The bank with ideas
With several hundred years of history behind it, the APL Bank has few problems in convincing businesses that it is reputable and secure__21__ of a range of banking serving. Now, it is demonstrating to business customers that it is flexible and responsive enough to ___22___ their changing needs in the 21st century.
Based in London, APL offers banking services to businesses throughout the UK via its branch __23___. Most customer service provision is ___24_ out by personal account managers based in local branches, together with ___25__ staff at company headquarters.
An important ___26__for APL has been to make it easy for customers to __27__business with the bank. They can contact their account manager by direct line or email; if the manager is on holiday, a carefully chosen colleague becomes the ‘account contact’ and ___28__with the customer during the manager’s ___29___. In addition, for those who want ___30__ to their bank at any time of day or night there is now a 24-hour phone-based service.
In order to remain competitive and build customer loyalty, the bank guarantees to turn around urgent loan___31__within 24 hours. This focus on the customer has also been a driving __32__in APL’s recruitment and development policy. For example, newly inducted staff ___33__a ‘customer service review’ to find out what it is like to be on the other side of the desk, asking to borrow money.
Together, these ___34__in banking have achieved excellent results. The customer__35___is growing fast, and last year the bank gained 36,000 new business accounts.
21. A. producer B. supplierC. providerD. giver
22. A achieve B. reachC meetD. assist
23. A. system B. web C. gridD. network
24. A. taken B. broughtC. carriedD. put
25. A. aidB. supportC. guidance D. backing
26.A. objectiveB. purpose C. direction D. scheme
27.A doB. run C. make D. have
28. A copes B. arranges C. handlesD. deals
29. A vacancy B. departureC. absenceD. retirement
30.A accessB. entrance C. approach D. opening
31. A. demandsB. applicationsC. proposals D. orders
32. A power B. strengthC. forceD. pressure
33. A take overB. go throughC. set down D. put up
34.A. innovationsB. adaptations C. revisions D. modernization
35. A. sourceB. baseC. centre D. foundation
21、爭議的焦點可能在B和C之間，supplier 還是provider。
supplier更側重於提供某種產品(朗文：a company or person that provides a particular product)
provider強調提供某種服務(朗文：a company or person that provides a service)
聯絡這個空後面的banking serving，這裡應該選擇provider。
23、network 相互關係(配合)的系統
這個詞很好理解，看一遍就會了。如果是第一次選，沒準會選中system
28、cope with後接事 deal with可接人和事
handle是及物動詞，後面直接接人和事，相當於deal with
31、loan application 貸款申請
apply for loan 固定用法
33、go through 仔細的檢視，後面正好和customer service review搭配。
driving force和customer base屬於固定用法
