第二輯真題TEST 4 READING PART 1
1、This development is in an area where the potential for consumer spending is the highest in the country.
2、The partners constructing this centre have been responsible for numerous other developments.
3、The centre may become a model for future urban development plans.
4、This centre is being marketed by the developers as the best place in the area to shop.
5、Other shopping destinations are located close to the agreed site for this centre.
6、Plans for this development have been presented to people who live in the area for comment and approval.
7、This development is being built in an area which has experienced sustained growth over time.
A
The Birmingham Alliance will provide Birmingham with one of Europe's largest regional shopping centres, right in the heart of the city. The Alliance, an initiative between three of the largest developers in the country, all with extensive experience of urban regeneration schemes, will facilitate an £800m investment in Birmingham. This will regenerate 40 acres of the city centre within the next decade. Planning permission is in place for the new scheme, which will be a short distance from existing prime retail areas. The development will be well serviced by all forms of public transport, as well as providing parking space for 3,200 cars.
B
The private-public partnership between Legal & General and Bracknell Town Council will manage the £500m regeneration of the town's centre. The proposals, which are awaiting the outcome of consultation with local residents, provide for approximately 102,000m2 of retail and leisure facilities, 200 residential units and office accommodation. This development is expected to set the standard for town centre regeneration schemes to come because of the way it integrates the business and community sectors. It will also facilitate great improvements in the region's transport infrastructure.
C
Bluewater is a symbol of retail excellence, achieved through a unique combination of design, retail mix, leisure, catering and hospitality. The centre, surrounded by parkland, is situated in the country's most affluent region. Eleven million people, with a combined spending power predicted to exceed a record 5.5bn pound, live within 60 minutes of the centre. The developers set a precedent in the industry by getting the country's three best-known department stores to open very large branches within the centre, as well as over 300 leading fashion and lifestyle stores.
D
Following its recent stock market success, Lend Lease is now developing Overgate shopping centre in Dundee. Construction is well under way, and with several of the country's best-known retailers already secured, Lend Lease is promoting the centre as the unrivalled shopping destination of the region. The economic base of the area has improved continuously over the past decade, due to the fast expansion of the biomedical and service sectors. With an estimated potential market of 500,000 people, Overgate is proving attractive to leading UK retailers.
這套題目的難度不一般，我估計能把這套題給吃透了，以后基本可以笑傲閱讀的第一部分了。文章有點散，題目的信息也是相當隱晦，很可能看了半天依然找不著北。寫到這里多啰嗦幾句，越是這種時候越要沉住氣：所有人都一樣，別人不會感覺比你容易。這是整個BEC考試的第一部分，如果不對付好了，后面會潰不成軍。
文章ABCD四個部分分別介紹了四個不同的連鎖店的發展情況（retail development），因為是基本情況的介紹，所以有點泛，沒法提煉重點，只能盡可能多的把文章里的疑似重點詞匯劃出來，以待備用。
第一題，說這個地區的消費支出潛力是整個國家最高的，這里的highest是關鍵詞。答案是C段的這句話：Eleven million people,with a combined spending power predicted to exceed a record 5.5bn pound.意思是綜合消費能力預計將超過記錄。預計（predict），也就是潛力(potential)。hightest，也就是exceed a record。前面有個affluent，是形容詞，富裕的。
第二題，說建筑這個中心的合作方曾多次負責其他的項目發展。答案是A段的一句話：an initiative between three of the largest developers in the country, all with extensive experience of urban regeneration schemes.意思是這三個國內最大的開發商都擁有廣泛的城市建造經驗。這里的with extensive experience就是題干所說的have been responsible for numerous other developments.
第三題，說這個中心可能會成為未來城市發展規劃的范例。答案是B段的一句：This development is expected to set the standard for town centre regeneration schemes to come。這種發展有望為即將到來的城市中心再建方案樹立標準。set the standard對應于model，plans對應于schemes。
第四題，關鍵詞是best，答案是D段的這么一句：Lend Lease is promoting the centre as the unrivalled shopping destination of the region.是說Lend Lease打算促使該中心成為這個地區無與倫比的消費目的地。Unrivalled對應于best。
第五題，關鍵詞是一個close，答案是A段的：Planning permission is in place for the new scheme, which will be a short distance from existing prime retail areas。A short distance from也就是close。
第六題，說這個發展方案提交給了住在這里的人，等待他們的評價和同意。答案是B段的“The proposals, which are awaiting the outcome of consultation with local residents”，這個提議還在等當地居民商議的最后結果，完全一個意思。
第七題，說建造在了一個曾經歷了持續增長期的地區，答案是D段的“The economic base of the area has improved continuously over the past decade”，這個地方的經濟基礎連續改善了十年。sustained growth對應于improved continuously。
