BEC中級閱讀理解模擬題（1）

今天小編爲同學們帶來BEC中級閱讀理解模擬題，一起來做練習吧~

1. SunTours runs a risk by selling similar holidays to customers in different income brackets.

2. It is worth offering holidays at a discount to increase the number of bookings.

3. SunTours needs to reflect on its marketing methods if it wants to boost repeat custom.

4. It would be a good idea to sell holidays to locations which other promoters have ignored.

5. SunTours has been disadvantaged by its approach in the past.

6. In certain locations, SunTours may be able to negotiate more favourable contracts.

7. There is an alternative to discount holidays that would be more satisfactory for SunTours' customers.

Four market experts offer advice to SunTours, the middle-market tour operator

A Robert Worth

Marketing to a wider audience could lead to more people buying direct from SunTours rather than going through travel agents, and the consequent reduction in agents' commissions might boost company profits. Towards the end of the season, reducing the cost of holidays would attract last-minute customers, thus avoiding any possible loss on unfilled accommodation and flights. The company could also increase profits by selling more specialised holidays here in Britain, perhaps by offering breaks at historic sites and coastal destinations.

B Steven Worrel

Whether it's worth discounting surplus holidays is an arguable point, as it not only cuts into profits, but also results in budget-conscious holidaymakers being put next to SunTours' more affluent customers, thus damaging the brand. It may seem attractive at first because of tight margins, but SunTours should think twice before taking up this option. Currently, SunTours is planning to sell higher-margin holidays to previously 'unmarketed' destinations for which demand is greater than supply. It is likely that accommodation providers in these emerging holiday destinations will be more flexible when it comes to setting terms. The firm should go ahead with this policy.

C Ursula Capalbo

Good risk management and higher sales can guarantee higher profits. Although SunTours has always been averse to planning, the company would in fact benefit from a risk model that forecasts the impact of discounting on cash flow and profitability throughout the year. SunTours would then be able to change direction when things go wrong, as they inevitably do from time to time. Diversification can increase rather than spread risk, so caution is needed as the company enters regions where facilities for tourists are not yet fully developed. Targeting customers nearing retirement age, whose disposable income and leisure time are increasing, would be ideal.

D Gillian Wilmot

SunTours knows that good relationships with customers is the key to success in the travel business. With this in mind, the company should consider that brochure mailings, unlike electronic communications, can attract customers and maximise year-round opportunity. They encourage summer tourists to take another break and can even be used to send a thank-you letter to returning customers. Selling holidays at a reduced price is definitely not a sensible option. A better choice would be value-added promotions which can improve profitability and build on SunTours customers' desire for high-quality service.

解析：

四個專家分別對一個度假公司的發展給出了自己的意見。怎麼鎖定目標客戶，怎麼定價，怎麼打折，都是一門學問。題目信息稍微有些隱晦。話說這個BEC閱讀的第一部分，普遍難度不是很大，可個別題目一旦含蓄起來，也是很難在文章中找到答案的影子的。

第一題，通過將同樣的假日出售給不同收入層次的客戶是有風險的。這題的答案夠隱晦的，而且不是特別的對應。答案是B段開頭的一段話。說該不該將多餘的假期打折，是一個有爭議的點。這樣會導致一些注重預算的人被放在了SunTours’的一些更富裕的客戶旁邊，從而將品牌給毀了。注重預算的(budget-conscious)和更富裕的(more affluent customers)是兩種不同的收入人羣，也就是different income brackets，damaging the brand，毀壞了品牌，言下之意，這麼做是有風險的，即runs a risk。

第二題，說值得提供打折假期來增加預定的數量。答案是A段的這麼一句：Towards the end of the season, reducing the cost of holidays would attract last-minute customers, thus avoiding any possible loss on unfilled accommodation and flights。減少假日的開銷可以吸引最後的客戶，從而避免空餘的住宿和飛行帶來的損失。Unfilled accommodation，沒有被預定的住宿，對應於題目中的booking。

第三題，如果想要增加回頭客，SunTours需要反思它的市場策略。答案在D段，需要提煉：the company should consider that brochure mailings。They encourage summer tourists to take another break and can even be used to send a thank-you letter to returning customers.先說公司應該考慮郵寄宣傳冊，接着說他們可以鼓勵暑假的遊客去休另一個假期甚至可以用來給回頭客發送感謝信。後面的句子整個說的就是如何boost repeat customer，前面的consider brochure mailings是具體說明如何思考市場策略(reflect on marketing methods)。

第四題，說賣其他開發者忽略的地方的假期將會是一個不錯的點子。答案是B段的這麼一句：SunTours is planning to sell higher-margin holidays to previously 'unmarketed' destinations for which demand is greater than supply。計劃出售先前沒被開發的地方的更高利潤的假期，在那裏供不應求。Unmarketed destination也就是other promoters have ignored。在供不應求的地方做生意，但是是a good idea。