1、剑桥商务英语中级-88 及答案解析(总分：100.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、READING(总题数：0，分数：0.00)二、PART ONE(总题数：1，分数：7.00) A. MicrocomputerA microcomputer is a desktop or notebook size computing device that uses a microprocessor as its Central Processing Unit, or CPU. Microcomputers are also called Personal Computers (PCs), home com
2、puters, small business computers, and micros. The smallest, most compact are called laptops. When they first appeared, they were considered single user devices, and they were capable of handling only four, eight, or 16 bits of information at one time. More recently the distinction between microcompu
3、ters and large, mainframe computers (as well as the smaller mainframe type systems called minicomputers) has become blurred, as newer microcomputer models have increased the speed and data handling capabilities of their CPUs into the 256 bit, or even much more bit multi-user range. B. MinicomputerA
4、minicomputer is a mid-level computer built to perform complex computations while dealing efficiently with a high level of input and output from users connected via terminals. Minicomputers also frequently connect to other minicomputers on a network and distribute processing among all the attached ma
5、chines. Minicomputers are used heavily in transaction processing applications and as interfaces between mainframe computer systems and wide area networks (WAN). C. Mainframe ComputerA mainframe computer is a high level computer designed for the most intensive computational tasks. Mainframe computers
6、 are often shared by multiple users connected to the computer via terminals. The most powerful mainframes, called supercomputers, perform highly complex and time consuming computations and are used heavily in both pure and applied research by scientists, large businesses, and the military. D. Superc
7、omputerIn computer science, supercomputers are large, extremely fast, and expensive computers used for complex or sophisticated calculations, typically, machines capable of pipelining instruction execution and providing vector instructions. A supercomputer can, for example, perform the enormous numb
8、er of calculations required to draw and animate a moving spaceship in a motion picture. Supercomputers are also used for weather forecasting, large scale scientific modeling, and oil exploration and so on and so like. E. Distributed or Grid ComputingThe power needed for some calculations is more tha
9、n even a single supercomputer can manage. In distributed computing using a PC grid many computers of all sizes can work on parts of the problem and their results are pooled. A number of current projects rely on volunteers with computers connected to the Internet. The computers do the work when they
10、are not busy otherwise. The projects that need distributed computing are highly technical. For example, the SETI Home project looks for signs of intelligent communication in radio signals coming from space. (SETI stands for Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. )（分数：7.00）(1).They are often used
11、 for jobs like engineering design and testing, serious decryption, economic forecasting, etc.（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(2).Many public schools now employ the devices for programmed learning and computer literacy courses.（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(3).Computers are designed for use in homes, schools, and office settings.
12、（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(4).If you devote your computer for this project Entropie (modeling evolution of resistance to drugs and designing better AIDS treatments), you might be asked to load a small screen-saver program onto your own computer.（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(5).They are used for jobs that take massive amou
13、nts of calculating.（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(6).They are usually used in transaction processing applications.（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(7).They are often shared by many users connected to the computer.（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_三、PART TWO(总题数：1，分数：5.00)Icon Acoustics: Bypassing TraditionLike most entrepreneurs, Dave Fokos dreams
14、 a lot. He imagines customers eagerly phoning Icon Acoustics in Billerica, Massachusetts, to order his latest, custom-made stereo speakers At the age of 28, Dave set out to turn his dreams into reality.Like most entrepreneurs, Dave has taken a long time to develop his dream. (8) Dave discovered that
15、 he had a strong interest in audio engineering. He took independent-study courses in this area and by graduation had designed and built a pair of marketable stereo speakers. Following graduation, Dave pursued his interest in audio engineering. He landed a job as a loudspeaker designer with Conrad-Jo
16、hnson, a high-end audio-equipment manufacturer headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia (9) Dave identified a market niche that he felt other speaker firms had overlooked (10) These affluent, well-educated customers are genuinely obsessed with their stereo equipment. “Theyd rather buy a new set of speakers
