Question

Bum rate is the speed at which a startup business consumes money. My rate would be $ 50,000 a month when my new media company started. So, I began looking around for individuals who would be my first investors. “Angel money” it was called. But when I reviewed my list of acquaintances to find those who might be able to help, I found the number got small.

　　With no other choices, I began meeting with the venture-capital companies. But I was warned they took a huge share of your company for the money they put in. And if you struggled, they could drop you cold.

　　As I was searching for “angel money”, I started to build a team who trusted me even though I didn't have money for paychecks yet.

　　Bill Becker was an expert in computer programming and image processing at a very famous Media Lab at M. I.T. With his arrival, my company suddenly had a major technology “guy” in-house.

　　Katherine Henderson, a filmmaker and a former real-estate dealer, joined us as our director of market research. Steve White came on as operating officer. He had worked for the developer of a home-finance software, Quicken. We grabbed him.

　　We had some really good people, but we still didn't have enough money. One night, my neighbor, Louise Johnson, came for a visit. She and I were only nodding acquaintances, but her boys and ours were constant companions. She ran a very good business at the time.

　　Louise was brilliant and missed nothing. She had been watching my progress closely. She knew I was dying for money and I had prospects but could offer no guarantees of success.

　　She told me that her attorney had talked to mine and the terms had been agreed upon. She handed me an envelope. Inside was a check for $ 500,000.

　　I almost fell down. I heard her voice as if from heaven.

　　“I have confidence in your plan,” she said. “You' 11 do well. You're going to work hard for it, but it' s satisfying when you build your own company.”

　　Who would have thought I'd find an angel so close to home? There were no words sufficient for the moment. We just said good night. She left and I just stood there, completely humbled and completely committed.

1.For a newly-established business, bum rate refers to___________.

A. the salary it pays to its staff　         B. the interest it pays to the bank

C. the way in which it raises capital　  　 D. the speed at which it spends money

2.By "Angel money", the author refers to__________.

A. the money borrowed from banks　  　 B. the money spent to promote sales

C. the money raised from close friends　　 D. the money needed to start a business

3.To get help from a venture-capital company, you may have to__________.

put up with unfair terms　         　B. change your business line

C. enlarge your business scope      　　 D. let them operate your business

4.The author easily built a team for his company because__________.

A. they were underpaid at their previous jobs

B. they were turned down by other companies

C. they were confident of the author and his business

D. they were satisfied with the salaries in his company

5. Louise decided to lend money to the author because__________.

A. she wanted to join his company

B. she knew he would build a team

C. she knew his plan would succeed

D. she wanted to help promote his sales

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.D

2.D

3.A

4.C

5.C

【解析】

試題分析：“燃燒速率”是指一家剛起步的公司花錢的速度。 當我的新媒體公司剛創立的時候燃燒速率是每個月50，000美元。 因此，我開始四下尋找可能成為我的第一批投資者，得到的投資被稱為“贊助資金”。 但是當我考慮在我認識的人中有誰能幫我時，我發現寥寥無幾。 　

在我尋找“贊助資金”的同時我開始建立自己的團隊。我們有很棒的員工，但是我們的錢不夠。 一天晚上，我的鄰居露易絲來訪. 那時她的事業正如火如荼。露易絲一直在密切關注我的公司。 她知道我非常需要錢，而且還知道我很有希望，但是不能保證一定能成功。她遞給我一個信封，里面是一張50萬美元的支票。 誰會想到我會在家門口找到贊助人?  

1. 細節理解題。文章第一段第一句話：Bum rate is the speed at which a startup business consumes money. （“燃燒速率”是指一家剛起步的公司花錢的速度.）故選D。

2.推理判斷題。“angel money”出現在文章第一段第四句。由其前面的一句話可知這筆錢是第一批投資商投入的資金，此時公司剛剛成立，從而可判斷“angel money”是用來創業的. 故選D。

3. 推理判斷題。從文章第二段第二句話“…they took a huge share of your company for the money they put in．（他們會因為投資而拿走你公司的一大股。）”可知，投資公司會拿走公司相當大的一部分股份，這種交易當然是不公平的。 故選A。

4.推理判斷題。文章第三段： 我開始組建由信任我組成的團隊，即使我沒錢付給他們工資。由此可見，團隊成員都對作者及其創辦的公司很有信心，才會不計后果地給他做事。 故選C。

5.細節理解題。文章第七段至第十段大意：Louise很聰明，并且不會錯過任何機會。她一直在密切關注我的公司。 她知道我非常需要錢，而且還知道我很有希望，但是不能保證一定能成功。第十段“我對你的計劃有信心，”她說.“你會做得很好。 你得為之努力奮斗，但是建立自己的公司是一件很令人滿足的事情。”。 由此可知，Louise認為作者的公司很有希望才借錢給作者。故選C。

考點：故事類閱讀。