商务英语阅读

商务英语阅读精选及解析为了让大家更好的准备商务英语BEC考试，给大家整理一下BEC阅读精选及解析,下面就和大家分享，来欣赏一下吧。

BEC阅读精选及解析1Critical PathWhen David Hayden realised his company was heading for trouble, he took drastic measures to get it back on track David Hayden founded his company, Critical Path, an email provider, in 1997 to take advantage of the boom in email traffic. Critical Path became a public company two years later, and Hayden took the opportunity to step down from his executive position in order to work on personal projects. At the same time, he agreed to stay with the company as Chairman, but the business was put in the hands of new managers by its investors. With sector-leading products and an expanding market, the company seemed to be on the up and up. However, by early 2001, it was in trouble. Sharesthat had been worth $26 in 1999, when they were first sold, were down to a mere 24 cents.Called in by a panicking board, Hayden found himself back in charge as Executive Chairman, trying desperately to rescue what he could. The 1,100 staff had lost confidence in the company and did not know what was going to happen to them. And, as Hayden discovered, the management team was incompetent. Those guys didnt understand the product or the sector, says Hayden. The heads of department didnt communicate and they didnt lead. But what was worse, Critical Path had lost the goodwill of its investors.Hayden knew that bringing the figures under control would be a vital step in the companys turnaround. Youve got to sort out the finances. For me, that meant getting back the goodwill of the investors. That was tough, after what had happened. But although they were angry with the company, they didnt have bad feelings about me. I told them that I knew I could get the company on its feet again. He was authorised to make whatever changes were required, and his first act was to find people within the company he could trust and put them in charge.The next thing Hayden had to tackle was morale. Everyone left the office at five on the dot - they couldnt get away quickly enough.To get the buzz back and win the staff over, I had to prove my own commitment and put in the extra hours with them. In return, it was assumed that nobody would ask for overtime pay until the company was on its feet again. Contrary to normal practice, Hayden was reluctant to lay people off, and apart from not replacing people as they reached retirement age, he left the workforce largely unchanged, although he did identify key people throughout the company who were given more responsibility.But, as Hayden insists, before a company reaches such a crisis, there are warning signs that any financial director or accountant should take note of. A business that has an unrealistic pricing policy or has to negotiate extended credit with its suppliers is in trouble, is his message. Or if you often have to apply for your overdraft limit to be raised or have trouble paying tax on time, something needs to be done.By 2003, the company was healthy again, with reasonably stable finances and a modest but steady share price of $1.60. One thing that helped save us was that our technology worked, says Hayden. With 20 million email accounts, we never lost a single major client because the product kept on working. With ideas for a fresh venture demanding his attention elsewhere, Hayden hasmoved on. It was time to go, he says. Im not a turnaround specialist.I prefer start-ups.13 What event coincided with Critical Path becoming a public company?A Hayden became the Executive Director of Critical Path.B Investors hired a replacement team to run Critical Path.C Critical Path launched a successful new product on the market.D Critical Path was floated on the Stock Exchange at 24 cents per share.14 Which of the following situations did Hayden face at Critical Path in 2001?A The employees were worried about job security.B The investors were calling for changes to the company structure.C The management was misleading the staff about the companys position.D The board of directors did not realise the scale of the companys problems.15 One reason Hayden was able to turn Critical Path around was thatA he managed to find new investors.B the financial situation was not as bad as he had thought.C he had built up a good relationship with the management team.D he was given the support that he needed.16 What was Haydens policy regarding the staff of Critical Path?A He paid overtime to everybody who worked outside office hours.B He reduced the workforce by operating an early retirement scheme.C He gave key staff the opportunity to help him set goals for the company.D He restored motivation by showing willingness to work alongside staff.17 According to Hayden, what could indicate that a business is in trouble?A problems keeping accounts up to dateB suppliers refusing to offer new credit termsC a frequent need to increase the amount borrowedD difficulties in getting payment from customers on time18 Hayden left Critical Path after he had rescued the company becauseA he wanted to develop the technology for a new internet service.B he wanted to concentrate on founding a new enterprise.C he had been offered a job with a major internet company.D he decided to go into partnership with a major client.BEC阅读精选及解析2Fighting FitFine Fitness, the health and fitness club operator, announced an impressive set of results yesterday: (19) a 38-per-cent jump in annual pre-tax profits, the company claimed that it had (20) none of the problems (21) last week by its rival, Top Fit .According to Samantha Collier,the chief executive, Fine Fitness (22) strong and is on (23) to reach its target of 100 clubs within three years, its strategy unaffected by the apparent (24) down of the economy.The company opened 12 new clubs in the past year; (25) its total to 51. They have (26) to be highly successful, with people joining in large numbers, especially in the 25-to-40 age range. Even the more (27) clubs are still seeing sales growth, along with rising retention (28) of more than 70 per cent. This can be seen as clear (29) of the appeal of Fine Fitness.Ms Collier admitted that as there were (30) too many companies competing with one another; there would almost certainly be (31) in the health-and-fitness-club sector of the market She predicted that, within a relatively short time, there might be only about three major companies still in (32).However, she declined to say which these were likely to be.Profits rose by ?6.3 million, although there was a fall in gross margins from 31 per cent to 28.6 per cent because of higherinsurance premiums, extra management costs and start-up expenses for the companys new (33) in Spain.19 A Stating B Reporting C Remarking D Informing20 A taken B felt C experienced D caught21 A released B issued C opened D revealed22 A stays B remains C maintains D keeps23 A track B direction C way D line24 A falling B breaking C cutting D slowing25 A bringing B putting C getting D mounting26 A shown B resulted C proved D demonstrated27 A installed B formed C established D confirmed28 A rates B standards C proportions D volumes29 A witness B sign C display D evidence30 A purely B merely C simply D barely31 A union B consolidation C alliance D combination32 A trade B office C commerce D business33 A trial B venture C proposal D speculation*介绍了一个经营健康俱乐部的公司的情况，依旧是形势喜人。

