剑桥商务英语BEC中级模拟试题3(附答案)
剑桥商务英语BEC中级模拟试题3（附答案）
一.READING
PARTONE
Questions1-7
.Readthesesentencesandtheinstructionsthatfollow.
.Whichmethoddoeseachsentencedescribe?
.Foreachsentencemarkoneletter(A,B,CorD)onyouranswerSheet.
Example
Youcandictateamessagealmostanywhereatyourconvenience.
Answer:B
1.Youspeak,whileyoursecretarytypesdownyourwords.
2.Youhavetospeakslowlyandveryclearly.
3.Oneofthesemethodscanbeusedwhenyouareinahurry.
4.Whiledictating,youusesometapes.
5.Oneofthedisadvantagesofthismethodisthatyouaretotallystrangetothetranscriber.
6.Thedictationisdonewithyourspeaking,amachine'srecording,andyoursecretary'stranscribing.
7.Themachinerecordsyourwordsandthenprovidethetranscription.
A.Dictationtoyourownsecretary-
B.Dictationtoamachine,withyoursecretarytranscribing.
Inexpensivecassetterecordersprovidegreatflexibilityindictation.
Youcandictateintheoffice,athome,inanautomobile,inanairplane,andinanyout-of-the-officesituation.Yourdictationtapescanbetranscribedbybeingplayedbackonmoderntranscribingequipment.
C.Dictationtoamachine,withaword-processingcenterprovidingthetranscriptioninthiscase,thetranscriberwillprobablynotbefamiliarwithyourdictationmannersandpeculiarities.
D.Otherdictationmethods,suchasbytelephonecallsorbydirectsecretarialtranscriptionatthetypewriter.Thesemethodsarenotroutinebutareusedtypicallyin
PARTTWO
Questions8-12
.ReadthistextaboutelectricalpowerinCanada.
.ChoosethebestsentencefromthelistA-Itofilleachoftheblanks.
.Foreachblank(8-12)markoneletter(A-I)onyourAnswerSheet.
.Denotmarkanylettertwice.
.Oneanswerhasbeengivenasanexample.
ELECTRICITY:WEALTH,MONEY,POWER
Canadianindustrieshaveprosperedformorethanacenturyonthecountry'sabundanceofcheap,reliableelectricalpower......example......Infact,CanadaconsumesmoreelectricityonaperpersonbasisthananycountryexceptforNorway......8......
ElectricityisasignificantsourceofexportincomeforCanada.....9.....Butinthe1970s,CanadianexportsrosesharplytoaddresstheU.S.demandforcheaperandmorereliable.In1985,exportsofCanadianelectricalpowerreached1,400millionUSdollars....10.....Netelectricityexportsaccountformorethan60%ofCanada'sbalanceoftrade.
Domestically,Canadacontinuestogenerateelectricalpower,primarilyfromwater....11.....Exportsofelectricityarenowsubjecttoforcesfarbeyondthecontrolofutilitymanagers....
12.....
Example:B
A.Besides,electricityfromcoalandnuclearis50/00to75/00cheaperthanmanyotherindustrialnations.
B.Generatedprimarilybywater,ourpowersupplieshaveattractedandsupportedenergy-intensiveindustriessuchasmining.
C.Italsoranksamongthetopthreeelectricityproducersintheworld,behindtheU.S.andRussia.
D.Nexttoelectricity,Canadianpaperexportscameto900millionUSdollarseveryyearinthe
1960s.
E.Twolargenuclearpowerplantsbegantogenerateelectricity.
F.Sincethen,electricity'exportshavedeclinedbuttheyhavecontinuedtoexceed700millionUSdollars.
G.Environmentalandtradepoliciesallinfluenceelectricalproductionandtrade.
H.CanadaandtheU.S.importedandexportedpowerinalmostequalmeasuresafter1901.I.Therefore,theCanadiangovernmenthaslittleinfluenceontheseforces.
