没想象中简单。但因为钱已经交了,那我就只有更抓紧时间赶上去,每天都认真地学。结果是——接下来的两个月里效率和斗志都挺高,而且就算是广交会实习那段日子,我也没浪费过时间,商务英语水平突飞猛进。如果没报考,很多原本可以利用的时间就会被我浪费掉……
Be goal-oriented. 有目标指引着,才不至于迷路。
至少我是这样的。
如果你本来想考,但只是因为它通过率很低、很多人都不过,你就不去尝试不去学的话,我想说的是,许多人不过有许多人的理由,也许他们根本没准备好就去考,也许他们考场出什么弊病,etc.但你不能把别人的理由当作自己的借口,要清楚自己该如何作决定。
(二)的确有不少师兄姐说BEC的认证度不高,也许事实真的是这样的。
帮大家搜过一下,在中国认可和使用BEC的企业名录请查阅网址:www.cambridgeesol.org/recognition/results.php?region=China&type=&BEC=on
(三)那个证书用处也许不大,但准备考试的过程中真的能学到很多,我考完试后一个学期,在专业课学习过程中和找实习过程中发觉都用得到BEC里面学到的商务英语知识,那本教材到现在还有用。。。
BEC H带给我的是:
1) 当然是很实用的商务英语知识
2) 听力、商务应用文写作、口头表达能力的提高
3) 最重要的是,一份对自己的信心,和坚持对英语情有独钟的勇气.
好,啰嗦完毕。
入正题。
我没有考过中级,也没有看过中级的咚咚,所以原谅我只从高级的材料出发噢。
我准备时候就是用了:
经济科学出版社的学生用书(很应试,而且每篇文章都写得很好很实用,一定要用好);
经济科学出版社的教师用书(主要拿来看范文);
经济科学出版社的同步辅导(有vocabulary和其他关于课文的提示,跟学生用书一起用感觉轻松很多);
人民邮电出版社的两本真题、一本模拟题
教材的使用建议:
先看学生用书的课文再看同步辅导里的词汇表。而且看课文时不要见到不认识的单词就立刻查,训练自己在没任何帮助的情况下理解一篇文章。
因为在考试时当然没得查,如果养成了那种习惯,很可能在考试在做阅读的时候心会慌。
做题建议:
建议有时间的话每套题起码做两三遍,是从第一套做到最后一套再回过头来做第一套这样循环,用铅笔做。
跟做题同等重要的是:平时做题做完后一定一定要认真对答案!不单只是算正确率,而是要看自己哪部分错的多,错在哪里,为什么错。这很重要,不要让自己在同一个point上犯第二次同样的错误。同一份题,第二第三次做正确率一定要比第一次高,第三次争取起码90%以上。
关于考试:
Reading
这部分没有什么技巧可说的,但一定要分配好时间!!高级的阅读平均每一part只有10分钟。
Part2(选句子填空)
很多人觉得这部分很难做,我会先把选项的句子都先看一遍,然后把整篇文章文章过一遍,知道它的大意和逻辑结构后,再选句子填空。这样其实更省时。
最好不要看到每一个空都把选项句子全都过一遍找一句最合适的填进去,这样不但费时而且正确率也不见得高。
Part3(阅读理解)
因为这部分的题目顺序是与文章段落顺序对应一致的(也就是通常第一题的答案在第一段,第二题的答案在第二段这样子),我会逐条题目地做,先看第一条题目,在第一段找到答案,再看第二条题目,在第二段找答案这样子。
对于这一题,这种做法很适合我,但未必是最好的,大家可以试一下
Part4(完型填空)
这部分高考过的人都很熟悉,要争取全对。
Part5(填空)
语法+语感。
有些介词和连词是要联系上下文的语境才能填准的。
Writing
Part1(120-140words)
多看范文,把写得好的有用的句式抄下来,归类起来,多看一下,有必要背一下。这样在写这类文章的时候就可以得心应手了。
推荐:
《高级写作教程》,蔡基刚,复旦大学出版社;
《大学英语写作常用句型》,蔡基刚,上海外语教育出版社。(这本在图书馆见到有)
Part2(200-250words)
这部分能让改卷老师一眼就能看出,你有没有背景知识,有没有语言功底。
真的要好好积累。
商务背景知识和语言功底都不是一朝一夕能积累下来的,更何况就算不为了这么个考试,平常也应该好好对待。我在考BEC之前大二的时候就很爱看专业的英文版书,很爱上外国的诸如weforum呀nytimes呀之类的网站,而且每次上外国网每次看chinadaily都第一时间翻到business那一版。之前云山那里有Economists和Forbes的过刊卖,我买了一堆,超爱^^!那时只是因为喜欢,却没想到的确为我的写作打下了基础.
