商务英语BEC高级阅读真题

发布时间:2019-01-27


Setting up an appraisal scheme

Appraisals can be a wonderful opportunity for your staff tofocus on their jobs and make plans to develop their unusedpotential. (7) ..........So, if you have decided that an appraisalscheme should be set up in your company, you need toestablish some formal procedures and make some decisionsbefore you begin. Even if your company already has a scheme,you need to consider what you want to achieve and how youare going to do this.

First of all, you need to decide on your key objectives and the real purpose of yourscheme.(8).............A scheme should never be introduced at a time of redundancies, or simply forprofit or competitive edge, because this will create fear and alienate staff. The next step is to decidehow the scheme can most successfully be managed. It is essential that all senior staff arecommitted to the process and willing to make a positive contribution.

The person given responsibility for designing the scheme and the appraisal forms needs tohave knowledge of all roles within the organisation. He or she must also be aware of employees'potential needs. (9).............It should be someone who is trusted and whom staff will turn to if theyare concerned about their appointed appraiser or the appraisal interview. The design of the schemeshould indicate who will be appraising whom. This needs great tact and sensitivity. First, rememberthat no manager can effectively appraise more than seven or eight people. It is equally importantto remember that, if significant numbers of staff are appraised by someone they dislike, or by aperson whose values they do not share, the success of your scheme may be threatened.(10) ............. So bear this in mind from the beginning and, if necessary, establish an appeals procedure.

Having decided on your policy and who will appraise which members of staff, you need tocommunicate this in the simplest possible way. Avoid lengthy documents - few people will readthem. (11)..............Most organisations choose a person's line manager to be the appraiser. This canbe seen as an opportunity or a threat, so be ready to consider alternatives if necessary.

Once you have established the appraisal process, make sure that appraisal interviews takeplace at a convenient time, and ideally on neutral ground. It should be borne in mind that someappraisals may involve the disclosure of confidential information. (12) .............These will show thedecisions that were taken during the interview and will also indicate any new performance targetsthat have been agreed.

A It is important to select a manager who can deal effectively with any suspicions staffmay have about appraisals.

B Such a measure can also reduce insecurity and unite staff in recognising the positiveelements of appraisal.

C Having even one staff member in such a position may affect how others respond to theprocess.

D Ideally, this should be to provide a supportive framework that aids staff development.

E Simply make sure that staff know who will appraise them and why, and what form theinterview will take.

F It is therefore important to decide who will have access to written records of the appraisal.

G They can also be a means of getting the best out of staff, both as individuals, and as teammembers.


下面小编为大家准备了 商务英语考试 的相关考题,供大家学习参考。

Financial Planning: the factors involved in deciding on appropriate pricing strategies

