II.Reading & Comprehension: 40%(阅读与理解，40分)

　　Section A

　　Directions: There are ten incomplete sentences in this section. For each sentence there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. Choose the ONE that best completes the sentence. Then write down the right answer in the brackets for each sentence. This section totals 10 points, one point for each sentence.

　　( )1 Please quote us your best price CIF Lagos, __________ the earliest date of shipment.

　　A. stating B. stated C. state D. to state

　　( )2 If you can ___ ___ us a 3% discount, we shall give you our initial order amounting to US$ 25,000.

　　A. provide B. pay C. guarantee D. allow

　　( )3 We regret our inability to agree ____________ your proposal to pack the goods ____________ cardboard boxes, because transshipment has to be made at Hong Kong for the goods to be shipped to our port.

　　A. on, in B. to, in C. with, in D. to, by

　　( )4 We are faxing you this morning, asking you to amend the L/C ______________ “transshipment allowed.”

　　A. to read B. to reading C. as reads D. reads

　　( )5 We regret being unable to _____________ with the buyer’s request for covering insurance up to the inland city, as it is not stipulated in the contract.

　　A. comply B. conform C. take up D. deal

　　( )6 We require the bicycles to be packed in a wooden case ___ ___ with soft materials.

　　A. full B. supported C. padded D. surrounded

　　( )7 In our letter of May 5, we made ______ ____ clear that shipment is to be effected in June.

　　A. you B. them C. that D. it

　　( )8 _________ we would like to supply you with the product, we are unable to fill your order.

　　A. As much as B. Much as C. Very much D. As

　　( )9 We can supply this type of furniture ________________ very favorable terms.

　　A. on B. for C. against D. to

　　( )10 We can only assume that an oversight has been made in making _____________ the order,

　　A. out B. for C. at D. up

　　Section B

　　Directions: There are ten blanks in the following passage. You are required to choose the best one from the given four choices marked A, B, C, and D. Then write down the correct answer in the brackets. This section totals 10 points, one point for each blank.

　　______1______ in 1983, this company is a trading firm specializing _______2______ the import and export of garments. Its business ________3________ covers various kinds of shirts, T-shirts, jackets, sportswear, etc.

　　During the process of opening _______4________ and deepening of reform, the company has been vigorously ________5_______ the international market and its goods have been sold to countries and regions such as Europe, the Americas, Japan and Southeast Asia.

　　_______6_______ the traditional methods of trade, the company has been actively developing new business channels in recent years. Its import and export volume has gone up drastically. Last year the total trade amount reached US$90 million, an increase of 16% ________7_______ the year before.

　　The company has always been ________8_________ great importance to the quality of products and business reputation. ________9_________ by the principle of equality and ________10_________ benefit, it will further develop its economic and trade relations with other countries all over the world.

　　( )1 A. Found B. Founded C. Set D. To be set

　　( )2 A. for B. at C. to D. in

　　( )3 A. scope B. lines C. kind D. type

　　( )4 A. down B. out C. up D. for

　　( )5 A. expanding B. extending C. exploring D. stretching

　　( )6 A. Besides B. Beside C. Except D. Except for

　　( )7 A. up B. over C. with D. to

　　( )8 A. enclosing B. sending C. mailing D. attaching

　　( )9 A. Guiding B. Guided C. To be guided D. To be guiding

　　( )10 A. common B. public C. mutual D. neutral

　　Section C

　　Directions: There are two passages in this section. Each passage is followed by some questions or unfinished statements. For each of them there are four choices marked A, B, C and D. You should decide on the best choice. Then write down the correct answer in the brackets for each question or statement. This section totals 20 points, two points for each question.

　　Passage One

　　The UK is extremely dependent on foreign trade. About 40 per cent of the population’s food and a large proportion of the raw materials used by industry have to be imported. In 1980 exports of goods and services were equal to about 25 per cent of the Gross National Product.

　　In the exports of manufactures, the UK, in recent years, has done less well than her major competitors. The UK’s share of the value of the main manufacturing countries’ exports fell from 16 percent in 1980 to about 9 per cent in 1999. This was due to the fact that the volume of UK exports increased at an annual average rate of 5 per cent, only about one-half the rate achieved by the main manufacturing countries as a whole and about one-third the rate for Japan.

　　Changes in the commodity composition of exports have been very small in recent years. The share of manufactured goods has increased slightly while the share of basic materials has declined. There has been a steady decline in the share of textiles and an increase in the share of chemicals in total exports. Over the next decade the possibility of exporting North Sea Oil and the diminishing dependence on imported oil should have a beneficial effect on the UK’s visible trade balance.