如果有同学现在就准备下学期考试的,那积累时间很充裕,效果更好!
我建议:
1)首先把学生用书读透。
它已经把商务英语知识分类、简化得很好了。很多商务方法论都可以从里面得到,而且语言用句都很好。
2)看报纸杂志都先看business类的短文和news。这真的得积累,很抱歉没有捷径。
3)看范文。
4)三个形式(report/proposal/letter)都试写一下,把所有细节(体裁结构etc.)都弄清楚,然后从中找一种自己写得最好的形式,集中练。
5)平时就训练自己写outline,但不要打草稿。
在动笔之前先把outline写出来,列出每一段你打算写什么,然后根据outline一次成文。强调不要打草稿,因为考试时你必须用钢笔直接写在答题卡上,如果不养成一次成文的习惯,就很容易把答题卡划得花斑斑的,影响改卷老师印象。
6)注意语言的运用得当。坚决杜绝语法错误!
7)有个小窍门:每篇文章开头一定要写得漂亮,那是最能让改卷改到眼花的老师眼前一亮,并带着好印象继续读下去的!
Listening
BEC的listening语速很快,而且会绕个圈子问你。
听的时候要200%集中精神,一边听一边理解,再回到题目上。
我建议: 1)做好学生用书里面的listening材料。
2)让自己习惯英式口音,the more exposure to British Eng accent the better(例如BBC)真的要多听,没有捷径。
3)可以把真题和模拟题的听力部分单独抽出来多做几遍
4)如果已经做熟了,还可以对着正确答案反复听(这样还可以清楚自己错在哪里)
Speaking
在part2,从几个topic中选一个做个个人one-minute presentation,接到topic的时候要相信自己直觉,你第一感觉哪个你有东西说就挑哪个,一分钟的准备时间是从你接到topic的时候就开始算的,所以挑定了topic就赶快写outline,通常一分钟只能说两三个point。
要记住的是:
1)就算是一个短短的发言也要有完整的开头结尾。
例如:(topic)Finance: the importance of foreign investment for a company
开头:I would like to talk about the importance of foreign investment for a company. First of all, the significance of FDI is well-known because…….
结尾:So it is vitally important for a company to receive foreign investment.
2) 要利用好之前一分钟的准备时间,理好思路。要知道,一分钟的时间转眼就过,容不得你“口吃”。
Part3的discussion广外人应该欢呼。
但要注意的是,BEC的口试要的是effective communication,在规定时间内要尽量把讨论带到一个结论上去,不要到时间到了都还停留在讨论的阶段。最好是在最后双方达成一个共识。
口试一定要:反应快,有自信。
在逻辑通顺的前提下,为了流利,容许一点点语法错误。出口成章当然好,但不要为了说出完美的句子而左思右想。表达清晰、通顺就行。
不要太紧张。通常有两个考官,问你问题的那个看上去挺那个,但真正决定你分数的是旁边不吭声的那个。
我当时是把它当作一个全英面试,完全没当考试。
要怎样才能发挥到最好,大家自己掂量咯^-^
考试前一个星期不要做新题目! 翻翻旧题,保持着语感就可以了。
希望以上所写的会对考试的朋友们有起码一点点的帮助,如果真有,我真的很开心^-^。
如果没有,或者有什么说的不对的地方,真请见谅,多多包涵>.<。。。。。
2019年剑桥商务英语证书考试(BEC)考试费用
BEC真题一
Market Entry —The Pioneer
Marc Crystal discusses the 'be first to market’principle
The timing of market entry is critical to the success of a new product. A company has two alternatives: it can compete to enter a new product market first - otherwise known as 'pioneering' - or it can wait for a competitor to take the lead, and then follow once the market has been established. Despite the limitations of existing research, nobody denies that there are advantages to being a pioneering company. Over the years, there has been a good deal of evidence to show a performance advantage for pioneers.
For many new products, customers are initially unsure about the contribution of product characteristics and features to the product's value. Preferences for different characteristics and their desired levels are learned over time. This enables the pioneering company to shape customer preferences in its favour. It sets the standard to which customers refer in evaluating followers' products. The pioneering product can become the classic or 'original' product for the whole category, opening up a flood of similar products onto the market, as exemplified by Walkman and Polaroid.
The pioneering product is a bigger novelty when it appears on the market, and is therefore more likely than those that follow to capture customer and distributor attention. In addition, a pioneer's advertising is not mixed up with competitors' campaigns. Even in the long term, followers must continue to spend more on advertising to achieve the same effect as pioneers. The pioneers can set standards for distribution, occupy the best locations or select the best distributors, which can give them easier access to customers. For example, in many US cities the coffee chain Starbucks, as the first to market, was able to open coffee bars in better known locations than its competitors. In many industrial markets, distributors are not keen to take on second and third products, particularly when the product is technically complex or requires large inventories of spare parts.