商务英语阅读文章商务英语阅读文章英语最早被中世纪的英国使用，并因其广阔的殖民地而成为世界使用面积最广的语言。

下面是店铺为大家整理的商务英语阅读文章，欢迎阅读与收藏。

商务英语阅读文章篇1A Changed Global Reality 世界经济格局新变化Say this for the young century: we live in interesting times. Not quite 2 12 years ago, the world economy tipped into the most severe downturn since the Great Depression in the 1930s. World trade slowed sharply. Unemployment lines grew longer, especially in the old industrial economies. Financial institutions that had seemed as solid as granite disappeared as if they were no more substantial than a bunch of flowers in the hands of an old-style magician.对于新世纪，我们得这样说：我们生活在一个有趣的时代。

差不多两年半之前，世界经济陷入了20世纪30年代经济大萧条时期以来最惨重的低迷状态。

世界贸易进程大幅放缓。

失业队伍也越来越快，这在旧工业经济体系表现尤为突出。

原来坚如磐石的金融机构也消失了，似乎还不如老套的魔术师变的花束看起来真实。

Given that the scale of the downturn was so epochal, it should not be surprising that the nature of the recovery would likewise be the stuff of history. And it has been. As they make their way to Davos for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) by helicopter, bus, car or train (which is the right way to do it), the members of the global economic and political elite will find themselves coming to terms with something they have never known before.考虑到经济衰退幅度如此的跨时代，经济复苏进程会很慢也是理所当然的，对此我们不应该感到吃惊。

affix sth to sth贴在，附在，签署Struggle to do sth努力，奋斗，尽力On the threshold of 接近，在....边缘，即将Market/compete on 凭/依靠...推销/进行竞争Play to迎合，投...所好Make a bid to 做出努力，争取，企图Nudge into 轻推，推进，挤入Position sth as 将...定位为，给...定位Pale in comparison with与...比较相形见绌To the point where到了....的程度Churn out忙赶制，大量生产，粗制滥造Under the wings of在....的庇护/资助/帮助下Buy up买断，全部购买Pitch sth against.../in...竭力推销...与...进行竞争，在...竭力推荐Earmark...for...把...指定用于...，指定....At a premium以更高价，以溢价Give sb a run for one's money 与...进行激烈的竞争Combine to结合，联合In line with与.....一致/相符Be exposed to与.....接触，受.....影响Confine to局限于，限于...范围内Boil down to压缩到，缩小到，简化到，归结为On the track在轨道上，不离题，正确Peg...at钉在，限定在Ride the wave of乘着，凭借wonder/it's no wonder不奇怪，难怪Keep sth. Intact使原封不动/未受损失Turn...upside down使颠倒，使混乱Far afiel在远方，远处，广泛的In store for即将来临的，准备着的，储藏备用Top priority当务之急，最重要的事情Flood...with...将...充斥...，充满Put...out of business将.....挤出(商界)On a...footing在....基础和立场上A flurry of一阵，出现一阵For one thing首先，别的不说Wear on(时间)慢慢过去Take over取代，接管Step up逐步增加，提高Quip about sth/make quips or a quip说妙语，说俏皮话Be attuned to 使协调，使一致(be) wary of堤防，谨防evel off达到稳定Wipe out 消除掉，勾销To a lesser extent在较少程度上Benefit from受益于Make a commitment to do sth承诺某事，承诺做某事Cope with 与。

college商务英语阅读试题及答案College商务英语阅读试题及答案一、阅读理解（共20分，每题4分）阅读下列商务英语文章，然后回答后面的问题。

文章文章正文：In recent years, globalization has become a significantfactor in the growth of businesses worldwide. It refers to the process of international integration arising from the interchange of goods, services, and capital. Companies are increasingly looking to expand their operations beyond their national borders to tap into new markets and resources.One of the main advantages of globalization is the access to new markets. Businesses can sell their products and services to a larger customer base, which can lead to increased revenue and profits. Additionally, globalization allows companies to source raw materials and labor from various countries, which can reduce production costs.However, globalization also presents challenges. Companies must navigate complex international regulations and cultural differences, which can be difficult and costly. Moreover, the competition in the global market is fierce, and businesses need to be innovative to stay ahead.问题1：What does globalization mean in the context of business?A. The process of international integration through the exchange of goods, services, and capital.B. The process of international regulation.C. The process of reducing production costs.D. The process of fierce competition in the global market.答案1：A问题2：What are the benefits of globalization for businesses according to the passage?A. Access to new markets and reduced production costs.B. Navigating international regulations and cultural differences.C. Facing fierce competition in the global market.D. Staying ahead through innovation.答案2：A问题3：What challenges does globalization pose to businesses?A. Accessing new markets.B. Reducing production costs.C. Navigating complex international regulations and cultural differences.D. Selling products and services to a larger customer base.答案3：C问题4：What is the main focus of businesses in the globalmarket as mentioned in the passage?A. Access to new markets.B. Reducing production costs.C. Innovation.D. Both A and B.答案4：C二、完形填空（共10分，每题2分）阅读下面的商务英语短文，从短文后各题所给的选项中，选出可以填入空白处的最佳选项。

