外刊经贸知识选读2011年4月真题试题及答案解析（00096）

Yet in its current dour mood, Europe risks almost overlooking the revolutionary step forward it has taken in creating the world’s largest and wealthiest barrier-free market—and on a continent where, for centuries, economic battles have led to some of history’s bloodiest wars. Moreover, a failure to reinforce the single market by pushing forward with European integration could lead to an unraveling of what the internal market program has achieved, some observers say.

分值分配Yet in its current dour mood(1分),

Europe risks almost overlooking the revolutionary step forward it has taken (2分)

in creating the world’s largest and wealthiest barrier-free market(1分)

—and on a continent where, for centuries, economic battles have led to some of history’s bloodiest wars(3分).

Moreover, a failure to reinforce the single market(1分)

by pushing forward with European integration (1分)

could lead to an unraveling of (1分)

what the internal market program has achieved(1分),

some observers say(1分).

If you want to buy a BMR product in France, you may go to the pharmacies.

It can be inferred that US laws for selling health products are stricter than the corresponding laws in Europe.

The brand name of this product for muscular therapy is BMR Teoranta in Irish.

Passage 2

Donegal is located in the windswept wilderness. It might seem an odd place to find one of Europe’s most dynamic companies. But a small assembly unit making a muscular stimulation product for leisure and healthcare is blazing a trail. BMR Teoranta—the company title in Irish—has quietly established a market for itself, making products for muscular therapy and body toning using the brand name Slendertone which it bought in 1989.Mr. Kevin McDonnell, the chairman, chief executive and owner of 95 per cent of the company, is a little vague about the source of his success. Part of it, he says, must be the strong work ethic in the area. He points out that half his employees are from Galswegian families with their Scottish attitudes of thrift and industry. Mr. McDonnell bought the company for $300,000 and BMR sales are now growing at around 50-60 per cent a year.The medical products business, where growth is less dramatic, but margins are attractive, is seen as the source of the company’s future earnings. In the US alone, the market for muscular stimulation products has jumped from $88m to more than $200m this year.Many BMR products are not available over the counter but through catalogues. The company is looking at special advertising on video shopping channels. In the US companies like BMR are prohibited from selling medical products over the counter. In Europe this situation is slightly different. BMR, for example, is starting to sell its consumer range in Carrefour superstores in France and its range is available in pharmacies. However, under a European Union ruling similar to US laws, companies that sell such products will have to reequip their factories to meet new health standards. “I know it sounds a bit smart, but our products have always been seen as industry standard,” says Mr. Kevin McDonnell.The company spends ￡1,000,000 a year on research and development, quite a large sum for a company of its size.

A big company would normally set its manufacturing site in a more prosperousarea than Donegal.

Mr. McDonnell attributed the success of his company to his management and industry.

Having more than one supplier might bring lower price but searching for them might be time-consuming.

According to the passage, there exist different opinions whether or not a purchasing company should use more or fewer suppliers for large orders.

A “clear” supplying firm must initially give the purchaser its specifications clearly and in exact technical detail.

Supplying firms with rich experience, good equipment and staff expertise can only be found in specialist magazines.

Passage 1

In order to produce goods and services, businesses need to buy the required raw materials and equipment. Many firms need to order components or equipment to their own specifications which will later be used to produce a finished product. Firms need reliable suppliers who must be:Stable. Firms that can not supply goods in time to the purchasing company may mean delays and holdups for customers. Thus the purchasing company should check the financial background of its suppliers.Able. The purchasing company must investigate whether potential suppliers are able to make the goods required. This may mean looking at the firm’s equipment and staff expertise if a large or important order is being considered. Some purchasing departments may ask for evidence of the firm having done similar work for other organizations before placing an order. Trade directories and specialist magazines are a useful starting point in this research.Clear. What is required will usually be made clear in a specification. The specification or “spec” will give the exact technical details of what is needed in terms of size, shape, color and performance of the items to be purchased. The supplying firm must then meet this specification exactly.An important problem all purchasing companies have to deal with is whether to use one or two or several suppliers. By using several suppliers it is argued that competition between them will force prices down. And delays or disruption at one supplier will not affect too much. Arguments against this are that researching various suppliers is time-consuming and expensive, and low prices might mean reduced quality. Using fewer suppliers for larger orders can mean that the purchaser receives greater attention and discount for bulk purchases. The suppliers will be more involved in the firm’s business, too.

