BEC剑桥商务英语中级阅读理解练习题Word格式文档下载.docx

BEC剑桥商务英语中级阅读理解练习题Word格式文档下载.docx

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　　2020年BEC剑桥商务英语中级阅读理解练习题

　　WhenDavidHaydenrealisedhiscompanywasheadingfortrouble,hetookdrasticmeasurestogetitbackontrack

　　DavidHaydenfoundedhiscompany,CriticalPath,anemailprovider,in1997totakeadvantageoftheboominemailtraffic.CriticalPathbecameapubliccompanytwoyearslater,andHaydentooktheopportunitytostepdownfromhisexecutivepositioninordertoworkonpersonalprojects.Atthesametime,heagreedtostaywiththecompanyasChairman,butthebusinesswasputinthehandsofnewmanagersbyitsinvestors.Withsector-leadingproductsandanexpandingmarket,thecompanyseemedtobeontheupandup.However,byearly2001,itwasintrouble.Sharesthathadbeenworth$26in1999,whentheywerefirstsold,weredowntoamere24cents.

　　Calledinbyapanickingboard,HaydenfoundhimselfbackinchargeasExecutiveChairman,tryingdesperatelytorescuewhathecould.The1,100staffhadlostconfidenceinthecompanyanddidnotknowwhatwasgoingtohappentothem.And,asHaydendiscovered,themanagementteamwasincompetent.Thoseguysdidntunderstandtheproductorthesector,saysHayden.Theheadsofdepartmentdidntcommunicateandtheydidntlead.Butwhatwasworse,CriticalPathhadlostthegoodwillofitsinvestors.

　　Haydenknewthatbringingthefiguresundercontrolwouldbeavitalstepinthecompanysturnaround.Youvegottosortoutthefinances.Forme,thatmeantgettingbackthegoodwilloftheinvestors.Thatwastough,afterwhathadhappened.Butalthoughtheywereangrywiththecompany,theydidnthavebadfeelingsaboutme.ItoldthemthatIknewIcouldgetthecompanyonitsfeetagain.Hewasauthorisedtomakewhateverchangeswererequired,andhisfirstactwastofindpeoplewithinthecompanyhecouldtrustandputthemincharge.

　　ThenextthingHaydenhadtotacklewasmorale.Everyonelefttheofficeatfiveonthedot-theycouldntgetawayquicklyenough.Togetthebuzzbackandwinthestaffover,Ihadtoprovemyowncommitmentandputintheextrahourswiththem.Inreturn,itwasassumedthatnobodywouldaskforovertimepayuntilthecompanywasonitsfeetagain.Contrarytonormalpractice,Haydenwasreluctanttolaypeopleoff,andapartfromnotreplacingpeopleastheyreachedretirementage,helefttheworkforcelargelyunchanged,althoughhedididentifykeypeoplethroughoutthecompanywhoweregivenmoreresponsibility.

　　But,asHaydeninsists,beforeacompanyreachessuchacrisis,therearewarningsignsthatanyfinancialdirectororaccountantshouldtakenoteof.Abusinessthathasanunrealisticpricingpolicyorhastonegotiateextendedcreditwithitssuppliersisintrouble,ishismessage.Orifyouoftenhavetoapplyforyouroverdraftlimittoberaisedorhavetroublepayingtaxontime,somethingneedstobedone.

　　By2003,thecompanywashealthyagain,withreasonablystablefinancesandamodestbutsteadysharepriceof$1.60.Onethingthathelpedsaveuswasthatourtechnologyworked,saysHayden.With20millionemailaccounts,weneverlostasinglemajorclientbecausetheproductkeptonworking.Withideasforafreshventuredemandinghisattentionelsewhere,Haydenhasmovedon.Itwastimetogo,hesays.Imnotaturnaroundspecialist.Ipreferstart-ups.

　　13WhateventcoincidedwithCriticalPathbecomingapubliccompany?

　　AHaydenbecametheExecutiveDirectorofCriticalPath.

　　BInvestorshiredareplacementteamtorunCriticalPath.

　　CCriticalPathlaunchedasuccessfulnewproductonthemarket.

　　DCriticalPathwasfloatedontheStockExchangeat24centspershare.

　　14WhichofthefollowingsituationsdidHaydenfaceatCriticalPathin2001?

　　ATheemployeeswereworriedaboutjobsecurity.

　　BTheinvestorswerecallingforchangestothecompanystructure.

　　CThemanagementwasmisleadingthestaffaboutthecompanysposition.

　　DTheboardofdirectorsdidnotrealisethescaleofthecompanysproblems.

　　15OnereasonHaydenwasabletoturnCriticalPatharoundwasthat

　　Ahemanagedtofindnewinvestors.

　　Bthefinancialsituationwasnotasbadashehadthought.

　　Chehadbuiltupagoodrelationshipwiththemanagementteam.

　　Dhewasgiventhesupportthatheneeded.

　　16WhatwasHaydenspolicyregardingthestaffofCriticalPath?

　　AHepaidovertimetoeverybodywhoworkedoutsideofficehours.

　　BHereducedtheworkforcebyoperatinganearlyretirementscheme.

　　CHegavekeystafftheopportunitytohelphimsetgoalsforthecompany.

　　DHerestoredmotivationbyshowingwillingnesstoworkalongsidestaff.

　　17AccordingtoHayden,whatcouldindicatethatabusinessisintrouble?

　　Aproblemskeepingaccountsuptodate

　　Bsuppliersrefusingtooffernewcre