# Innovation in business - 科目：雅思阅读真题（Part 3） - 考频：中频 - 最近考试：2025.12.6 - 题目数：14 - 来源页：https://www.yaquan.site/paper/ddcb863b-639d-4399-8304-bdbaab5baa0d（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 A Innovation describes the way that we develop new ideas, products, and approaches, and it is one of the most vital human endeavors. Over the history of humanity, innovation has made life better in so many different ways. It is part of human nature to recognize the benefits of innovation; however, the majority of us have little comprehension of the processes that actually lead to innovation occurring. This is a frequent topic for discussion in journals and university lecture theatres. However, in company boardrooms across New Zealand, the term is heard far too frequently, and more caution should be applied. Certainly, a recent international survey showed that the idea of innovation is so broad as to appear almost meaningless, with different sectors of the business world—or different divisions inside the same business—often defining innovation in their own way. B While there is an obvious attraction to the new, innovation is not always about large-scale research and development projects or revolutionary business models; it can be on a small, highly localized scale and involve a step-by-step approach. The famous case study of the drinks company Lucozade shows it can be as simple as adding a screw top to a bottle. This carefully managed change in packaging shifted the public perception of the product from a medicine to a sports drink, and Lucozade profited handsomely, clearly showing their approach was successful. So what steps can businesses take to keep ahead in the innovation game? C There seems to be a widespread belief that the world's best ideas are sudden and intuitive. Thomas Edison supposedly invented the light bulb with a sudden moment of clarity, but in fact, the book Edison: His Life and Inventions shows that Edison's own inspiration usually resulted from laborious experimentation, rather than a moment of genius. Thus, business managers are at risk of overestimating the pace of development while underestimating the amount of perseverance needed. This is why we must reject the false assumption that innovation is just a moment of brilliance waiting to strike. D No exploration of innovation is complete without mention of Steve Jobs, the late chief executive officer (CEO) of Apple. No one encapsulated the creative essence of Silicon Valley, the home of many global tech companies, better than Jobs, but he has also been accused of arrogance. Jobs' managerial approach often imitated his co-workers but, in part, it was the fuel for his visionary innovations. He felt it his duty to make society a better place, but his egotistical behavior could have undesirable consequences, too. Jobs' former employees have suggested this type of demanding behavior affects sickness rates and group morale, which in turn may squash creativity and innovation. E In his 2011 TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) Talk, economist Tim Harford made this statement: "Show me a successful complex system, and I will show you a system that has evolved through trial and error." It sounds like common sense, and some commentators have claimed Harford's TED Talk was not persuasive because it was stating the obvious. But he responds that a trial-and-error approach is not all that obvious, because society expects all problems to have a quick and simple solution. Harford is right to point out that both consumers and investors expect consistent and clear breakthroughs. But the value of step-by-step innovation is often underrated, and failure may, in fact, be crucial to eventual success. F Former chief solutions officer at Yahoo, Tim Sanders, believes that innovation is only "little ideas that combine with other little ideas that improve themselves into game-changing ideas." This snowballing effect has similarities to the phenomenon that author and broadcaster Steven Johnson calls the "hummingbird effect" of innovation. This points out that progress in a specific area or discipline can end up triggering small but significant developments elsewhere entirely. A good case to cite in support of this universal truth would be Gutenberg's printing press, which was revolutionary in itself for making books accessible to the masses. However, the press also affected an unrelated industry by causing a rise in demand for reading glasses. G This highlights the wider idea of connectivity, which is an essential component of innovation. When Kode Biotech won a recent innovation award, CEO Steve Henry had this to say: "Most people think innovation is invention, but they don't understand that innovation is the conversion of invention into something useful." This is particularly true when it comes to Kode's highly specialized use of nanotechnology. Henry says that Kode cannot chase all the opportunities it has created. Instead, Kode's approach is to collaborate with similar nanotechnology businesses, which take its innovations and develop them into commodities that can be sold in the marketplace. H Innovation can be