1、根據(jù)下面資料，回答題
Evaluating the Performance of the Board
Few employees escape the annual or twice-yearly performance review．(0) G The answer is not A．great number．AnD the smaller the company, the fewer checks there are on how well the directors are doing．Some of the largest companies formally assess the performance of their board, but very few new or growing companies have manageD to get rounD to establishing any such procedure.
Many business experts believe, however, that it is important for all companies to review
the performance of the board．(8)....．Another reason is that the boarD itself needs information on how well it is doing, just as much as other employees do．For the chief executive, appraisal of some sort is absolutely essential for his or her own sake anD for the gooD of the company．Indeed, many of those who have reacheD this level remark on how lonely the joB．of chief executive is anD how few opportunities they get to discuss issues relating to it.
There is some evidence to show that once smaller companies put A．boarD appraisal process in place, they finD this process relatively easy to operate．(9)....． Their counterparts in larger organizations, however, are often afraiD that appraisals coulD be A．challenge to their status.
So, how shoulD companies assess their board? (10).....At A．very basiC．level, this coulD simply mean getting all the directors to write down what they have achieveD anD how they can improve on it．At the other enD of the scale is the full "360-degree" appraisal．Here, each director is appraiseD in A．systematiC．manner by A．combination of the chairman anD fellow directors.
In the largest companies there are many methods for assessing the board．A．number of such companies have self-assessment schemes．The chairman may meet each boarD member individually to ask how things are going, in A．fairly informal way．The whole boarD might also meet to talk about its progress in open session．(11).....These might ask for people's opinions on the board's main tasks or on how well the committees are working.
Research indicates there has been some improvement in the way the appraisal of boarD members is conducted．(12)......The chairman will have been involveD directly or indirectly in the appraisal of all members of the board．Whose joB．is it, then, to appraise the chairman?
A．It is often the case that the directors of such companies are even happy to receive criticism, as this can prevent them from making basiC．mistakes.
B．The rest of the workforce sees it as unfair if the directors are the only members of thecompany to escape appraisal.
C．These are encouraging as they put A．limit on the power of the chairman to assess fellow directors.
D ．Alternatively, questionnaires might be distributeD to directors, forming the basis for future discussion.
E．One issue remains, however, when all the others have been dealt with．
F．It is generally agreeD that it is the chairman's responsibility to ensure the regular appraisal of each member of the board.
G．However, one wonders how many companies have in place A．formal appraisal process for their boarD of directors.
（8）應(yīng)選
2、根據(jù)下面內(nèi)容，回答題
A
The Birmingham Alliance will provide Birmingham with one of Europe's largest regional shopping centres, right in the heart of the city．The Alliance, an initiative between three of the largest developers in the country, all with extensive experience of urban regeneration schemes, will facilitate an 800m investment in Birmingham．This will regenerate 40 acres of the city centre within the next decade．Planning permission is in place for the new scheme, which will be a short distance from existing prime retail areas．The development will be well serviced by all forms of public transport, as well as providing parking space forε 3,200 cars.
B
The private-public partnership between Legal & General and Bracknell Town Council will manage the ~ 500m regeneration of the town's centre．The proposals, which are awaiting the outcome of consultation with local residents, provide for approximately 102,000 m2 of retail and leisure facilities, ε200 residential units and office accommodation．This development is expected to set the standard for town centre regeneration schemes to come because of the way it integrates the business and community sectors．It will also facilitate great improvements in the region's transport infrastructure.
C
Bluewater is a symbol of retail excellence, achieved through a unique combination of design, retail mix, leisure, catering and hospitality．The centre, surrounded by parkland, is situated in the country's most affluent region．Eleven million people, with a combined spending power predicted to exceed a record 5.5bn, live within 60 minutes of the centre．The developers set a precedent in the industry by gating the country's three best-known department stores to open very large branches within the centre, as well as over 300 leading fashion and lifestyle stores.
D
Following its recent stock market success, Lend Lease is now developing Overgate shopping centre in Dundee．Construction is well under way, and with several of the country's best-known retailers already secured, Lend Lease is promoting the centre as the unrivalled shopping destination of the region．The economic base of the area has improved continuously over the past decade, due to the fast expansion of the biomedical and service sectors．With an estimated potential market of 500,000 people, Overgate is proving attractive to leading UK retailers.
