2012剑桥商务英语阅读理解专项练习(10), d: |+ N; e/ J7 y1 @) m* x
Lebrun Steel Facing up to Tough Times6 d- k4 }5 P# ^& F: R: ^$ l
0 After 98 years of trading, the steel manufacturer Lebrun knows from experience as how/ f0 d+ h: p: `/ T
00 difficult fluctuations in the economic cycle can be for suppliers such as themselves.& E0 w8 \. Z( L
34 Since many of the nation's largest production companies which are its customers,6 l8 A+ ]! S9 K" R$ X8 _
35 Lebrun is adversely affected by any change for the worse in the economy. Yet Lebrun- P f+ `2 R5 I0 O$ d
36 has managed to keep on sales steady (in the region of approximately $2.5 billion)www.ExamW.CoM) h0 i6 V& F& D& K9 `; |
37 and has recorded only one annual loss during the difficulties of the past five
& c0 r2 S4 k% L# b2 R1 @* a 38 years, but despite the effects of the ongoing industrial slowdown. James Griffith,: V3 u F1 g/ V. |3 T; x
39 president of Lebrun, now has the task of turning up survival into growth, and9 h5 X0 ^3 m' ~( M
40 his strategy is already becoming clear to those industry observers. In February of. S* |1 G! b1 Z
41 this year, the company acquired Bronson pic, additionally a one-time competitor.
; l% p: r$ K# ?, t' A" p 42 This merger will greatly expand the size of both Lebrun's labour force, and
0 {6 M' u; e/ L5 M, S# e 43 Griffith estimates it will boost its revenue by nearly 50%, while too increasing
( {, {: n: l* m* d 44 the number of plants and R&D centres in much a similar way. Griffith is
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* R6 G- d) X; Z/ }; l9 `. m 45 optimistic that while the steel industry is about to pull out of recession, and he wants Lebrun to be ready for this. |