剑桥商务英语真题4
BEC TEXT 4
Text 4
Reading 1 hour
PART ONE
Questions 1 – 8
, Look at the sentences below and at the five managers? comments on leadership on the
opposite page
, Which new item (A, B, C ,D or E) dose each statement 1 – 8 refer to ? , For each statement ! – 8 , make one letter(A, B, C ,D or E) on your Answer Sheet .
, You will need to use some of these letters more than once .
Example :
0 Someone has left a competitor to join this company.
0 A B C D E
1 Successful leadership involves making sure that employees accept new
ideas.
2 A good leader can bring success to a company in difficulties
3 Leaders should be assessed on the basis of their achievements
4 The personalities of good leaders are generally different from those of
other managers
5 Patience is a valuable quality in a successful leader
6 Leaders consider potential changes in what their company does for others
7 Good leaders will encourage their staff if their organization is in
difficulties
8 Leaders need to adapt their behaviour to suit different circumstances
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A
Maurizio Verna
Long-term, visionary business leaders must be prepared to invest to get what they want for
their company. They know when and how to apply pressure and to take risks, when they need to
display a more hands-off approach. I have a pretty clear view of my ideal business leader, and of
course that?s where I „m trying to head: he or she should start up and grow a cash-rich,
multi-interest international organization of tremendous strength and depth.
B
Sue Tucker
The pace of technological change, and the rate at which businesses are changing , requires
leaders to have a particular aptitude for technology and an understanding of the internet. A lot of
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BEC TEXT 4 people are aware of the opportunities here ,but awareness alone isn?t enough: in a true leader this needs to be coupled with clever marketing, product design and technological innovation, and
keeping abreast of everything going on in the company. In fact the acid test , I think , is being able
to use all of these skills to turn around a failing company.
C
Carol Godfrey
Effective leaders stand out from the herd. They?re often idiosyncratic, even eccentric.They have the confidence to be themselves, and not to adopt the language and attributes of the
run-of-the-mill professional managers and accountants. What?s crucial is having the charisma or whatever it is that gives their staff confidence in them, so they can keep everyone on board when
they want to make innovations. So often these don?t get off the ground because of lack of leadership, because after all, our response to change is significantly affected by how it?s
introduced.
D
Brian Matthews
Leadership is about making things happen and being judged by results. Good ideas that go
nowhere are a waste of time. Anticipate needs-those of customers for instance-and initiate action
to meet those needs before the people concerned have even recognized they?ve got them. That
way you?ll always be ahead of the game, whatever line you?re in. For instance, top stockbrokers will learn all about you and your business and keep themselves completely up to date with your
field in order to advise you. If they?re really good they „ll recognize trends even before you do .
E Ana Costa
Outstanding leaders understand both tactics and strategy, and are prepared to play a very long
game to achieve their objectives. They understand that in negotiations they need the “ win-win”
concept, because losers risk losing their dignity, which is no good for your long-term business
relationship with them. Leaders must stay optimistic, whatever the odds, and keep up morale of
their company, even when the going?s tough. It?s important to be very much hands-on, too. A good
leader will champion ideas that keep the company in the forefront.
PART TWO
Questions9– 14
, Read the text taken from an article about the development of international managers
, Choose the best sentence from the opposite page to fill each of the gaps .
, For each gap 9– 14, mark one letter (A-H) on your Answer Sheet . , Do not use any letter more than once .
, There is an example at the beginning .(0)
Search for the ― worldly –wise‖ company executives
The quest for international managers is underway in virtually every industrialized economy ,
the search has been made urgent by the globalization of world markets and the growth in
crossborder mergers and acquisitions. (0) Many firms report being so stretched that they simply do
not have enough of the high-quality people they require to lead their their global expansion.
Other companies are having difficulties releasing experienced people from existing
operations in order to lead new international ventures. There are indications that a shorftage of
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internationally skilled people may be an important constraint on firms? international ambitions. (9)
However, identifying the need for international managers is easier than developing them.
