商务英语考试
商务英语考试(BEC)考核范围
BEC 考核四项语言技能:听、说、读和写。 BEC P级,阅读和写作为一张考卷。BEC V级
和H 级的考试中,阅读和写作是在分开的试卷上。
下表中列出的范围涵盖在BEC 考试各个级别之中。总的来说,以下的范围每个级别都类似,但是随着级别的递进,对于语言知识的广度和深度的要求也不相同。事实上,某些特定的范围在某个级别上更为普遍,如,在BEC P级的考试中,社交和提供个人信息方面的题材考得会比较多。
BEC 评分标准及考试通过标准
考试评分标准:
BEC Preliminary听、说、读和写四个部分。每一部分各占25%,总分为100%。
通过成绩(Passing Grades)有2个: 优秀(Pass with Merit)和通过(Pass)
未通过成绩(Failing Grades)有2个:LEVEL A2和不及格(Fail)
通过标准:
passing grades
pass with Merit 80% and above
pass 65% to 79%
failing grades
level A2 45% to 64%
fail 44% and below
参加考试的学生会在7周后收到成绩单。通过考试的学生会在收到成绩单4周后得到考试合
格证书。
Quiz:
Work with a partner. Introduce yourself and get acquainted.
Find out
their name
where they come from
Find out about their company
Type of business
Main customers
Main competitors
Locations
Find out about their job
Job title
Department/Division
Responsibility
Key
What‟s your name, please?/ May I have your name please?
Where are you from?
What exactly does your company do?
Who are your main customers?
Who would your main competitors be?
Where is your company based?
What‟s your job title, exactly?
Which department are you in?
What are you responsible for?
BEC 考试注意事项及考试时间
考试注意事项
1)请携带准考证、身份证。
2) 带2B ,B 或HB 铅笔及橡皮,考试过程中不
得使用钢笔、圆珠笔和涂改液。不得使用
字典和自带草稿纸。
3)考场座位呈S 排列。
4)考试中请关闭手机和呼机。
1.BEC P考试时间
注意:
8:40必须进考场
8:50考官发阅读和写作答题卡并请考生确认后签名
8:55 发阅读和写作试卷并请考生填写考生姓名、中心考号和考生考号
9:00 开始做阅读写作试卷
10:30 考官宣布停笔,收阅读和写作答题卡和试卷。
(阅读和写作这90分钟既包括做题也包括把答案填到
答题卡的时间)
10:35 听力考试 (听力录音播放两遍30分钟,然后再给10分钟移卡时间)
11:15 收听力答题卡和试卷
*(11:15---11:30)锚考试 (Anchor Test)
下午: 13:00 口试 大致12分钟
专家分析BEC 商务英语考试特点
A .实用性:不同于TOFEL ,IELTS ,和四、六级考试。BEC PREMINARY考试1993年由剑桥大学首先在中国推出,它具有很强的实用性。它主要考查考生在真实的和各种各样的商务环境下实际运用英语交流的能力。它的内容包含办公室英语、饭店英语、机场英语、电话英语、
社交英语、旅游英语和传媒英语等。学习的目的明确,就是为了迅速适应工作环境。
BEC 商务英语证书被中国地区和全球许多知名企业认证(可参看教育部网站),已经成为进入诸如西门子、普华永道、安永、英国石油、强生等大企业的敲门砖。同时。BEC 商务英语考试的模式也被这些企业的入门考试所采纳,很多企业的招聘考试试题采用了BEC 考试的题目。因此,
学习BEC 能够使您更有信心进入高薪的大企业。
Example: 以饭店英语为例
饭店入住英语
book/reserve/check in/check out/ single room/double room/twin room
饭店设施英语
sauna /modem socket / bar/ indoor(outdoor) swimming pool
minigolf-course / shopping arcade/ gift shop/hairdresser‟s
gymnasium with weight-training equipment
饭店服务英语
secretarial service / 24-hour room service/ nightly shoe cleaning
细分为:
1)日常寒暄问候,介绍自己,举荐他人,填写介绍个人或公司的表格,会写求职信及简历。
2)询问和介绍工作情况。
3)打(接)电话,交换信息,用笔记录电话内容,了解常用缩语。
4)制定、安排会议活动及日期,交流和确定计划内容,介绍新产品、市场、市场潜力,询问、
了解或解释生产信息、产品细节,产品评估和比较产品价格。
5)了解解释生产体系,生产过程,生产设备和条件,定货、交货、人员招聘和提升。
6)报告解释公司财政、生产情况的变化、生产进展和取得的成果。
7)预订房间、机票、租车、住房、结帐、定餐和询问旅行安排。
B .BEC 英语是典型的英国英语,那么英国英语在以下一些方面与美国英语有很大的不同,
在考试中阅读,写作和听力中要特别注意。
1. 单词拼写不同 (考试中全部为英式拼法)
centre /center
harbour/harbor
catalogue /catalog
cheque /check
2. 同一单词发音不同:
advertisement leisure
3. 同一意思习惯用不同单词来表达,比如:
电梯 lift/elevator 地铁 metro/subway
手电筒flashlight/torch 简历curriculum vitae (CV )/resume
不同的表达句型有
Have you got any money on you? / Do you have any money on you?
