英语听力精选进阶版 6432

I couldn't sell a stove to an Innuit. I work hard but I am not very entrepreneurial. I admire people like Richard Branson, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. They set up and grew their own profitable companies when they were very young. It got me wondering whether entrepreneurs are born with the skills they need or if men and women can be trained to earn money after spotting and exploring opportunities in the marketplace.

For UK business consultant¹ Peter Ryding, genes² have a great deal to do with it. He says that an individual's talent for business is 70% born, 10% nurture³, and 20% trainable.

Another expert, Brian Morgan, professor of entrepreneurship at Cardiff Metropolitan⁴ University, places more importance on acquired knowledge. He says business skills can be learned "through college courses or by working with a large company in a sector⁵ that the budding entrepreneur is keen to enter."

"This experience might help the candidate to develop some of the fundamental business and networking skills," adds Mr Morgan.

The owner of a chain of restaurants in the UK, Luke Johnson, says that "taking charge of your working life can actually be a better choice to control your own destiny."

A friend of mine did exactly that. She put a counter in a crowded shopping centre and sold coconut⁶ macaroons. She prepared a business plan, got a bank loan and organised some advertising⁸.

Her start-up was successful in the beginning. She was proud of her coconut macaroons. Well, maybe too proud - as she offered free samples to everybody. She'd give away bags of her cakes.

Profits started to go down but her entrepreneurship did help her to control her own destiny. The owner of a big department store in the shopping centre was impressed by the caring way she dealt with her customers. They ended up getting married. My friend is a born entrepreneur. She now has coconut macaroon counters all over town.

Quiz 测验

1. Why does the article's author admire Richard Branson, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg?

Because they are successful entrepreneurs.

2. Who believes that people are born entrepreneurs?

UK business consultant Peter Ryding.

3. What did the author's friend have to do to open her own company?

Prepare a business plan, get a bank loan and organise⁷ advertising.

4. What made her profits go down?

She was giving away too much of her product instead of selling it.

5. Which expression means 'happy with your own achievement'?

Proud.

Glossary 词汇表

an Innuit （美洲爱斯基人的）伊努伊特族人

entrepreneurial 具有企业家素质的，创业的

profitable 盈利的，赚钱的

an entrepreneur 企业家

to spot 发现

the marketplace 市场

a consultant 顾问

nurture 依靠培养得来的

entrepreneurship 企业家精神，企业家身份

acquired knowledge 学到的知识

a budding entrepreneur 初露头角的企业家

networking skills 建立人际关系技能

a chain (of restaurants) 连锁（餐厅）

a counter 柜台

a business plan 经营计划，商业企划

a bank loan 银行贷款

advertising 登广告

a start-up 一个刚创办的公司

a free sample 免费赠送的样品

profit 利润

1 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

2 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

3 nurture   

n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持

参考例句：

• The tree grows well in his nurture.在他的培育下这棵树长得很好。
• The two sisters had received very different nurture.这俩个姊妹接受过极不同的教育。

4 metropolitan   

adj.大城市的，大都会的

参考例句：

• Metropolitan buildings become taller than ever.大城市的建筑变得比以前更高。
• Metropolitan residents are used to fast rhythm.大都市的居民习惯于快节奏。

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 coconut   

n.椰子

参考例句：

• The husk of this coconut is particularly strong.椰子的外壳很明显非常坚固。
• The falling coconut gave him a terrific bang on the head.那只掉下的椰子砰地击中他的脑袋。

7 organise   

vt.组织，安排，筹办

参考例句：

• He has the ability to organise.他很有组织才能。
• It's my job to organise all the ceremonial events.由我来组织所有的仪式。

8 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。