BEC初级阅读讲义主讲：⽥冲
欢迎使⽤新东⽅在线电⼦教材第⼀课时BEC简介Part 1 理解句义题Test 1READINGPART ONEQuestions 1-5Look at questions 1-5.
In each question, which sentence is correct?
For each question, mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.
A B C which of the courses they have decided to do.Test 2
READINGPART ONEQuestions 1-5
● Look at questions 1-5.
● In each question, which sentence is correct?
● For each question, mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.
C will supervise training.
4 5 Test 3READINGQuestions 1-5
●Look at questions 1-5.
●In each question, which sentence is correct?
●For each question, mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.
●In each question, which sentence is correct?
●For each question, mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet. 1
B MarketingC Administration
C At present there is no charge for changing foreign money.
C Businesses are renting out empty office space to help their falling profits.
第⼆课时test 1PART TWO
Questions 6-10 ● Look at the list below. It shows a number of business training courses.● For questions 6-10, decide which training course (A-H) each person on the opposite pageneeds.
● For each question, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.● Do not use any letter more than once.
some to meet PART TWO
● Look at the list below. It shows the titles of chapters from a book about management.● For questions 6-10, decide which chapter (A-H) each person on the opposite pageshould read.
● For each question, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.● Do not use any letter more than once.contracts with
78on how to avoid
9company ’s promotion ’s skillsPART TWOQuestions 6-10
● Look at the list below. It shows a number of tasks that staff need to do in order to organize ananniversary part for their company.
● For questions 6-10, decide which task (A-H) would be most suitable for each person on theopposite page.
● For each question, mark the correct letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.● Do not use any letter more than once.
6 7 fora8 9 10 Test 4PART TWOQuestions 6-10
● Look at the contents page below. It shows the titles of eight different sections of a businessdirectory.
● For questions 6-10, decide which section of the directory (A-H) each person on the oppositepage should look at
● For each question, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.● Do not use any letter more than once.6
789
Look at the notice below. It shows the departments in a company.
For questions 1-5, decide which department A-H each employee should contact. For each question, mark one letter A-H on your Answer Sheet.
1.
Ms. Williams needs to send a large order to an important customer in the USA. 2.John Carter needs extra staff to help with an unexpected order. 3.Mr. Wales wants to discuss advertising for his new product. 4.
Mary Walden thinks she has been charged too much tax on her pay. 5. Jan Whittaker has a box of faulty goods which a shophas sent back.第三课时Part 3 看图搭配
问题的句⼦结构：主语（名词）+ 谓语动词+副词+时间状语通常作主语的名词：sales ，profit ，turnover ，share ，price
谓语动词：1. 表⽰上升状态的动词：up ，go up/be up ，rise ，increase ，advance ，jump ，leap ，grow ，climb ，soar ，surge ，rocket ，lift，improve，balloon，bulge，be robust，closed higher，be an all time high，reach a peak
2. 表⽰下降的词：down，be down/go down，drop，fall，
decrease，decline，dip，plunge，weak，lose，be an alltime low，reach a trough
3. 表⽰反弹的词：rally，recover，rebound，bounce
4. 表⽰保持不变的词：be/keep/stay/remain + still/steady/stable/constant/maintained，level off
5. 表⽰波动，不稳定的词：be uncertainty，be flexible，be
changeable，fluctuate，fluctuation，volatile 副词：1. 表⽰程度⼤的词：sharp/sharply，only，increasingly，considerablydramatically，prominently，substantially，apparently，obviously2. 表⽰程度⼩的词：little，small，tiny，hardly，narrowly
时间状语：表⽰⼀段时间的：within the period，throughout the period表⽰开始：at the start / beginning of the period表⽰在中间：in the middle of the period表⽰在结尾：at the end of the period
表⽰在余下的时间内：at the remaining / rest of the period做题顺序：
1. 读第⼀个做题说明2. 读图表的标题和图例说明3. 读表的横坐标和纵坐标4. 看问题Test 1PART THREEQuestions 11-15
●Look at the chart below. It shows a company’s performance on the London stockmarket during 10 working days.
