Sophie Jones wants professional help in finding good candidates for senior posts in her co
第1题
听力原文: (A = Alex S = Sophie)
A: Job losses are expected at the Manchester plant of the beauty products manufacturer, Vie Vitale, Sophie Jones has been following the story and is in our Manchester studio. Good morning, Sophie.
S: Good morning, Alex.
A: So, job losses, Sophie? How are things going? We've been hearing reports of up to 300 jobs going.
S: Well, if Vie Vitale does go ahead with restructuring and that includes the disposal of its manufacturing base, then as many as 200 of the 500 jobs here are far from guaranteed.
A: And where exactly will these cuts be made, Sophie?
S: Well, most would almost certainly be in the manufacturing division. This is an area Vie Vitale wants to get out of completely. And if this happens, then it would have serious consequences for jobs in distribution. However, the company wants to focus on its product development, so there's unlikely to be any losses there. At least, that's what the company's saying this morning.
A: So very little good news there. But why should the company suddenly find itself in such a difficult position?
S: Well, the health and beauty retail sector is still as fashionable as ever and has attracted a lot of new companies to the market. The sad truth is, though, that these new companies now have equally good if not better ideas at the same kind of price. And I think this is the fundamental problem. And last year, La Face, the French manufacturer, brought out a new range again, very similar types of products, very similar sorts of ideas.
A: So how well are La Face doing?
S: Well, actually, they haven't been doing that well either. In fact, only last week they announced they're no longer going to focus on their own retail outlets, but rather on the mail order side of the business instead. They're also considering selling through department stores, but nothing's been confirmed yet. So Vie Vitale isn't alone in feeling incredible pressure.
A: Well, it sounds like the problem they're all having is that it's getting quite crowded. So what does all this mean for Vie Vitale's share price?
S: Well, if we look at the share price over the last year, you can see that although it started high at the beginning of the year and looked steady in the first six months, there's been a huge drop since then, reaching its lowest point last week where the City really lost confidence in what they were doing.
A: Right. Now, Vie Vitale's corporate image used to be unique, didn't it? So how are they planning to establish themselves as the market leader once more?
S: Well, Alex, they're not giving away too many details just yet, but it seems they're intending to refresh up their shops and update their corporate look. You know, all their packaging. There's certainly no news of any new product lines or any change in their basic values.
A: But what about the number of shops? Any change there, Sophie?
S: Well, in fact, what they're doing is buying franchises back. They feel that if they're in control of their shops, they're in control of their corporate image. We've heard nothing about shop closures.
A: So how many of their shops do they now own?
S: Well, they started the process a few months ago and they've now regained control of all their French outlets, and they should have ownership of all their German shops by early next year. As there are more outlets in the UK, it'll take a bit longer here. I think the name of the game is definitely going to be control.
You will hear a report about Vie Vitale, a manufacturer of health and beauty products.
You have to complete the sentences 23--30 by choosing the correct answer.
Mark one letter A, B or C.
How many jobs are likely to be lost at Vie Vitale?
A.200.
B.300.
C.500.
第2题
Why does Miss Jones want to leave Europa Marketing and come to this company?
A.Because she meets some problems in Europa Marketing.
B.Because she doesn't like the boss of the original company.
C.Because she wants more challenges.
第3题
(20)
第4题
第二节 短文理解2
阅读短文,从各题所给的三个选项中选出最佳答案。
Mr. Jones and Mr. Brown worked in the same office. One day Mr. Jones said to Mr. Brown. "We are going to have a small party at our house next Wednesday evening. Would you and your wife like to join us ?"
Mr. Brown said. "Thank you very much. It is very kind of you. We me free that evening. I think. but I will telephone my wife and ask her. Maybe she wants to go somewhere else that evening. " So Mr. Brown went to the other room and telephoned. When he came back. he looked very sorry.
"What is the matter?" said Mr. Jones. "Did you speak to your wife?"
"No. " answered Mr. Brown. "She wasn't there. so my small son answered the telephone. I said to him. "Is your mother there. David?' and he answered. 'No. she is not in the house. ' 'Where is she then ?" I asked. She is somewhere outside. "What is she doing ?"She is looking for me"
A small party will be held ______
A.at David's house
B.at Mr. Brown's house
C.at Mr. Jones' house
第5题
Dodge Household Furniture Co.
25 east Tenth Street
Chicago, III
May 14, 2008
Mr. Walter Roberts, Office Manager
Great Investment Trust Co.