正确答案:Suggested answers: a.In any single market three basic factors determine the boundaries of the pricing decision. The price floor or minimum price is bounded by product cost. The price ceiling or maximum price is bounded by competitive prices for comparable products and ability of customers to pay. Between the floor and ceiling for every product there is an optimum price which is a function of the demand for the product and the cost of supplying the product. The international executive must develop a pricing system and pricing policies that 'address these fundamental factors in each of the national markets in which his company operates. b.In addition to developing a pricing system the system must also be consistent with a number of uniquely international constraints. In addition to the diversity of national markets in all three basic dimensions—cost competition and demand—the international executive is also confronted by conflicting governmental tax policies and claims as well as government controls such as dumping legislation resale price maintenance legislation price ceilings and general review of price levels. Other factors affecting the international pricing decisions are the often surprisingly high international transportation costs middlemen in elongated international channels of distribution and multinational accounts demanding equal price treatment regardless of location. c.Pricing decisions have a major impact on a number of societal groups: consumers customers employees stockholders the public interest and of course the competition. These interest groups are affected by pricing decisions which in turn constrain the international executive. A widespread effect of international business is to lower prices. Within the corporation there are many interest groups and frequently conflicting price objectives. The divisional vice-president is concerned about profitability at the divisional level. Regional executives are concerned about profitability at the country level. d.The direction of international marketing seeks competitive prices in world markets.. The controller and financial vice-president are concerned about profits. The manufacturing vice-president seeks long runs for maximum manufacturing efficiency. The tax manager is concerned about compliance with government transfer pricing legislation and company counsel is concerned about the antitrust implications of international pricing practices. With such a large number of divergent and often conflicting interests combined with the limitations of our existing measures of demand it is premature to expect that we should be able to determine“optimal”prices in international marketing. A more feasible objective for the international executive is to formulate international pricing strategy and policy that will contribute rather than detract from company sales and profit objectives worldwide.
Suggested answers: a.In any single market three basic factors determine the boundaries of the pricing decision. The price floor, or minimum price, is bounded by product cost. The price ceiling, or maximum price, is bounded by competitive prices for comparable products and ability of customers to pay. Between the floor and ceiling for every product there is an optimum price, which is a function of the demand for the product and the cost of supplying the product. The international executive must develop a pricing system and pricing policies that 'address these fundamental factors in each of the national markets in which his company operates. b.In addition to developing a pricing system, the system must also be consistent with a number of uniquely international constraints. In addition to the diversity of national markets in all three basic dimensions—cost, competition, and demand—the international executive is also confronted by conflicting governmental tax policies and claims as well as government controls such as dumping legislation, resale price maintenance legislation, price ceilings and general review of price levels. Other factors affecting the international pricing decisions are the often surprisingly high international transportation costs, middlemen in elongated international channels of distribution, and multinational accounts demanding equal price treatment regardless of location. c.Pricing decisions have a major impact on a number of societal groups: consumers, customers, employees, stockholders, the public interest, and, of course, the competition. These interest groups are affected by pricing decisions, which in turn constrain the international executive. A widespread effect of international business is to lower prices. Within the corporation there are many interest groups and frequently conflicting price objectives. The divisional vice-president is concerned about profitability at the divisional level. Regional executives are concerned about profitability at the country level. d.The direction of international marketing seeks competitive prices in world markets.. The controller and financial vice-president are concerned about profits. The manufacturing vice-president seeks long runs for maximum manufacturing efficiency. The tax manager is concerned about compliance with government transfer pricing legislation, and company counsel is concerned about the antitrust implications of international pricing practices. With such a large number of divergent and often conflicting interests combined with the limitations of our existing measures of demand, it is premature to expect that we should be able to determine“optimal”prices in international marketing. A more feasible objective for the international executive is to formulate international pricing strategy and policy that will contribute rather than detract from company sales and profit objectives worldwide. 解析:constrain强迫,强制,束缚。optimum price最适当价格。 dumping倾销。antitrust反托拉斯。divergent分歧的,分开的。detract from贬低,减损。premature早熟的,仓促的。

? Read this part of a note from Emma Jackson, boss of a French travel agency.

We are thinking of printing a brochure to introduce tourist attractions and accommodation facilities in Europe. Please contact the major hotels and scenic spots and the like and invite them to make advertisements.

? Write a letter to Hotel Mecure:

? giving a brief self-introduction

? saying what kind of brochure you are going to print

? stating the rate of advertising

? asking for a prompt reply.

? Write 60-80 words.

? Write on your Answer Sheet.

正确答案:Dear Manager We write to introduce ourselves as one of the leading travel agencies in France. We are going to print a brochure to introduce some tourist attractions and accommodation facilities in Europe for distribution at Hong Kong International Tourist Fair this year. Would you like to advertise your hotel in our brochure? The rate is 1000 for 1/2 page. We are looking forward to your early reply. Yours faithfully
Dear Manager, We write to introduce ourselves as one of the leading travel agencies in France. We are going to print a brochure to introduce some tourist attractions and accommodation facilities in Europe for distribution at Hong Kong International Tourist Fair this year. Would you like to advertise your hotel in our brochure? The rate is 1,000 for 1/2 page. We are looking forward to your early reply. Yours faithfully,

Good acquaintance of finance is a must.

正确答案:A
A

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