以下是小编帮大家整理的BEC阅读精选及解析整合，本文共7篇，仅供参考，大家一起来看看吧。
篇1：BEC阅读精选及解析整合
1 A cautious approach can be used when calculating what a company is worth.
2 Consider personnel issues so that you have sufficient resources to fulfill your objectives.
3 In order to know if you can make a return on your investment, assess how you can add to the company you are buying.
4 Providing sufficient support for staff during the acquisition process can have a favourable outcome.
5 Take into account your long-term requirements to ensure you have the resources you need.
6 Even after investing some effort in the acquisition, it may still be necessary to withdraw.
7 Terms initially negotiated can be changed after the acquisition.
Mergers and Acquisitions
As Finance Director of plastics manufacturer VKT, Yvonne Maynart has overseen many successful takeovers
A
It is essential to build up a team to handle the acquisition so that your existing business can continue uninterrupted during the deal. It also helps to operate with spare capacity so that you can transfer people during the initial stages. A key person should be driving the acquisition process forward, although one person alone cannot assume responsibility for a large deal. It is clearly vital to do thorough research when identifying potential targets - but do not be afraid to walk away from a deal if you become aware of serious difficulties with a company you are targeting.
B
To decide on the value of any target business, you must first determine what contribution your acquisition can make to it. For example, you may be able to increase revenue through a more focused management team, or improve margins through greater purchasing power and lower costs. At VKT, we base our valuations on conservative assumptions - we also add in the risk element. This approach may be best, and it's worth remembering that with listed companies, shareholders tend to have higher risk/reward expectations.
C
Developing relationships with finance providers is a key part of the finance director's role. It is important to draw up a good business plan to ensure backing from lenders in the early stages of the acquisition. Your loan application needs to be supported by detailed profit and cashflow projections. Make sure you factor in sufficient finance to let the business develop over time, and allow for reinvestment. Here at VKT, we usually finance acquisitions with bank debt in the form of a 364-day loan, which can then be refinanced at a lower interest rate later.
D
If an acquisition is large, it can take years for companies to integrate. At VICT, we monitor all acquisitions closely for at least two years, and the most important lesson I've learned is that a deal is only good if it is beneficial for both vendor and acquirer. Change causes confusion, so it needs to be handled carefully. In order to protect profits and grow the business, you need to minimise the impact of change and help the people affected feel comfortable about it. When this is done properly, it can really boost morale.
这篇文章是关于收购的一些建议。一位专家针对收购可能出现的情况给出了自己的看法。A段是说要专门建立一个团队来处理收购事宜，要有一个关键的人来推动收购的进行。同时还要对潜在的目标进行深入研究，如果发现了问题便及时抽身。B段是讲要想评估目标收购企业的价值，首先得决定你的收购能为它做出什么样的贡献。可以通过一个更加专注的管理团队来提高收益，也可以通过提高购买力和降低成本来改进利润。C段讲的是要和资金提供方建立良好的关系，并谈到了资金借贷方面的一些情况。D段是讲收购进行后的一些影响。对于出现的相关变化，要妥善处理。处理的好的话会提高士气。
第一题，当计算一个公司的价值时可以采用谨慎的方法。B段是和评估企业价值相关的内容，所以答案在B段中找。是原文的这么一句：we base our valuations on conservative assumptions。我们的价值评估是建立在保守的假设基础之上的。这里的conservative对应于cautious，base our valuations也就是计算公司的价值。
第二题，考虑人员问题(personnel issues)使得你有足够的资源来达成目标。A段是讲收购中的人员问题的，但答案不是那么明显。主要是要理解A段开头的两句话：It is essential to build up a team to handle the acquisition so that your existing business can continue uninterrupted during the deal. It also helps to operate with spare capacity so that you can transfer people during the initial stages。有必要建立一个团队来处理收购使得在交易期间现行的商业可以不间断的继续。它也帮助处理闲置生产能力于是你可以在初始阶段转移人员。说到底，这句话的意思就是要合理的安排人员，从而充分利用资源来实现目标。这题需要深入理解。