4. 另外很重要的一点是BEC 英语全部为英国英语发音,而不是美音。因此,平时可以多收听
BBC 的广播和英国发音的磁带。
商务英语(BEC)口试测试内容及评分标准
一、口试形式与内容
BEC 口试主要考查考生商务交往过程中运用英文的能力。
商务交往主要指:
1.建立和保持商务联络;
2.谈论工作;
3.制定计划与安排工作
二、测试内容
1.建立和保持商务联络
1) 向人表示问候和对问候的回答
2) 自我介绍
3) 询问对方或介绍自己的身份特征
4) 表达自己喜欢什么、不喜欢什么
5) 发出邀请、接受和拒绝邀请
6) 表示感谢和欣赏
7) 给别人提供方便,接受和拒绝帮助
2.谈论工作
1) 询问和描述工作任务
2) 询问和介绍公司情况
3) 询问和简要介绍产品
4) 比较不同产品及价格
5) 询问和提出自己的观点
6) 表示同意或反对
7) 提出、接受和拒绝建议
8) 表达需要和要求
3.制定计划和安排工作
1)商务会议安排会议日程安排会议议程
2)商务旅行预定饭店房间到饭店住宿和结账点菜进行了旅行咨询预定机票乘火车旅行根据指南
行路
BEC 口试形式及评分标准
测试分两个阶段
第一阶段:采取考官与考生交流的方式,时间约为4-5分钟。
考生应对考官的问题做出回答或对考官提出的要求做出反应。考官所题问题主要针对商务交
往的具体内容。
第二阶段:采取考生与考生交流的方式,时间约为3-4分钟。
每组考生抽去两组卡片,每组卡片为两张,一张卡片上描述具体内容,另一张卡片是针对其内容的问题。考生可得到一张卡片上描述具体内容和另一考生卡片相关问题卡片,有足够时间阅
读卡片,交流的内容局限于这两组卡片。
评分标准:测试依据发音、准确性、流利程度以及交流能力四个部分判定3个等级。分数分
别为3分、2分、1分。
具体标准如下:
1.发音(包括声音大小、重音、语调、语气)
3分:尽管有些读音错误,并且有受母语影响的迹象,但比较容易听懂且抑扬顿挫较流畅。 2分:由于发音受母语影响,使某些词不易听懂,有一些读音错误,受母语影响严重。 1分:考生的发音很难听懂。经常出现读音错误,受母语影响明显,语调不对且断断续续,
给听者造成麻烦。
2.准确性(包括语法、用词及说话方式)
3分:有错误,但基本上能把意思表达清楚。所采用的句子结构规范,但处理复杂句子结果
比较困难。对所熟悉的话题词汇较充分,但表达有欠缺。
2分:有的意思表达不清。所采用的句子结构多为基本句式,且有语法及用词错误,对所熟
悉的话题有一定词汇描述能力。
1分:表达令人费解,基本句子结构出现错误,缺乏用于交流的词汇。
3.流利程度(包括语速、长短句搭配)
3分:听者感觉不错,尽管有停顿,但较流利,能组织语言,用较长的句子表达,但有些句
子不够完整。
2分:听者需要耐心,尽管有停顿但基本流利,句子比较短。
1分:听者需要非常耐心。经常中断且间隔较长。
4.交流能力(包括独立性、灵活性以及对谈话方式的把握)
3分:基本具有独立性。只是有时需要在其它考生的帮助或提示下表达。在与其它考生的交
流中占主导地位,回答其它考生所提问题较迅速。
2分:有时需要依靠别人的帮助完成表达。在交流中有不妥之处。不能很快回答其它考生所
提问题。
1分:需要经常依靠别人的帮助才能完成表达。掌握了一些句式但使用不当,对其它考生的
提问,反应慢,甚至没有反应。
湖南省
湖南大学外国语学院海外考试中心,电话(0731)8822586,8821436,8821631,长沙市岳麓
山,邮编410082。
BEC 高级考试A 分通过者考试经验
当得知自己以总成绩A 通过剑桥商务英语高级(BEC Higher)的时候,我的心情确实是非常的激动和兴奋,首先是因为我很了解这张证书的重要性,可以说我非常看重它;同时也是因为觉得能通过这