'Switching costs' arise when investments are required in order to switch to another product. For example, many people have developed skills in using the traditional 'qwerty' keyboard. Changing to the presumably more efficient 'dvorak' keyboard would require relearning how to type, an investment that in many cases would exceed the expected benefits in efficiency. Switching costs also arise when the quality of a product is difficult to assess. People who live abroad often experience a similar 'cost' when simple purchase decisions such as buying detergent, toothpaste or coffee suddenly become harder because the trusted brand from home is no longer available. Pioneering products have the first chance to become this trusted brand. Consequently, the companies that follow must work hard to convince customers to bear the costs and risks of switching to an untried brand of unknown quality.
Unlike other consumer sectors, the value to customers of many high technology products relies not only on their features but also on the total number of users. For example, the value of a videophone depends on the number of people using the same or a compatible system. A pioneer obviously has the opportunity to build a large user base before competitors enter the market. This reduces followers' ability to introduce differentiated products. There are other advantages of a large user base, such as the ability to share computer files with other users. Thus, software companies are often willing to give away products to build the market quickly and set a standard.
13 In the first paragraph, the writer points out that
A there is general agreement on the benefits of pioneering products.
B companies are still uncertain about how to market new products.
C most companies prefer to market new products independently.
D there are now guidelines to help those who wish to pioneer.
14 According to the information in the second paragraph, how do customers approach new products?
A They take some time to develop a liking for them.
B They make comparisons with other new products.
C They need some persuasion to purchase them.
D They consider cost an important feature.
15 The writer refers to Walkman and Polaroid because they were
A better than any of their followers.
B copied many times by their followers.
C quickly accepted by consumers.
D designed for a particular market.
16 When pioneering products are promoted, the writer notes that
A a heavy financial investment is required.
B a wide variety of advertising methods must be used.
C a clear message is likely to be communicated.
D a long campaign is usually necessary.
17 In the keyboard example, the 'costs' the writer is referring to are concerned with
A the price of the products.
B the quality of the products.
C the need for user training.
D the lack of useful information.
18 According to the final paragraph, the high technology market differs from other consumer markets in that
A it is still a relatively new area of consumerism.
B it is not dependent on product characteristics alone.
C there are so many different types of product on the market.
D there is such a great demand for high technology products.
《Market Entry—The Pioneer》,市场准入,先行者。这篇文章讲的就是经济学里提到的“先行者优势”。在一个市场上抢占了先机,给了消费者先入为主的印象,后来者想要占领市场就会比较困难。
13题,问第一段作者指出了什么观点。第一段是引出全文,说明了做先行者的优势。答案是despite后面的一句:Despite the limitations of existing research, nobody denies that there are advantages to being a pioneering company。没有人会否认做先驱公司有很多的优势。所以这题的答案是A:对于先驱产品的好处已经达成了共识。nobody denies也就是there is general agreement,advantages to being a pioneering company对应于the benefits of pioneering products。
14题,问根据第二段的信息,消费者是怎么处理新产品的。Approach在这里是处理的意思:to start dealing with a problem, task, etc. in a particular way:。答案是这一句:Preferences for different characteristics and their desired levels are learned over time对不同特性的喜爱以及他们预期的水平是要通过时间来培养的。也就是答案A所说的他们需要时间来培养喜欢。
15题,问作者列举walkman和Polaroid的原因是什么。作者是在第二段的最后一句话里列举他俩的:The pioneering product can become the classic or 'original' product for the whole category, opening up a flood of similar products onto the market, as exemplified by Walkman and Polaroid.这些先驱产品变成了全部目录里德经典或者原版产品,引发了一系列相似产品涌进市场。所以答案选B:被追随者抄袭了无数次。Similar products其实就是copy的含蓄说法。
16题,有待斟酌~
17题,问在键盘的例子中,作者提到的成本是同什么相关联的。答案在第四段:For example, many people have developed skills in using the traditional 'qwerty' keyboard. Changing to the presumably more efficient 'dvorak' keyboard would require relearning how to type。很多人已经培养出了使用传统键盘的技巧,换做可能更有效的键盘需要重新学习怎么样打字。也就是这题的答案选C:使用者需要重新训练。
18题,问在最后一段中,高科技市场同其他消费者市场相区别的地方在哪里。答案是最后一段的这么一句:the value to customers of many high technology products relies not only on their features but also on the total number of users不仅依赖于高科技产品的特征还有使用者的总人数。答案选B:不仅仅只依赖于产品的特性。
BEC真题二
Another successful year
The UK-based agricultural and garden equipment group PLT has had another successful year and is looking forward to the future with confidence. The group, which also has distribution and fuel (19),has enjoyed record profits for the fifth year in a (20) . Pre-tax profits for the year (21) March 31 rose by 24 per cent to ?4.2 million.