第三题，要想知道你能从投资上获得多少回报，评估你能给购买的公司增加什么。这一题答案很明显，B段的第一句话：To decide on the value of any target business, you must first determine what contribution your acquisition can make to it.同样的意思。
第四题，在收购过程中对员工提供足够的支持可以产生良好的结果。这题答案也稍显隐晦，答案是D段的后面几句：help the people affected feel comfortable about it. When this is done properly, it can really boost morale.帮助受影响的人感觉到舒服一些。当这些被妥善处理了，可以真正提升士气。
第五题，将长期的需要考虑在内以确保你得到所需要的资源。答案是C段的这么一句：Make sure you factor in sufficient finance to let the business develop over time, and allow for reinvestment.确保你将企业长时间发展所需要的充足的资金也纳入在内，并且允许再投资。这里的take into account对应于factor in，develop over time对应于long-time requirement。
第六题，即便是在对收购投入了大量的努力之后，也仍然可能有必要退出。答案是A段的最后一句：do not be afraid to walk away from a deal if you become aware of serious difficulties with a company you are targeting。如果你清楚了目标公司的严重困难，不要害怕从这桩交易上走开。这里的walk away from对应于withdraw。
第七题，原本协商好的条款在收购后可以改变。答案也有些隐晦，是C段的最后一句：we usually finance acquisitions with bank debt in the form of a 364-day loan, which can then be refinanced at a lower interest rate later.我们通常使用364天银行贷款利率来提供贷款，日后的再贷款可以用一个更低的利率。意思是一样的，但是需要适当理解才能做答。
疑似生词：
Spare capacity：When a business is operating at less than 100% capacity, it is said to have “spare capacity”。闲置生产能力。
Listed companies：a listed company is one whose shares may be bought and sold on a stock exchange.
上市公司。
e.g: Our shares are now listed and traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Factor in:将….纳入、列入重要因素。
Withdraw(这词用法多，让人混淆，把常用的列出来)：
1、to take money out of a bank account, etc
e.g: You can use the card to withdraw money from cashpoints all over the world.
2、to stop giving or offering sth to sb
e.g: The drug was withdrawn from sale after a number of people suffered serious side effects.
3、to stop taking part in an activity or being a member of an organization
e.g: There have been calls for Britain to withdraw from the EU.
4、to say that you no longer believe that sth you previously said is true
e.g: The newspaper withdrew the allegations the next day.
篇2：BEC阅读精选及解析整合
When two brands are better than one
Elena Alvarez takes a look at the effectiveness of marketing partnerships
In the corporate world, rivalry is more common than co-operation. But increasingly; companies have been setting aside their differences; the new idea is that two brand names are better than one. Sharing databases, strategies and communication systems can be the most effective means of attracting customers. (G )This partnership will give it access to the utility company's database of thousands of corporate clients, who will be offered special deals on all its products.
The philosophy behind such joint ventures is simple. In economically challenging times, marketing partnerships provide a cost-effective method of increasing brand awareness and sales. As one expert in the field puts it, 'Clever marketing partnerships allow brands to target the right people, cutting down the above-the-line spend.' (8) .....E....... It is better to simplify the
process and give them one focal point.
Recent research has indicated that marketing partnerships can be up to 27 per cent more productive than single company campaigns.(9) .......B..... In particular, it is ideal for bringing instant branding to companies that lack immediate consumer appeal.
One well-established UK phone manufacturer, ITB, was quick to realise this, and formed an alliance with 7a/fc a leading women's magazine. The phone company has benefited from the strong branding of the magazine, which has its customer base among professional women in their early 20s. (10) ....D........ This combined approach also offered ITB a quick route into image enhancement, and this is true of many other marketing partnership deals. To give another illustration, it is no coincidence that some well-known cartoon characters are currently enhancing the image of Nasco household cleaning products.(11).....F.......And, of course, this strategy should also guarantee that consumers' children insist on these products rather than rival brands.