次考试,说明一直以来自己努力和付出没有白费。
这里,我愿意将我在准备BEC 考试的过程中自己的一些经验或教训以及考场上的感受体会写出来
和所有准备参加BEC 考试的同学一起交流,希望我的经历能带给大家一些有益的启发。
(一)
首先,我觉得在学习英语的整个过程中,不论是参加什么样的考试或是比赛,有两点是非常重要的。它们贯穿在我们学习英语的全过程,做不到或者做不好再多的辛苦也换不到我们想要的结果。 第一点就是,一定要对自己有信心,要敢于展现自己。我一直认为在学习英语方面自信心和勇气是非常非常重要的。没有足够的自信,害怕在别人面前表现自己,即使实力再强,我们也很有可能发
挥不出来甚至失败。
所以,用个心理学上的术语说,我们一定要对自己进行正面强化,进行正面的心理暗示,告诉自
己我应该做什么、我能够做什么,而不是我能不能做、我做不到怎么办。
再有一点就是,要重视思考的重要性。很多人都认为学习英语就是一个下功夫花时间的活儿,在我看来不完全是这样。在学习英语的初级、中级阶段,辛苦的努力是会对我们英语水平的提高起到很大的作用的,然而在我们由中级向高级突破,特别是面对BEC 高级这种注重考察应试者语言的应用能力的考试,不是说下了大功夫就一定会有很大的收效的(当然还是要用功的),多动动脑筋、多思考
则是非常关键的。
我自己的体会是,在准备BEC 考试的过程中,追求做题的正确率是一方面,更为重要的是要揣摩作者写作的思路和思维方式、一篇好作文的结构、磁带里说话者词汇运用上传递出的信息以及如何能
拓宽自己的思路在讨论某一个topic 的时候可以更全面组织观点。
(二)考试的准备过程
下面,我将具体讲一讲自己在写作、阅读、听力和口语四个方面是如何准备的。
第一,写作部分。我主要做了两方面的工作:首先是仔细阅读了上课时候老师的笔记并找到一两本作文辅导书(主要是关于图表写作方面的),看一看写作的基本模式和框架是怎样的,结构是怎样
安排的,应该写什么不该写什么等等。
然后,大量的工作就是自己实实在在地动笔写。我把历年真题和模拟卷子上的所有作文题目都写
了(大约有二三十篇)。每一篇写作的过程中,不翻看任何参考范文或资料,独立完成。写完之后,再对照范文进行比照,找出自己的不足,进行修改。说实话,刚开始的时候真的是一个很痛苦的过程,虽说看了笔记和辅导书,但轮到自己写的时候还是不清楚应该从何下笔,特别是以前很少有机会写商业方面的report, proposal等等,一篇很短的文章总要花上好长一段时间。好不容易写完了,对照范
文修改的时候,又是满篇“触目惊心”的红色。
不过,坚持下去,情况就越来越好:思路越来越清晰,写得越来越得心应手,红笔修改的地方也
越来越少。
第二,阅读部分。BEC 考试和很多英语考试不一样,,对于阅读的速度有很高的要求。因此大量的计时阅读非常必要。在大量阅读的过程中加强如跳读、定位等阅读技巧,训练自己必须在半小时内
完成3-4篇文章、每篇长度在800-1000字左右。
另一方面,还要注意阅读的深度。在做题目的时候,要注意多分析、归纳,弄明白句与句、段与段之间的逻辑关系。由于BEC 考试阅读部分的题型独特(有句子填空这种要求很强逻辑性的题目),因此阅读部分我很注意分析文章的结构,注意寻找自己与作者、出题者思路之间的差异。只有这样,才能够不断提高自己阅读的准确度。另外我认为多深入阅读、分析一些原版杂志上的文章也很有用,
特别推荐Economist 。
此外,扩大自己的商务词汇量也有助于阅读的提高。尽管我是学经济的,但还是有很多词汇没有
接触过。于是我自己就把BEC 的商务词汇书反复看了好多遍,直到基本上全部掌握为止。
