Section A: Banked Cloze
Directions: In this section, there is a passage with ten blanks. You are required to select one word for each blank from a list of choices given in a word bank following the passage. Read the passage through carefully before making your choices. Each choice in the bank is identified by a letter. Please mark the corresponding letter for each item on Answer Sheet 2 with a single line through the centre. You may not use any of the words in the bank more than once.
Global Strategy and Competitive Advantage
The task of the global strategist of a business is to build a platform of capabilities derived from the resources, experiences and innovations of units operating in multiple locations, to transplant those capabilities wherever (26) ______, and then to systematically upgrade and renew them—ahead of the competition.
Apple is an outstanding case of a company whose unique capabilities give it a worldwide (27) ______ advantage, particularly with respect to its ability to build platforms from a product base that integrates functional and (28) ______ design. Apple has been able to leverage and exploit its California-based design and marketing advantages successfully throughout the world. IKEA is another such case. The do-it-yourself furniture and houseware company first developed a compelling set of capabilities to design, manufacture and (29) ______ furniture at low cost and sell it in a novel way in Sweden. Later, IKEA successfully (30) ______ this formula in many other countries.
By contrast, Telefónica, a Spanish telecommunications company that is now the world’s fifth largest telecom by (31) ______, first developed its special advantage abroad. In 1989 and 1990, Telefónica had the opportunity to enter Chile and Argentina, countries that shared many institutional and cultural characteristics with its home country but that were (32) ______ more rapid market reform. Throughout the 1990s, Telefónica took what it learned in Chile and Argentina about reconstructing former state-owned telecoms to other Latin American countries that were privatizing their state telecoms and deregulating their telecom markets.
These examples might lead the reader to believe that creating a global advantage is an easy task. But many other (33) ______ of expensive failed experiments suggest that creating a lasting global advantage actually requires a great deal of (34) ______ and operational finesse (技巧). Our research suggests that global winners typically create and sustain their international presence through a systematic process of (35) ______, renewing and enhancing their core capabilities.
Answers & Explanations (答案与解析)
Section A: Banked Cloze
26. B (appropriate)。解析：空格在
wherever（无论哪里）之后，这是一个省略了 they are 的状语从句（wherever they are appropriate），需要填入形容词。句意：将这些能力移植到任何“合适的”地方。因此填入 appropriate。27. D (competitive)。解析：空格在形容词
worldwide 之后，名词 advantage 之前，共同修饰 advantage。competitive advantage 是经济学/商业领域的固定搭配，意为“竞争优势”。因此填入 competitive。28. A (aesthetic)。解析：空格在连词
and 后，与形容词 functional（功能的）并列，共同修饰名词 design（设计）。苹果公司以其将“功能的”和“美学的”（aesthetic）设计相结合而闻名。因此填入 aesthetic。29. L (ship)。解析：空格在不定式符号
to 引导的平行结构中：to design, manufacture and ______ furniture，需要填入动词原形。宜家具有设计、制造和“运送”（ship）低成本家具的能力。因此填入 ship。30. I (reproduced)。解析：空格作主语
IKEA 的谓语，根据 Later 可知需要过去式。句意：后来，宜家在许多其他国家成功地“复制”（reproduced）了这一模式（formula）。因此填入 reproduced。31. J (revenues)。解析：空格在介词
by 之后，需要填入名词。by revenues 意为“按收入计算”。句意：西班牙电信按收入计算是世界第五大电信公司。因此填入 revenues。32. O (undergoing)。解析：空格在定语从句的系动词
were 后，需要填入现在分词构成过去进行时。句意：智利和阿根廷正在“经历”（undergoing）更快速的市场改革。因此填入 undergoing。33. G (instances)。解析：空格在
many other 之后，of 之前，需要填入复数名词。句意：但许多其他昂贵的失败实验的“例子”（instances）表明...。因此填入 instances。34. M (strategic)。解析：空格在
a great deal of 之后，与形容词 operational（运营的）通过 and 并列，共同修饰名词 finesse（技巧/手腕）。句意：创造持久的全球优势实际上需要大量的“战略”（strategic）和运营技巧。因此填入 strategic。35. E (exploiting)。解析：空格在介词
of 之后，与后面的 renewing and enhancing 并列，需要填入动名词。句意：全球赢家通常通过系统地“利用”（exploiting）、更新和增强其核心能力的流程来建立和维持其国际影响力。因此填入 exploiting。【核心搭配与亮点句型】
competitive advantage：竞争优势（give it a worldwide competitive advantage）
with respect to：关于，至于（particularly with respect to its ability to build platforms）
leverage and exploit：利用和开发（leverage and exploit its California-based design）
by revenues：按收入计算（the world’s fifth largest telecom by revenues）
state-owned telecoms：国有电信公司（reconstructing former state-owned telecoms）
a great deal of：大量的（requires a great deal of strategic and operational finesse）