So what makes an international manager? Paul Evans, a professor at INSEAD, the European
business school, does not believe that any particular nationality produces a more international
manager. Neither does he believe that it?s a matter of having the ability to cope with a lifestyle that involves working in Madrid one day, London the next and Berlin the day after. (10) Rather, he
believes that the secret of being a good international manger is being comfortable with managing
diversity.
Ford of Europe, which has encouraged the development of international managers for more
than 20 years, says that its managers are globally-minded before they become global operators.
(11) a car that you buy in the UK, for example, is going to be the same car that sells in Germany,
Finland and Portugal, so the people who are involved in the car?s development have to be aware of
the market requirements in all those different countries.
Generally, it seems that the only effective way to develop international skills and perspectives
is through direct international experience. (12) Such experiences open people?s minds to the fact
that things are done differently lese where and encourages them to think in a wilder context..
Formulating effective strategies for developing a company?s management resource is a
demanding exercise, with conflicting issues to be solved (13) Another dilemma is whether to use
local managers or expatriates.
The recruitment and development of effective international managers requires considerable
financial resources and can be hard to justify at budget meetings. (14) however , without them,
companies will continue to find their expansion plans frustrated by a lack of internationally
effective managers.
A from the moment they join the company, employees are faced with having to think
internationally
B This can be through involvement in international task forces or through living and working
abroad.
C Should , for example, only an elite few receive international experience in preparation for top
jobs or should it be offered to a wider group?
D these problems mean that developing managers who think and operate globally is absolutely
vital for companies operating in foreign markets.
E Language training , overseas visits and in-house management courses are all expensive to
implement.
F Jet-setting between international operations merely creates a business equivalent of the
over-packaged tourist
G Companies are now emphasizing the human skills involved in managing other people
H These trends are pushing companies? existing management resources to the limit PART THREE
Questions 15 - 20
, Read the following extract from a book on management and the questions on the opposite
page .
For each question 15– 20,mark one letter (A, B, C or D ) on your Answer Sheet for the answer
you choose
In the last few years, managers throughout industry have seen more changes than many of
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them could have expected to see in their entire working lives having to communicate information
which often leads to feelings of insecurity has become a key activity. From being regarded as
relatively unimportant in many companies , management employee communication has become a
central corporate need.
Concordia International provides a good example of a company that has adjusted well to the
changing needs for communication . since 1995 , Concordia has been turned inside-out and
upside-down, to ensure that it is a marketing –led, customer-responsive business, one that looks
outwards at customers and competitors, rather than inwards at its own processes and the way
things were done in the past. In the last eight years, Concordia has reduced its workforce by more
than 80.000 people - or 35% -on a voluntary basis, with further downsizing anticipated.
From being an engineering company, Concordia is now remaking itself as a service company.
The role of employee communication in such a context is to build people?s self-confidence, to
persuade them that, although it is inevitable that the changes will go ahead, they also bring with
them new opportunities for employees. However, this is not an easy task. People tend to be
skeptical of these claims and to feel that they are losing touch with the company they have worked
for over many years. This is understandable, since many of the old certainties are being swept
away , including the core activities of the company they work for. Above all , they have had to
face up to the fact that they no longer have a job for life.
Research indicates that people respond to this predicament in a variety of ways. The bulk of
employees fall into two main categories in terms of their response to the new situation: on the one
hand there are the “ pragmatists” and on the other “ the highly anxious” the former see their job as
a means to an end and have a relatively short-term perspective, with strong loyalty to their local
term , rather than the company as a whole . the second category, usually the majority, may respond
to threatened changes with a feeling of having been let down, and even feel anger at the company
for what they see as changing the terms of their employment.