第三,听力方面。我的做法是---多听。但每一遍听的重点都不一样。第一遍先把题目完成,并且对照答案找出错误。第二遍,对照听力原文听,找出第一遍听的时候没有听清或听错的地方。第三遍,合上书,再听一次做到全部听明白。等到离考试还有半个月到一个月的时候,我把所有的磁带又从头
至尾再听了一遍,不仅要做到所有内容都听明白,而且要注意从中把握考点之所在。
对于听力,我还有一个建议,听的同时可以配合着朗读听力的原文。有句话说得好“能读多快就能
听懂多快的东西”,所以听力的提高跟口语的功力也有很大的关系。
最后,口语部分。我没有找到合适的partner 一起参加考试,所以平时我就是一个人练习:主要
是把上课时候老师的笔记反复朗读,以积累足够的素材和内容,让自己有话可说。
(三)考试
笔试考试过程中,我觉得从容镇定的良好心理素质最重要,这决定了我们能否正常发挥自己的水平。我考试的时候,考场的最前面就是一个大大的时钟,这是因为笔试的三个部分需要独立考试、独立计时。试想一下,如果一个考生在这种情况下,没有良好的心态,那么随着时间一点点接近收卷的时间,他/她就会越来越紧张、心慌,就不能很好的完成考试了。或者说,如果心理素质不好,缺乏信
心,那么如果第一部分感觉不好,后面的考试也就都不能很好的进行了。
随之而来的一个问题就是对于时间的合理分配。我有一个高中同学和我一起参加考试,他就跟我说他考完试后感觉不好主要就是因为时间没有把握好,以至于到最后时间不够了。当然这需要我们在平时训练的过程中,注意对时间的把握,强制自己平时练习中就一定要在考试规定的时间内完成,这
样在考试的时候才会从容不迫。
BEC 高级考试A 分得主考试回忆
本人就读于上海末流二本学校的英语专业,马上大四了。
大三上的时候,家人催着要我去考证。我虽然自己觉得学得还不错,但对标准化考试还是反感+没把握。口译笔试不是问题,但口试我还是没什么信心,而且为了应付口试,需要做很多对英语学习(generally speaking)没有太大意义的专项口译练习,我强烈抵触。话虽这样说,还是想去考的。去年底,就拍了证件照,复印了身份证,跑到一家昂立,希望他们给我带报个名。结果不让,我就郁闷
了,不高兴单独跑老远去浦东大道那里报名,所以不考了。
口译不考,就只有BEC 了。刚好高中一个同学也在考,所以就转而想考BEC 了。
虽然对自己的英语很有信心,但对考试还是没什么信心,何况这玩意还不便宜,我不想打水漂。寒假之前,买了经济科学出版社那个标准教材,和一本真题集2。结果寒假里只看了一课,丢在一旁。 开学了,还是很矛盾,不想报名。后来家人又催,自己想想以后人家要是总问我考出了什么证,
我说四大皆空,总有点过不去,终于决定去报名。
网上找了很多资料,好多上海考点的电话号码。因为海事比较近,就先打海事的。结果海事说只
报中级,晕死。
报高级只能在上外。打个电话过去,说X 月X 号-X 号报名。那个星期五下午,去上外(虹口) 。到了上外,来到某楼某教室,交钱580,收到填涂卡一张,乱七八糟得涂好,上交,得到红书一本,里
面是样卷。P.S. 一本就是上外刷掉我的,
报完名差不多还有两个月时间。毕竟580交出去了,我是不敢学某些人裸考的,我可能有那个实力,但绝对没那个胆量。开始逼自己看教材。然后做真题,然后我就郁闷了。真题集2的录音哪里都买不到!真急死我了,我本来就是American-English ,对英英不熟,需要真题录音找找感觉。找了很多点,居然有真题集3的录音,但是没有真题集3!最后总算看到一家有真题集3和录音,晕死我
了。
教材看完,真题集做完。开始学习BEC 作文的格式和内容,一开始很不习惯这种文章,后来也能
接受了。
然后就考试了。到亲戚家住了一晚,早上起来去上外,考试在上外边上一个极小的教学区。人好
多啊!很多人临考了,还在看书。我一直觉得临考还看书的,都是要挂的人?
