2012剑桥商务英语高级阅读理解精选题10
4 u0 [8 c/ R6 Q4 w) Z9 q, F# R8 S Lebrun Steel Facing up to Tough Times
: b' J- d, [0 e 0 After 98 years of trading, the steel manufacturer Lebrun knows from experience as how: g% J q3 l% f2 ^1 I( J
00 difficult fluctuations in the economic cycle can be for suppliers such as themselves." ^6 l2 q& R) \% [- @
34 Since many of the nation's largest production companies which are its customers,
- I/ j0 g$ {: U 35 Lebrun is adversely affected by any change for the worse in the economy. Yet Lebrun
' R& x* C) @) H9 d( j w 36 has managed to keep on sales steady (in the region of approximately $2.5 billion)$ o; T0 e* y) g6 c
37 and has recorded only one annual loss during the difficulties of the past five
( z2 k/ v* }0 x% L' ` 38 years, but despite the effects of the ongoing industrial slowdown. James Griffith,
# W( F$ `: Z6 u 39 president of Lebrun, now has the task of turning up survival into growth, and
3 H$ z( ]4 ?& N4 A 40 his strategy is already becoming clear to those industry observers. In February of0 L y& k4 s* K8 V( {& z P
41 this year, the company acquired Bronson pic, additionally a one-time competitor.
1 H, ]. m1 o) m' j& e1 g& P% s" a 42 This merger will greatly expand the size of both Lebrun's labour force, and) B; A( [& y7 X9 z; z
43 Griffith estimates it will boost its revenue by nearly 50%, while too increasing8 ]! m+ B0 ~& o O
44 the number of plants and R&D centres in much a similar way. Griffith is
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45 optimistic that while the steel industry is about to pull out of recession, and he wants Lebrun to be ready for this. |