商务英语阅读理解试题Part I: Passage ReadingDear all,I hope this email finds you well. As part of our ongoing professional development program, I have prepared a series of business English reading comprehension exercises for you. Please find the questions related to the passage below.Passage 1:Companies nowadays are increasingly looking for employees with strong business English skills. The ability to understand and communicate effectively in English is crucial in the globalized business environment.One of the main reasons why companies value business English skills is the need to connect and collaborate with international partners. English has become the lingua franca of business, enabling communication across borders and cultures. By having employees who are proficient in English, companies can facilitate negotiations, build relationships, and expand their international reach.Moreover, business English proficiency enhances an individual's chances of career advancement. Many senior positions require candidates to have excellent communication skills in English to interact with clients and stakeholders from different countries. Being able to present ideas clearly and confidently in English is often a key factor for promotion and professional growth.Furthermore, business English proficiency is essential for accessing a wide range of business resources and information. With English fluency, employees can conduct research, read industry reports, and keep up-to-date with the latest developments in their field. By understanding English-language publications and participating in discussions, individuals can gain valuable insights and stay competitive in today's fast-paced business world.In conclusion, mastering business English is crucial for both individuals and companies. It opens doors to international opportunities, enhances career prospects, and enables access to valuable resources. Investing in business English training can yield long-term benefits and contribute to overall business success.Questions:1. Why do companies value business English skills?2. How does business English proficiency benefit an individual's career?3. What advantages does business English proficiency bring in terms of accessing information and resources?Part II: Short Answer Questions1. What are the main reasons companies value employees with business English skills?2. How can business English proficiency contribute to an individual's career advancement?3. Explain the benefits of business English proficiency in terms of accessing information and resources.Please take your time to read the passage and answer the questions. Once completed, kindly submit your answers by replying to this email. The deadline for submission is Friday, 15th October.Good luck!Best regards,[Your Name]Note: The format used in this article is an email format, commonly used in professional settings for communication and sharing information.。

Business EnglishExtensive Reading (1)商务英语阅读（1）Ⅰ. Reading ComprehensionPart One : Directions: Choose the correct answers according to the information given from the passeges. Read the passages through carefully before making your choices. Please mark the corresponding leter for each item on Answer Sheet.Passage One: Questions 1 to 5 are based on the following passage．The popularity in North America is Iceberg Water, a leading brand of bottled water, which is harvested from icebergs off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada．Arthur Wiesenberger, who carries the title Water Master, is one of the few water critics in North America．As a boy，he spent time in the larger cities of Italy，France and Switzerland, where bottled water is consumed daily．Even then，he kept a water journal，writing down the brands he liked best．“My dog could tell the difference between bottled and tap water,”he says．But is plain tap water a11 that bad? Not at a11．In fact, New York’s municipal water for more than 100 years was recently considered among the best in the world in terms of both taste and purity．Similarly，a magazine in England found that tap water tasted better than several leading brands of bottled water．Nevertheless，soft-drink companies view bottled water as the next battle-ground for market share．As diners thirst for leading brands, soft-drink companies and restaurants salivate(垂涎)over the profits．A restaurant’s typical mark-up on wine is 100 to 150 percent, whereas on bottled water it's often 300 to 500 percent．As a result some restaurants are selling bottled water．According to an article in The Wall Street Journal, some of the more shameless tactics include placing attractive bottles on the table for a visual sell，listing brands on the menu without prices，and pouring bottled water without even asking the diners if they want itRegardless of how it's sold，the popularity of bottled water bring us better health and purity. 注意：此部分试题请在答题卡上作答。

商务英语阅读考试题及答案一、阅读理解（共40分，每题10分）阅读下列商务英语短文，然后根据短文内容回答后面的问题。

短文一：In the rapidly evolving business world, effective communication is crucial for success. Companies are increasingly relying on cross-cultural communication to expand their global reach. The ability to understand and adapt to different cultural nuances is a key skill for international business professionals.1. What is the main idea of the passage?2. Why is effective communication important in the business world?3. What does the passage suggest about the role of cross-cultural communication in business?短文二：The rise of e-commerce has transformed the way businesses operate. Online platforms have made it possible for small businesses to compete with larger companies by reaching a wider customer base. Social media marketing and search engine optimization are two strategies that have become essentialfor businesses to increase their online visibility.1. What is the main topic discussed in this passage?2. How has e-commerce changed the business landscape?3. What are two strategies mentioned in the passage that are important for businesses to increase their online visibility?短文三：Sustainability is becoming a significant factor in business decisions. Companies are recognizing the importance of reducing their environmental footprint and adoptingsustainable practices. This includes the use of renewable energy, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing of materials. Consumers are also becoming more aware and are demanding products that align with their values.1. What is the main focus of the passage?2. Why are companies adopting sustainable practices?3. What are some of the sustainable practices mentioned inthe passage?二、词汇理解（共20分，每题5分）根据短文内容，选择最合适的词汇填空。