考试很正规,各项操作程序很规范,我很满意,比杀千刀的专四好多了。考试很顺利,听力比较难,唯一做完没有完全把握的地方。开考时,旁边一个女生居然要找我做下午的Partner ,被我搪塞过
去了。
考完吃中饭,那个郁闷啊,不知道吃什么,边上连KFC 都没有,胡乱吃了一点算数。
下午按考试通知时间进场,发现里面都是人了,都没位子做了,无奈到最后站着吹空调。居然遇到一个同道,也是没位子。刚好都没Partner ,于是就临时搭伙。Partner 是浙大毕业,在上海混,刚去过美国出差,把我这个美国迷羡慕的...... 不过他说美国没啥好的。就这样边聊边等,心里还是有点
点小紧张,毕竟从来没有参加过口试。
然后就口试了,胡诌。完了,回家。
最后一步,查成绩。我本来还以为是8月底出成绩呢,没想到这么快。输入考场,考号,结果
是........................ :A
分享:BEC 高级分项复习技巧
Quite a number of people willing to find useful information from countless
websites or forums don't weigh the effectiveness of exploiting those DOC or PDF.
What I really want to say is that if your objective is just pass that, say BEC HIGHER,
the possibility of achieving that, without genuine efforts made and solid
determination, is less than 10 per cent.
Almost 90 per cent of those documents are meaningless or useless because they are not relevant to the exact things we need. So I would like to make my first advice noticeable that do not track those kinds of documents or potentially want to do this because it's not only wasting your time and energy but also affect your process of
improvements.
Secondly, learning from others' experience is highly recommended, like mine or other useful advice, except those which contain errors such as the level BEC HIGHER represents. (BEC HIGHER = CAE not CPE. CPE is the most difficult test of its kind.) Thirdly, drawing up your own plan to facilitate the possibility of improvements. Do not decide to attend BEC HIGHER test without enough confidence and practice. It's common that someone can get a C easily, not because of their several-months practice, but because of the long time they spent in improving English along with
their several-months practice and effective plans. If you feel that the plan is no longer
fit for your purpose, try to change it immediately and rightly.
Apart from good planning, the selection of materials on different periods also
matters. Find your weaknesses, and focus your attention on reading, collocations,
listening, writing, speaking or understanding. Two textbooks are proven to be
acceptable to those who want to attend BEC HIGHER test. But it is highly
recommended that you should choose the new edition of the Cambridge BEC HIGHER Student Book which is better than the seemingly wonderful but old-fashioned books.
Remember the new book was published in 2007 new enough really!
You must put more emphasis on PAST PAPERS.
Furthermore, nurturing your ability to read, listen, write and speak is difficult.
You must find the right way of doing that. Which one do you like best: US English or UK English? Or both? If you choose the first, well, you'd better know more about
British English. A good solution is that you keep your spelling, accent unchanged and are more familiar with articles or accent from major newspapers and radio station
(like the Guardian or the BBC). Try to read and listen as much as possible every day on business, which you should start doing so a year earlier, including not only
business but also politics, society, health, environment, education, etc. If you are
confident of achieving your goal, like the successful realisation of a BEC VANTAGE OR
other certificates, you are bound to maintain your efforts in the long run.
The last thing is that you'd do better to stick to your plan, without any doubts.
首先是得找本好字典,我指的是英英字典,装一下,最好是英式英语字典。然后,一定要弄懂用法,
搭配等,因为学英语不是为了考试。而是为了用。
听力问题就是多听,选新闻听比较好,我个人喜欢BBC RADIO FIVE LIVE BREAKFAST,这个节目3小时,不过你可以只听1小时。千万不要只听几分钟。每天都有,可以选择周一到周五听。当然,每天3小时更好,只要你有时间和耐心。WAKE UP TO MONEY也不错,主要是说BUSINESS, STOCK MARKET等,速度很快,正是好材料。我个人不推荐1,2分钟的BBC ,因为太少了。这个
节目30分钟。NEWSPOD 也是推荐的33分钟每天。
阅读问题就是读什么呢?不要读中国日报什么的。读英国报纸最好。当然,纽约时报也是我喜欢的。每天希望多读点,读5000字以上。推荐是10000字。自己选择一期复制到WORD ,或者就是在网页上读。打印出来不环保。放大到150%字就大了。一些书本,杂志如HARVARD BUSINESS
REVIEW 可以选读,选择不太深奥的读,那像上课的一步一步的,还有图的,就可以不读。
读报纸干什么?一是练速度和理解力+熟练程度。二是积累COLLOCATIONS ,VERBAL
PHRASE ,难的单词可以暂时不管。因为ENGLISH IN USE才是我们的重点。
还有,我上面说了买新教材比较好,真题集,最多买本ADVANCED CAMBRIDGE BUSINESS VOCABULARY IN USE,其他可以不用买了,买了没用而且最好的书其实就是FT, GUARDIAN或
BBC 等媒体。
写作重要的是练。自己在规定的时间内做完一套题,作文在自己批改的时候可以改写的完美些,这样会有30篇左右的作文,自己反复看,复习。有时可以借鉴一下范文,不过还得有自己的一套思路
和用法。
做题之前问一下自己,我积累的足够多了吗?阅读足够多了吗?快吗?听的够吗?自学的课本掌
握了吗?笔记整理了吗?