However, while association with a powerful brand can give a significant boost to sales, being connected to a devalued brand can have a negative result. The problems of one brand inevitably impact on the other in a partnership.(12).....A.......A company may take years to recover from this sort of bad publicity. Indeed, there are numerous examples of disastrous marketing alliances. In such cases, not enough thought has been given to the partnership and the reasons behind it, and it has brought little value to either the customer or the companies involved.
A In such circumstances, the effects are frequently major and can be long-lasting.
B Some experts therefore predict that this style of marketing will take up an increasingly large proportion of many companies' total marketing budgets.
C Successful marketing partnerships can consequently bring a financial advantage even to small and struggling companies such as these.
D In return, its partner enjoys a broader distribution platform from which to promote its brand.
E With only a finite number of consumers in any target market, there is no need to overwhelm prospects with competing messages from different organisations.
F These are fairly standard items, but clearly the company hopes to transform them by broadening the associations consumers have with the brand.
G For example, Profit Plus, a large UK financial services company, has recently joined forces with a leading supplier of electricity.
篇3：BEC阅读精选及解析
THE ART OF PERSUASION
'Let me send you our brochure' is probably the most commonly used phrase in business. But all too often, it can spell the end of a customer enquiry because many brochures appear to be produced not to clarify and to excite but to confuse. So what goes wrong and how can it be put right? Too often, businesses fail to ask themselves critical questions like, 'Who will the brochure be sent to?' 'What do we want to achieve with it?' The truth is that a brochure has usually been produced for no other reason than that the competition has one.
However, with a little research, it often transpires that what the client wants is a mixture: part mail shot, part glossy corporate brochure and part product catalogue - a combination rarely found. Having said that, the budget is likely to be finite. There may not be enough money to meet all three marketing needs, so the first task is to plan the brochure, taking into account the most significant of these. The other requirements will have to be met in a different way. After all, introducing the company's product range to new customers by mail is a different task from selling a new season's collection to existing customers.
The second task is to get the content right. In 95 per cent of cases, a company will hire a designer to oversee the layout, so the final product looks stylish, interesting and professional; but they don't get a copywriter or someone with the right expertise to produce the text, or at least tidy it up - and this shows. A bigger failing is to produce a brochure that is not customer focused. Your brochure should cover areas of interest to the customer, concentrating on the benefits of buying from you.
Instead, thousands of brochures start with a history lesson, 'Founded in 1987, we have been selling our products .. I can assure you that customers are never going to say to themselves, 'They've been around for 20 years - I'll buy from them.' It's not how long you've been in business that counts, it's what you've done in that time. The important point to get across at the beginning is that you have a good track record. Once this has been established, the rest of the brochure should aim to convince customers that your products are the best on the market.
It is helpful with content to get inside the customer's head. If your audience is young and trendy, be creative and colourful. As always, create a list of the benefits that potential customers would gain from doing business with you, for example, product quality, breadth of range, expertise of staff and so on. But remember that it is not enough just to state these; in order to persuade, they need to be spelt out. One possibility is to quote recommendations from existing customers. This also makes the brochure personal to you, rather than it simply being a set of suppliers' photographs with your name on the front.
At the design stage, there are many production features that can distinguish your brochure from the run of the mill. You may think that things like cutouts or pop-ups will do this for you and thus make you stand out, or you may think they just look like designer whims that add cost. Go through all the options in detail. One of them might be that all-important magical ingredient.
13 What point does the writer make about brochures in the first paragraph?
A Customer expectations of them are too high.
B They ought to be more straightforward in design.
C Insufficient thought tends to go into producing them.
D Companies should ensure they use them more widely.
14 The writer's advice to companies in the second paragraph is to
A produce a brochure to advertise new product lines.
B use a brochure to extend the customer base.
C accept that a brochure cannot fulfil every objective.
D aim to get a bigger budget allocation for producing brochures.
15 In the third paragraph, which of the following does the writer say would improve the majority of brochures?
A better language and expression
B better overall appearance
C more up-to-date content
D more product information
16 In the introduction to a brochure, the writer advises companies to focus on
A their understanding of the business environment.
B the range of products they offer.
C their unique market position.
D the reputation they have built up.
17 When discussing brochure content in the fifth paragraph, the writer reminds companies to
A consider old customers as well as new ones.