商务英语阅读1参考答案一、阅读理解1. 问题1：文章主要讨论了什么？答案：文章主要讨论了全球化背景下商务英语的重要性以及如何提高商务英语的沟通技巧。

2. 问题2：为什么商务英语在当今世界如此重要？答案：商务英语重要性体现在跨国贸易的增长，国际商务交流的频繁，以及对专业商务人士的需求。

3. 问题3：文章提到了哪些提高商务英语能力的方法？答案：文章提到了扩大词汇量、学习商务术语、练习商务写作、参与商务会议以及利用在线资源等方法。

4. 问题4：作者对商务英语的未来趋势有何看法？答案：作者认为随着全球化的深入，商务英语将继续成为国际商务沟通的关键工具，并且其重要性将不断增加。

5. 问题5：文章中提到的“商务英语沟通的障碍”有哪些？答案：文章中提到的障碍包括文化差异、语言习惯、专业术语的误解以及非语言交流的挑战。

二、词汇理解1. 问题1： "Negotiation"在商务英语中通常指的是什么？答案： "Negotiation"在商务英语中通常指的是商务交易或协议过程中的协商过程。

2. 问题2： "Collaboration"一词在商务环境中的含义是什么？答案： "Collaboration"在商务环境中指的是不同个人或组织之间的合作，以实现共同的目标或完成项目。

3. 问题3： "Mergers and Acquisitions"通常指的是什么类型的商务活动？答案： "Mergers and Acquisitions"通常指的是公司之间的合并或收购活动，这是企业扩张或重组的一种方式。

4. 问题4： "Stakeholder"在商务英语中通常指谁？答案： "Stakeholder"在商务英语中通常指的是对公司或项目有直接或间接利益的个人或团体。

5. 问题5： "Due Diligence"在商务英语中的含义是什么？答案： "Due Diligence"在商务英语中指的是在进行商务交易前对相关事务进行彻底的调查和评估，以确保交易的合理性和安全性。

