单选题
单选题 Martha started her business because
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[听力原文] 23-30
Man: Martha Flowers, you're the founder and managing director of MAX Sandwiches. First of all, thank you for agreeing to speak to us.
Woman: You're welcome.
Man: I'd like to begin by asking you to tell us something about how you started what is now a very successful business.
Woman: OK, eh. I started it because I was hungry really. There was nowhere to buy something cheap yet healthy at lunchtime. And I spotted a gap in the market. I set up the business with a partner.
Man: What? Someone who knew the business?
Woman: Yes, he'd had lots of hands-on experience. However, the first three years were difficult. We worked all hours and hardly made any profit. We just didn't have sufficiently clear ideas of what we wanted, and frankly we were lucky to survive. These days we are very much more focused.
Man: Martha, would it be fair to describe MAX as just one more fast food company?
Woman: No. We're definitely not that. For us, it's all about selling naturally made products at reasonable prices, not selling cheap food fast. Having set that, the fast food chains do some things very well. And I'd like us to imitate the good aspects of how they operate. What I mean is we should cut out waste the way they do, not waste time or materials.
Man: All right, so that's the aim. Now I'd like to ask you something about how you actually run your business like. Are you, like so many executives nowadays, a slave to your diary?
Woman: No, I am not. I don't even own one. I find this lack of structure gives me immense flexibility. I really don't see how you call get things done if you're tired down all the time. I am sorry for my secretary, who has to cope with the way I work, but for me it's the only way.
Man: But how are meetings scheduled?
Woman: Well, this is another thing. I hate meetings. The only regular feature of my week is the senior management team meeting. And we focus there not on details but on major issues. This means I can actually spend about 95% of my time listening to customers. And this is really the key to how I nm my business life-listening to our employees, because they can often tell you how to get things right.
Man: Your approach certainly seems to be working. Your company is expanding all the time. How do you account for this success?
Woman: We're a high volume low margin business. We only make a little profit on everything we sell, so basically we have to sell a lot. And the secret of success in a business like this is a loyal customer base. It's as simple as that.
Man: Well, obviously the next question is what exactly do you do to keep your customer's loyalty?
Woman: We have to look at three things. The price of the product, the quality of the product and the attitude of our employees. They have to understand one thing very well indeed, and that is. it's the customers who pay their salary.
Man: Martha, if you were asked to give just one piece of advice to someone who is staring out in business today, what would you say?
Woman: I'd say, look at what other people in your line of business are doing. It's absolutely vital.
Man: But doesn't everyone monitor what their competitors are doing?
Woman: Perhaps they do, but the important thing is what action you then take. A lot of people seem to monitor what's going on so they know what their feelings are. Then they do nothing about it. I find it most extraordinary.
Man: Martha Flowers, thanks very much for talking to us.
Woman: You're welcome.
[精析] 此题是对文章细节的提问。当问到此人为何开创谊公司,她回答到:There was nowhere to buy something cheap yet healthy at lunchtime.And l spotted a gap in the market.意思是当时没有卖又便宜又营养的午餐,因此她发现了这个市场上的机会,故答案为B。
单选题 Martha says the first three years of the business were
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[精析] 此题是对文章细节的提问。听力原文用的是difficult来形容最开始的三年,故答案为A。
单选题 How do MAX try to follow the example of fast food chains
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[精析] 听力原文提到:we should cut out waste the way they do,not waste time or materials,意思是不浪费时间和材料,即高效工作,因此,可得答案为C。
单选题 What does Martha say about office diaries?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[精析] 此题是对文章细节的提问,听力原文提到Martha根本就没有工作日志,故答案为B。
单选题 What does Martha say about her employees?
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[精析] 此题是对文章细节的提问。听力原文提到的是:listening to our employees,because they can often tell you how to get things right,意思时聆听员工心声,因为他们的意见会告诉你如何办好事情,故答案为B。
单选题 According to Martha, what is the most important factor in MAX's success?
【正确答案】 A
【答案解析】[精析] 听力原文提到:the secret of success is a loyal customer base,说明她认为成功的关键是重视顾客,因此,可得答案为A。
单选题 Martha's advice to anyone who is starting a new business is to
【正确答案】 B
【答案解析】[精析] 听力原文中提到:look at what other people in your line of business are doing,故答案为B。
单选题 What surprises Martha about other companies?
【正确答案】 C
【答案解析】[精析] 听力原文提到,很多企业都会关注竞争对手,但是却对得来的信息熟视无睹,故此题选择C。