BEC商务英语考试阅读试题5.docxVIP

Word文档下载后（可任意编辑） 第 第 PAGE 1 页 共 NUMPAGES 1 页 BEC商务英语考试阅读试题5 商务英语阅读试题：BEC商务英语考试阅读试题5 BEC商务英语指导课程  Lucy Robertson started working at a takeaway food business to supplement her income during her student days at Edinburgh University, Several years later she had bought the business and now, 17 years on, she owns Grapevine Caterers, probably Scotlands leading independent caterers, with a turnover of almost ￡6m.  She had never planned to own a business, and had certainly never considered a career in catering. (0)... ... . However, her unplanned career began in 1985, when she returned to Edinburgh and discovered that the takeaway she had worked in was up for sale. On impulse, she bought it, but admits that at the time she knew nothing about catering. (8)It was a difficult time, but essential in terms of gaining the experience she needed. The late 1980s boom was good for business, with large numbers of office workers wanting takeaway food for their lunches. (9)At one point there were 26 food outlets within a 5-kilometre radius, Robertson recalls. As the economy changed and the once packed office blocks started to become vacant, it became clear that Robertson would need to diversify.(10)It changed the direction of the company for good.  As Robertson began to win catering contracts, she decided that the company would have to move to larger premises. In 1994, the move was made when she bought another catering business that already had a number of profitable contracts for boardroom lunches.  Meanwhile, Robertsons main competitor, the oldest catering company in Edinburgh, was causing her some anxiety. Customer loyalty is not to be underestimated, she warns. But Robertson is not someone who is easily put off.(11)Partly as a result of this, turnover doubled, and having outgrown another site, Robertson bought a city-centre location for the groups headquarters.  By now, Grapevines main competitor was a new catering company called Towngates. Although