This development is in an area where the potential for consumer spending is the highest in the country.
3、根據(jù)下面內(nèi)容，回答題
King was nominated for the quality of his leadership, with the judges claiming that the Fentons Finance boss is almost revered by his team. He is credited with reinventing Fentons Finance - revitalizing its culture of inflexibility, removing outdated pre-merger barriers and playing a brilliant tactical game. He led everyone to believe he was opposed to large mergers and then jumped on the Westcombe Bank opportunity at just the right moment. History will be the judge, but for now the markets consider King to be a star.
B. Keith Nash: Chief Executive of Hamley's Supermarkets
Nash took over as CEO when Hamley's systems and distribution were out of date and the brand badly needed freshening up. He began refocusing the brand at the higher quality end of the food market and launched several own-brand initiatives for the health conscious. As a result, the share price has gone up nearly 80 per cent. This should be extremely satisfying for Nash, who had left the retailer in 1986, disappointed after failing to secure the top job.
C. Jorge Marquez: Chairman of the Kenwick Group
Marquez was a popular choice for his achievements at Kenwick. The judges say he has been courageous in pushing through the appointment of controversial or inexperienced chief executives to companies within the group, and then sponsoring them as they transformed their businesses. He operates as a "virtual" chairman, without a permanent office in any one company. He phones his CEOs regularly, and several of them have acknowledged the vital contribution he makes to their effectiveness. Everyone is impressed at how he also finds the time to be chairman of two other large companies.
D. Richard Jenkins: Finance Director of Centron Advertising
Labouring in the shadow of a high-profile boss can sometimes draw attention away from the finance director, and the judges considered it was high time Jenkins got that attention. The CEO may be the public face of Centron, but Jenkins is the one who makes it run smoothly. Behind the scenes, he is constantly demonstrating that budgets and forecasts are what is needed to make a company successful, particularly now that the advertising market has been hit by recession, it is largely thanks to him that Centron is in much better shape than its rivals.
This businessman has successfully targeted a different group of consumers.
填空題
4、根據(jù)下面資料，回答題
Customer Behaviour
0 The consumer is the focus of all retail business anD it is important to appreciate how
O0 consumers are influenceD in their buying decisions．Most of consumers, before making a
34 purchase, gather information anD evaluate with the alternatives, but the extent to which
35 they look for information depends on the type of purchase．For example, in the case of
36 routine grocery purchases most consumers responD to automatically．However, for
37 purchases where the risk of making the wrong decision is greater, like buying A．new
38 car, so the search for information is more important．The decision to purchase is never a
39 single decision but A．number of these separate decisions, anD at any time during this
40 process, consumers can change their minds about anD choose an alternative route．For
41 example, although A．consumer may have decideD where to buy A．product only to realize
42 at the last moment that this is, in fact, having the wrong choice．The price in the store may
43 be too high or the staff unhelpful．On the other hand, A．lack of queues, favourable credit
44 facilities anD efficient staff all leaD to A．too positive impression, so retailers should
45 remember how difficulties in these areas that can affect A．sale or even lose A．customer permanently.
34__________
5、
Questions 8 – 12
·Read the following text.
·Choose the best sentence from the list on page 36 to fill each of the gaps.
·For each gap 8 – 12 mark one letter A – I on your Answer Sheet.
·Do not mark any letter twice.
Marketing
In the past, the concept of marketing emphasised sales. The producer or manufacturer made a product he wanted to sell. ____ example ____ . Basically, selling the product would be accomplished by sales promotion, which included advertising and personal selling ____ (8) ____ Distribution consisted of transportation, storage, and related services such as financing, standardisation and grading, and the related risks.
The modern marketing concept encompasses all of the activities mentioned, but it is based on a different set of principles ____ (9) ____ In other words, goods should be produced only if they can be sold. Therefore, the producer should consider who is going to buy the product ------ or what the market for the product is ---- before production begins.