` The employee communication process needs to be capable of accurately directing its
messages at a variety of employee groups and departments within the workforce . this is why
middle managers and line managers are so key to communication. They are the people who know
about the full rage of concerns among the workforce. The problem in the past was that this crucial
area was often the responsibility of a separate, relatively isolated unit. Concordia puts
responsibility for communication firmly on line managers. All their research points to the same
conclusion: people prefer to get their information face-to-face from their line managers. That is the
key relationship and where arguments and hearts and minds –are lost.
The general rule in company communication is to tell employees as much as you can as soon
as you can. If you can?t provide details, then at least put the news in context and commit yourself
to providing greater detail when it becomes available another rule of company communication is
that there must be a fit between what the company is telling its employees and what it is telling its
shareholders.
15: in the last eight years, Concordia has
A made over 80.000 employees reduncdant
B completed a period of downsizing
C reduced its workforce of 80.000 by 35%
D given 35% of departing employees voluntary redundancy
16 from Concordia’s point of view, the role of communication is to
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A win employee support before going ahead with the changes
B change the company?s core activities.
C emphasise the positive aspects of the changes
D explain the need for the changes
17 what does research show about most employees’ response to change?
A they expect it to have a bad effect on the company
B they feel completely powerless
C they become less loyal
D they fell they have been treated unfairly
18 Concordia’s communication process mainly relies on
A printed communication
B departmental heads
C personal communication
D a separate, specialized unit
19 According to the writer, what is the guiding ;principle about giving information within an
organization?
A Never make promises about future developments
B Give people an overall view at the earliest possible stage
C always include plenty of hard information
D Hold back until all the details can be provided
20 which of the following would be the most suitable title for the article?
A employee attitudes to company communication
B making company communication more effective
C Researching company commmucation
D Making employees feel less powerless
PART FOUR
Questions 21 -30
, Read the article from the Chairman?s statement in a pharmaceutical company?s annual report
, Choose the correct word to fill each gap from (A, B, C or D) on the opposite page .
, For each question 21-30,mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet .
, There is an example at the beginning , (0)
Charman’s Statement
, Two year ago we undertook to increase our sales and to at least (10) our earnings.
We published this (21) in order to demonstrate our resolve to lead the business
successfully through the demanding period following the expiry of patents which
had given us the exclusive right to develop two of our major products.
, I am very please to (22) that we achieved what we set (23) to do. We have achieved
increased of 4% and 6% in sales and earnings (24) this comes despite considerable
losses (25) the expiry of the patents. It is testimony to the depth and vitality of our
portfolio of medicines that we have been able to survive the largest single patent
expiry our industry has known.
, Looking further ahead, I firmly believe that this company can continue to deliver
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strong , sustainable growth, enabling us to stay at the (28) of the research-based
pharmaceutical industry.
, The power and pace of technological and scientific development, combined with
economic and social pressures, are (29) huge changes in our industry, the successful
companies of the future will be those that anticipate and (30) to this change,
integrate new technologies effectively, and are closest to their customers. I have full
confidence in our ability to remain a major player in our industry.
, 21 A warranty B obligation C commitment D contract
, 22 A inform B specify C notify D report
, 23 A in B out c aside D up
, 24A respectively B serially C consecutively D sequentially
, 25 A pursuing B resulting C following D depending
, 26 A contribution B donation C investment D subsidy
, 27 A numbers B figures C sums D points
, 28 A foreground B forefront C lead D advance
, 29 A forcing B impelling C urging D thrusting
, 30 A meet B suit C correspond D respond
PART FIVE
Questions 31-40
, Read the article below about getting a pay rise. , For each question 31-40, write one word in CAPITAL LETTERS on your Answer Sheet .
, There is an example at the beginning, (0) .