●Which day does each sentence (11-15) on the opposite page describe?●For each sentence, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.●Do not use any letter more than once.STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE
11At the close of this day’s trading, shares dipped just below 630 pence, despite achieving higher levels throughout the restof the day.
12On this day share prices closed considerably lower than the previous working day, with the fluctuation between high andlow being at its greatest.
13Shares closed at their lowest value of the day’s trading, but narrowly avoided the worst performance of the period.14Shares closed at a higher value than the precious two days, although around 17 pence down on the high point for the day.15During this day shares rose and fell within only a narrow margin and closed in the middle of the range, before fallingsharply at the end of the following day.Test 2
PART THREEQuestions 11-15
●Look at the charts below. They show Internet sales compared to High Street sales ofholidays offered by eight different travel companies during a three-year period.●Which chart does each sentence (11-15) on the opposite page describe?●For each sentence, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.●Do not use any letter more than once.
11 Although Internet sales started higher than High Street sales, they lost that lead when both dipped in the middle of theperiod.
12 High Street sales and Internet sales reached their peak in the middle of the period, butInternet sales declined more sharply at the end.
13While both High Street and Internet sales rose throughout the period, High Street sales saw their greater increase in themiddle year.
14Both Internet and High Street sales dipped in the middle of the period, with the Internet always achieving fewer sales thanthe High Street.
15High Street sales fell from their early high point to equal Internet sales, and both then remained level at the end of theperiod.Test 3PART THREEQuestions 11-15
●Look at the table and charts below. They show the market share, annual turnover and shareprices for eight electronics manufacturing companies between 2019 and 2019.●Which company does each sentence (11-15) describe?●For each sentence, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.●Do not use any letter more than once.
TURNOVER(￡ MILLION)
MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM SHARE PRICES (￡) 2019-2019
11This company’s share price ended the period lower than it started, its market share declined sharply, and its turnover alsodropped.
12Although this company’s market share declined over the period, its turnover almost doubled and the share price closedhigher than it opened.
13Despite increasing its turnover, this company was unable to keep its strong market share,
which, like its share price, ended below its 2019 level.
14Shares in this company ended the period close to matching their best performance, while market share and turnover rosefrom already strong positions.
15While this company’s market share and turnover increased slightly from low levels, its share price closed well below itsmaximum value of the period.第四课时
TEST3 PART THREEQuestions 11-15
●Look at the table and charts below. They show the market share, annual turnover and shareprices for eight electronics manufacturing companies between 2019 and 2019.●Which company does each sentence (11-15) describe?●For each sentence, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.●Do not use any letter more than once.
MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM SHARE PRICES (￡) 2019-2019
11This company’s share price ended the period lower than it started, its market share declined sharply, and its turnover alsodropped.
12Although this company’s market share declined over the period, its turnover almost doubled and the share price closedhigher than it opened.
13Despite increasing its turnover, this company was unable to keep its strong market share, which, like its share price, endedbelow its 2019 level.
14Shares in this company ended the period close to matching their best performance, while market share and turnover rosefrom already strong positions.
15While this company’s market share and turnover increased slightly from low levels, its share price closed well below itsmaximum value of the period.TEST4 PART THREEQuestions 11-15
●Look at the charts below. They show profits before tax and profit margins foreight different companies from 2019 to 2019.●Which chart does each sentence (11-15) describe?
●For each sentence, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet.●Do not use any letter more than once
11The company’s profit margins have decreased over the most recent years, while profits before tax have maintained a
steady rise since 2019.
12In 2019 the company both regained its 2019 level of profits before tax and also mangged to improve profit margins.132019 say a great improvement in profits before tax but the company’s profit margins remained unchanged at the end of thecompany.
14The last five years have seen alternate rises and falls in profits before tax, at the same time as fluctuating profit margins forthe company.
15Even though the company reached record levels of both profits before tax and profit margins in 2019,neither of these wasmaintained.
TEST1 PART FOURQuestions 16-22
●Read the article below about a self-employed journalist.
