2010年商务英语BEC中级阅读指导连载5

　　PART TWO
　　Questions 8-12
　　? Read the text below about the management of documents.
　　? Choose the best sentence from the list on the opposite page to fill each of the gaps.
　　?
　　For each gap 8-12, mark one letter (A-I) on your Answer Sheet.
　　? Do not use any letter more than once.
　　How do you improve white collar productivity?
　　For many years, technological development was thought to be the key to improving productivity in the office. In the 1980s cheap small computers first appeared on desktops. (example)________
　　The power of personal computers has increased dramatically, and the uses of software have expanded too. Companies both large and small have spent large sums of money on improving office computer facilities.(8) ________.It seems that business has failed to apply the developments in technology to greater effect, to increase the amount of time which office workers have available for non-routine tasks. To do this, we need to understand how information is processed in business ventures.
　　Typically, information is first gathered, then processed, and finally produced in its changed form as output.(9) ________. Increasingly complex programs have been invented, to feed ever more powerful processing systems.
　　But what about output? A recent study by an American management institute shows that the processing of documents takes up 60% of office workers’ time, 40% of labour costs and up to 10% of business income.(10) ________. In fact, the international companies studied for the research show that this breakdown is true world-wide, wherever the company operates.
　　Taking these findings into account, the management of documents has become extremely important. Documents support nearly all business transactions. They are increasingly the way to communicate with customers, suppliers and employees. It is therefore upon document output and distribution that we should focus. (11) ________
　　Unfortunately, technological developments in equipment for document management seem more impressive than they really are.(12) ________ New technological solutions are needed to tackle the problem, to help drive businesses forward to improve their productivity and output.
　　Only now are we beginning to study business objectives and to structure technology to suit them. Our company is attempting to understand how people use technology and how it can be applied to business problems.
　　A. These new methods of handling paperwork have already greatly improved efficiency.
　　B. This would be a key way of improving white collar productivity.
　　C. It will help them to make better use of all office employees.
　　D. However, this enormous investment has not improved productivity as expected.
　　E. Laser printers have many limitations, and photocopiers have few applications.
　　F. Most technology has concentrated its attention on the first two of these stages.
　　G. These figures are hardly surprising since documents convey nine-tenths of all information.
　　H. Nevertheless, it is an important way to improve business processes and workflow.
　　I. Since then, these machines have caused a revolution in the way we work in the office.
　　答案：8.D 9.F 10.G 11.B 12.E

　　PART TWO
　　Questions 8-12
　　? Read this text about electrical power in Canada.
　　?
　　Choose the best sentence from the list A-I to fill each of the blanks.
　　? For each blank (8 - 12) mark one letter (A - I) on your Answer Sheet.
　　? De not mark any letter twice.
　　? One answer has been given as an example.
　　ELECTRICITY: WEALTH, MONEY, POWER
　　Canadian industries have prospered for more than a century on the country’s abundance of cheap, reliable electrical power. ____ example ____. In fact, Canada consumes more electricity on a per person basis than any country except for Norway ____ 8 ____
　　Electricity is a significant source of export income for Canada. ____ 9 ____ But in the 1970s , Canadian exports rose sharply to address the U. S. demand for cheaper and more reliable.
　　In 1985, exports of Canadian electrical power reached 1,400 million US dollars ____. 10 ____. Net electricity exports account for more than 60% of Canada’s balance of trade.
　　Domestically, Canada continues to generate electrical power, primarily from water ____ 11 ____ Exports of electricity are now subject to forces far beyond the control of utility managers ____ 12 ____
　　Example: B
　　A. Besides, electricity from coal and nuclear is 50% to 75% cheaper than many other industrial nations.
　　B. Generated primarily by water, our power supplies have attracted and supported energy-intensive industries such as mining.
　　C. It also ranks among the top three electricity producers in the world, behind the U. S. and Russia.
　　D. Next to electricity, Canadian paper exports came to 900 million US dollars every year in the 1960s.
　　E. Two large nuclear power plants began to generate electricity.
　　F. Since then, electricity’ exports have declined but they have continued to exceed 700 million US dollars.
　　G. Environmental and trade policies all influence electrical production and trade.
　　H. Canada and the U. S. imported and exported power in almost equal measures after 1901.
　　I. Therefore, the Canadian government has little influence on these forces.
　　答案：8．C 9. H 10. F 11. A 12. G