如果是NO, 请还是等等再做题吧,因为结果不会满意。
如果是YES ,那么请想办法研究真题吧。同时,继续积累。
口语,很简单,真题的问题自己反复说,1分钟内。
3分钟讨论?自己说,不需要讨论。有人了自然会说了。
说了那么多,考试还得要讲时间,时间最重要,有时可以放弃几道题,抓分数多的题。
最后,考好试也不要停止提高,因为不断提高英语才有意义。说不定还有机会参加更高级的考试。
或者,能真正熟练运用英语。
BEC 考试的一点小技巧
海外的考试严严谨性和规范性一般来说都是有规律可循的。商务英语写作鼓励人们注意格式,采用套话,模仿优秀的范文。因而,在短时间里,还是可以让自己的写作有所改观的,比如:你可以多看一些比较好的范文,熟记一些典型句型。高级考试写作主要考的是商务信函、调查报告以及建议书的写作,而且是三选一。建议你最好找一些剑桥大学考试委员指定的考试书籍上有关的范文细心揣摩,一定会有收获的。报考时会发一个红皮册子,上面的范文请大家反复看,对考试非常有帮助。口语同样也存在套话,也有许多经典句型,此处不再一一赘叙.
热门商业术语中英文对照
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http://www.51Test.net 2006年4月3日 来源:无忧考网 51Test.net
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outbound travel:出境游
Outbound travel by Chinese citizens started in 1997 with destinations consisting merely of Thailand , Singapore , Malaysia , the Philippines as well as China’s Hong Kong and Macao. Only 5.32 million Chinese citizens traveled abroad the same year, the official said.
assembly line:装配线
Airbus agreed with Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday to study the possibility of setting up an assembly line in China —— a move that could see its jets being built outside Europe for the first time.
attrition :人员自然缩减
Wagoner said the job cuts will come primarily through attrition and early-retirement packages to mitigate the impact on workers.
money broker:货币经纪人
China ’s banking regulator on Friday published detailed rules for the implementation of provisions to manage money brokers.
blockbuster :巨片、大片
Hong Kong blockbusters swept the major prizes of Taiwan ’s 42nd Golden Horse Film Awards , considered one of the top awards events of the Chinese-language film industry. smooth over:消除
The accord is aimed at smoothing over a rough spot in the US-China trade relationship before President George Bush visits Beijing in the middle of this month.
reshuffle :改组;调整
A financial reshuffle by the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China , which was transformed into a joint stock company, is more or less finished.
severence pay:解雇金
“Laying of workers is a tough decision to make because of the strong relation with workers and the high severance pay,” he said.
cutoff point:起征点
China ’s monthly personal income tax cutoff point was lifted to 1,600 yuan from 1,500 yuan after drawing on public opinions from the first-ever legislature hearing held on Sept. 27. write off:勾销债款
Reform measures, including 2 billion yuan (US$246 million) in central bank bills to help write off bad loans as well as efforts to improve management, have already yielded results. upstart :暴发户;新贵
Facing intense competition both from global rivals like General Motors Corp. and domestic upstarts like Chery Automobile Co., VW has seen its market share drop to 18 percent, from well over 50 percent in the 1990s.
buy into:买入股票
Once finalized, the deal would mark the European firm’s first direct investment in China’s banking industry, after it lost a bid to buy into Bank of Beijing in March to Dutch rival ING and the World Bank’s International Finance Corp.
liquidator :清算人
Stephen Liu Yiu-keung and Yeo Boon-ann have been appointed as joint liquidatorsof the company , to implement the transactions outlined in the Settlement Deed.
brisk :兴旺的;生机勃勃的
It is estimated that the sales volume of gold and jewelry during the week-long holiday saw a year-on-year increase of around 35 percent as business was brisk throughout the country at a discount:打折扣
The valuation is at a discount to the country ’s number-five lender , Bank of Communications (BoCom ), whose shares trade at about 2.2 times book.
peak season:高峰期
The first and last three days will be thepeak season of the National Day holiday. The aviation industry has entered into high season, with 400,000 passengers transporting everyday and load factor is close to 75 percent.
headcount :职员总数
“These headcount reductions are indispensable. They will contribute to significant improvements in the competitiveness of Mercedes-Benz through an increase in productivity,” the company said.