B provide support for the claims they make.
C avoid using their own photographs.
D include details of quality certification.
18 What does 'run of the mill' in line 67 mean?
A eye-catching
B complicated
C stylish
D ordinary
《The art of persuasion》，劝说的艺术。这里的劝说(persuasion)带点广告的意思，是指怎么样设计广告手册(brochure)才能吸引顾客，也就是劝顾客掏钱购买产品。
第一段引出话题，说广告手册常常设计得不合理，会把客户弄糊涂，从而结束客户的咨询。很多企业并没有思考一些关键性的问题，比如想通过广告手册达到什么目的。通常企业设计广告手册的原因是竞争对手拥有它。
13题问第一段中作者对广告手册所做的观点是什么。答案是后面几句：businesses fail to ask themselves critical questions like….企业没有问自己一些关键性的问题。从这段话可以看出，作者认为企业在设计广告手册时的考虑是不周全的，没有进行深入思考。所以答案是C：设计他们时考虑得并不充分。A不对，没有提到客户的期望，只是说广告手册可能会把客户弄糊涂。B也不对，第一段并没有提到design的问题。D在原文中也没有提到。这题稍微需要理解和概括。
第二段是讲广告手册设计时的一些考量。开头先说客户需要的广告手册是一个混合体，很难找到。而往往客户手册的预算是有限的，所以设计时不可能满足所有的市场需要，应该优先考虑最关键的部分。
14题问作者在第二段中对公司的建议是什么。原文说的很明白：There may not be enough money to meet all three marketing needs, so the first task is to plan the brochure, taking into account the most significant of these.不可能满足所有的市场需要，所以优先考虑最关键的部分，其他的需要用另外的方式来满足。理解了内容不难选出答案是C：接受一个广告手册不可能满足所有目标的事实。
第三段紧接着第二段所说的首要任务(first task)，提出了次要任务(second task)：把广告手册的内容找准。在95%的情况下，公司会雇人好好设计广告手册，但是却不会找有相关技能的广告文字撰稿人制作内容，或者至少给收拾下。还有一个更大的失败之处在于制作出的广告手册不是以客户为中心的。广告手册应该涉及到客户感兴趣的领域，集中在从你那购买所能获得的好处上。
15题问作者在第三段说怎么样才可以改善大部分的广告手册。根据前面的内容概括，很显然答案在A和D之间。选A是根据题干中的the majority of brochures来的，原文中提到In 95 per cent of cases, a company will hire a designer to oversee the layout….. but they don't get a copywriter or someone with the right expertise to produce the text.在95%的情况下公司只注重设计而不注重表述内容，这里的95 per cent of cases可以对应the majority of brochures。get a copywriter or someone with the right expertise to produce the text，找一个有相关技能的广告文字撰稿人来制作文字，也就是A所说的更好的语言和表达。
第四段说明了广告手册刚刚诞生时的一些情况。客户更看重的不是企业所存在的时间，而是企业的名声和所干的实事。所以在广告手册的起步阶段，最重要的是企业要拥有一个良好的业绩记录。一旦这些建立起来了，广告手册就可以致力于让客户相信你的产品是市场上最好的。
16题问在广告手册的引进阶段，作者对公司们的建议是什么。原文很明确：The important point to get across at the beginning is that you have a good track record.。通过这一阶段最重要的是你必须有一个良好的业绩记录。也就是D选项所说的公司要注重他们所建立起来的名声。其他几个选项都没有提到。第五段说的是广告手册内容的一些注意事项。内容中要包含与你做生意时可能获得的一些好处。公司要对手册上的声明做详细说明。还可能引用现存客户的一些建议。这些可以使得广告手册显得很个人化，而不是堆砌供应商的照片然后把自己的名字印在最前面。
17题问第五段对广告手册内容的讨论中，作者的建议是什么。答案是原文的这么一句：it is not enough just to state these; in order to persuade, they need to be spelt out。仅仅只是声明是不够的，为了可以说服，他们需要被详细说明。也就是B选项所说的为所做的声明提供支持。A和D没有提到，C不对，不是说避免使用他们的照片，而是说不能仅仅只呈上他们的照片，还要有别的东西，比如客户的建议。
最后一段是说的设计阶段的注意事项，需要具备哪些特征才能让你的广告手册脱颖而出。18题要联系上下文进行理解，原文是说“there are many production features that can distinguish your brochure from the run of the mill.”有很多生产特征能让你的广告手册区别于其他的，后文有一个make you stand out，理解这里的含义，就是要和普通的一般的广告手册相区分。所以选择ordinary。
几个疑似生词：
transpire：When it transpires that something is the case, people discover that it is the case. 为人所知
spell something out：to explain something clearly and in detail
e.g:The report spelled out in detail what the implications were for teacher training.