　　The most striking change in the geographical distribution of UK exports in recent years has been the swing away from the traditional Commonwealth markets and a growing dependence on the market in Western Europe. Exports to Western Europe accounted for about 34 per cent of UK exports in 1989 but by 2000 this share had grown to nearly 60 per cent. This is much in line with developments in world trade as a whole, because trade between industrialized countries has been the fastest growing sector of world trade. The other important development is the growing importance of the markets in the oil-exporting countries.

　　( )1. The export of manufactures of U.K. during recent years .

　　A. has risen.

　　B. has done better than the major competitors.

　　C. has fallen

　　D. has done less well that developing countries.

　　( )2. The export of textiles .

　　A. has declined

　　B. has declined sharply

　　C. has increased slightly

　　D. has increased sharply

　　( )3. The export of basic materials .

　　A. has increased

　　B. has declined

　　C. has remained steady

　　D. has little changed

　　( )4. What is the most striking change in UK exports?

　　A. The swing away from the traditional Commonwealth markets and a growing dependence on the market in Western Europe.

　　B. Changes in the commodity composition of exports.

　　C. The increase of the share of manufactured goods and the decline of the share of basic materials.

　　D. the beneficial effect of the export of oil on the UK’s visible trade balance.

　　( )5. Which statement is not true?

　　A. UK is exporting more to Western Europe.

　　B. trade between UK and Western Europe has been the fastest growing sector of world trade.

　　C. UK will possibly import less oil over the next decade.

　　D. UK is exporting more chemicals.

　　Passage Two

　　Is a quiet revolution under way in the nation’s shopping habits? Are we gradually allowing an increasingly select number of large companies to take care of all our basic requirements? The supermarket chains certainly hope so. ‘People don’t have the time to shop around any more. If they’re happy with the quality of a company’s service, then they’re likely to buy other product types from them as well,’ says Jim Austin, an industry analyst.

　　With the major supermarket brands such as Tesco, J Sainsbury and Asda already offering financial services, credit cards, own-label clothing, mobile phones, and cut-price electrical goods including computers, Austin believes that the supermarkets’ diversification is set to continue.

　　‘The UK retail food market is saturated, so their only real prospect of growth is either to enter foreign markets or diversify into new markets at home..’ Tesco and J Sainsbury have done both. Having already bought foreign subsidiaries, both large supermarket chains have set up their own banks in order to offer customers financial services such as personal loans, mortgages and savings accounts.

　　Together, the two new banks took over ￡2bn of customer deposits within the first year of trading. ‘They are winning business by using a lower cost base to offer their customers better interest rates on savings than traditional banks,’ says Austin.

　　However, there are question marks over long-term profitability. The traditional providers say there is bound to come a point when the new banks will eventually want to widen margins and boost profits. ‘When they start to raise prices, they might create bad publicity, which could hurt their brand,’ says one observer. ‘How will a major supermarket react, for instance, when it is faced with having to repossess a regular shopper’s home?’

　　Shoppers, however, do not share these fears. A recent survey of 1,000 people by brand consultants Cook & Pearson concludes that shoppers will continue to buy a wider range of goods and services from supermarkets. Many people said that they would be prepared to buy a supermarket own-label car or even a house from a supermarket-branded estate agent. Interest was also shown in combining a food shopping trip with a visit to a supermarket dentist.

　　Loyalty schemes are another incentive for customers. ‘Most supermarkets now offer bonus points with every purchase. These points add up to free air miles or cash discounts, so it really pays to stay loyal to the brand in all its diversified forms,’ says Austin.

　　( )6 Why are the large UK supermarket chains diversifying? _____________.

　　A. Because the retail food market in the UK has been occupied by foreign companies.

　　B. Because the retail food market in the UK is saturated.

　　C. Because the retail food market in the UK is quite small.

　　D. Because diversification into new markets can promote the growth of the retail food market in the UK.

　　( )7 How are the supermarkets able to attract business in the banking sector? ____________.

　　A. Because they can offer more services.

　　B. Because they can offer more varieties of commodities.

　　C. Because they can offer better interest rates.

　　D. Because they can offer free car parking for customers.

　　( )8 What are the risks involved with brandstretching? _________________.

　　A. There may come a point when providers will want to raise prices.

　　B. There may come a point when providers lose all their banking business.

　　C. There may come a point when customers lose their confidence in the banking sector.

　　D. All the UK large supermarkets will have to close all their banking business.

　　( )9 How do the large UK supermarket chains encourage brand loyalty? ___________.

　　A. By offering free samples of commodities.

　　B. By offering a wide range of goods and services.

　　C. By offering convenient banking services.

　　D. By offering loyalty schemes like bonus points.

　　( )10 The headline “Banking on a brand” means ______________.

　　A. selling a brand

　　B. purchasing a brand

　　C. relying on a brand

　　D. stretching a brand