PARTTHREE
Questions13-20
.ReadthistextaboutsouthKorea'seconomicdevelopment,andanswerthequestionsthatfollow.TheKoreansseetheSeoulOlympicsasachancetoshowtheirrapidprogress.TheTokyoOlympicGamesin1964servedthesamepurposeforadevelopingJapan.Within13years,accordingtoadetaileddevelopmentplan,Koreaisdeterminedtobeamongtheworld'stenlargesttradingnations,upfromthe13thnow.
1.Muchoftheeconomy'sdevelopmentinrecentyearscomesfromwhatKoreanleaderscallthethreeblessings-loweroilprices,lowerworldwideinterestrates,andacurrencythatisweakagainsttheJapaneseyen.TheKoreanwoniscloselyrelatedwithmanyothercurrencies,thoughthefinanceministrywillnotsaywhichones.ObviouslytheU.S.dollaristhemostimportant.WhenitsvaluedropsagainsttheJapaneseyen,theKoreanwonwentdowntoo.SinceSeptember1985thewonhasdecreasedabout40%againsttheyen,givingKoreaahugeadvantageoverJapanintheU.S.market.
2.TheKoreansmadegooduseofthisadvantage,pouring40%oftheirexportsintoAmerica.WhentheU.S.respondedwithtoughprotectionismtalk,theypretendedtobesurprisedandangry.TheKoreansstillseethemselvesasrelativelypoordependentsoftheU.S.andtakeAmericanprotectionismasbetrayalbyabigbrother.Theyareright.TheKoreaneconomyisonly6%ofJapan's.TallbuildingsinSeoulresemblethoseinTokyo,buttheKoreancapitalisfullofnarrowstreetsandpoorhouseslikeavillage.Inthecountrysidesome20%ofhomelackrunningwater.Moreover,Koreahasaheavydefenseburdenaswellasthatbigforeigndebt.
3.AndKoreahassufferedsettacksbeforeInthe1970sthegovernmentsupportedheavyindustry,creatingsomebigbutsselessenterpriscs.TheTreasuryMinistryisstillquietlysupportingsomeillshippingandoverseascompanies.Meanwhilethegovernmentdoesnotknowhowtosetupwiningindustries.
4.TheKoreansarealsoquicktopointoutthattheir7.1billiontradesurpluswiththeU.S.isjust4%ofthetotalAmericantradedeficit.Japanaccountfor35%.IntheU.S.theKoreansarecompetingwithJapanesenotAmerican,Products.TheycomplainthatU.S.protectionismpunishesthemforAmericans'lazyworkhabitsanddrugabuse.TheysaytheunionruleshaveruinedU.S.competitiveness.
Questions13-16
.Forquestions13-16,choosethecorrecttitleforeachparagraphfortheboxbelow.
.Foreachparagraph(l-4)markoneletter(A-G)onyourAnswerSheet.
.Denotmarkanylettertwice.
13.Paragraph1.......
14.Paragraph2.......
15.Paragraph3.......
16.Paragraph4.......
A.Economy'sdevelopment
B.Lessonsfromthepast
C.KoreanproductsinU.S.market
D.ExportsintoAmerica
E.Favourableeconomicbackground
F.Tradesurplus
G.Disadvantageousfactors
Questions17-20
.Usingtheinformationinthetext,completeeachsentence17-20,withaphrasefromtheListbelow(A-G).
.Foreachsentence(17-20)markoneletter(A-G)onyourAnswerSheet.
.Donotmarkanylettertwice.
17.FortheJapanese,theTokyoOlympicGameswasregarded......
18.TheKoreansthinkoftheU.S.protectionism..................
19.TherecenteconomicdevelopmentofsouthKoreaisdue........
20.TheJapanesetradesurplusaccounts.......................
A.tohavethreeadvantages.
B.amongthetenbiggestcountriesinforeigntrade.
C.forthirty-fivepercentofthetotalAmericantradedeficit.
D.asanexhibitionofrapideconomicgrowth.
E.againsttheJapanesecurrency.
F.ofnarrowstreetsandpoorhouses.