Marketing now involves first deciding what the customer wants, and designing and producing a product that satisfies these wants at a profit to the company ____(11)____ This is much more difficult since it involves human behaviour. ____(12)____ Thus, demand and market forces are still an important aspect of modern marketing, but they are considered prior to the production process.
Example: C
A. It subscribes to the notion that production can be economically justified only by consumption.
B. Marketing was the task of figuring out how to sell the product.
C. Marketing is as important in today’s economy as the production of goods and services.
D. Production, on the other hand, is mostly an engineering problem.
E. Such markets must be created and stimulated by managers.
F. This is very different from making a product and then thinking about how to sell it.
G. More than half the cost of consumer goods can be traced to marketing activities.
H. In addition to sales promotion, marketing also involved the physical distribution of the product to the places where it was actually sold.
I. Instead of concentrating solely on production, the company must consider the desires of the consumer.
6、
Banks and Banking : Other Bank Services
A modern bank provides many services other than checking accounts. ____1____
If you went to a bank to open a savings account, you would go through almost the same procedures followed in applying for a checking account. ____2____ Then you would be given a passbook in which your initial deposit would be recorded. All deposits and withdrawals from your account are entered into your passbook. ____3____ With a regular passbook savings account, you would be able to withdraw money wherever you needed it. All you would have to do is fill out a withdrawal order and present it, along with your passbook to the teller.
All banks pay interest on savings accounts. ____4____ Banks also pay interest at different times. ____5____ Suppose, for example, that on January 1, you deposited $ 1,000 in a bank that paid 4 1/2 percent interest semiannually. By July 1,you would have earned $ 22.50 interest. This interest would automatically be credited to your account; and of you left it in the bank, along with your original deposit, you would receive interest on $ 1,022.50 for the next six-month period. That is, your interest would be compounded.
A. But the majority of them pay semiannually, that is, every six months.
B. The interest rate varies from bank to bank, but the general range is from 4 1/2 to 6 percent.
C. This means that passbook contains an actual record of all transactions made and that you know the exact amount of savings you have at any one time.
D. One of these is checking accounts.
E. First you would be asked to fill out a signature card.
F. But most banks pay interest at the end of a year.
G. One of the most important of these is regular passbook savings.
H. One can withdraw money whenever necessary.
7、
Questions 17-20
• Using the information in the text, complete each sentence 17-20 with a phrase A-G from the list below.
• For each question 17-20, mark one letter (A-G) on your Answer Sheet.
• Do not use any letter more than once.
17 Most people agree that the recent increase in stress is due to changes in ____________.
18 The trainees are taught that the right level of stress at work is important for good.
19 Trainees learn that one way of limiting stress is by deciding upon.
20 One of the most important parts of the course is learning how to react to___
A levels of performance
B shorter deadlines
C employment practices
D higher levels of sickness
E unfair demands
F successful management structure
G practical targets
8、
PART THREE
Questions 13-20
Read the article below about stress management, and answer questions 13-20 on the opposite page.
A Lesson In Stress Management
Demands placed on us at work can often lead to considerable worry and discomfort. There are, however, ways of protecting ourselves from the stress we face at work. We interviewed Jane Collard, a consultant in stress management.
1. In Jane Collard's opinion, stress is becoming an increasingly common feature of the workplace. Stress is a highly individual reaction, which varies considerably from person to person, and it is difficult for some employees to avoid it. Indeed, stress is regarded by many as part of the organizational culture of our institutions: it comes with the job. Recent figures indicate that time taken off work because of stress has increased by 500 per cent since the 1950s. Undoubtedly, changes in working conditions have led to greater pressure at work at all levels. With reductions in staffing, workloads for individual employees have increased. In addition, many employees are left worrying about the security of their jobs.
2. On the stress management courses that she runs, Jane Collard tries to make the trainees realise that stress in itself is not harmful. Everyone needs a certain level of stress to enable them to feel motivated and to perform effectively. A complete absence of stress can be as damaging as overstress, since it can make people lose interest in their work, and even lead to depression. The difficulties occur when the amount of stress rises above a level which is healthy for a particular individual. If this happens, the effects are very obvious and the trainees are taught to recognize the signs. Stress may be expressed physically, for example through headaches and tiredness, or through emotional problems such as depression. A person suffering from stress may also start to behave differently, and can be difficult to deal with.