●Are sentences 16-22 on the opposite page ‘Right’or ‘Wrong’? If there is not enoughinformation to answer ‘Right’ or ‘Wrong’, choose ‘Doesn’t say’.
●For each sentence (16-22), mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.Sally Patterson, journalist
L ast year, Sally Patterson left her permanent job with a newspaper and is now a self-employed journalist. Why did she do it?'I had no control over my work,' she says, 'and that mattered more to me than earning lots of money. Actually, leaving my jobwasn't as difficult as I'd expected, because I already had plenty of contacts in the publishing industry. Unlike my last job,
though, I'm mostly in touch with the magazines and newspap ers I write for by email, and as I don't work in an office, I may notsee anyone for days. But that's a welcome relief!’
Isn't it hard being self- employed? 'The biggest danger when you become self-employed is saying \"yes\" to everything,' Sallysays. 'I make sure I turn work down if I haven't got the time for it. And that's a question of planning: I spend an hour everyweek working out what I'm doing for the next few months’.
And what about the benefits? 'Well, at the newspaper I always concentrated on economic matters, but now I can choose towork on a wider range of projects than before. And being my own boss has made me feel more confident about the otherareas of my life, too.'
16Sally left her last job because she wanted to make decisions about her work herself.A RightB WrongC Doesn't say
17 Her colleagues in publishing thought that being self-employed would be difficult for her.A RightB WrongC Doesn't say
18 She would prefer to share an office with other people.A RightB WrongC Doesn't say
19 She needs to accept all the work she is offered.A Right
B WrongC Doesn't say
20 Most self-employed journalists find it difficult to plan ahead.A RightB WrongC Doesn't say
21 Sally specializes more now than she did in her last job.A RightB WrongC Doesn't say
22 Self-employment has affected Sally's attitude to life.A RightB WrongC Doesn't say第五课时
TEST2 PART FOURQuestions 16-22
●Read the article below about a hair products business.
●Are sentences 16-22 on the opposite page ‘Right’or ‘Wrong’? If there is not enoughinformation to answer ‘Right’ or ‘Wrong’, choose ‘Doesn’t say’.
●For each sentence (16-22), mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.Louise Wood’s Success Story
Three years ago, Louise Wood set up her own hair products company. She soon found she had more orders than she couldhandle by herself, and now employs ten people. Her turnover last year was ￡5.8 million.
‘I used to work as a rep, selling hair products to people like famous hair-dressers. One day someone suggested to me that Ishould make and sell similar products myself, and I thought, “Why not?”’
‘before I started, I thought running my own business would be similar to my previous job, but straight away I had problems I’dnever dealt with before. I’m glad I took the risk, though.’‘I’ve always insisted on 90 day’s credit to make the company self-supporting, without huge loans from banks. Luckily my manufactures agreed!’
Louise uses local suppliers and expects them to come to her if they want to do business with her. ‘I rarely leave the office andtry to fit everything onto normal working hours. I’m no good at working late.’
So what are Louise’s plans now? ‘My friends predicted I wouldn’t keep this business for long as I’m always having newbusiness ideas, but at the moment I want to see this project through.’16Louise Wood recruited her staff as soon as she set up her business.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
17As a rep, Louise enjoyed meeting famous hairdressers.
A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
18Louise’s first few months of business were less difficult than she had expected.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
19Louise has avoided borrowing large amounts of money to finance her business.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
20Her suppliers have complained about having meetings at her office.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
21Louise regularly does overtime.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
22Louise feels committed to this business for the present.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t sayTEST 3 PART FOURQuestions 16-22
●Read the newspaper article below about moving premises.
●Are sentences 16-22 on the opposite page ‘Right’or ‘Wrong’? If there is not enoughinformation to answer ‘Right’ or ‘Wrong’, choose ‘Doesn’t say’.
●For each sentence (16-22), mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.How to move office
A successful office relocation demands careful preparation. It’s important to form a project team as early as possible beforethe move, and at least twelve months in advance. It’s also essential to contact the British Association of Commercialspecialists who will advise on packing, security and other important topics.