bow out:由„退出
Dozens of MP3 player manufacturers in Shenzhen are bowing outas fierce competition has severely squeezed their profit margins.
market maker:做市商
The People’s Bank of China may name banks including HSBC Holdings Plc., Citigroup Inc. and Bank of China as market makers in the yuan , a step toward a freely traded currency , bankers and traders familiar with the situation said.
tone up:增加
“These firms make a decisive contribution to job creation. Our aim is to liberate their massive potential to improve competitiveness, tone up employment, boost economic growth and encourage social cohesion,” Sioufas said.
gyration :波动
Disruptions to oil and gas supplies may add to energy price gyrations,they said. wean off:使脱离
China ’s central bank pledged Monday to keep the newly unshackled yuan basically stable but urged fresh efforts to wean the economy off export-driven growth.
curb :抑制;控制
The physical and psychological damage caused by Hurricane Katrina is likely to reverberate across the global economy in ways that will curb growth well into 2006, economists say. perk up:振作起来
There were no significant changes from prior quarters , and SupportSoft met revenue estimates. During the conference call, however , management raised an issue that made my ears perk up.
cap :限制
In an effort to gain some control over what motorists pay at the pump , Hawaii on Wednesday became the first state in the U.S. to set caps on the wholesale price of gasoline. mortgage :抵押贷款
Rates on 30-year mortgages declined this week after posting increases for six consecutive weeks.
proceeds :收益
The Internet search leader said it will use the proceeds for “general corporate purposes,” including possible acquisitions. Google added that it currently has no agreements or commitments to make a material purchase.
downturn :衰退
“Six weeks after the July 7 attacks killed 56 people, including four suicide bombers, the Greater London Authority (GLA ) accepts there has been some downturn,”the economic daily reported.
inflation :通货膨胀
Consumer inflation shot up in July as rising gasoline prices pinched drivers’ wallets from coast to coast.
Initial public offering:公开募股
Now the startup founded by two Chinese veterans of American tech firms is preparing to follow Google’s example with an initial public offering in the United States, hoping to raise $45 million.
Skew :曲解;歪曲
However , that comparison is skewed because the sale of IBM’s personal computer division to China ’s Lenovo Group Ltd. closed on May 1, lowering the figures IBM posted in the remaining two months of the quarter. Looking only at continuing operations , IBM showed a profit of $1.85 billion, $1.14 per share.
Population :种群,族群
“There are clear differences between the two populations that had not been previously recognized and these were confirmed by the studies on DNA,” said Isabel Beasley, a doctoral student at James Cook University’s School of Tropical Environmental Studies and Geography. Unionized :工会组织的
But aside from giving interns valuable experience, the program is a relatively cheap source of labor for Disney and sometimes worries the unionized workers , although union officials approved the program when it began almost 25 years ago.
Same-store sales:同店销售额
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. raised its forecast for June same-store sales , citing demand for seasonal and general merchandise.
Threshold :上限,极限
With $60 no longer a threshold - and with continued concerns about refining capacities - prices appeared set to go even higher, analysts said.
Big-ticket :高价的,昂贵的
Entrepreneurs grumble that executives pander to big-ticket electronics vendors and industrial manufacturers - not the teddy bear enthusiasts and numismatists who were faithful a decade ago, when eBay was founded and enjoyed a kitschy obscurity. They complain about shoddy customer service , including site crashes and anti-fraud software that too often mistakes a legitimate business for a huckster.
Cartel :同业联盟,卡特尔
The anticipated increase would bring the official quota to 28 million barrels per day - a
symbolic gesture, analysts said, since the cartel is already pumping that much. Including Iraq, which is not bound by the official quota, OPEC ’s daily output was 29.3 million barrels a day in May , according to the International Energy Agency.
Newswire :新闻专线
The April figure was also better than the 4.5 percent forecast by economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires.
Happy Hour:欢乐时光
Beer-swilling Britons face a sobering prospect : an unhappy hour. A group representing about half the country’s pubs and bars said Monday it is curbing Happy Hour offers and other deals that encourage irresponsible drinking , a British pastime that has come under increasing attack from the government.
Bear out:证实
Scientists are excited about a vitamin again. But unlike fads that sizzled and fizzled , the evidence this time is strong and keeps growing. If it bears out, it will challenge one of medicine’s most fundamental beliefs: that people need to coat themselves with sunscreen whenever they’re in the sun. Doing that may actually contribute to far more cancer deaths than it prevents, some researchers think.