商务英语阅读⽂章短篇阅读欣赏 多阅读⼀些短篇的英语美⽂，对于我们英语阅读能⼒的提⾼会有所帮助，今天店铺在这⾥为⼤家分享⼀些商务英语阅读⽂章，希望⼤家会喜欢这些英语阅读素材! 商务英语阅读⽂章篇1 8 Golden Rules for Businessmen While starting out on a business endeavour, following a set of rules is crucial for finding success. Without proper rules a business can go spiralling down and without taking too long at it. Following are golden rules that will ensure your success in business. Map it out Map where you want to head. Plant goals and results all across that mental map and keep checking it off once you start achieving them one by one. Care for your people People are your biggest asset. They are the ones who will drive your business to the top. Treat them well and they will treat you well, too. Aim for greatness Build a great company. Build great services or products. Instil a fun culture at your workplace. Inspire innovation. Inspire your people to keep coming with great ideas, because great ideas bring great changes. Be wary Keep a close eye on the people who you partner with. It doesn’t mean you have to be sceptical of them. But you shouldn’t naively believe everything you hear. Be smart and keep your eyes and ears open all the time. Commit and stick to it Once you make a decision, commit to it and follow through. Give it your all. If for some reason that decision doesn’t work, retract, go back to the drawing board and pick an alternate route. In business, you will have to make lots of sacrifices. Be prepared for that. It will all be worth it in the end. Be proactive Be proactive. Just having goals and not doing anything about them will not get you anywhere. If you don’t act, you will not get the results you’re looking for. Perfect timing Anticipation is the key to succeed in business. You should have the skills to anticipate changes in the market place and, the changing consumer preferences. You have to keep a tab on all this. Never rest on your past laurels and always look to inject newness into your business processes. Not giving up That’s the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t. As a businessman you should never give up, no matter what the circumstance. Keep on persevering. You will succeed sooner or later. The key is to never quit trying. Follow these rules and you'll find yourself scaling up the ladder of succcess. 商务英语阅读⽂章篇2 How to Start Making Money on Your Own Terms “Riches come, if they come at all, in response to definite demands, based upon the application of definite principles, and not by chance or luck.” - Napoleon Hill Making millions of dollars would be great – but right now, you’re more concerned about payingyour cable bill so that you don’t have to steal Wi-Fi from Starbucks in order to write your new blog post. Landing on the New York Times Bestsellers list would be stupendous—but right now you’re just trying to find an hour to write amidst working to support yourself and doing the damn dishes and all of those other responsibilities that get in your way. Yes, having it all – “the babe, the boat, the bucks” as Danielle LaPorte () so bluntly puts it—is ideal. But right now, you’re just trying to make ends meet. If only you could make enough money to live off of, you could quit your job and focus. But right now, that seems totally unrealistic. A pipedream. One: Exactly How Much Money Do You Need? “Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire. It is not sufficient merely to say ‘I want plenty of money.’ Be definite as to the amount.” - Napoleon Hill Want to make enough money to support yourself? Tell me, how much do you need? You don’t need to think about how much money you need for the rest of your days on planet Earth. That’s ridiculous. How could you possibly predict what you’ll want in 15 years? Instead, reel in your ambitions and make a plan for one year from now. To get crystal clear, ask yourself the following questions: In one year, what does your life look like? (Write as much detail as possible the place you live, how often you go out to eat, what you do on the weekends). How much money will it cost for you to live reasonably? That’s it. In order to figure out your monthly expenses, try Tim Ferriss’ Monthly Expense Calculator. Then, once you have an exact figure… Two: Decide what you’ll exchange for the cash. If you want the money, you’ll have to exchange something for it. To figure out what to exchange for money, ask yourself the following questions: What are my strengths + skills? What types of products + services can I provide? What will people actually pay for? Not sure what you’re good at? Here is a Skills + Strengths worksheet that I created. Don’t get bogged down trying to find your one-true-love. Once you’ve come up with 10 ideas, start testing them immediately. You’ll find your passion eventually, but doing so requires action. Do your research. Ask people what they’d pay you to do. Test your new service on them for free first. Don’t think you have what it takes? Hmm… I think this article titled “How to Really Start a Business” will make you think twice. Three: Plan and take Action! Once you’ve stumbled on a workable idea? Set some concrete goals, kid. I’ve personally just created my own concrete plan called “Project Moolah”. Break it up into chunks. If your plan is to start earning $1,000 a month by this time next year, you’ll want to figure out how much money you’ll need to rake-in every few months until then. When you have a plan, you’ll have motivation on the not-so-inspired days. When you have a plan, you’ll know what steps to take every day. When you have a plan, you reach your goals. Making money is hard work, and I guarantee that you’ll have to make some uncomfortable phone calls. But if you want a great life, you have to do great things. You can see my Project Moolah breakdown here. Does the thought of starting your own business have you feeling totally overwhelmed? You don’t have to use the word business just yet! Think of it this way: you are on a journey to create financial freedom.You’re breaking through the barriers of mediocrity. You’re starting the life that you’re supposed to be living. Bombs away! 