Internally you’ll need to appoint a move organizer, or employ a freelance expert from a firm such as Move Plan, which
organizes relocation for firms from two to 6,000 people. You’ll also need to pick a time when closing down your IT departmentwill cause the fewest problems to the business and, for that reason, the majority of firms now move over a weekend.Next make a list of all the furniture, equipment and paperwork. Commercial movers will pack filling in A-Z order, so if A-G
leaves the building, it’s still A-G when it’s unpacked. Confidential files can be sealed in secure boxes for the moving day.Commercial specialists will keep company employees fully informed and answer any questions they may have. You maymove offices once or twice in your career, but experts do it every day.
16 According to the article, the minimum planning time for an office move should be a year.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
17 The writer says that companies should be able to organize their move without external help.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
18 Move Plan are experts at organizing both large and small moves.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
19 The IT department is usually the first department to move.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
20 Most companies believe there are fewer computer problems if the move happens Monday to Friday.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
21 Companies are advised to pack confidential materials themselves.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
22 A specialist remover will make sure staff are kept up to date with arrangements for their move.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say第六课时
How to move office
A successful office relocation demands careful preparation. It’s imp ortant to form a project team as early as possible beforethe move, and at least twelve months in advance. It’s also
essential to contact the British Association of Commercial specialists who will advise on packing, security and otherimportant topics.
I nternally you’ll need to appoint a move organizer, or employ a freelance expert from a firm such as Move Plan, which
organizes relocation for firms from two to 6,000 people. You’ll also need to pick a time when closing down your IT departmentwill cause the fewest problems to the business and, for that reason, the majority of firms now move over a weekend.Next make a list of all the furniture, equipment and paperwork. Commercial movers will pack filling in A-Z order, so if A-Gleaves the building, it’s s till A-G when it’s unpacked. Confidential files can be sealed in secure boxes for the moving day.Commercial specialists will keep company employees fully informed and answer any questions they may have. You maymove offices once or twice in your career, but experts do it every day.
16According to the article, the minimum planning time for an office move should be a year.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
17The writer says that companies should be able to organize their move without external help.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
18Move Plan are experts at organizing both large and small moves.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
19The IT department is usually the first department to move.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
20Most companies believe there are fewer computer problems if the move happens Monday to Friday.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
21Companies are advised to pack confidential materials themselves.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
22 A specialist remover will make sure staff are kept up to date with arrangements for theirmove.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
SHAREHOLDERS WATCH HOCKING CLOSELY
Hocking, the High Street retailer, yesterday published figures indicating a recovery in sales for the first three months of theyear; this pleased the company’s shareholders, who have had a difficult time in recen t years. The news was not all good,however. Sales at Hocking’s sister company, Hocking’s Pharmacy, were disappointing, improving by only 0.7 per cent duringthe period.
James Bowen, the company chairman, said, ‘The retail climate is improving slowly. O ur retail businesses found that tradingconditions were reasonable in April, very poor in May, then improved considerably in June, with this improvement continuingin July. Operating costs are growing more slowly than sales, so our profit forecasts for the rest of the year are good.’Thecompany said that it will install customer computer kiosks in more than 250 stores by Christmas, after a trial period in 20stores in the north of England saw sales rise by 5 percent. These computer kiosks allow specially targeted discounts andpromotions to be offered to individual customers.
11Hocking, the retailer, has shown signs of improved sales in the first quarter of the year.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
12The price of shares in Hocking, the retailer, has risen slightly.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
13Sales figures at Hocking’s Pharmacy showed a slight fall.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
14According to the chairman, trading conditions have improved steadily each month since April.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
15The chairman predicts an improvement in profits as sales are rising faster than operating costs.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t sa y
16Hocking’s computer kiosks have already shown that they can lead to increased Sales.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t say
17Customers asked for clearer information to be provided about discounts and promotions.A RightB WrongC Doesn’t sayMaster of the turnstiles
For years Jim Cartwright enjoyed spending his spare time repairing his local football club’s turnstiles, the metal gates whichallow one person at a time into the football ground. When Jim was made redundant from his full-time job selling equipment tosports organizations, he realized he already knew plenty of people responsible for turnstiles. This made him sure that hishobby could become a successful new career.
