爲了方便同學們的學習，本站商務英語欄目爲大家準備了BEC閱讀：備戰BEC中級考試閱讀訓練，希望以下內容能夠爲同學們的BEC商務英英語提供幫助!
BEC中級考試閱讀訓練篇一：
Every business I know has been through the wringer during the past two years. Sadly the good times aren't returning any time soon. So I've compiled a list of some more creative and worthwhile ways companies can save money to help entrepreneurs keep afloat in spite of the challenges.
● Do random expense claim audits.
Abuse of expenses is endemic, but if staff know that even their mobile phone bills are checked occasionally, then they are less likely to take advantage. You should have very clear expense policies, so fiddlers are not able to use confusion to get away with cheating.
● Buy second-hand.
We frequently buy reconditioned kitchen equipment for our restaurants. Do not hesitate to choose used over showroom-new if it makes economic sense.
● Lead from the front about costs.
As a boss, you should constantly question costs and try to be seen to be abstemious rather than extravagant – at least with corporate assets. If you are a spendthrift, you set a poor example that others will copy – with the company's money.
● Ask for early payment discounts.
If you have the cash, it might be a great way to improve your margins. If your suppliers are under financial pressure, they may well agree a 5 per cent discount for swift settlement. It would take almost two years with current low interest rates to earn that much if you kept the money in the bank.
● Understand what everyone does.
At least once a year, undertake a thorough analysis of all staff roles and try to work out their true productivity – and rationalise posts if necessary. Remember: no one ever tells you they are underworked or that their contribution is inessential.
Language Points:
Exam Focus:
(1) What is NOT the purpose of random expense claim audits?
A Preventing employees from taking advantage.
B Fiddlers may not easily succeed in this way.
C To examine their mobile bills occasionally.
D To cut costs in this aspect.
(2) Which is NOT a creative and worthwhile way to help bosses save money?
A Choose used equipments as substitutes for brand-new ones.
B Set examples as an abstemious boss.
C Early payment to obtain discount
D Rationalize posts frequently.
Keys:
(1) C
(2) D
參考譯文：
過去兩年，我認識的每家企業都歷盡了磨難。遺憾的是，好時光不會很快就回來。因此，我編制了一份較有創意和價值的企業省錢途徑列表，幫助企業家在面對挑戰時仍能生存。
● 隨機審計費用支出
費用濫用屬於地方病，但如果員工知道，就連他們的手機賬單偶爾也會受到檢查，那麼他們佔公司便宜的可能性就會降低。企業應該制定非常明確的費用政策，這樣弄虛作假的人就無法渾水摸魚逍遙法外
● 購買二手貨
我們經常爲餐館購買二手廚房設備。如果能省錢，就不要猶豫選擇二手貨，而非全新商品。
● 帶頭控制成本
作爲老闆，你應該經常對成本提出質疑，並努力讓人們認爲你很節儉，而不是奢侈浪費——至少是對公司資產。如果你大手大腳，就會爲別人樹立一個效仿的壞榜樣——用公司的錢。
● 要求提前付款折扣
如果你握有現金，這或許是提高利潤率一個好辦法。如果供應商面臨資金壓力，他們很可能會答應對快速結款支付5%的折扣。如果你把錢存在銀行，以目前的低利率，掙到這筆錢需要差不多兩年的時間。
● 瞭解每個員工在幹什麼
至少每年對所有員工的職責進行一次徹底分析，努力計算出他們的真實生產率——如有必要，就對崗位進行合理化改革。記住：沒有人會告訴你他們的工作負荷不夠，或者他們的貢獻不重要。
BEC中級考試閱讀訓練篇二：
You have your dream interview lined up. But how do you ensure that you get the best possible salary?
While the pay for junior-level positions is typically fixed, mid- to senior-level employees and managers have more flexibility to negotiate their salaries. Here are some tips from recruiters and human-resource managers that can help improve your chances of snagging a high salary.
1. Research, research, research
To get a better salary, begin by figuring out what's the highest you can get. 'Do good homework on what are the prevailing salaries for a similar role in the industry,' says Sanjay Pandit, managing director of recruiting firm Manpower Services India.
This is easier said than done, because companies don't exactly publish their pay scales in the newspaper.
Ask your friends or trustworthy colleagues about potential salaries for someone with your relevant experience and skills. If you are working through a recruiting company, they might be able to give you a range.