G.ascheatingalittlebrother.
PARTFOUR
Questions21-35
.Readthisnews..
.Choosethebestwordtofil1eachgap.
.Foreachquestion(21-35)markoneletter(A,B,CorD)onyourAnswerSheet.
.Oneanswerhasbeengivenasanexample.
ThreeBootleggersJailed
Threemenwhoranacross-channelsmugglinggroup,sellingcheap.
Frenchbeer,wineandchampagneinBritain,werejailedyesterday.
Themenwereleadersofan11-mangroupwhichmadeatleast42........example........ontheDover-Calaisferryinthreemonths.
Trucksofcheapdrinkwerebroughtintothecountryandsold......21......atSundaymarket,AndcornershopsinSouthWales,Twosecretteamsofcustomsofficers......22......vehiclesbetweenKentandCardiffinanoperationcalled
Mr.RogerThomassaiditwas........24........that70,000poundsofunpaiddutywasinvolvedbetweenJanuaryandAprillastyearwhenthegangwas........25........thesmugglinggroup.Casesofbeer,wineandchampagnewerebroughttoarentedwarehouseinCardiffbeforebeing........26........totraders.Mr.RichardNichols,aformermarkettrader,Mr.QichardSpencer,ashopowner,andMrRaymondTout,wereputinprisonfor......27.....ofnine,fourandthreemonths........28........JudgeMichaelBurrsaidthegrouphadused
Afterthe........31.......customsinvestigatorssaidthatthegroupmadeasmanyasfourcrosschanneltripsaday.....32......toahypermarketnearCalais.Theywentintobusinessonlythreeweeksafterthenewcustomslawscameinto........33........onNewYear'sdaylastyear.Theinvestigatorsadded:
example
A.holidaysB.toursC.tripsD.voyages
Answer:C
21.A.lawfullyB.secretlyC.legallyD.illegally
22.A.trackedB.travelledC.sawD.watched
23.A.accidentB.conspiracyC.hopeD.dream
24.A.calculatedB.consideredC.countedD.estimated
25.A.meetingB.talkingC.organizingD.using
26.A.movedB.rentedC.distributedD.using
27.A.timesB.lengthsC.termsD.periods
28.A.eachB.altogetherC.longD.respectively
29.A.hardB.easyC.comfortableD.simple
30.A.closedB.dischargedC.openedD.liberated
31.A.trialB.sentenceC.accidentD.case
32.A.occasionallyB.particularlyC.mainlyD.consequently
33.A.beingB.forceC.strengthD.use
34.A.wordsB.sentencesC.phrasesD.punishment
35.A.widespreadB.terribleC.seriousD.rare
PARTFIVE
SectionA
Questions3640
.ReadthistextaboutTurkishAirlines
.Inmostofthelines(36-40)thereisoneextrawordwhichdoesnotfitin.Oneortwolines,however,arecorrect.
.Ifthelineiscorrect,putatick(√)inthespaceonyourAnswerSheet.
.Ifthereisanextrawordintheline(36-40)thatwordinthespaceonyourAnswerSheet.Example:
BecauseweTurksarefamousforhospitality,youmayjustfindyourself...√...
Thinkingthereforewe'reanimportantcentreofmoderncivililzation...therefore...
ISTANBUL
Forcenturies,istanbulwasthece4treofancientcivitisation.Andtoday
36.it'seasytoseewhy.Althoughmuchhaschanged,butIstabulisstill
37.verycentralwhentravelingtotheMiddleEastorAsia.Andpossibly
38.it'sverycentraltotheenjoymentofyourtripaswellas.OnTurkish
39.Airlines,you'llhavethecomfortofourmodernplaneswhichoffer
40.toyouextraroomforyourlegsandwideBusinessClassseating,notto
mentiontheordinaryrecreations.
PARTFIVE
SectionB
Questions41-45
.YourfriendworksassecretaryinaBritishcompanyinChina.HehaswrittenaletterinanswertoaCanadianCustomer'scomplaint.