track record:all the past achievements, successes or failures of a person or an organization 业绩记录
篇4：BEC阅读精选及解析
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 willinterest 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著称的话，将会对潜力股产生更大的吸引。以开发员工而著称(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著名的谚语：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。
篇5：BEC阅读精选及解析
Issues in the recruitment world
In the competitive world of investment banking, good senior executives are not easy to find. So what should the industry's hard-pressed directors do when they need to find senior staff? Increasingly, they decide to call in the headhunters. These are busy and profitable times for the recruitment agencies that dominate the world of executive search and selection.
(0) .....They needed new people to revitalise their operations, and the result has been a boom in the recruitment market. Pinnacle, a leading recruitment agency, has helped various UK investment banks to rebuild their entire senior management teams. It is hard to overstate the significance of this. (8)............
But now everything has changed, and Pinnacle is not the only major player in the field. Some analysts believe that rival recruitment specialists ALT Associates has a larger share of the market. However, there is little doubt that over its 13-year history, Pinnacle and its chairman, Matthew Edwards, have built up an impressive reputation.
Edwards estimates that his company controls between 10 and 15 per cent of the headhunting market for senior investment banking jobs in the UK. (9)............Rather, it is the high-calibre jobs and people that Pinnacle deals with that define the company's success. For example, the company was recently commissioned to find a new chairman for NBS Bank, a vacancy that was one of the most talked about in the banking world.
Most HR directors recognise that headhunters such as Pinnacle play a valuable role in the recruitment process.(10)............Some are concerned that a few companies, including Pinnacle, have too much power over high-level recruitment.(11)............As Tim Davidson, HR Director at Cawfield Bank, explains, They can be kingmakers. These are the people who decide who gets a future and who doesn't. If Edwards forms a view about an individual, it can affect their ability to get a particular job. That view could just have been formed on a bad day.' (12)............ Final decisions in the selection process are always taken by his clients, he says, whoever they are.
The role of headhunters should not be exaggerated. Many companies never use them. But as top executives are hard to find, there will always be a role for people like Matthew Edwards.
A Although others may put it lower, it is important to remember that the company's reputation is not based on market share alone.
B Their chief worry is that the headhunters can now make or break managerial careers.
C According to Edwards, this is a further indication that the way Pinnacle searches for a candidate tends to favour a certain type of manager.
D But this acceptance does not mean they are universally happy, either with the state of the market or with Pinnacle's role within it.
E Until a few years ago, even the biggest companies were unlikely to use headhunters to fill more than one or two jobs a year.
F Edwards objects to this suggestion, claiming that all he does is find candidates and encourage them to apply for a particular post.
G A number of big investment banks recently decided to make changes to their management boards after disappointing end-of-year results.