Finally, you can try using networking web sites like LinkedIn to connect with people in the field or company you are applying to, who in turn could provide you with some guidance.
It might help to dig through the annual reports of the company you are applying to and read recent news reports, in order to figure out how the company is doing financially. A larger and more successful company can afford to pay higher salaries than a smaller or struggling one.
2. Curb your eagerness
As with any negotiation, if you convey your eagerness for something, you lose your bargaining power. 'Whoever shows more interest always gets less,' says Sanjay Muthal, managing director of executive search firm NuGrid Consulting Pvt. Ltd., in Mumbai.
Candidates need to strike a balance between appearing interested in the particular job, and not appearing too eager.
Mr. Muthal advises talking about macro issues such as the role you're applying for and potential responsibilities, rather than discussing the nitty-gritty of expected pay. 'If you generate a terrific impression, then salary follows,' he says.
3. Wait to be asked
Candidates should not begin the salary discussion because that makes them 'come across as being too money-minded,' says Zak Parker, regional HR director of North Africa, Middle East & Southern Asia for security services firm G4S PLC.
Wait for the company to start the salary negotiation. It might help to delay the discussion till all interview rounds are over. The further along you are in the interview process, the more interested the hiring managers would be in you. That puts you in a better position to ask for a higher salary, because the manager might go back to the human resources team or the budgeting team to ask for more money for you.
Language Points:
Exam Focus:
(1)
A Ask friends for help.
B Digging through daily newspaper.
C Try to get connected with your recruiting company.
D Surf the Internet for more details.
(2)
A If you are interested in your job, you will be better paid.
B Eagerness is essential in that it gives your employer more pressure on salary issue.
C Make sure to get a job that you are interested in.
D Try to hide your feelings so as not to lose the bargaining power.
Oral Topic:
In what way can you persuade your boss to raise your salary?
Keys:
(1) B
(2) D
參考譯文：
你終於得到夢寐以求的那家公司的.面試機會，但如何才能爲自己爭取到最好的薪酬水平?
企業普通崗位的工資水平通常是固定的，但中高層僱員和經理有更大的靈活性來談判自己的薪酬。現在，招聘專家和人力資源經理告訴你八個小竅門，讓你更有可能談妥一個高工資。
1. 研究，研究，再研究
要爭取到更高的薪水，得先弄清楚自己能拿到的最高薪酬是多少。印度職介公司Manpower Services India總經理潘迪特(Sanjay Pandit)說，要好好研究一下該行業類似職位的主流薪酬狀況。
說起來容易，做起來難，因爲企業不會把自己的薪酬情況堂而皇之刊登在報紙上面。
你可以問朋友或值得信賴的同事，擁有像你這樣資歷和技能的人大致能拿到多少工資。如果有招聘公司爲你提供服務，他們也許能夠給你一個大致的薪酬區間。
最後，你可以嘗試使用LinkedIn這樣的社交網絡，與你想申請的領域或企業的人建立聯繫，他們能給你一些建議。
研究意向企業的年報或查看近期的相關報導也可能管用，這樣可以瞭解那家企業的經濟實力。與規模較小或經營困難的企業相比，一家更大更成功的企業開出來的工資會更高。
2. 不要表現得迫不及待
在任何談判中，如果你表現出自己渴望得到某樣東西，就會失去談判的籌碼。印度孟買獵頭公司NuGrid Consulting Pvt. Ltd.的總經理穆沙爾(Sanjay Muthal)說，你表現得越有興趣，得到的反而越少。
應聘者應該保持不溫不火的態度，既展現出對特定職位的興趣，又不至於讓人感覺你已迫不及待。
穆沙爾建議應聘者多談論一些宏觀層面上的東西，如你申請的職位及其職責等，而不要在預期薪酬這種細枝末節上糾纏不清。他說，如果你給面試官留下很好的印象，薪酬自然會水漲船高。
3. 不要主動問薪水問題
安全服務提供商傑富仕公司(G4S PLC)負責北非、中東、南亞區域的人力資源主管帕克爾(Zak Parker)說，應聘者不應該主動提出薪水問題，因爲這會讓人覺得你滿腦子只想着錢。
等待招聘方起頭開始薪酬方面的討論。等整個面試過程結束後再來討論相關問題也是個不錯的選擇。你的面試時間越長，招聘經理就會對你越感興趣，就更有利於你提出更高薪酬的要求，因爲招聘經理可能回頭會去找人力資源部門或預算部門，提出爲你增加薪酬。