Question

【题目】A Brief History Of Waterstone’s

Waterstone’s is the largest bookstore chain in the UK and Ireland, with 296 stores and 4500 employees, but its market share has recently declined and sales have been poor. The book market suffered during the economy declines and the emergence of new e-readers, such as the Amazon Kindle, was pulling more customers away from the high street. A&NN will pay for Waterstone’s in two parts, one of 40million and one of 13million.The deal will only complete if HMV can renegotiate its bank facilities, though HMV says the banks are supportive of the sale. Pension trustees and the pensions regulator also have to approve. HMV chief executive Simon Fox said A&NN would be a good home for Waterstone’s, while the sale will reduce borrowings and enable HMV to focus on plans for transforming the business into a broad-based entertainment business. A&NN will appoint James Daunt as managing director of Waterstone’s once the deal completes. Mr. Daunt currently runs Daunt Books, a small chain of London-based bookshops he founded in 1990.

Waterstone’s founder Tim Waterstone opened his first store in 1982 at a time when fellow book-lovers were presented with few options on the high street. The top bookseller was WH Smith, Mr. Waterstone’s former employer of eight years before he was dismissed, which he felt was failing to go into a broad market of literature fans. The first store was opened in Old Brompton Road, and the former banker’s intuition was correct as the chain went from strength to strength. Mr. Waterstone, who has written four novels, saw a recovery in the market driven by demand for the works of a new wave of literary stars including Salman Rushdie, Ian McEwan, John Banville and Martin Amis. Having founded the firm with his 6,000, Mr. Waterstone sold the chain to his former employer WH Smith in 1993 for 47million.

【1】According to the passage, who is the most likely to be the managing director of Waterstone’s in the near future?

A.Mr. WaterstoneB.John Banville

C.James DauntD.Simon Fox

【2】What does the word “intuition” mean in the passage?

A.instinctive knowledgeB.mental image

C.calm considerationD.indirect suggestion

【3】Which one of the following is not true according to the passage?

A.At present the brand Waterstone’s belongs to HMV.

B.During the economy declines, the book market was hit and sales were poor.

C.Waterstone’s has long been the largest bookstore chain in the U.K and Ireland.

D.Mr. Waterstone made 41,000 when he transferred the chain to WH Smith.

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】A

【3】D

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了英国最大的连锁书店沃特斯通公司的历史。

【1】细节理解题。根据左侧第二栏中的“A&NN will appoint James Daunt as managing director of Waterstone’s once the deal completes.”可知，一旦交易完成，A& NN将任命James Daunt为水石公司的董事总经理，也就是说James Daunt最有可能成为沃特斯通公司的董事总经理，故C项正确。

【2】词义猜测题。根据画线词前的“The top bookseller was WH Smith, Mr. Waterstone’s former employer of eight years before he was dismissed, which he felt was failing to go into a broad market of literature fans.”可知，当时最畅销的书商是WH史密斯，他是沃特斯通为之工作八年的前雇主，但沃特斯通觉得他没有进入一个广泛的文学迷市场，于是他也在老布罗姆普顿路商业街上开了一家书店，连锁店的不断壮大证明了沃特斯通认为WH史密斯没有打开一个广泛的文学迷市场的感觉是正确的，由此可知画线词词义为“直觉”，故A项正确。

故A项正确。

【3】细节理解题。根据右侧第二栏中的“Having founded the firm with his 6,000, Mr. Waterstone sold the chain to his former employer WH Smith in 1993 for 47million.”可知，沃特斯通用6000英镑创办了这家公司，1993年他以4700万英镑的价格将这家连锁店卖给了他的前雇主WH史密斯，所以当沃特斯通把连锁店卖给WH史密斯时他赚了41000英镑的说法是错误的，故D项正确。

本篇第2题词义猜测题的难度较大，抓住上文中沃特斯通的感受（判断）是关键，根据画线词前的“The top bookseller was WH Smith, Mr. Waterstone’s former employer of eight years before he was dismissed, which he felt was failing to go into a broad market of literature fans.”可知，当时最畅销的书商是WH史密斯，他是沃特斯通为之工作八年的前雇主，但沃特斯通觉得他没有进入一个广泛的文学迷市场，于是他也在老布罗姆普顿路商业街上开了一家书店，连锁店的不断壮大证明了沃特斯通认为WH史密斯没有打开一个广泛的文学迷市场的感觉是正确的，由此可知画线词词义为“直觉”。