17、 than eat,“ Dave observes.Dave faced one major problem-how to distribute Icons products. He had learned from experience at Conrad-Johnson that most manufacturers distribute their equipment primarily through stereo dealers. Dave did not hold a high opinion of most such dealers; he felt that they too
18、often played hardball with manufacturers, forcing them to accept thin margins. (11) This kept those firms that offered more customized products from gaining access to the market. Perhaps most disturbing, Dave felt that the established dealers often sold not what was best for customers, but whatever
19、they had in inventory that month.Dave dreamed of offering high-end stereo loudspeakers directly to the audio-obsessed, bypassing the established dealer network. (12) “My vision for the future is one where all manufacturers sell their products directly to end user. In this way, even the audiophiles i
20、n Dead Horse, Alas- ka, can have access to all that the audio-manufacturing community has to offer. “ A. At the age of 28, Dave set out to turn his dreams into reality. B. Furthermore, the dealers concentrated on only a handful of welt-known producers. C. Who provided mass-produced models. D. The fi
21、rms tend to plow their money in to developing their products and have little leftover to market them. E. This niche consisted of “audio-addicts-people who love to listen to music and appreciate first-rate stereo equipment. F. To serve the audio-addicts segment, Dave offers only the highest-quality s
22、peakers. G. It all began while majoring in electrical engineering at Cornell. By going directly to the customers, Dave could avoid the dealer markups and offer top-quality products and service at reasonable pric（分数：5.00）填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_填空项 1:_四、PART THREE(总题数：1，分数：6.00)It is only through
23、 innovation that large companies will be able to survive, according to Ron Mitsch, vice-chairman of UK-owned industrial giant 3M. However, says Mitsch, it remains difficult to run a truly innovative company. Innovation involves speculation, unproven technologies and unpredictable costs. It takes a l
24、ot of managing, because managers really have to be on top of whats happening. In addition, innovation does not fit easily into the orderly kind of organization that company accountants like. Despite this, Mitsch claims it is an essential policy to pursue.The 3M groups record of growth aiding profita
25、bility indicates that it manages the orderly part of the business pretty well. The statistics are big. operations in more than 60 countries, sales in more than 200, around 60,000 products and 70,000 employees. But what makes 3M different is its innovative approach to innovation itself. Although it i
26、s a massive multinational with a turnover of $15 billion, the whole company is broken down into tiny groups which work together and help each other and are then encouraged to consult internally with the other groups. This positively encourages individual and collaborative research.A further encourag
27、ement is that all research staff worldwide are expected to work on 3M projects for only 85% of their time; for the remaining 15% of time they are free to pursue ideas of their own, using company facilities. In this time they can work on their own or in a group. One hugely successful project that has
28、 come out of this 15% rule is the Post-it note. The idea came from an individual inventor and then, using the business skills of a large organization, was rapidly developed into a major product. The success of the Post-it note proves how profitable the innovative 15 % rule can be.Ron Mitsch says inn
29、ovation is at the heart of 3M. In 1996, more than 30% of sales were generated by products less than four years old. He says; “We almost always get into new markets through innovation. Were very good at adapting these innovations to lots of different markets so we have a high success rate. We take an
30、 idea and see how many applications its got. Then we try to establish market dominance. We have a tremendous variety of technologies so we can adapt anything but we still need the original ideas to develop. “In the past year 3M has introduced a group-wide program called Pacing Plus. This means that
31、they are still actively seeking new ideas, but with the difference that they hope many of them will eventually lead to the establishment of completely new business. In this way, 3M will be able to invest in a wide range of markets and even create some new ones.This emphasis on innovation creates unu
32、sual stresses and strains and makes a company like 3M a difficult business to manage. Technical people at 3M are given a large degree of intellectual freedom, and the company appears to specifically try to recruit people who think for themselves and who dont necessarily solve things by the tradition
33、al routes. The management encourages people to step outside of the security that comes from working in a big, stable group, and then to handle the consequences. So far the mixture of freedom and heavy responsibility seems to work; the 25 research schemes at present under review could generate busine