Stitch :缝合,缝缀
The goal of the merger is to stitch together two geographically distinct carriers with a history of financial struggles into a stronger airline that would compete better with lower-cost rivals such as Southwest Airlines Inc. and JetBlue Airways Corp. US Airways has a strong presence on the East Coast, and in the Caribbean, while America West operates across the West from hubs in Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Out-of-state :外州的
Wine lovers can ’t be barred from shipping home bottles purchased from out-of-state vineyards they visit in person or on the Internet, the Supreme Court said Monday in a decision toasted by the wine industry.
Shade :细微差别
Disney ’s profit of $698 million , or 33 cents a share , was a shade above Wall Street estimates and contrasts with the $537 million, or 26 cents, it earned a year earlier. Revenue in the period ended April 2 climbed 9% to $7.8 billion.
Ratification :批准,承认
Bahrain has its own agreement awaiting U.S. Congress ratification. Two other members of the six-state Gulf Cooperation Council —— Oman and the United Arab Emirates —— have started talks on free trade deals with the U.S.
Repellent :驱虫剂
After years of promoting the chemical DEET as the best defense against West Nile-bearing mosquitoes , the government for the first time is recommending the use of two other insect repellents.
Thriller :惊悚片
Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn’s “The Interpreter” translated into solid box-office as the United Nations thriller debuted with $22.8 million to top the weekend for Hollywood. Peck :啄,轻吻
The “MareNostrum ,” built by IBM Corp., boasts 40 teraflops of speed. It can make more
calculations in one second than a human pecking at a calculator could make in 10 million years. Buyout :全部买下
Shares in Lenovo Group, the largest Chinese maker of personal computers, rose Thursday after three buyout funds bought a stake in the company for $350 million.
Oust :驱逐,罢黜
Mr Hurd, currently head of smaller US computer services group NCR, will replace Carly Fiorina , who was ousted from HP in February. HP’s shares closed up 8.1% in Tuesday trading in New York, following initial speculation of Mr Hurd’s appointment.
Realism :真实性,逼真度
A judge has ordered Sony Corp. to pay $90.7 million to a company that develops technology that enhances video game realism but immediately stayed an order that would halt U.S. sales of Sony ’s popular PlayStation consoles.
Epizootic :家畜流行病
The report said the State Emergency Veterinary and Anti-Epizootic Committee was working on the problem, reporting outbreaks in “a few” locations , including the Hadang Chicken Farm , one of Pyongyang’s largest.
Capsize :倾覆
Bernard Ebbers , the once-swaggering CEO of WorldCom , was convicted Tuesday of engineering the largest corporate fraud in U.S. history - an $11 billion accounting scandal that capsized the big telecom company three years ago.
Clearance :官方证明书
Lenovo Group has obtained U.S. government clearance for the purchase of IBM’s PC unit. Fish out of water:如鱼离水
“’Pacifier ’ did better than anyone expected, but you can’t underestimate the family audience ,” said Paul Dergarabedian , president of Exhibitor Relations Co. , which tracks box-office figures. “I think people like to see a fish-out-of-water story, an action star in a very unexpected role.”
Distillate fuel:馏出燃料
On Wednesday , a US government report showed that inventories of distillate fuel , a category that include heating oil and diesel, fell 1.7 million barrels to 110 million. Analysts had expected a 1.2-million-barrel decline.
PSP :便携式游戏机
The PSP machine, a challenger to Nintendo Co.’s long-standing grip on the handheld video gaming market, will be sold as a “value pack” for $250 in the United States and for $300 Canadian dollars. It will include numerous accessories and - for the first million sold - a copy of the “Spider-Man 2” movie on the new Universal Media Disc format that Sony designed for the PSP.
Shoot up:暴涨,迅速生长
Shares in Google jumped 9 percent to a record high after the company reported net income shot up more than seven times from a year earlier, beating estimates by a wide margin. Holidaymaker :度假者
The devastating tsunami that wiped out cities, seaside communities and holiday resorts in southern Asia has not put holidaymakers off visiting the region, a survey has found. Get an edge:取胜
When it comes to recruiting students for college , admissions officials are turning to increasingly outlandish stunts to get the attention of high schoolers. Birthday cards, ski weekends and even reality TV shows are being used by colleges and universities to get an edge. Shirtsleeve :只穿衬衣的,非正式的
Hiring the shirtsleeve crowd represents a shift in the economy toward higher-paying jobs and a more skilled workforce. It also indicates that some companies that squeezed their middle managements four years ago are starting to rebuild them.