Being “stable” means sticking to the same supplier with reliable financial background.

Passage 1

The US dollar value of Chinese exports increased at an average rate of almost 18 per cent (per annum) between 1978 and 1983, while imports increased by (approximately) 11 per cent per annum. As a result, the visible trade surplus rose sharply from US $1.4 billion in 1981 to US $4.4 billion in 1982 and US$3.7 billion in 1983. Exports grew much faster than imports during this period not only because of the strong emphasis placed on exporting by China’s economic planners, but also because a number of industrial projects were postponed in 1979. Official recognition that foreign technology could play a major role in modernising the Chinese economy had caused imports to rise by more than 50 per cent in 1978 placing undue strain on the national economy. Grain imports have fallen sharply over the past few years—China became (a net grain exporter ) in 1984—and in 1983 the country started to export soyabeans and cotton.

36、What do “per annum” and “approximately” mean?

37、Why did the more than 50% rise in imports of 1978 place undue strain onChina’s national economy?

38、What is “a net grain exporter”? Does it mean one who has never done any import?

Passage 2

Korea, once known as the “(Hermit Kingdom)”, is plainly on the move. As with “Japan, Inc.” before it, the new label “Korea, Inc.” may be no more than a trendy buzzword. But South Korea aims to forge just such a national economic machine, using the might of its established giants backed by centralized planners who can mobilize the country’s banks and industrial infrastructure. The heady dreams of actually rivaling Japan may never come within reach; Korea’s economy, while large by Asian standards, is barely one-fifteenth the size of its island neighbor. And it faces a gantlet of other obstacles, ranging from an unwieldy bureaucracy and a volatile political climate to a chronic shortage of investment capital and heavy commitments to military spending. Still, the comparisons with Japan, Inc. are more than empty flattery; in fact, they signal Korea’s (gathering clout).

39、What is a “Hermit Kingdom”?

40、What are the disadvantages of Korea’s economy when compared with Japan’s?

41、What does “gathering clout” mean in the passage?

经济特区

自由贸易区

人均收入

技术转让

高工资经济

收盘价

最惠国待遇

原材料

双边条约

试销市场

fledgling industries

countervailing duty

trade reprisal

GDP

punitive import tariff

spot market

means of production

Bank for International Settlements

exclusive contract

preferred status

You can use credit cards but it’s best to take some (currency) as well.

Lead values moved up to their best level since April last year (in the absence of)a settlement at Australia’s broken hill lead-zinc-silver mines.

Tractors and other agricultural machines greatly (facilitate) farming.

However, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo still face a struggle in (persuading) bottlers across the nation to take the products.

With barter, however, debtor nations can continue to import goods while, in effect, concealing export earnings from (creditors).

International consultants who want to secure definite projects at (lucrative) fees are finding it harder and harder.

A separate, long-running dispute over oilseeds does still (pose) a threat.

Fearful that rapidly modernizing Korean (rivals) will intrude on its foreign and domestic markets, Japan has fought to keep the Koreans from appropriating its technologies.

As Europe’s economy has (soured), free-market ideas that are new to much of Europe face new challenges.

At the summit meeting, America insisted that Japan should (come up with)specific measures that would enable it to meet new import targets.

Now Zhangjiagang is China’s seventh largest port and a (tumultuous) construction zone of half-built office buildings and hotels.

Against this (deteriorating) global background, the improvement in economic performance in a few developing regions in 1991 was especially noteworthy.

Balanced against that criticism is the positive reaction in Latin America to Mr.Clinton’s (embrace) of the free-trade agreement.

The authorities are willing to permit a run-down in the country’s international reserves over the next few years as means of (accelerating) the introduction of foreign technology.

Another 20% worked well, but the remaining 60% should have been (scrapped).