69 Jones Street, New York
Dear Mr. Roberts,
The unfavorable condition of the market here has compelled us to approach you for a short-term loan of 60, 000 dollars to extricate us from temporary difficulties. We leave it to you to fix the rate of interest.
As we have been doing business to each other's advantage for so long a time, we trust that you will be kind enough to oblige us with the said amount. We promise to pay back the money as soon as business begins to improve.
Your favorable reply will be highly appreciated by,
Yours very respectfully,
Dodge Household Furniture Co.
(Signed)
Henry Norris
Henry Norris
Manager
Great Investment Trust Co.
69 Jones Street, New York
May 20, 2008
Mr. Henry Norris, Manager
Dodge Household Furniture Co.
25 east Tenth Street
Chicago, III
Dear Mr. Norris,
We are deeply distressed to learn from your letter that your company is now in an adverse financial situation as a result of business depression and badly in need of a loan. Considering our long-standing clientage of mutual benefit, we deem it our duty to help you out of the present dilemma. Herewith we send you under separate cover a check for the full sum as requested. Please note that the rate of interest is 4 % per month and 4. 5% per quarter. We are confident that your business will soon look up. Wish you very good luck.
Yours very respectfully,
Great Investment Trust Co.
(Signed)
Walter Roberts
Walter Roberts
Office Manager
Why does Mr. Norris write to Mr. Walter Roberts?
A.Because he wants to tell Mr. Walter Roberts their difficulties.
B.Because he wants to ask Mr. Walter Roberts to pay their check.
C.Because he wants to borrow some money from Mr. Walter Robert's company.
D.Because he wants to analysis the financial situation for Mr. Walter Roberts.
第6题
Keep Up with the Joneses
In the United States, when one becomes rich, he wants people to know it. And even if he does not become very rich, he wants people to think that he is. That is what keeping up with the Joneses is about. It is the story of someone who tries to look as rich as his neighbors.
The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself: He began earning $125 a week at the age of 23. That was a lot of money in those days. He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighborhood outside New York City. When he saw that rich people rode horses, Momand went horseback riding every day. When he saw that rich people had servants, Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbors.
It was like a race, but one could never finish this race because one was always trying to keep up. The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They moved back to an apartment in New York City.
Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich life-style. of their neighbors. He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series of short stories. He called it "Keeping up with the Joneses", because "Jones" is a very common name in the United States. "Keeping up with the Joneses" came to mean keeping up with rich life-style. of the people around you. Momand's series appeared in different newspapers across the county for over 28 years.
People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses. And there are "Joneses" in every city of the world. But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does, Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead.
Some people want to keep up with the Joneses because they ______.
A.want to be as rich as their neighbors
B.want others to know or to think that they are rich
C.don't want others to know they are rich
D.want to be happy
第7题
The expression was first used in 1913 by a young American called Arthur Momand. He told this story about himself: He began earning $125 a week at the age of 23. That was a lot of money in those days. He got married and moved with his wife to a very wealthy neighborhood outside New York City. When he saw that rich people rode horses, Momand went horseback riding every day. When he saw that rich people had servants, Momand and his wife also hired a servant and gave big parties for their new neighbors.
It was like a race, but one could never finish this race because one was always trying to keep up. The race ended for Momand and his wife when they could no longer pay for their new way of life. They moved back to an apartment in New York City.
Momand looked around him and noticed that many people do things just to keep up with rich life-style. of their neighbors. He saw the funny side of it and started to write a series of short stories. He called it "Keeping up with the Joneses", because "Jones" is a very common name in the United States. "Keeping up with the Joneses" came to mean keeping up with rich life-style. of the people around you. Momand's series appeared in different newspapers across the county for over 28 years.
People never seem to get tired of keeping up with the Joneses. And there are "Joneses" in every city of the world. But one must get tired of trying to keep up with the Joneses because no matter what one does, Mr. Jones always seems to be ahead.
Some people want to keep up with the Joneses because they ______.
A.want to be as rich as their neighbors
B.want others to know or to think that they are rich
C.don't want others to know they are rich
D.want to be happy
第8题
It is likely that the author wants to tell us ______.
A.how to draw pictures
B.why to draw pictures
C.how to enjoy pictures
D.what to be seen in pictures
第9题
Why does the woman call the man?
A.She wants to request a refund.
B.She plans to deliver a package.
C.She has not received her ticket.
D.She needs to make a reservation.
第10题
If a driver wants lo leave his car and go to the shops, ______.
A.he can leave his car anywhere
B.he can leave his car at the gate of any shop
C.he must look for the sign with the letter P on it
D.he can leave his car at tile side of the street