13 What event coincided with Critical Path becoming a public company?

　　A Hayden became the Executive Director of Critical Path.

　　B Investors hired a replacement team to run Critical Path.

　　C Critical Path launched a successful new product on the market.

　　D Critical Path was floated on the Stock Exchange at 24 cents per share.

　　14 Which of the following situations did Hayden face at Critical Path in 2001?

　　A The employees were worried about job security.

　　B The investors were calling for changes to the company structure.

　　C The management was misleading the staff about the company's position.

　　D The board of directors did not realise the scale of the company's problems.

　　15 One reason Hayden was able to turn Critical Path around was that

　　A he managed to find new investors.

　　B the financial situation was not as bad as he had thought.

　　C he had built up a good relationship with the management team.

　　D he was given the support that he needed.

　　16 What was Hayden's policy regarding the staff of Critical Path?

　　A He paid overtime to everybody who worked outside office hours.

　　B He reduced the workforce by operating an early retirement scheme.

　　C He gave key staff the opportunity to help him set goals for the company.

　　D He restored motivation by showing willingness to work alongside staff.

　　17 According to Hayden, what could indicate that a business is in trouble?

　　A problems keeping accounts up to date

　　B suppliers refusing to offer new credit terms

　　C a frequent need to increase the amount borrowed

　　D difficulties in getting payment from customers on time

　　18 Hayden left Critical Path after he had rescued the company because

　　A he wanted to develop the technology for a new internet service.

　　B he wanted to concentrate on founding a new enterprise.

　　C he had been offered a job with a major internet company.

　　D he decided to go into partnership with a major client.

　这篇文章名为《Critical Path》，字面上理解是关键路径，但在此文中是指一个公司的名字。整篇文章都是围绕这个公司遭遇的困境，以及这个公司的执行主席是如何力挽狂澜、扭转乾坤的。BEC考试阅读文章的一大特点是逻辑性强，层次分明，读完不会有找不着北的感觉。

　　13题，题目问当Critical Path成为上市公司时还发生了什么事。

　　A不对，原文说的很明白：Hayden took the opportunity to step down from his executive position。抓住机会从总裁的位置上退下来。

　　B项正确。原文说the business was put in the hands of new managers by its investors。业务被投资者交给了新的经理。和B选项的“投资者雇佣了一个替代团队来运营Critical Path”说的是一个意思。

　　C不对，原文说的是sector-leading products，行业领先的产品，的确是C选项所说的successful，但是new不对。

　　D不对，首先时间上不吻合，不是Critical Path成为上市公司时的事，其次这一句的描述也不对，只是说股价跌倒了24美分，不是float。

　　Public company：a company whose shares can be bought and sold on the stock market, etc.上市公司。

　　14题，题目问在2001年的Critical Path,这个Hayden面临着什么样的情况。答案在第二段找。