3. While it may not always be possible to prevent stress, there are a number of ways in which it can be controlled. The first thing that the trainees learn is how to manage their time effectively. This involves, first of all, setting realistic goals for both the short and long term. Once this framework has been established, tasks are then prioritised on a daily basis. The trainees are also reminded that when they are under pressure the less important items should be left, and they should never hesitate to delegate. Everyone is encouraged to look at ways of reducing 'wasted time ', for example by grouping similar tasks together or dealing with items immedkiately.
4. Jane feels that one of the most useful features of the course is that it enables trainees to deal with those demands or deadlines that they regard as unreasonable. They are encouraged to avoid being defensive, but at the same time they are advised not to be afraid of saying 'no'. They are asked to give reasons only if necessary. The training helps them to foresee difficult situations or unwanted demands, and they learn how to prepare themselves mentally. Everyone is encouraged not to get stuck in negative thought patterns, where stress can feed a circular sense of helplessness. One solution they discuss is to think of a more encouraging alternative for each negative message. They learn, for example, to remind themselves that nothing terrible happens when a demand is refused or a deadline missed. Life goes on.
Questions 13-16
For questions 13-16, choose the best title for each numbered paragraph from the list below.
For each numbered paragraph 1-4, mark one letter (A-G) on your Answer Sheet.
Do not use any letter more than once.
13 Paragraph 1 ______ 14 Paragraph 2 ______
15 Paragraph 3 ______ 16 Paragraph 4 ______
A Higher stress levels among top managers
B Coping with stress through a positive attitude
C Time lost at work through sickness
D Causes of increased stress in the work environment
E Explanations for missed deadlines
F stress reduction through better organisation
G Typical problems associated with stress
簡答題
9、Part One
You are Head of Research for an international car manufacturer. You have to make an urgent trip tomorrow to visit Pierre Blanco, a colleague who works for a subsidiary.
Write a memo of 30-40 words to your secretary.
Telling her who you are going to see and when;
Asking her to book flight tickets and accommodation;
Telling her what work you would like her to do in your absence;
Write on your answer sheet.
Part Two
You are the manager of a TV and radio repair workshop. One of your employees has received the letter below about a faulty cassette player which he inspected. He has written his comments on the customer’s letter and asked you to write a reply.
Write a letter of 100-120 words to the customer, using the employee’s comments and explaining why your company cannot repair the cassette player.
Do not include addresses.
Write on your answer sheet.
10、 • Read the article below about the winner of a business award .
• In most of the lines 34-45 there is one extra word . It is either grammatically incorrect or
doesn’t fit in the meaning of the text . Some lines, however, are correct .
• If a line is correct , write CORRECT on your Answer Sheet .
• If there is a extra word in the line , write the extra word in CAPITAL LETTER on your Answer Sheet.
• The exercises begins with two examples , (0) and (00) .
Examples
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C |
O |
R |
R |
E |
C |
T |
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00 |
T |
H |
R |
O |
U |
G |
H |
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BUSINESS MANAGEMENT |
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0 Many organizations are seeking to take advantage of flatter management 00 structures by moving through to self-managed teams. In our experience, these 34 teams produce us very impressive results. However, as the companies 35 we work with can tell to you, they are neither a ‘soft option ’ nor a ‘quick fix’. 36 self-managed teams operate in dramatically different ways from the other 37 teams and they can only succeed in if the organizational culture, along with a 38 number of systems and procedures, are been re-shaped. Thus, changing to 39 self-managed teams requires not only most top level support but a clear 40 understanding of the concept which at all levels. Often staff who find themselves 41 at the lower levels of a traditional structure imagine that by operating in self- 42 managed teams simply means by that they will be free to do what they want 43 without having to be obey the orders of upper management and this simply is 44 not the case. One of the most important areas we address with our clients 45 is the need to re-educate staff with a regard to the practical meaning of the Word ‘team’. Such re-education is required from shop floor to board level. |