.Ineachlinethereisonewrongword.
.Foreachnumberedline(41-45)writethecorrectwordinthespaceonyourAnswerSheet.
Example:
Mr.Davidsonworkshardlyeverydayandheisamodelworker...hard...
DearMrs.David,
IreceivedyourletterdatedDecemberthe21stcomplaining
41.aboutthequalifyofourTL135camera!checkedwithour
42.managerandIamnowansweryourquestions:Yourcanmail
43.theflawedcameratousandpayingthepostagebyyourself.Then
44.uponreceivingyourpackage,we'llimmediatesendyouanewone.
45.Andthepostageisonus.Ilookforwardtohearfromyou.
Thankyourforyourletter.
二.WRITING
PARTONE
Question46
Youhavereceivedafaxfromacustomerwhointhefaxcomplainedthathehadreceived100greencolourbicyclesinsteadof50greenand50bluecolourbicycles.Inordertosolvetheproblemandfindoutthefacts,youwriteashortnotetothewarehouse.
.WriteashortnotetoMr.RandySimon,whoisinchargeofdeliveringgoodsfromwarehouse..Tellhimabouttheclaim.
.Mentionthedateofdelivery.
.Askfortheduplicateinvoice..
.Write30-40wordsonyourAnswerSheet.
PARTTWO
Question47
youworkforAlla,ashopwhichsellsupmarketclothing.Youareaskedtofindawaytoincreasetheprofitsofyourshop.
Readthefollowingfigureshowingtheresultsofasurveyoftwoupmarketspecialtyshops.
PointAreferstoyourshop.PointBreferstoBettyFashionshop,yourmaincompetitor,nearyourshop.
.Usethefiguretowriteareport(about100-120words)recommendingwaysofimprovingthequalityandpricingofyourshop.
.WriteonyourAnswerSheet.
附图
三.LISTENING
PARTONE
Questions10-12
.Youwillhearthreefacetofaceconversations.
.Writedownonewordornumberinthenumberedspacesontheformsbelow.
MessageOne.Questions1-4
ApplicationForm
Name:SallyKingSex:Female
Age:(1)......Address:(2)......ForestRoad
ContactNo:981.332.981
Experience:soldbooksdoortodoorfor(3)......Publishing
House
Applyingfor:8:00to8:30onMonday,(4)......Fridaymorning
MessageTwo.Questions5-8.
Resistration
Data:1stSept.Time:10:10
Name:(5)........Sex:M
PassportNumber:76689158
RoomNo:(6)......
StayingTime:17thSept(7)......Sept.
PriceRate:(8).....
MessageThree.Questions9-12
TicketBookingCard
Name:(9)......Sex:male
Nationality:(10)......
PassportNo:8469703
FlightNo:Flight(11)......
Destination:(12)......
Date:7thJuneTime:2:50pm.
PARTTWO
Questions13-22
SectionOne
Questions13-17
.Youwillhearfiveshortpieces.
.Foreachpiecedecidehowmuchisthetotalamountthespeakeristalkingabout..Writeoneletter(A-H)nexttothenumberofthepiece.
.Youwillhearthefivepiecestwice.
13..................
14..................
15..................
16..................
17..................
Amounts
A51pounds
B17pounds
C2.16pounds
D1.85pounds
E16pounds
F1.36pounds
G2.42pounds
H1.45pounds
SectionTwo
Questions18-22
.Youwillhearanotherfiveshortpieces.
.Foreachpiecedecidewhatthespeakerisdoing.
.Writeoneletter(A-H)nexttothenumberofthepiece.
.Youwillhearthefivepiecestwice.
18..................
19..................
20..................
21..................
22..................
Actions
A.claiming
B.regretting
C.washing
D.watching
E.drinking
F.playing
G.depositing
H.toastinq
PARTTHREE
Questions23-30
.Youwillhearatalkgivenby,aspokesmanof`theU.S.InternationalCommunicationDepartment.Hetalksaboutanumberofprivatelyownedtelephonediscounterattackingthecartelofnationaltelephonemonopoliesthatkeepsthepriceofinternationalcallshigh.