Total group sales (22) by five per cent to ?155 million, with the agricultural business delivering yet another record (23), despite the somewhat difficult trading (24) in the industry. Sales in the garden equipment (25) were slow in the early months of the year, but increased dramatically in the final quarter.
Chairman Suresh Kumar said, ‘It is my (26) that we have continued to grow by (27) our customers well. I am delighted to (28) the continued development of our customer (29) and I would like to thank all our customers for their (30).As well as an increase in customers,our staff numbers also continue to grow. During the year, we have taken(31)58 new employees, so that our total workforce now numbers in excess of 700. All of the staff deserve my praise for their dedication and continued efforts in (32) these excellent results.’
The group has proposed a final (33) of 9.4p per share, bringing the total to 13p for the year.
19 A commitments B interests C responsibilities D benefits
20 A row B series C line D sequence
21 A completing B closing C finalising D ending
22 A extended B lifted C expanded D climbed
23 A display B production C performance D demonstration
24 A conditions B features C states D aspects
25 A part B division C component D side
26 A certainty B thought C belief D idea
27 A caring B dealing C providing D treating
28 A inform B notify C comment D report
29 A source B base C foundation D origin
30 A support B favour C assistance D service
31 A up B back C on D over
32 A winning B gaining C achieving D earning
33 A dividend B recompense C return D interest
这是一篇总结性的文章,讲述了一个公司一年的业绩状况,形势喜人。
19题,interests在这里的用法比较特殊,不是兴趣,而是股权,权益的证明:
1)Something in which such a right, claim, or share is held:
权益、债权或股权的证明:
has interests overseas.
有海外产权
2)A person or group of persons holding such a right, claim, or share:
持有此种权益、债权或股权的人或集团:
a petroleum interest.
石油业者
20题,很显然意思是连续五年利润创记录,in a row是固定短语,连续几次的,连续不断的;in a line是成一排。
21题,年税前收益截至3月31日增长了24%,达到了420万英镑。the year ending March 31,表示以3月31日结束
22题,意思很明显,销售增长了5%。climb有一种用法是指数量或水平的增长(to increase in number, amount, or level)。例句:The temperature has climbed steadily since this morning.
23和24题,虽然整个行业的贸易状况很困难,但是agricultural business创造了另一个创纪录的表现。
25题,garden equipment division 园林设备部。截至目前所做的解析,这个division已经是第二次在完形填空里出现了。
26和27题,It is my belief that 我相信。我相信是因为好好对待了客户所以我们才会持续增长。
28题,很高兴报告客户基数的持续增长。从意思上看可以排除C,A和B都是比较正式的通知,选D,报告。
29题,customer base客户基数,这也已经是第二次考到了。
30题,典型的客套话,感谢客户的支持。
31题,新增了58位新员工。take up占据,拿起,继续,开始从事等等;take back拿回,收回;take on一般做呈现讲,有雇佣的意思(朗文:to start to employ someone),例句:We're taking on 50 new staff this year.take over接管。
32题,付出了持续不断的努力实现了这些结果。achieve是最地道的。
33题,只需要理解dividend的意思就行了,因为后面有share(股份),dividend是红利。recompense是给….以补偿。
疑问:
23题为什么不能选D做“示范”讲?
先从文章的内容来理解的话,23这个空说的是agricultural business的业绩好,表现好,用performance是很完美合适的
具体说这个demonstration,的确有“示范”的意思,但在英英词典是这么解释的:
“an act of explaining and showing how to do something or how something works”,中文做“演示”讲
所以用在这里是不合适的,并没有进行业绩演示
你理解的“示范”,应该是那种带有榜样性质的示范。单看中文意思很容易混淆
BEC真题三
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真题四
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 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。
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。 疑似生词和句子:
1、buffet: a meal at which people serve themselves from a table and then stand or sit somewhere else to eat 自助餐
2、takeaway
a、a restaurant that cooks and sells food that you take away and eat somewhere else 外卖餐馆
b、a meal that you buy at this type of restaurant 外卖的饭菜;外卖食物
3、in retrospect: thinking about a past event or situation, often with a different opinion of it from the one you had at the time 回顾
4、under-capitalised: (about a business) not having enough money (capital) to be able to operate normally, pay debts and grow 资金不足。
5、Instead, she studied accountancy after leaving university, and a steady if unspectacular professional path seemed set.
这个句子里if的用法比较少见,参见朗文的解释:used when adding one criticism of a person or thing that you generally like
e.g: Lunch was a grand if rather noisy affair.
所以G选项的意思就是:然而,离开大学后她学的是会计,一个平淡无奇的职业道路似乎已经铺就
BEC真题五
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。