《Issues in the recruitment world》，招聘世界里的话题。围绕猎头公司(headhunter)展开，说明了猎头公司的发展和重要性，以及用人单位对猎头公司的一些疑问。第一段引出话题，说现在正是猎头公司占领市场的时候。接下来几段顺序介绍了猎头市场的发展阶段，从起步阶段(第二段的内容)，到逐步发家(第三段)，当中列举了一个猎头公司的情况加以说明(第四段)，然后第五段介绍了用人单位对猎头公司的一些质疑。最后一段是总的概括。做这种题一定要理清文章的逻辑顺序，从整体上把握文章脉络。
第八题，第二段的最后一句。第二段是简单引出猎头公司的起步，起步阶段并没有多少公司认识到猎头公司的重要性，就如第八题前面的一句话所说：It is hard to overstate the significance of this。很难高估这个的重要性，也就是说猎头公司的作用并没有被完全的认识到。后面的空格应该相应的填入猎头公司不太被重视的句子。E选项正好满足这个特点：直到几年前，甚至最大的公司都不可能一年利用猎头公司来填补一两个职位。
篇6：BEC中级阅读材料精选整合
BEC中级阅读材料：世界经济论坛公布全球竞争力排名
世界经济论坛公布全球竞争力排名
在近日发布的一份备受关注的经济竞争力排行榜中，美国跃居榜首，理由是美国经济因其市场效率和创新能力而受到好评。
The US rose to top spot in a closely watched economic league table yesterday, as its economy was praised for its market efficiency and ability to innovate.
总部位于瑞士的智库世界经济论坛(World Economic Forum)昨日发布了其一年一度的全球竞争力报告。该机构在报告中表示，美国经济失衡对其生产率和全球经济构成了威胁，但结论是，美国的经济成就超过了这些风险。 In its annual report on global competitiveness, the World Economic Forum, the Swiss-based think-tank, said US economic imbalances posed a threat to its productivity and the global economy but concluded that its achievements outweighed these risks.
除美国以外，排在前10位的包括7个欧洲经济体——瑞士、丹麦、瑞典、德国、芬兰、英国和荷兰——以及新加坡和日本。
Also appearing in the top 10 were seven European economies – Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Finland, the UK and the Netherlands – as well as Singapore and Japan.
世界经济论坛自1979年开始发布这一排名。许多国家要么用它赞扬一国政府的成就，要么用它批评其失败。但今年这样做的难度要比往年大，因为世界经济论坛调整了其评估模型，这对各国的排名产生了很大影响。
The rankings, which have been produced by the WEF since 1979, are used by many countries either to shower praise on a government’s achievements or to criticise its failings. But this will prove harder than usual this year as the WEF has adjusted its model, with large effects on countries’ places in the league table.
世界经济论坛还根据其新排名方法，发布了一份去年排行榜的修正版本。曾高居榜首多年的芬兰跌至第六位。世界经济论坛在去年发布的报告中将芬兰排在第二，但昨日在修正后的报告中指出，芬兰应一直排在第六位。
The WEF also released a revised league table for last year, based on its new methodology. Finland, which topped the league for many years, has dropped to sixth. The WEF gave it the second spot in last year’s published report but yesterday’s revisions suggest it should always have been sixth.
美国显然从世界经济论坛排名方法的变化中获益。去年，世界经济论坛报告将美国这个全球经济体排在第六位，但昨日修正后的报告将其排在首位。
The US has clearly benefited from the change in the WEF’s calculations. Last year, the report ranked the world’s largest economy sixth but the revised table puts it top.
人们常常认为中国和印度是世界上有竞争力的经济体——其低成本制造业和服务业对发达经济体构成了威胁，但其巨大的市场和合计超过20亿的人口，也为发达经济体提供了机遇。
China and India are often believed to be the most competitive economies in the world – a threat to advanced economies with low-cost manufacturing and services, but also an opportunity with huge markets and combined populations of more than 2bn.
尽管中国和印度的经济成就令人敬畏，但在世界经济论坛的全球竞争力指数中，两国分别排在第34位和第48位。它们较低的排名表明，要想与发达经济体相提并论，它们市场中的许多方面尚有待改进，并需要提高居民的平均生活水平。
For all the awe that their economies create, China and India rank 34th and 48th respectively in the World Economic Forum’s global competitiveness index. Their low ranking reflects the need for these economies to improve many aspects of their markets and average living standards before they can be compared with advanced economies.
中国需要改善其高等教育、金融市场和培训领域，而印度则受到宏观经济不稳、健康和教育体系落后以及劳动力市场效率低下的困扰。印度今年的排名略有下滑。
China needs to improve its higher education, financial markets and training, while India, falling slightly down this year’s league, is plagued by macroeconomic instability, poor health and education systems and low labour market efficiency.