He had 1000 brochures printed and posted them to clubs around the country. For two weeks he heard nothing. Then TrionFootball Club requested a quotation for repairing their turnstiles, with the possibility of the work becoming regular. He wantedthe contract so much that he cut his profit margin to a minimum. He won it, though with no guarantee of further work, andcelebrated the launch of his new business.
In the next month, club after club offered Jim work, and he recruited his first employee, Alec, to help re-install the repairedturnstiles. Alec, however, took frequent to breaks and never put in more effort than he had to. What’s more, he seemed
unhappy working for Jim. Although Jim had no complaints about the quality of his work, Alec’s attitude made him difficult towork with.
Jim considered dismissing Alec, but recruiting him had taken a long time because there had been so many suitable people tointerview. Now he was simply too busy to go through that process again. Any anyway, Jim had employed Alec on theunderstanding that the job would probably end with the current contracts were completed.
Suddenly, though, Jim’s business was at risk. He made very few mistakes, and calculated his costs and the time that a jobwould take very accurately. But he had forgotten that generally clubs have repairs done between the end of one footballseason and the start of the next. Now no major jobs were coming in.
After buying a replacement van, as his old one was beyond repair, he could only just cover Alec’s wages and his own. Butwithout more work he had no future. The solution was something more regular, and he decided to produce turnstiles, as wellas repair them. For an investment like this,
though, he needed help, and he persuaded his bank to give him a loan. From then on, Cartwright Turnstile Services justgrew and grew and now employs three full-time workers.
Read the article below about a company which repairs turnstiles (the metal gates used at sports grounds).第七课时Test 1PART FIVEQuestions 23-28
● Read the article below about a company which repairs turnstiles (the metal gates used at sports grounds).● For each question (23-28) on the opposite page, choose the correct answer.● Mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.Master of the turnstiles
For years Jim Cartwright enjoyed spending his spare time repairing his local football club's turnstiles, the metal gates whichallow one person at a time into the football ground. When Jim was made redundant from his full-time job selling equipment tosports organisations, he realised he already knew plenty of people responsible for turnstiles. This made him sure that hishobby could become a successful new career.
He had 1000 brochures printed and posted them to clubs around the country. For two weeks he heard nothing. Then TroonFootball Club requested a quotation for repairing their turnstiles, with the possibility of the work becoming regular. He wantedthe contract so much that he cut his profit margin to a minimum. He won it, though with no guarantee of further work, andcelebrated the launch of his new business.
In the next month, club after club offered Jim work, and he recruited his first employee, Alec, to help re-install the repairedturnstiles. Alec, however, took frequent breaks and never put in more effort than he had to. What's more, he seemed unhappyworking for Jim. Although Jim had no complaints about the quality of his work, Alec's attitude made him difficult to work with.Jim considered dismissing Alec, but recruiting him had taken a long time because there had been so many suit-able peopleto interview. Now he was simply too busy to go through that process again. And anyway, Jim had employed Alec on theunder-standing that the job would probably end when the current contracts were completed.
Suddenly, though, Jim's business was at risk. He made very few mistakes, and calculated his costs and the time that a job
would take very accurately. But he had forgotten that generally clubs have repairs done between the end of one footballseason and the start of the next. Now no major jobs were coming in.
After buying a replacement van, as his old one was beyond repair, he could only just cover Alec's wages and his own. Butwithout more work he had no future. The solution was something more regular, and he decided to produce turnstiles, as wellas repair them. For an investment like this, though, he needed help, and he persuaded his bank to give him a loan. From thenon, Cartwright Turnstile Services just grew and grew and now employs three full-time workers.23. Why was Jim Cartwright confident about starting a business repairing turnstiles?A. He had learnt from mistakes that his previous employer made.B. He had a lot of contacts with possible customers.C. He had experience of doing the work in his previous job.
24. Why was Jim happy that Troon Football Club gave him the contract?A. It was the first his firm had received.B. It led to long-term work for the club.C. It provided him with a good profit.25. What problem did Jim have with Alec?A. His work was not of a high enough standard.B. He did as little work as possible.
