# Willow studies - 科目：雅思听力真题（Part 3） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2019.10.10/2014.8.9 - 题目数：8 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/b4a26370-abb9-4350-81ac-020e2e75781f（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 00:00:02,340 Section three. 00:00:04,460 You will hear two students called Tom and Bella attending the third meeting of the after-school club. 00:00:12,400 They are talking with their professor about the furniture company. 00:00:17,200 First, you have some time to look at questions twenty-one to twenty-six. 00:00:32,200 Now, listen carefully and answer questions twenty-one to twenty-six. 00:01:00,680 Before we start, Tom and Bella, thanks for coming in today to talk about the key case studies that will help you to understand your classwork better. 00:01:09,620 Now, I hope you've read the notes I gave you last week on the furniture company, Willows, as this will be the focus of our discussion today. Let's begin. Who can tell me what the current focus of the company's business is? 00:01:23,360 The company used to be very large, with many retail outlets across the country. However, since the recession, there have been fewer people spending money on furniture, and so the company was forced to close all of its outlets and now only operates online. 00:01:39,780 Well done, Tom. Bella, can you add anything? 00:01:43,840 Willows used to produce a very large number of products such as tables, chairs, and light fittings. However, through market research, they realized that most of their profit was made from the sale of bookcases, so they now specialize in this one product. 00:02:01,640 Very good. Does anyone know how our department began its contact with Willows? 00:02:06,640 Did you contact the company, Professor? 00:02:09,280 No, Tom, it wasn't through me. 00:02:11,760 Our headmaster saw an article that the manager had written in the newspaper and became very interested in the company. He contacted Willows and arranged for a student to work there full time during the summer. 00:02:25,980 Yes, exactly. Does anyone know what the student thought of their time working at Willows? 00:02:32,300 Yes. He is a friend of ours. He worked as a member of the design team, creating technical drawings of the furniture using a computer. 00:02:40,570 There was a special software that he used, which he said had a bad interface and was very difficult to predict. However, it was very efficient and helpful for quickly drawing up furniture designs. 00:02:53,880 How interesting. 00:02:55,480 Yes, it was. We both visited him whilst he was working there, and he showed us around. Unfortunately, visitors were not allowed to access the IT department, but it was great to chat with his colleagues. 00:03:10,660 Did you meet his manager? 00:03:12,640 His manager is a very busy man, so he didn't have time to meet with us. However, we were allowed to inspect the accounts, which really helped us to understand the effects of the software on the company. 00:03:24,000 Well, what an exciting experience. Now, before I forget, next week I'll be conducting face-to-face interviews with each of you to prepare for job interviews. 00:03:34,840 Can we do it as a group? 00:03:36,860 I'm afraid not, Bella. I want to give each of you my undivided attention, and there will be too much disturbance if I interview you all together. Plus, it will be more realistic if I interview you alone. 00:03:50,040 Have you finished writing the feedback on our exam results, Professor? 00:03:53,820 Yes, I have, Tom, and I must say that I was not disappointed. I am glad to say that your performance has dramatically increased since you began attending this after-school club, and you have both scored above the average. If you continue to work hard, your results should soon improve significantly. 00:04:15,440 Before you hear the rest of the conversation, you have some time to look at questions twenty-seven to thirty. 00:04:29,320 Now listen and answer questions twenty-seven to thirty. 00:04:49,920 Now, back to our discussion about Willows. Can anyone tell me what business decisions might benefit the company? 00:04:57,460 A new system would definitely benefit Willows. Their system is very outdated. I don't think it would help them to gain more profit. However, the system is capable of doing the work of hundreds of people. This would therefore significantly lower labor costs. 00:05:15,640 I agree. Unfortunately, unless they also replace the machinery in their workshop, the new system won't reduce the production time. 00:05:23,800 That is a shame. If they can't reduce their production time, they won't be able to increase sales. The answer is to hire more staff in order to increase the efficiency of the production line. 00:05:37,140 Yes. You have both made interesting points. Now for one final question before we finish this week's session. 