Detailed Guide to BEC 2 Reading 3

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PART THREE

The texts used in this part of BEC 2 are also taken from newspapers, magazines, books, reports, letters and (longer)
memos. Again, the questions following the text are of the multiple-matching type. However, in this part the questions
fall into two different categories. The first 4 questions require you to be able to identify the main gist or central point of each paragraph in the text while the second 4 questions require you to complete sentences about the text. Thus the first set of questions serve to test a general understanding of the text while the second set test a more detailed understanding of parts of the text.

The first 4 questions require you to choose the most, appropriate title for each numbered paragraph in the text from
7 titles contained in a box. 4 of the titles are summaries of one of the paragraphs in the text while 3 are included as
distractors. The titles are sometimes quite short but nevertheless they provide an accurate summary of the text. The
distractors (ie the incorrect answers) all seem possible and are partly justified by the text (but they are clearly unsuitable titles, especially when compared to the correct titles).

After gaining a good idea of the text from doing the first 4 questions, you should now attempt the second 4 questions. Here you should try to complete the first of the 4 incomplete sentences with the most appropriate phrase from the list of 7 phrases in the box. Weigh each alternative very carefully before moving on to the second of the 4 questions. After
checking that you have chosen the most suitable phrase and considering carefully each of the other phrases before dismissing there, move on to the third question, repeat the procedure and finally do the 4th question.

The text used in the following example of Part Three concerns proposals for solving delivery problems in a company. The two types of questions described above follow the text.

1.I suggest we examine the problem of delivery very carefully. It is now urgent that we should improve our delivery dates. We can no longer rely on rail transportation as trains carrying freight are very slow and many our new customers cannot be reached -by rail. Unfortunately, the costs transportation by road have increased to such an extent that R is often necessary to waft until we have a full load destined for a particular place before we can dispatch the goods. As a result of our attempt to economise in this way, the delivery of many of our goods is becoming subject to fairly long delays.

2.Our primary aim, therefore, is to reduce delivery times while keeping transport costs as low as possible. This can
only be done satisfactorily we ourselves deliver our goods rather than handing this part of our operations over to other
companies specialising in freight transportation. Consequently, the first suggestion I have to make is that we invest in transportation and develop a fleet of trucks for our purposes. My second suggestion now concerns the types of trucks which we should purchase. Since we cannot afford to wait until the usual large container truck has been filled, I recommend that we use smaller vans to deliver many of our orders. Although we should, of course, require one or two large trucks, most of our fleet would consist of smaller trucks or vans.

3.I suggest we now get as many details as possible of the range of small trucks and vans available for purchase. We want to find out about the costs of new vehicles as well as second-hand trucks and vans in good condition. While we are engaged in this exercise, I suggest we also obtain information about the costs of renting vans similar to those we are considering purchasing. We should make sure of getting good quality, reliable vans at a competitive price which includes all maintenance and repairs. We should also require an agreement on the part of the van hire company to exchange any old van for a newer one once it becomes unreliable.

4.Next we want to compare all the information we have obtained, listing the advantages and disadvantages of buying new vans rather than good second-hand vans. After we have done this, I suggest we compare these advantages and disadvantages with those of renting vans. It is crucial for us to consider carefully all the facts before we finally choose which option is best for our objectives. Once we have decided, I suggest we proceed without any delay.
　
13. Paragraph 1 .......... C..........

14. Paragraph 2 .......... G..........

15. Paragraph 3 .......... A..........

16. Paragraph 4 .......... F..........

　
A gather information and examine options

B describe ideal future situation

C identify problems

D recommend types of vehicles

E reach an agreement or make a compromise

F evaluate and decide

G define objectives and make proposals

　
　
17. The writer first recommends
.......... D..........

18 The delivery problem has been caused by
.......... C..........