C. He made a lot of complaints about the business.26. Why did Jim decide to continue employing Alec?A. It would take too long to find a replacement.
B. There was a lack of people with the right qualifications.C. Jim had given him a contract which guaranteed him work.27. Why did Jim find himself in danger of going out of business?A. His costs were higher than he had estimated.B. He found that each job took longer than he expected.C. His work was mostly limited to certain times of year.28. Jim asked his bank for a loan in order toA. pay the wages bill.B. start manufacturing.C. buy a new van.Test 2PART FIVEQuestions 23-28
● Read the text below, which is part of the annual report of a retail company called Bennetts. Its customers order goods fromcatalogues and collect them from the company’s stores.
● For each question (23-28) on the opposite page, choose the correct answer.● Mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.
Chief Executive’s Report
Bennetts has remained the region’s leading catalogue retailer in last twelve months. The company distributed around fivemillion catalogues, a figure which is unchanged on the previous year, and we now have 98 stores, an increase of twelve. Aswas widely reported in the media, merger negotiations with another catalogue retailer ended without agreement.
It is true that this has been a difficult year, with a fall in trading profits, largely resulting from weaker consumer spending, butnot helped by disappointing productivity levels in the stores. It is also a cause of worry that production costs are continuing torise. However, changes in the way we deliver to stores have led to considerable savings.
With the aim of improving customer service and shopping convenience, we have introduced a number of new services in thelast twelve months. Shopping by internet was added to the existing telephone ordering facility, and the early response to thishas been good. In stores there are now information screens for customers to check the availability of goods they want topurchase. Together with other existing systems, which reduce queues and tell store customers when their orders are readyfor collection, this is giving positive results.
Another change has been the placement of the Traditional and Modern catalogues with a single catalogue. As a result,customers who used the Modern catalogue now have over 30% more products to choose from, although we have droppedthe less popular lines. Annual printing costs already show the benefit of this move, and sales are expected to start growingwithin the next year. We have had to change our plans for the coming year. It is clear that shoppers expect staff on stores tobe both friendly and efficient. A major programme to raise standards will be introduced at once, while the planned
improvements to store facilities will be delayed for twelve months. The proposed interactive TV shopping service will not nowgo ahead, and neither will the planned redevelopment of the corporate headquarters.
Bennetts is changing fast, and we are confident that the newly appointed members of the management team will help us toimprove sales within the next twelve months, even if, as expected, there is no recovery in the economic climate. Our aim is tospend this time making sure that the company is as efficient as possible, and to delay our strategy of considering mergers totakeovers.
23. In the last year Bennetts hasA. opened a number of new stores.B. merger with another catalogue company.C. increased the number of catalogues it delivers.
24. One improvement in the last year is that Bennetts has managed toA. spend less on manufacturing.B. increase productivity.C. reduce distribution costs.
25. As a result of developments in the last year, customers can nowA. find out if goods are in stock before ordering them.B. collect their orders without queuing in the stores.C. order goods by telephone as well as in stores.26. Replacing two catalogues with one has meant thatA. all the lines from both catalogues are available.B. the catalogue has now become cheaper to produce.C. sales from the stores are already increasing.27. Bennetts' main aim for next year is to improveA. home shopping facilities.B. the facilities at head office.C. customer service in the stores.
28. Bennetts is hopeful about the future becauseA. it expects the economic situation to improve.B. it has made changes to its management team.C. it is planning to take over other companies.第⼋课时Test 2PART FIVEQuestions 23-28
● Read the text below, which is part of the annual report of a retail company called Bennetts. Its customers order goods fromcatalogues and collect them from the company’s stores.
● For each question (23-28) on the opposite page, choose the correct answer.● Mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.Chief Executive’s Report
Bennetts has remained the region’s leading catalogue retailer in last twelve months. The company distributed around fivemillion catalogues, a figure which is unchanged on the previous year, and we now have 98 stores, an increase of twelve. Aswas widely reported in the media, merger negotiations with another catalogue retailer ended without agreement.