00:05:44,680 How will new clients be affected by the new system? 00:05:48,840 Unfortunately, the new system does not allow clients to connect to the Willows system from home, so they are unable to access their work online. This also means that the system presents no opportunity to attract more contacts, since clients are unable to view it from their homes. 00:06:05,260 Yes. That's true. However, it could definitely benefit clients who visit the showroom. The system is very interactive and allows clients to easily browse the furniture catalog, which will save them a lot of time. 00:06:20,840 It's a shame that staff are still needed to guide clients through the online system, as it means that no savings can be made in labor costs. 00:06:28,980 I think the major benefit of the new system is that it enables staff to design the furniture in front of the client, which allows them to get a lot more involved in the design. 00:06:38,780 Bravo. You've both contributed fantastic points to our conversation. That concludes our session for today. I'll see you next week. 00:06:50,740 That is the end of section three. You now have half a minute to check your answers. ## 题目与答案 ### 21. 21 What field is Willows currently focused on? 21 What field is Willows currently focused on? - Specialising in one product - Making a variety of products - Adding a lot of retail outlet **答案**：Making a variety of products 原文定位：they realized that most of their profit was made from the sale of bookcases, so they now specialize in this one product 同义替换：「currently focused on」↔「now specialize in」 ### 22. 22 How did the students got to know about the software? 22 How did the students got to know about the software? - The professor contacted the company. - An article was read in a newspaper. - A student work their part-time during the vacations. **答案**：An article was read in a newspaper. 原文定位：arranged for a student to work there full time during the summer 同义替换：「vacations」↔「summer」 ### 23. 23 How did the student felt about the software 23 How did the student felt about the software - It`s not easy to predict. - It`s slow for drawing designs. - It had a good interface. **答案**：It`s not easy to predict. 原文定位：There was a special software that he used, which he said had a bad interface and was very difficult to predict 同义替换：「not easy to」↔「very difficult to」 ### 24. 24 How did the students find out about the effects of the software on the company? 24 How did the students find out about the effects of the software on the company? - They want to the IT department. - They talked with the manager. - They inspected the accounts. **答案**：They inspected the accounts. 原文定位：we were allowed to inspect the accounts, which really helped us to understand the effects of the software on the company 同义替换：「find out」↔「understand」 ### 25. 25 The reason why the students have a face-to-face interview alone is that 25 The reason why the students have a face-to-face interview alone is that - They could prepare for exams. - There will be less disturbance. - It`s less realistic. **答案**：There will be less disturbance. 原文定位：I want to give each of you my undivided attention, and there will be too much disturbance if I interview you all together 同义替换：「alone」↔「all together」；「less」↔「too much」 ### 26. 26 How did the two students perform in the exam? 26 How did the two students perform in the exam? - very disappointing - significantly good - above the average **答案**：above the average 原文定位：you have both scored above the average 同义替换：「perform in the exam」↔「scored」 ### 27-28. In which TWO ways will the new system affect the company? In which TWO ways will the new system affect the company? - gain more profit - employ more new staff - increase sales - reduce production time - cut labour costs **答案**：reduce production time,cut labour costs 原文定位：However, the system is capable of doing the work of hundreds of people. This would therefore significantly lower labor costs;Unfortunately, unless they also replace the machinery in their workshop, the new system won't reduce the production time 同义替换：「lower」↔「cut」 ### 29-30. Which TWO effects will the new system have on new clients? Which TWO effects will the new system have on new clients? - getting more involved in the design - obtaining more contacts - linking at home to do online work - wasting less time - decreasing labour costs **答案**：getting more involved in the design,wasting less time 原文定位：enables staff to design the furniture in front of the client, which allows them to get a lot more involved in the design;allows clients to easily browse the furniture catalog, which will save them a lot of time 同义替换：「save them a lot of time」↔「wasting less time」 --- 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。