,
There is a commonly held view that the only way to get (0) decent pay increase is to move on:
to go out into the job market and find someone (31) is prepared to pay you a figure more in
line (32) the talents you can offer. Whilst changing employers from time (33) time is
something we probably all need to do to advance our careers in the directions we want them
to take, it is nevertheless an activity that carries quite definite risks. Irrespective of (34) well
we research prospective employers, a new jib is still largely a step into the unknown . It may
turn (35) to be a good move or it could prove to be a complete disaster : most of us (36) had
experience of both. The point here, though, is that changing employers is not something we
want to be doing all the time and certainly not (37) time we feel the urge for better pay . We?d
(38) taking more risks than we needed to just to achieve a pay rise. Getting a pay rise should
always be viewed (39) a serious business. There are no quick fixes or gold methods with
“ guaranteed “ results. Quick fixes only serve to trivialize the issues and could (40) some
circumstances get you into very serous trouble indeed.
PART FIVE
Questions41 – 52
, Read the text below about job vacancies , In most of the lines 41 - 52 there is one extra word. It is either grammatically incorrect of
does not fit in with the sense of the text. Some lines, however,are correct .
, If a line is correct , write CORRECT on your Answer Sheet .
, If there is an extra word in the line,write the extra word in CAPITAL LETTERS on your
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Answer Sheet .
The exercise begins with two examples, (0) and (00)
Temporary staff required
0 Data Facts Limited is an expanding management services company whose
00 based in the north of England. We are undertaking a major piece of research
41for a leading financial institution . Part of the research is being a nationwide
42 telephone survey in early part December. Phone calls will be made from an
43 office in the centre of Manchester. The temporary staff will receive a fully day?s
44 training. They will then phone people who have been agreed to take part in the
45 survey and will go on through a questionnaire with them. They will be required
46 to record the responses accurately in writing. It will be necessary for those who
47 appointed to work a certain number of evenings and weekends. We are
48 looking for people who have a good telephone manner. A good level of their
49 education is desirable, but what we most require of people taking on this
50 work is common sense and the experience of getting thins done over
51 the telephone. Some knowledge although of banking or insurance would be an
52 advantage. Interested candidates should contact with our Recruitment Officer by phone or
email to request an application form.
Writing 1 hour 10 minutes
Part one
Question 1
An international survey has recently been conducted, asking whether companies plan to
alter their spending on information technology next year. The pie charts below compare
planned expenditure on IT by European and South-East Asian companies in the coming year
Using the information from the pie chart , write a short report describing the differences
between Europe and South-East Asia.
Write 120-140 words
Part two
? Write an answer to one of the question 2-4 in this part. Write your answer
in 200-250 words.
Question 2
Your company opened a new branch a year ago and the Managing Director at Head
Office has asked you to prepare a report on its progress.
Write your report for the Managing Director. Including the following information:
the reason for opening the branch
its successes
problems experienced
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plans for the coming year
Question 3
? Your department recently moved to a new building, you are not
satisfied with the way the removal company dealt with the move
of your furniture and equipment and have decided to write a
letter of complaint to the removal company about it.
? Write the letter to the removal company, including the following
information:
? Details of the move and what was moved
? What was unsatisfactory
? What you had expected from the company
? What you expect to happen now
Question 4
? the international organization you work for is considering the
possibility of producing a promotional brochure to publicise the
company abroad . The Managing Director has asked you to write
a contribution for this brochure.
? Write your proposal for the Managing Director, including the
following information
? Possible contents of the brochure
? Ways to make it attractive
? Benefits the brochure could have for the company
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Listening approximately 40 minutes (including 10 minutes’ transfer time)
Part one:
Question 1-12
You will hear a representative of a company which organizes trade fairs for academic
recruitment . she is talking to a group of prospective clients.
. As you listen, for questions 1-12. complete the notes, using up to three words or a number.
.After you have listened once, replay the recording.