商务英语阅读⽂章篇3 Why Startups Should Invent The Next Hot Sauce, Not The Next Instagram It would be foolish to think that anyone could create a pepper sauce as popular as "that famous sauce Mr. McIlhenny makes." For over 140 years, Original Tabasco brand pepper sauce has been made and distributed by the ancestors of its creator, Edmund McIlhenny. Very little has changed since its creation when they sold bottles wholesale to grocers for $1 a bottle. The rush by investors to find the next great tech startup is only a bit slower than the rush of entrepreneurs to try to build the next great tech startup. Success of a startup is graded in months and millions; companies that receive too much, do too little, sell for too low, or take too long to get there are considered failures. While the dream of following in Instagram's footsteps may be honorable and nobody wants to tell anyone that they can't do something (that would be politically incorrect and nearly criminal if told to a minor), there seems to be thousands of companies trying for the get-rich-quick startup strategy and very few (none that I know of, in fact) that are truly playing the game for the long term. There is a shortage of Edmund McIlhennys in Silicon Valley today. That needs to change. Here are some things that would-be (or current) entrepreneurs can learn from Tabasco sauce. Build Something That Will Last Silicon Valley is notorious for flash companies. No, I don't mean Adobe developers. Flash companies are those that take an idea, launch it quickly, get a round or two of funding, then try to sell it to Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft, or any of the other players in the tech world. They want to build something as quickly as possible, pawn it off as innovation, and turn it for a huge return. They are often based on ideas that have no chance of lasting, but that doesn't stop investors from pouring money into them. It isn't that the investors are dumb. The investors are smart enough to know that many of the big tech companies are gullible. They aren't looking for something that will last. They aren't even looking for something that will work. They're only looking for something that will sell. A quick scan of the portfolio of companies that Google or Yahoo have bought over the last decade will show a list that is hit or miss; many no longer exist. Startups that build on ideas that truly innovate or create something special for the future that can stand the test of time may not be able to get the billion-dollar paycheck by 2013, but they do have an opportunity to make a lot more money in the long run. More importantly, owning their success and keeping a buyout as an option rather than a goal can make a company more inherently valuable. Build Something Based on Your Passions McIlhenney may have been a banker, but his passion was with peppers. Seriously. He enjoyed the flavor of his own creation with a passion, and it showed in his product. When Pownce first hit the scene, Twitter was already growing but wasn't nearly in the realm of mainstream recognition. Pownce cofounder Kevin Rose loved the concept and decided to build a better version. He did--for all intents and purposes Pownce was superior to Twitter. The problem was that most people, including Rose, didn't like it as much. Rose admitted that he liked being able to share files on Pownce but for true microblogging and lifestreaming he preferred Twitter. It was no shock that a few months after making the declaration, Pownce was purchased and subsequently shuttered completely. If you don't believe in your product, others won't, either. Love your product. If you're building something because you think it will sell and have no passion for it, you'll have a hard time making Instagram-level money from it. Build Something That Doesn't Rely on Other Companies There is nothing more disheartening in the tech world than to become reliant on another company that makes a change. Mahalo was famously dependent on the traffic it received from Google to be able to make money. When Google launched its Panda algorithm update in February 2011, Mahalo and othercompanies were forced to make tough choices, releasing much of their staff as a result of Google's change. It's one thing to build an app on iOS. There is a symbiotic relationship between app developers and Apple that makes the success of one feed off the success of the other. In Mahalo's case, Google got nothing from it. In fact, the Panda update was designed to purge the search engine of unwanted content like that of Mahalo. If Google's getting nothing out of it, they have no incentive to keep the traffic faucet turned on. Startups that rely entirely on Facebook, Google, or any other company to keep their products relevant must either make sure the relationship is mutual or figure out a Plan B if changes happen that are unfavorable. AOL, despite all of the mistakes that they've made over the last decade, is still hanging in there as a relevant company because they diversified. They learned the lessons of the early days when they bet too heavily on the reliance of dial-up Internet connections. Today's AOL may still be struggling, but their struggles are spread over a wider footprint and there are more chances for success based sheerly on their bets being hedged. It's not a perfect formula, but it's one that's keeping them from going the way of Netscape or MySpace. For now. Build Something People Will Want Forever If They Try It Once Addiction is a powerful thing. Tabasco hasn't had to change much over the last 140 years because they found something that people wanted. They found something that people would want to buy at the store, to enjoy at restaurants, and to advocate for to their friends and family. Facebook is the current-day example of an addictive product that compounded upon itself. People liked using it so they encouraged more of their friends and family to join so they could enjoy it even more. They turned their users into status-update-drug-dealers, playing off of their strengths to get their users actively involved in the company's growth. Pinterest is quickly becoming the addiction du jour. They hook their users and they do not rely on other companies as the key to their success. On the contrary, their connections to Facebook and Twitter act only to enhance their product. If they were shut off today by either or both, they would still be able to keep up what they're doing. Build Something Of all the startup ideas that I hear about in today's dreamy Silicon Valley world, the ones that make the least sense are the ones that require no building. It's as if it's a perceived benefit to have something that requires very little coding, developing, or programming. Nothing could be further than the truth. Tabasco is aged for 3 years before it makes it to the bottle. It's not something that Joe Blow rich investor can duplicate. That's not to say that in the tech startup world entrepreneurs should be building something for 3 years before releasing it. Any project that starts today and plans to launch in 3 years will be shifted, pivoted, scrapped, and replaced 15 times during the period. Come up with an idea, work through it with people who know about the subject in question, then find a good person or team of people to make something special. Build something. Ideas are cheaper than a dime a dozen. While some of these turn out to be made of gold, there's a winning idea for every ten thousand lousy ideas, and not all winning ideas will ever see the light of investment capital. If it's something that made to last, that is built on your passions, that relies on no other companies, and that will hook people from the start, then it's something worth building. Build it.。