34、ss worth $ 6 billion a year.（分数：6.00）(1).Ron Mitsch says it can be difficult for companies to be innovative because this involves _.（分数：1.00）A.giving more power to the accountantsB.employing a lot of managersC.being orderly and organizedD.being prepared to take risks(2).3Ms approach to innovation is
35、 different because it allows researchers to _.（分数：1.00）A.work for more than one companyB.work on a variety of productsC.work with groups in other organizationsD.work alone as well as in a team(3).The writer says that the Post-it note was invented as a result of _.（分数：1.00）A.a researchers own initiat
36、iveB.research carried out by a groupC.research originally done on another productD.a managers innovative idea(4).When 3M has a new idea it tries to _.（分数：1.00）A.sell it only in new marketsB.sell it in markets it already controlsC.think of different ways of exploiting itD.keep it secret as long as po
37、ssible(5).3M sees the Pacing Plus program as _.（分数：1.00）A.something other companies are likely to copyB.an opportunity to take over some of its competitionC.a departure from its previous approachD.a way of solving certain problems(6).The researchers at 3M need to be people who _.（分数：1.00）A.feel rela
38、xed about their workB.have an individual approach to problemsC.are academically giftedD.are willing to stay with the company for a long time五、PART FOUR(总题数：1，分数：15.00)Why the World is Sold on GoldGold is a measure of wealth C which is recognized all over the world. For centuries it was the foundatio
39、n of the international monetary system and, (19) today, it remains one of the most important components of a countrys foreign currency reserves.What (20) gold attractive is that it has a value of its own for both industrial and ornamental purposes, (21) paper banknotes, which are worthless (22) them
40、selves. As a result, gold is bought as an (23) in times of financial uncertainty.Until the 1930s, several European currencies were based on the Gold Standard, which meant that the value of a (24) of currency was fixed in (25) of a stated quantity of gold. People could freely (26) any banknotes they
41、had for gold. In 1931, worldwide financial problems (27) the Gold Standard to be dropped. Then, in 1935, the USA, France and the UK (28) the price of gold at $ 35 an ounce, which remained the price until 1971. Because the demand for gold (29) so fast, however, the price of gold for ornamental and in
42、dustrial purposes was (30) to rise. Today one ounce of gold costs $ 390 in London.Gold for jewellery is mixed up. (31) a metal alloy and the purity of the gold is measured in carats. Most gold sold to the public has 40% gold and is (32) nine-carat gold. Gold investors can buy pure gold from dealers
43、in the (33) of gold bars or gold coins.（分数：15.00）A.yetB.justC.nowD.evenA.makesB.turnsC.givesD.formsA.againstB.unlikeC.contraryD.oppositeA.onB.forC.toD.inA.expenseB.allowanceC.investmentD.interestA.unitB.pieceC.bitD.partA.conditionsB.referenceC.termsD.waysA.convertB.exchangeC.alterD.refundA.createdB.
44、resultedC.madeD.causedA.fixedB.attachedC.laidD.stoodA.grewB.raisedC.heightenedD.gainedA.grantedB.allowedC.acceptedD.passedA.downB.byC.upD.withA.calledB.thoughtC.knownD.believedA.sortB.fashionC.formD.type六、PART FIVE(总题数：1，分数：12.00)A BAD EXPERIENCEI am glad I can hear from you so soon, and thethank yo
45、u for the photos you sent me of our holiday together. It was very（分数：12.00）(1).great to remember what a good time we had done, especially as Ive not had（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(2).a very happy time since I got back. As you know, Im a member of the city（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(3).choir and we meet every Wednesday to
46、 do practise. Well, two weeks ago I（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(4).went to the meeting as usual. However, on the way to the bus stop a young（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(5).woman who stopped me and asked me for directions to a local park. I thought（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(6).it was rather strange as though it was already dark and t
47、he park would be（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(7).closed. Anyway, as I was telling to her she pushes me over and ran off with（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(8).my handbag. I was so shocked I didnt know what for to do. A few minutes（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(9).later, although it felt like a few hours, someone came along the street and sa
48、w（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(10).me on the ground. They were very helpful and took after me to the local police（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(11).station. I told the police what had happened but they dont think whether（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_(12).theres any chance of my getting my bag back again, unfortunately.（分数：1.00）填空项 1:_七、WRITING(总题数：0，分数：0.00)八、PART ONE(总题数：1，分数：5.00)1. You are taking your annual holiday at the beginning of next month and you will be