Praxis Academic Recruitment Fairs
Specific geographical areas served:
(1)___________________________________________________________
(2) __________________________________________________________
Package includes:
Exhibition(3) ___________________________________________________
Delivery of all (4) ___________________________
Local(5) ___________________________
―Filtering system‖:
Works through (6) ___________________________
Advertisements placed in (7) ___________________________
And on (8) ___________________________
―context-sensitive‖ feature:
Convenient (9) ___________________________
Services of (10) ___________________________
More details from publicity leaflet about:
(11) ___________________________
Special services
(12) ___________________________
Part two
Question 13-22
You will hear five different people speaking about changes in personnel in their place of work
For each extract there are two tasks, For Task One , choose the reason for
change in personnel from the list A-H .For Task Two, choose the action that has
been taken as a result, from the list A –H After you have listened once, reply the recording
Task one—Reason
For questions 13-17 ,match the extracts with the reasons, listed A –H
For each extract, choose the reason each speaker mentions.
write one letter A-H next to the number of the extract
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13____________
14___________
15___________
16___________
17___________
A sick leave
B dismissal
C promotion
D secondment
E resignation
F study leave
H redundancy
Task Two-Action
For question 18-22, match the extracts with the problem areas in the new workplace , listed A –
H.
For each extract, choose the action mentions.
Write one letter A –H next to the number of the extract.
18__________ 19__________ 20__________ 21__________ 22__________
A employment on a temporary contract
B contracting work to another company
C doing a lot of overtime
D changing holiday plans
E increasing the work done at another site
F postponing work
G giving staff extra training
H headhunting a successor
Part Three
Question 23-30
You will hear part of a radio interview with Paul Jefferson, who set up his own import business. For each question 23-30, mark one letter (A ,B or C) for the correct answer.
After you have listened once, replay the recording.
23 Paul’s immediate financial aim is to be able to A get out of debt
B satisfy his expensive tastes
C cover his regular outgoings
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24 Sarah Hall’s role in Paul’s business is to
A provide him with a regular income
B pay for the goods that he imports
C cover his marketing costs
25 Paul finds it difficult to sell at a profit because
A his customers drive down his prices
B his suppliers overcharge
C his competitors can undercut him
26 The supermarket told Paul that they
A would stock a selection of his products
B thought his products wouldn’t sell
C might buy his products in the future.
27 What was the reason for Paul’s problem with the restaurant chain?
A they cancelled their order
B They went out of business
C they refused to pay the agreed price
28 Paul was told that the department store wanted to
A increase the number of suppliers
B replace one of their suppliers
C start stocking products like his.
29 Paul’s strategy now is to focus on
A selling a limited range of products
B finding new lines to import
C targeting a few large customers
30 Paul’s immediate priority is to
A employ a sales person
B increase his sales
C start selling abroad
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Speaking 16 minutes
Part one
In this part, the interlocutor asks questions on a number of work-related and non-work-related
subjects to each candidate in turn, you have to give information about yourself and express
personal opinions.
Part two
The candidate chooses one topic and speaks about it for approximately one minute. One minuts?
preparation time is allowed.
A Market research: the importance of finding out about customers? habits and attitudes
B Financial management: how to identify ways of reducing costs in a company C Communication:How to achieve an effective working relationship between different departments within a company
Part Three
In this part of the test, candidates are given a topic to discuss and are allowed 320 seconds to look
at the prompt card, before talking together for about three minutes, afterwards, the examiner asks
more questions related to the topic.
For two candidates
Incentive Scheme for Staff You company is considering setting up an incentive scheme to improve staff performance. You
have been asked to make recommendations for this scheme.
Discuss, and decide together:
What benefits an incentive scheme for staff would bring for the company
What types of incentives could be offered
For three Candidates
Incentive Scheme for Staff You company is considering setting up an incentive scheme to improve staff performance. You
have been asked to make recommendations for this scheme.
What benefits an incentive scheme for staff would bring for the company
What types of incentives could be offered
Which employees in the company should be targeted
Follow-on questions
Which incentives do you think are most effective for encouraging people to work hard?why?
Is it essential for companies to reward extra effort? Why ? why not?
How do you think a company can inspire loyalty in employees?
How do you think the traditional employer/ employee relationship might change in the future.?
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