It is true that this has been a difficult year, with a fall in trading profits, largely resulting from weaker consumer spending, butnot helped by disappointing productivity levels in the stores. It is also a cause of worry that production costs are continuing torise. However, changes in the way we deliver to stores have led to considerable savings.
With the aim of improving customer service and shopping convenience, we have introduced a number of new services in thelast twelve months. Shopping by internet was added to the existing telephone ordering facility, and the early response to thishas been good. In stores there are now information screens for customers to check the availability of goods they want topurchase. Together with other existing systems, which reduce queues and tell store customers when their orders are readyfor collection, this is giving positive results.
Another change has been the placement of the Traditional and Modern catalogues with a single catalogue. As a result,customers who used the Modern catalogue now have over 30% more products to choose from, although we have droppedthe less popular lines. Annual printing costs already show the benefit of this move, and sales are expected to start growingwithin the next year. We have had to change our plans for the coming year. It is clear that shoppers expect staff on stores tobe both friendly and efficient. A major programme to raise standards will be introduced at once, while the planned
improvements to store facilities will be delayed for twelve months. The proposed interactive TV shopping service will not nowgo ahead, and neither will the planned redevelopment of the corporate headquarters.
Bennetts is changing fast, and we are confident that the newly appointed members of the management team will help us toimprove sales within the next twelve months, even if, as expected, there is no recovery in the economic climate. Our aim is tospend this time making sure that the company is as efficient as possible, and to delay our strategy of considering mergers totakeovers.
23. In the last year Bennetts hasA. opened a number of new stores.B. merger with another catalogue company.C. increased the number of catalogues it delivers.
24. One improvement in the last year is that Bennetts has managed toA. spend less on manufacturing.B. increase productivity.C. reduce distribution costs.
25. As a result of developments in the last year, customers can nowA. find out if goods are in stock before ordering them.B. collect their orders without queuing in the stores.C. order goods by telephone as well as in stores.26. Replacing two catalogues with one has meant thatA. all the lines from both catalogues are available.B. the catalogue has now become cheaper to produce.C. sales from the stores are already increasing.27. Bennetts' main aim for next year is to improveA. home shopping facilities.B. the facilities at head office.C. customer service in the stores.
28. Bennetts is hopeful about the future becauseA. it expects the economic situation to improve.B. it has made changes to its management team.C. it is planning to take over other companies.Test 3PART FIVEQuestions 23-28
●Read the newspaper article below about Sandersley, a British companywhich organizes package holidays abroad.
●For each question (23-28) on the opposite page, choose the correctanswer.
●Mark one letter (A, B or C) on your Answer Sheet.Package Holiday Success
Travel operator Sandersley is different from most of its rivals. UK package holiday companies would love to have plenty ofrepeat business. Instead, in an effort to attract trade, they are forced to spend enormous sums on marketing – but they areoperating in a very competitive market. So, although the big travel companies try hard to create attractive brands, if you askthe customers delayed at airports, many aren’t even sure which company they’ve booked with. Ask customers of Sandersley,however, and this is probably their third of fourth holiday with the company.
A Sandersley holiday doesn’t come cheap; but for their customers this isn’t an issue. The attraction is that they get an activity-based ‘club’ which has escaped the notice of the general public. Even the location of the holiday is of minor importance.A high proportion of customers are families, because the adults are free to enjoy the activities on offer, while small childrenare in the care of people employed by Sandersley just for this purpose. These nannies get free flights and meals on top oftheir pay.
Interestingly, most of the company’s senior managers began at the bottom: for example, Carol Fletcher, the Marketing
Manager, came as a ski guide in 1985, went away to set up her own catering business, sold it for a considerable sum, andreturned to Sandersley in the late 1990s. The company’s performance over the years means that it gets a steady stream ofoffers from large tour operators wanting to buy the company. Jerry Baker, who started the firm, came very close to selling it for￡30 million a few years ago. But at the last minute, Garmond, the potential buyer, was itself taken over by an American travel
company which didn’t see a place for Sandersley in
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