hectic and disorganized, but that is the way that radical new ideas sometimes come about. But, for established businesses, the disorderly nature of innovation can seem discouraging. Previously Unavailable, a specialist innovation consultancy, says that while 84% of businesses consider innovation critical to their future, only 6% are satisfied with their innovation efforts. Previously Unavailable uses a process called Black Box, which was developed following a study at Harvard Business School. Black Box was formed to overcome the barriers that prevent innovation in larger organizations. Using this unique system, Previously Unavailable will lease a team of innovation experts on a short-term basis to client organizations to assist with conceiving, developing, and launching new products and business innovations. It seems probable that this sort of innovation consultancy will become increasingly common, just as businesses already employ specialist consultants for legal, financial, or marketing services. ## 题目与答案 ### 27. 27 Most people understand how innovation happens. 27 Most people understand how innovation happens. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NO 原文定位：however, the majority of us have little comprehension of the processes that actually lead to innovation occurring 同义替换：「Most people」↔「the majority of us」；「understand」↔「comprehension」；「how innovation happens」↔「the processes that actually lead to innovation occurring」 ### 28. 28 The word "innovation" is overused in business in New Zealand. 28 The word "innovation" is overused in business in New Zealand. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：YES 原文定位：However, in company boardrooms across New Zealand, the term is heard far too frequently, and more caution should be applied 同义替换：「word」↔「term」；「overused」↔「far too frequently」；「business」↔「company」 ### 29. 29 There are many interpretations of what innovation means in business, according to one global study. 29 There are many interpretations of what innovation means in business, according to one global study. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：YES 原文定位：Certainly, a recent international survey showed that the idea of innovation is so broad as to appear almost meaningless, with different sectors of the business world—or different divisions inside the same business—often defining innovation in their own way 同义替换：「global study」↔「international survey」；「many interpretations」↔「defining innovation in their own way」；「in business」↔「different sectors of the business world」 ### 30. 30 Research and development projects have a higher priority today than in the past. 30 Research and development projects have a higher priority today than in the past. - YES - NO - NOT GIVEN **答案**：NOT GIVEN ### 31. 31 What is the writer doing in the third paragraph? 31 What is the writer doing in the third paragraph? - Criticizing the conclusions of one publication - Praising the contribution of a famous inventor - Dismissing one common idea about innovation - Suggesting that innovation changes over time **答案**：Dismissing one common idea about innovation 原文定位：There seems to be a widespread belief that the world's best ideas are sudden and intuitive;This is why we must reject the false assumption that innovation is just a moment of brilliance waiting to strike 同义替换：「common idea」↔「widespread belief」；「dismissing」↔「reject the false assumption」 ### 32. 32 What is the writer's main point in the fourth paragraph? 32 What is the writer's main point in the fourth paragraph? - Each industry will innovate in its own way. - There are pros and cons to strong leaders. - Some individuals are more innovative than others. - Leadership requires building teams that work together. **答案**：There are pros and cons to strong leaders. 原文定位：No one encapsulated the creative essence of Silicon Valley;better than Jobs, but he has also been accused of arrogance;He felt it his duty to make society a better place, but his egotistical behavior could have undesirable consequences, too ### 33. 33 The writer refers to Gutenberg's printing press in order to 33 The writer refers to Gutenberg's printing press in order to - Compare how two different innovations developed. - Illustrate an exception to his point about innovation. - Show why one approach to innovation was correct. - Give an example of a general rule about innovation. **答案**：Give an example of a general rule about innovation. 原文定位：This points out that progress in a specific area or discipline can end up triggering small but significant developments elsewhere entirely;A good case to cite in support of this universal truth would be Gutenberg's printing press 同义替换：「general rule」↔「this universal truth」；「give an example」↔「a good case to cite in support of」；「about innovation」↔「hummingbird effect of innovation」 ### 34. 34 What is the writer's main point in the seventh paragraph? 34 What is the writer's main point in the seventh paragraph? - Companies should cooperate to turn ideas into products. - A company tends to make profits from its own innovations. - Science and business can often have common goals. - Competition between businesses produces innovation. **答案**：Companies should cooperate to turn ideas into products. 