.Youhavetocompletethesentences(23-30)bychoosingthecorrectending.
.Makeoneletter(A,BorC).
23.ThePriceofinternationalcallsintoAmericais
A.higherthanthatofthecallsoutofAmerica.
B.farlowerthanthatofthecallsoutofAmerica.
C.isthesameasthatofthecallsoutofAmericaasitisdecidedbythecartel.
24.Ifyouwantto
A.redialthetelephone.
B.knowthefreetelephonenumbertoacomputerizedswitchinanothercountry.
C.findanotherpersontocallyouback.
25.
A..callingviaanothercountry.
B.findingapersoninthethirdcountrytocall.
C.callingthroughthreecountries.
26.InternationalDiscountTelecommunicationsuses
A.
B.
C.
27.Accordingtothespokesman,abandofthesetinyAmericandiscounterswillbeA.prosperous.
B.limitedtoanextent.
C.short-lived.
28.ATSTrefersto
A.AmericanTelephone&Telex
B.AssociatedTelephone&Television
C.AmericanTelephone&Telegraph
29.WorldConnectandWorldReachispurposely.
A.toencouragetheforeignerstouseAmericancalls.
B.tosupplementthe``call-home
C.toenlargethecommunicationbetweentheU.S.andtheworld.
30.AT6T'snewserviceshavebeendeclinedby
A.Iraq.
B.Japan.
C.Syria.
BEC二级模拟试题4参考答案
一.阅读部分
PARTONE
1.A2.D3.D4.B5.C6.B7.C
PARTTWO
8.C9.H10.F11.A12.G
PARTTHREE
13.E14.G15.B16.C17.D18.G19.A20.C
PARTFOUR
21.D22.A23.B24.D25.C26.C27.C28.D29.B
30.B31.D32.C33.B34.B35.A
PARTFIVE
SectionA
36.but是多余,应删掉.
37.没有多余的词.
38.后面的as是多余,应删掉.
39.没有多余的词.
40.to是多余,应删掉.
SectionB
41.qualify应改为quality
42.answer应改为answering
43.paying应改为pay
44.immediate应改为immediately
45.hear应改为hearing
二.写作部分
PARTONE
Question46.
(Sampleforreference)
DearMr.Simon,
Acustomercomplainedthathehadreceived100greencolouredbicyclesinsteadof50greenand50bluecolourbicycles,whichhadbeenshippedon11thMay.CouldyoupleasesendmetheimmediateinvoiceundercontractNo.TXI2-1induplicate?
PARTTWO
Question47
(Sampleforreference)
BothBettyFashionShopandourshopareincitycentre,therefore,wehavealmostthesamecustomers.ButthereexistsafactthatcustomersaremorelikelytospendtheirmoneyinBettyshop.Aftercarefulresearch,wenoticethat,althoughBettyshophashigherprices,theyalsohavemorefashionableclothes.ComparedwithBettyShop,ourrealpricesarenothigh,butthecomparativepricestofashionarehigh.Therefore,ifourshopdecidestoincreasetheprofits,we`shouldpurchasehighlyfashionableclothes,atleastasfashionableasBettyShop,withthepriceslowerthanBettyShop's.As.customershateincreasingprices,itisbettertodothisgradually.
三.听力部分
1.202.no533.Economic.
4.Wednesday5.Robinson6.208
7.2lst8.45pounds9.Mr.Green
10.Canada11.17212.Beijing
13.D14.E15.A
16.F17.C18.G
19.A20.B21.H
22.D23.A24.B
25.A26.C27.C
28.C29.B3O.B
Tapescript
PartOne.Questions1to12.
MessageOne.Questions1to4.
M1:Goodmorning.CanIhelpyou?
F1:Goodmorning.Iwonderifyouhaveajobforapart-time
M1:Oh,yes,we'regoingtoemploytwomorepart-time.tosendournewspaperstothepeoplelivinginFlightStreetandFortunateRoad.Areyouinterested?