Chapter 1 General View of InternationalBusinessWTOPara 1engaged ininternational transactionsbe involved inoriginate引起, 发明, 发起, 创办vi. 起源, 发生restrictions n.限制, 约束virtually: in facttariffs: 关税quotas:配额embargo:禁运boycotts:联合抵制barrier:贸易壁垒The World Trade Organization (WTO)inter-governmental organization:政府间的组织flow:流畅(be) based on:以……为基础services:服务settle:解决;平息trade dispute:贸易争端negotiation:谈判promote cooperation:促进合作joint decision-making:共同决策consensus:一致同意;一致意见body:机构;团体council:决策班子;委员会committee:委员会consist of:由…组成entire membership:全体成员administrative support:行政支撑secretariat:秘书处Geneva, Switzerland:瑞士的日内瓦Para. 2trading system:贸易系统date back:追溯到…Bretton Woods: 布雷顿森林conference:会议delegate:代表conceive:构思create:创立;创建the World Bank:世界银行the International Monetary Fund:国际货币基金组织1International trade organization (ITO):国际贸易组织a specialized agency:个别机构charter:宪章ambitious:有抱负的;有雄心壮志的extend beyond:扩充;延伸world trade disciplines:世界贸易原则commodity agreement:国际商品协定restrictive business practices:限制性经营办法international investment:国际投资Havana:哈瓦拉(古巴首都)Cuba:古巴ratification:批准legislation:立法opposition:反对the U.S. Senate:美国上议院driving forces:动力announce:宣布seek:寻求congressional ratification:国会的批准effectively:有效地eventual result:最后的结果subsequent:随后的;后来的creation:创建;创立the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT):关贸总协定be concerned with:关注…primarily:主要的(mainly)reduce barriers to the international trade of goods:减少国际商品贸易壁垒result from:由…所产生provisional: 临时的prosperous:兴旺发达的multilateral:多边的;多国的international commerce:国际贸易overhaul:彻底改革due:应得的;预期的massive modification:巨大的改革Uruguay Round:乌拉圭回合(在乌拉圭的多次国际贸易谈判) Para 3regulate:控制;调节;规范regulating world trade of goods:规范国际商品贸易tariff barriers:关税壁垒non-tariff barriers:非关税壁垒not long after:soongive birth to: 产生(result in…)de facto: 实际上;实事上informally:非正式的over the years:during the following years evolve: 发展;进化set out:订立conduct international trade:进行国际贸易institution:机构temporary:暂时的;临时的recognize:认可replace:代替amend:修改incorporate:合并live on:继续存在updated:最新的text:版本(version)key principles: 主要原则adopt:采用General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS):服务贸易总协定intellectual property: 知识产权Trade-Related Aspects of International Property Rights (TRIPS):与贸易有关的知识产权协定Para 4signatory (signatories):签署各国intend:打算set up a worldwide trading organization:建立世界贸易组织in the event:最后(eventually)reach an understanding: 达成一致意见(not) increase tariffs beyond their existing level:增加的关税不超过现在的水平Abolition:废除most favored nation:最惠国trading privileges:贸易特权extend:扩展;延伸systems of preferences:优惠系统;特惠系统Commonwealth Preference:英联邦关税特惠制trading blocs:贸易集团establishment:建立common-market type agreements:共同市场协定EC:abbr. 欧共体(European Community)Outward -looking:外向型的Insular:adj.内向型的;海岛的, 孤立的, 超然物外的abolish quotas:废除配额Kennedy Round:肯尼迪回合account for about 80% of international trade:占….. Para. 5emphasis: 重点;强调shift:转换;转移the north-south dialogue:南北对话conduct:进行;实行the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD):联合国贸易与发展会议primary commodities:初级商品discriminate (against):歧视protectionist policy:贸易保护主义政策freer access to markets:更自由进入市场的机会WTO Agreements:世贸协定Part 1expansion:扩充governing:控制;调节cover:包括global exchange of goods:全球商品交易capital:资本multi-national organization:多国贸易(be) capable of:能….resolve: 解决trade conflicts:贸易冲突;贸易争端play a key role:发挥关键性的作用settle trade disputes:解决贸易争端at its heart:起核心作用legal:法定的ground-rules:章程essentially:本质上bind governments to keep their trade policies:约束各国政府保持贸易政策不变within agreed limits:已经过协议的范围内as negotiated and signed governments:作为经过谈判和签署协议的各国政府objective:目标;目的achieve:实现tolerance:宽容generosity:大度impartial means of settling trade disputes:公正解决贸易争端的办法overriding purpose:最重要的目的undesirable side effects:不希望发生的副作用obstacles:障碍ensure:确保;保证individuals:个体transparent:透明的readily:容易地ascertainable:确定的predictable:可预见的protectionism:贸易保护主义bloated:膨胀的inefficient:低效率的closure:关闭draft:草拟drafted and signed by community of trading nations: 由各贸易国共同草拟和签署的considerable debate:充分的辩论controversy:争论function:作用forum:论坛Part 2dispute settlement:解决争端conflicting interest:利益冲突bring actions on its own initiative:独自采取行动initiate actions:采取行动dispute settlement process:解决争端程序spell out:讲清除;详细说明Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes:解决争端规则和程序的谅解govern:管理;统治;控制dispute settlement body:解决争端机构a special assembly:立法机构consultation:磋商interested third-parties:有利益关系的第三当事人the establishment of a panel:建立专家组investigate:调查alleged violations:对违反…的指控appellate review:上诉审查Appellate Body:上诉机构adoption of the panel: 采纳专家意见appellate decision by the Dispute Settlement Body:解决争端机构的上诉裁决implementation of the decision adopted:执行所采纳的裁决escalating:逐步上升的;循序渐进的three-step process:三个步骤voluntary conformity:自愿一致the violating member: 侵害方compensation:赔偿the injured member:被侵害方trade concessions:贸易让步;妥协accomplish:实现retaliation:报复arbitration:仲裁Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization:建立世界贸易组织协定Part 3antidumping: 反倾销imposition:强加impositionof antidumping:强加反倾销(报复) countervailing measures:抵销措施;补偿措施fair value:公平价值dumping: 倾销recognize:公认prohibit:禁止an established industry:已有的工业materially:从物质上inhibit:抑制;约束domestic