# Research on a chain store in the UK - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 4） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2020.10.24/2018.12.1/2015.5.16/2013.10.12 - 题目数：10 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/492c89f4-f3fa-406f-b0b1-34d8dce27ff9（在线机考练习与音频请访问该页面） - 数据更新：2026-10-29 ## 题目原文 00:00:00,500 Section four. 00:00:02,720 You will hear a part of a lecture in a series of lectures about chain stores in the UK. First, you have some time to look at questions thirty-one to forty. 00:00:20,880 Now, listen carefully and answer questions thirty-one to forty. 00:01:28,480 Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the second lecture in our series on chain stores in the UK. Today, I will be focusing on a very successful global petrol company called Telsa, paying particular attention to their expansion and future development. There will be time for questions at the end, so please refrain from interrupting during the talk. 00:01:53,240 When it was founded, the company was a family-run organization with only one shop open in a small town in Southern England. The family was able to compete with other local companies by offering special discounts for returning customers, which resulted in a huge expansion of their client base. 00:02:15,040 This strategy was so successful that they were able to open petrol stations across the country, subsequently increasing their market share in England. Within a decade, Telsa were running establishments throughout the UK, including Wales and Scotland. By comparing the sales income from all of their stores, they were able to collate data that highlighted which areas were the most profitable and receptive to their business. They discovered that by closing the less profitable stations in the south of Scotland, they could increase the income from their other more profitable stations. This example demonstrates the importance of constantly monitoring and maintaining a clear view of the finances of the company. 00:03:06,320 Once the expertise required to run the company had exceeded the abilities of the family, they needed to hire professional consultants. After assessing the company's financial statements, the consultants advised that Telsa close the head office of the convenience stores in Oxford. They deemed the head office unnecessary and identified it as a financial drain on the company, as the premises were expensive to run and generated no income. 00:03:38,080 In order to avoid firing any employees, they transferred over two hundred staff to other offices and retrained them to carry out their new roles. 00:03:49,320 Now that Telsa had conquered the petrol market in the UK, they were able to branch out into other niche areas that offered prospects for profit. They realized that they could establish a new environmentally friendly brand image by selling fresh food in their convenience stores that had been grown by local farmers. 00:04:12,540 This strategy would not only broaden the scope of the company, but also help to strengthen its relationships with local communities. 00:04:22,400 Every year, Telsa holds a meeting in London where all of the consultants and managers meet to discuss future plans for development and improvement. These meetings are essential to the evolution of the company, as feedback is heard from all levels of the organization, from the sales staff to the CEOs. 00:04:46,520 They did this by assigning every manager the task of holding staff discussions, at which ideas and concerns would be passed on for evaluation at the meeting. 00:04:59,560 Tesla decided to accommodate the individuality of each of their stores instead of forcing them to conform to one overriding company identity. They realized that by increasing the flexibility of the profit-making strategies of each of the retail stores, they subsequently became more commercially successful. 00:05:22,730 The level of staff satisfaction also increased [beep] as a result, as the individuals felt that they were not being constrained to one way of thinking. To avoid misunderstandings and mistakes, any future changes were introduced in stages in order to familiarize the staff with the new regulations. 00:05:45,760 Now it's time to conclude the lecture for today. So I will leave you with some food for thought before you leave. 00:05:54,380 In order to run a successful business, one cannot underestimate the importance of maintaining an open mind when deciding on strategies for expansion. Sometimes it's necessary to employ an independent consultant who can offer an objective and unbiased view on the running of your company. Emotion will only ever cloud your ability to make business-related decisions. Research suitable case studies, and look at how department stores, for example, were able to alter their organizational structure whilst minimizing costs and staff redundancies. Precedents are an essential resource when it comes to making decisions for your own business. So don't undervalue them. Well, that wraps up our lecture for today. If there are any questions... 00:06:51,490 That is the end of section four. 00:06:54,680 You now have half a minute to check your answers. ## 题目与答案 ### 31. Initial Expansion The company expanded by opening more 31_____ to increase market share in England. Initial Expansion The company expanded by opening more 31_____ to increase market share in England. **答案**：petrol stations 原文定位：They were able to open petrol stations across the country, subsequently increasing their market share in England 同义替换：「expanded」↔「open」 ### 32. They should reduce the number of branches in 32_____ . They should reduce the number of branches in 32_____ . **答案**：Southern Scotland 原文定位：closing the less profitable stations in the south of Scotland 同义替换：「branches」↔「stations」；「reduce」↔「closing」 ### 33. Consultation They shut down the 33_____ of the convenience in Oxford. Consultation They shut down the 33_____ of the convenience in Oxford. **答案**：head office 原文定位：Telsa close the head office of the convenience stores in Oxford 同义替换：「shut down」↔「close」 ### 34. Over 200 staff had to be transferred and 34_____ . Over 200 staff had to be transferred and 34_____ . **答案**：retrained 原文定位：transferred over two hundred staff to other offices and retrained them to carry out their new roles ### 35. A new brand image was established to focus on selling 35_____. A new brand image was established to focus on selling 35_____. **答案**：fresh food 原文定位：establish a new;brand image by selling fresh food in their convenience stores ### 36. The future way A 36_____ was assigned to hold each discussion. The future way A 36_____ was assigned to hold each discussion. **答案**：manager 原文定位：assigning every manager the task of holding staff discussions ### 37. Retail stores should be flexible in making 37_____ . Retail stores should be flexible in making 37_____ . **答案**：profit-making strategies 原文定位：increasing the flexibility of the profit-making strategies of each of the retail stores ### 38. Changes should be introduced in 38_____ so that staff can become accustomed the new rules. Changes should be introduced in 38_____ so that staff can become accustomed the new rules. **答案**：stages 原文定位：any future changes were introduced in stages in order to familiarize the staff with the new regulations 同义替换：「accustomed」↔「familiarize」；「rules」↔「regulations」 ### 39. Conclusion Be open-minded about the 39_____ for expansion they choose. Conclusion Be open-minded about the 39_____ for expansion they choose. **答案**：strategies 原文定位：maintaining an open mind when deciding on strategies for expansion ### 40. Companies have saved costs by changing the structure of the 40_____ of department. Companies have saved costs by changing the structure of the 40_____ of department. **答案**：organizational 原文定位：and look at how department stores, for example, were able to alter their organizational structure whilst minimizing costs and staff redundancies 同义替换：「saved」↔「minimizing」；「changed」↔「alter」 --- 以上内容由鸭圈雅思真题库（www.yaquan.site）提供，收录近期雅思考试真题回忆，支持在线机考模式免费练习。