原文定位：Instead, Kode's approach is to collaborate with similar nanotechnology businesses, which take its innovations and develop them into commodities that can be sold in the marketplace 同义替换：「cooperate」↔「collaborate」；「turn ideas into products」↔「develop them into commodities that can be sold」 ### 35. 35 According to the writer, companies like Previously Unavailable 35 According to the writer, companies like Previously Unavailable - have published valuable research about innovation. - help companies recruit people with skills in innovation. - run university courses teaching innovation skills. - can be hired to give businesses advice about innovation. **答案**：can be hired to give businesses advice about innovation. 原文定位：Previously Unavailable will lease a team of innovation experts on a short-term basis to client organizations to assist with conceiving, developing, and launching new products and business innovations 同义替换：「hired」↔「lease」；「advice」↔「assist with」 ### 36. A book about the life and work of Thomas Edison suggests that A book about the life and work of Thomas Edison suggests that - innovators do not get enough credit for their own ideas. - innovation may influence a completely different field. - expressing what everyone already knows is pointless. - innovation can be enhanced through collaboration with similar companies. - innovation requires a great deal of hard work. - copying ideas that already exist is not true innovation. **答案**：innovation requires a great deal of hard work. 原文定位：the book Edison: His Life and Inventions shows that Edison's own inspiration usually resulted from laborious experimentation, rather than a moment of genius 同义替换：「laborious experimentation」↔「a great deal of hard work」 ### 37. People who have worked for CEOs like Steve Jobs claim that People who have worked for CEOs like Steve Jobs claim that - innovators do not get enough credit for their own ideas. - innovation may influence a completely different field. - expressing what everyone already knows is pointless. - innovation can be enhanced through collaboration with similar companies. - innovation requires a great deal of hard work. - copying ideas that already exist is not true innovation. **答案**：certain personality types can limit innovation. 原文定位：Jobs' former employees have suggested this type of demanding behavior affects sickness rates and group morale, which in turn may squash creativity and innovation 同义替换：「People who have worked for」↔「Jobs' former employees」；「egotistical behavior」↔「certain personality types」；「squash creativity and innovation」↔「limit innovation」 ### 38. Critics of Harford's 2011 TED Talk argue that Critics of Harford's 2011 TED Talk argue that - innovators do not get enough credit for their own ideas. - innovation may influence a completely different field. - expressing what everyone already knows is pointless. - innovation can be enhanced through collaboration with similar companies. - innovation requires a great deal of hard work. - copying ideas that already exist is not true innovation. **答案**：expressing what everyone already knows is pointless. 原文定位：It sounds like common sense, and some commentators have claimed Harford's TED Talk was not persuasive because it was stating the obvious 同义替换：「Critics」↔「some commentators」；「stating the obvious」↔「expressing what everyone already knows」；「not persuasive」↔「pointless」 ### 39. Steven Johnson's hummingbird effect proposes that Steven Johnson's hummingbird effect proposes that - innovators do not get enough credit for their own ideas. - innovation may influence a completely different field. - expressing what everyone already knows is pointless. - innovation can be enhanced through collaboration with similar companies. - innovation requires a great deal of hard work. - copying ideas that already exist is not true innovation. **答案**：innovation may influence a completely different field. 原文定位：This points out that progress in a specific area or discipline can end up triggering small but significant developments elsewhere entirely 同义替换：「progress in a specific area」↔「innovation」；「elsewhere entirely」↔「a completely different field」；「triggering developments」↔「influence」 ### 40. Kode Biotech CEO Steve Henry believes that Kode Biotech CEO Steve Henry believes that - innovators do not get enough credit for their own ideas. - innovation may influence a completely different field. - expressing what everyone already knows is pointless. - innovation can be enhanced through collaboration with similar companies. - innovation requires a great deal of hard work. - copying ideas that already exist is not true innovation. **答案**：innovation can be enhanced through collaboration with similar companies. 原文定位：Instead, Kode's approach is to collaborate with similar nanotechnology businesses, which take its innovations and develop them into commodities that can be sold in the marketplace 同义替换：「collaborate with similar nanotechnology businesses」↔「collaboration with similar companies」；「develop them into commodities」↔「innovation can be enhanced」 --- 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。