F1:Oh,yes,IliveatNo.53ForestRoadwhichisquitenearFlightStreet.Iwouldliketotakethejob.
M1:Ok,then,couldyoudeliverthenewspapersfrom8:30onMonday,Wednesday,
FridayandSundayoronTuesday,ThursdayandSaturday?
F1:Er,IcanworkonMonday,WednesdayandFriday,butnotonSunday.IsitOK?
M1:Well,Ok.Haveyoueverdoneanythinglikethatbefore?
F1:IhavesoldsomebooksdoortodoorforEconomicPublishingHouse.
M1:Good,areyouastudent?
F1:Yes,I'mastudentatOxfordUniversity.
M1:What'syournameandhowoldareyou?
F1:MynameisSallyKing,K-I-N-G.I'm20.
M1:Doyouhaveatelephonenumber?
F1:Yes,981332981.
M1:Then,we'llcallyouafterwehavetalkeditover.
F1:Thankyou,Sir!Ihopetohearfromyousoon.
MessageTwo.Questions5to8.
F1:Goodmorning,sir.CanIhelpyou7
M1:Goodmorning.Ihavereservedaroominyourhotel.
F1:Couldyoutellmeyourname,please?
M1:Robinson,R-O-B-I-N-S-O-N.
F1:Er,yes.Here'sthebookingcard.It'sasingleroomandtheroomnumberis208.
M1:It'sonthesecondfloorthen?
F1:Yes.Howlongwillyoubestaying?
M1:FromnowuntilFriday.
F1:Sothat'sfournights.
M1:Howmuchisit?
F1:It'sf45anightincludingair-conditionerandcolorTV.
M1:Soundsgood.Thankyouverymuch.
F1:You'rewelcome.
MessageThree.Questions9to12.
F1:Goodmorning.May1seeyourticket,please?
M1:Well,ltoldyourofficethatIwouldpicktheticketuphere.
F1:What'syourname,then?
M1:MrGreen,that'sG-R-E-E-N.
F1:Ohyes,hereitis.You'regoingto......Beijing,right?
M1:Yes.
F1:......ByFlight172,JapanAirlines.MayIseeyourpassport?
M1:Oh,certainly,hereyouare.
F1:Thankyou.You'renotAmerican,areyou?
M1:No,I'mCanadian.
F1:Isee.Here'syourpassportandyourticket.
M1:Thankyouverymuch.
F1:You'rewelcome.
PartTwo.Questions13to22.
SectionOne.Questions13to17.
QuestionThirteen
YesterdayIboughtthisT-shirtinyourshop.Butitwastoosmallformysonandmysonwantedablueone.SoIwanttochangethiswhiteoneforthatblueonepricedattwelvethirty-four.Thiswhiteoneistenforty-nine.HowmuchmorewillIhavetopayyou?
QuestionFourteen.
ItriedthispairofshoesandIthinkIlikethiscolourandstyle.Pleasepackthem.Bytheway,Inoticethatallthegoodsinyourshopareat20%discount.Andthispricetagsays20poundsapair.SohowmuchwillIhavetopayyou?
QuestionFifteen
Mywife,mychildrenandIaregoingtovisitEdinburghfor3days.Weneedasmallroomandalargeroomwithadoublebed.Ifasmallroomis5poundsadayandalargeoneis12poundsaday,howmuchwillwepayforourstay?
QuestionSixteen
Thisnovelcoststwoninety-nine.Thisbookisonepoundforty-two.Andthatpocketdictionaryispricedatfourteentwenty-four.Yougavemetwotenpounds.Let'slookatthecalculatorandfindouthowmuchchangeI'llgiveyou.
QuestionSeventeen
Oneletterwillbesixteenpence,soforthreelettersthat'sforty-eightpence.Andthefivepostcardsat.twenty-fourpencethat'sl.20pounds.Andthetwoairmaillettersattwenty-fourpencethat'sforty-eightpence.Let'sseewhatthetotalcamesto.