但在分类指数中，中国在国内市场规模和外国市场准入方面分别排在第二位和位，而印度则在创新方面排在第四位。
But in the sub-indices, the size of China’s domestic market and its access to foreign markets are ranked 2nd and 1st respectively, while India ranks 4th on innovation.
BEC中级阅读材料：英国工资减少工资差别
英国工资减少工资差别
牛津大学(Oxford University)的一份报告显示，引入工资已导致薪资级别受到挤压，这“在消除工资差别，同时在影响对高技能的奖赏和激励。”
The introduction of the minimum wage has led to pay levels being compressed, “destroying differentials and removing rewards and incentives for improving skills”, according to a report by Oxford University.
英国零售商协会(British Retail Consortium)委托进行的这项研究显示，接待行业96%的员工以及零售和批发行业75%的员工拿到的都是工资，今年10月，英国工资将升至时薪5.35英镑至5.52英镑。
The study, commissioned by the British Retail Consortium, found that 96 per cent of workers in the hospitality industry and 75 per cent of retail and wholesale workers earned the minimum wage, which is due to rise from ￡5.35 to ￡5.52 an hour in October.
自实行工资标准以来，英国工资已提高46%，为逾100万员工提供了经济安全保障。欧盟(EU)统计机构欧盟统计局(Eurostat)的一份报告显示，在20个欧盟成员国中，英国工资水平排名第三，几乎是美国联邦标准的两倍。
Britain’s minimum wage, which has risen by 46 per cent since it was introduced in , provides a financial safety net for more than 1m workers. It is the third highest out of 20 European Union nations and almost twice the US federal level according to a report from Eurostat, the EU’s statistical arm.
英国零售商协会表示，低收入委员会(Low Pay Commission)确定工资水平的方法，应考虑到一个事实：即工资已成为数十万员工的工资标准，而非基本工资基数。
The BRC says the way rates are set by the Low Pay Commission should take into the account the fact that the minimum wage has become the norm rather than a basic pay floor for hundreds of thousands of workers.
英国零售商协会会长凯文?霍金斯(Kevin Hawkins)表示，遏制通胀因素的工资涨幅已开始影响到雇主创造新就业岗位的能力。英国零售商协会表示，低收入委员会不应“试图成为雇主和工会不同出价之间的裁判”，而是应以各行业薪资中值和生产率的变化为指引。
Inflation-busting rises have begun to undermine the ability of employers to create new jobs, says Kevin Hawkins, BRC director-general. The Low Pay Commission instead of “trying to act as a referee between conflicting bids from employers and unions” should be guided by movements in median wages and productivity in individual sectors, says BRC.
英国零售商协会警告称：“许多雇主，特别是那些在零售业等竞争激烈、普遍处于通缩市场上经营的雇主，发现他们的薪资结构受到了挤压。因此，那些出钱培训员工、支持员工再教育、并希望能够认可并奖励员工新增技能和技能提高的企业，无力做到这些。”
It warns: “Many employers, particularly those who operate in fiercely competitive and generally deflationary markets such as retailing, have seen their pay structures compressed. As a result, those who invest in training their staff and supporting further education and who want to be able to recognise and reward new and enhanced skills are un-able to do so.”
薪资福利专业机构IDS 年底进行的一项研究显示，在引入工资制后，超市已削减了薪资等级的数量，在一家超市，已“引入了单一的副主管薪资等级”。
A study at the end of by IDS, the pay and benefits specialists, reported that supermarkets had reduced the number of pay grades and in one case had “introduced a single sub-supervisor grade” following the introduction of the minimum wage.
英国零售商协会表示：“如果工资继续以近来的平均速度增长，那么就业率将下降，雇主也会发现自己无力奖励技能高超的员工、保持薪资差距并提供宝贵的非薪资福利。包括零售业在内的多个行业已感受到这些影响。”
The BRC said: “If the minimum wage continues to grow at its recent average rate, employment will fall and employers will find themselves unable to reward skills, preserve wage differentials and provide valued non-wage benefits. These effects are already being felt in several sectors, including retail.”