industry:国内工业provide: 规定impose:强行征税antidumping duty:反倾销税in appropriate circumstances:在适当的情况下outline:概述subsidy:津贴;补助金bounty:津贴bestow:给予artificially cheaper:人为造成的便宜emerging industries: 新兴工业a member nation: 成员国a countervailing duty:反倾销税;反补贴税offset:抵销Part 4lengthy and complex:漫长而复杂的legal texts:法律文本cover a wide range of activities:涉及范围广government purchases: 政府采购food sanitation regulations:食品卫生规则intellectual property:知识产权fundamental principles:基本原则run throughout all of these documents:应用与所有文件worldwide, multilateral trading system:全世界多边贸易系统states v. :规定discrimination:歧视discriminate:歧视grante:准予;承认most-favoured-nation (MFN) status:最惠国地位national treatment (国民待遇)freer:更自由的prediatable:可以预见的arbitrarily:任意地;随意地more competitive:更据竞争性的discouraging: 打击market share:市场份额beneficial:受益的flexibility:灵活性special privileges:特权Part 6cost-free: 免费的;不付出代价的attain:获得applicant:申请者go through:经过existing members:现有成员国prospective members:申请加入的国家engage in some painful reforms:进行一些难度很大的改革curb export subsidies(subsidy):控制;抑制enforcement of laws:强制执行法律intellectual property piracy:侵犯知识产权的行为1.2 Globalization1.2.1.globalization:全球化globe: 地球;世界integrated:综合的a more integrated and interdependent world economy:更加综合和相互依赖的世界经济components:成分;因素the globalization of markets:全球化市场the globalization of production:全球化生产1.2.1.1the merging of historically distinct and separate national markets into one huge global marketplace:从过去的明显的单一国内市场融汇为一个巨大的全球市场the taste and preference:品味和偏好converge on a global norm:汇聚为一个全球标准Citicorp credit cards:花旗银行信用卡Levi’s jeans:Levi’s 牛仔服Sony Walkmans and Discmans:Nintendo game players:任天堂游戏机hold up:认为prototypical:典型的trend:趋势Levi Strauss:一公司名(Levi’s strauss 牛仔裤) benefactor: 贡献者;恩人;捐助者facilitator:推动者standardized product:标准化产品the size of these multinational giants:跨国公司规模facilitate: 推动;促进triple:增至三倍account for:占target emerging markets:瞄准新兴市场close to: nearlyPart 2prevalence:流行Sony PlayStations:索尼游戏站push too far: (将某事)过分扩大give way to:让位于….significant:重要的relevant dimensions:相关方面distribution channels:销售渠道culturally embedded value systems:根深帝固的文化价值观念marketing strategy:营销策略and the like: and so onoperating practice: 操作习惯customize:为用户定制best match conditions in a country:最好地与当地国家的情况相适应promote: 开发varying car models:不同的汽车类型a range of factors:一系列的因素traffic congestion:交通拥堵Part 3currently:目前;现在universal need the world over: 全球性的需要the world over:all over the worldcommodity: 商品aluminum:铝microprocessor:微型处理器DRAMs: computer memory chips:电脑存储芯片commercial jet aircraft:商用喷气式飞机financial assets:金融资产US Treasury bills:美国短期债券,偿还期一般为三到六个月futures on the Nikkei Index:日经期货指数the Nikkei Index 东京证券交易所Eurobonds: 欧洲债券Mexican peso:墨西哥比索Part 4an important feature:特点;特征confront:面对;对抗competitor:竞争对手in nation after nation:一个又一个国家rivalry:竞争rival: 对手Pepsi:百事可乐Ford:美国福特汽车公司Toyota:丰田汽车Boeing:波音公司Air-bus:空中客车Caterpillar:公司名Komatsu:公司名Nintendo:任天堂Sony:索尼gain an advantage:取得优势homogeneity:同质:同种multinational enterprise:跨国企业emerge:出现convergence:集中homogeneous:相似的;同类的1.2.1.2 The Globalization of Production tendency: 趋向source:寻找(search for)take advantage of national differences:利用国家之间的不同in the cost and quality:在成本与质量方面factors of production:生产要素overall cost structure:全部成本结构functionality:功能major component parts:主要零件supplier:供应商fuselage, doors and wings:机身,机门和机翼the nose landing gear:飞机起落架wing flaps: 副翼;阻力板rationale:基本原理outsource: 外购;外包perform:从事;做enhance: 提高;增强Part 2dispersal:分散get into the act:参加;插手Swan Optical: 公司名(a company)manufacturer:制造商distributor:销售商eyewear:眼镜revenue:收入jointly: 共同的minority stake:少数股份locations:地方(places)designer eyewear:设计师的眼镜charge a premium price: 获取保险费溢价disperse:分散competitive advantage:竞争优势exemplify:例证;作为…例子irrelevant:不恰当的;不相关的the outsourcing of productive activities:外购(外包)的生产活动substantial:很大的;重要的impediment:障碍optimal dispersion:理想的分散(生产活动)Part 3travel down the road toward…:go toward…characterized by…以…为特点important actors in this drama:这个舞台上的重要演员foster:促进merely:onlyrespond: 相应;回应1.2.2. Implications for the Globalization of Production decline: 下降Implications for International Business:国际贸易的含义due to:由于containerization:集装箱化transportation cost:运输成本associated with…:与…有关technological innovation:技术革新information processing:数据处理;信息处理fall dramatically:很大的下降in the past two decades:在过去的二十年里essential:重要的Texas Instrument (TI): a firm in the US approximately:大约coordinate:管理;协调on a global scale:在全球的范围内remote entry terminals:远程终端inquiry terminals: 查询终端mainframe computers:大型计算机vast:大量的instantaneously:瞬间的;立刻的implement:实现Part 2electronic:电子的Hewlett-Packard: a US firm(be) composed of:由…组成videoconferencing technology:视频会议技术on a weekly basis:每周一次的via: 通过by way ofintegration:综合管理1.22.2Implications for the Globalization of Markets facilitate:推动economical:节约的;经济的mass movement of people:(人们)大量移动cultural distance:文化差距bring about:使…产生convergence:集中consumer tastes and preferences:消费品味和偏好CNN: 美国有限新闻网络primary conveyor:主要载体evolution:发展;演变akin:类似的emergence:出现Rio (巴西)里约热内卢Berlin:柏林Gap jeans:一种牛仔服品牌San Francisco:旧金山Part 4 overemphasize:过分强调usher in:引领conduct:做;操作ignore:忽视peril:危险。