SectionTwo.Questions18to22.
QuestionEighteen
Accountswillbechargedfivepoundsamonthservicefeeiftheminimumbalancefallsbelowfourhundredpoundsatanytimeduringthestatedperiod.Youmaykeepthreepoundsinyouraccount,butwechargeyoufivepoundsamonth.
QuestionNineteen
Thepackagecontainingtherecordsappearedtobeinperfectcondition.Butwhenweunpackeditwithgreatcare,wefoundthatonerecordwascompletelysmashed.Couldyousendusanewone?1'llreturnthebrokenoneatonce.
QuestionTwenty
Thankyouforaskingme.You'vealreadydonealotforthechildren.Ibelievethisteapartyon
Fridaywillattractmorepeople'sattentiontothechildren'sproblems.UnfortunatelyI'vegotanappointmentthen.
QuestionTwenty-one.
Thankyouforyourinvitation.Ourcompanyiswillingtoexplorewithyourcorporationthepossibilityofclosertiesthroughjointventures.Here,letmeproposeatoasttothesuccessofournegotiationsandtoourfriendshipandfuturecooperation.
QuestionTwenty-two
AsthisisthelastweekinSeptember,thetwoteamswe'regoingtowatchtonightaretiedforfirstplaceinthisseason.Theybothwanttomaketheplay-offs,sothey'llbeplayingtheirbest.PartThree.Questions23to30.
Fordecadestheworld'stelephonecompanies,nearlyallstate-ownedmonopolies,havejointlysettheratesforinternationalcalls.Nowahandfulofnimble,privatelyownedtelephonediscountersareusingloopholesinregulationswrittentoprotectnationaltelephonemonopoliestoundercutthecartel'shighprices.Eventually,thatcouldleadtothebreak-upofthecartelitself.
Thesmallfirmsleadingthetrendareinterestingforthewaytheydobusinessratherthanfortheamountofbusinesstheydo.
Butbecausetheiractivitiesexposemonopolyoverpricingsodramatically,theycouldhelptobringaboutchangesthatarevastlyoutofproportiontotheirsize.
TheAmericanmarketforinternationalcallsismoreopentocompetitionthanthoseofmostothercountries,socallsoutofAmericaareusuallyfarcheaperthanthecallsintoit.ThediscountersexploitthisdifferencebyroutingcallsfromforeignsubscriberstocomputerizedswitchesinAmerica,undercuttingnormalratesbyathirdormore.
Onetechnique,knownas
Asecondtechnique,called
Oneofthebest-knowsdiscounters,2(1/2)yearoldinternationalDiscountTelecommunications(IDT),usesthird-countrycallingtoprovidescallsbetweencountrieswhoseowntelephonecompaniesarenotonspeakingterms,suchasSyriaandIsrael,andIraqandKuwait.Today'ssmalldiscountersmaybeshort-lived.
Butifthesmalldiscountersdogooutofbusiness,itwillbebecausetheyhavelaunchedatrend.Thisyear,America'sestablishedinternationalcarriershavestartedtoutingforbusinessfromoverseascustomersthemselves.InAprilAmericanTelephone&Telegraph(AT&T)launchedathird-countrycallingserviceofitsown.DubbedWorldConnect,theserviceletscustomersuseapersonalidentificationnumbertocallfrom45differentcountriesoftheworldviaswitchesinAmerica.Customerspaycallchargesindollars,alongwiththeirnormaldomesticbills.InJuneAT&T'sbiggestrival,MCI,launchedasimilarservice,calledWorldReach.Bothproductssupplementthefirms'long-establishes
ThoughAT&TandMCIbothhotlydenysellinginternationalcallstoforeignersexplicitly,someforeigncarrierscertainlyfearthis.NeitherATSTnorMCIhasbeenallowedtoofferitsnewservicesinJapan,Australia,Spain,Italy,Brazil,ArgentinaorMexico.Thesmalldiscountershaverunintosimilarproblems.