然而，英国职工大会(TUC)秘书长弗朗西斯?奥格拉迪(Frances O’Grady)表示：“工资标准已发挥了作用，因为这个标准由低收入委员会确定，该委员会将雇主和工会代表组织在一起，讨论对英国经济为有利的政策。用机械的指数来替代这一成功的合作过程，将是愚蠢的。”
篇7：BEC中级阅读理解材料整合
Every business I know has been through the wringer during the past two years. Sadly the good times aren't returning any time soon. So I've compiled a list of some more creative and worthwhile ways companies can save money to help entrepreneurs keep afloat in spite of the challenges.
● Do random expense claim audits.
Abuse of expenses is endemic, but if staff know that even their mobile phone bills are checked occasionally, then they are less likely to take advantage. You should have very clear expense policies, so fiddlers are not able to use confusion to get away with cheating.
● Buy second-hand.
We frequently buy reconditioned kitchen equipment for our restaurants. Do not hesitate to choose used over showroom-new if it makes economic sense.
● Lead from the front about costs.
As a boss, you should constantly question costs and try to be seen to be abstemious rather than extravagant – at least with corporate assets. If you are a spendthrift, you set a poor example that others will copy – with the company's money.
● Ask for early payment discounts.
If you have the cash, it might be a great way to improve your margins. If your suppliers are under financial pressure, they may well agree a 5 per cent discount for swift settlement. It would take almost two years with current low interest rates to earn that much if you kept the money in the bank.
● Understand what everyone does.
At least once a year, undertake a thorough analysis of all staff roles and try to work out their true productivity – and rationalise posts if necessary. Remember: no one ever tells you they are underworked or that their contribution is inessential.
Exam Focus:
(1) What is NOT the purpose of random expense claim audits?
A Preventing employees from taking advantage.
B Fiddlers may not easily succeed in this way.
C To examine their mobile bills occasionally.
D To cut costs in this aspect.
(2) Which is NOT a creative and worthwhile way to help bosses save money?
A Choose used equipments as substitutes for brand-new ones.
B Set examples as an abstemious boss.
C Early payment to obtain discount
D Rationalize posts frequently.
Oral Topic:
Keys(反白可见):
(1) C
(2) D
以下为商务英语中级秋季班外教Alison Oral topic 题目的录音文稿：
This is a modal test of BEC Speaking Test Part Two.
In this part，you are required to give a ‘mini-presentation’on the following topic.
What are the effecitve ways for companies to save money in tough times?
What are the effecitve ways for companies to save money in tough times?
Now, you will have one minute to prepare your speech.
参考译文：
过去两年，我认识的每家企业都历尽了磨难。遗憾的是，好时光不会很快就回来。因此，我编制了一份较有创意和价值的企业省钱途径列表，帮助企业家在面对挑战时仍能生存。
● 随机审计费用支出
费用滥用属于地方病，但如果员工知道，就连他们的手机账单偶尔也会受到检查，那么他们占公司便宜的可能性就会降低。企业应该制定非常明确的费用政策，这样弄虚作假的人就无法浑水摸鱼逍遥法外
● 购买二手货
我们经常为餐馆购买二手厨房设备。如果能省钱，就不要犹豫选择二手货，而非全新商品。
● 带头控制成本
作为老板，你应该经常对成本提出质疑，并努力让人们认为你很节俭，而不是奢侈浪费——至少是对公司资产。如果你大手大脚，就会为别人树立一个效仿的坏榜样——用公司的钱。
● 要求提前付款折扣
如果你握有现金，这或许是提高利润率一个好办法。如果供应商面临资金压力，他们很可能会答应对快速结款支付5%的折扣。如果你把钱存在银行，以目前的低利率，挣到这笔钱需要差不多两年的时间。
● 了解每个员工在干什么
至少每年对所有员工的职责进行一次彻底分析，努力计算出他们的真实生产率——如有必要，就对岗位进行合理化改革。记住：没有人会告诉你他们的工作负荷不够，或者他们的贡献不重要。
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