在世界各地，年輕企業傢層出不窮。但這些乳臭未幹且胸懷大志的年青人到底知道自己在幹什麼嗎？本期《隨身英語》討論年輕人創業從商。
課文內容
詞匯: 商業
Do you have a business brain? Are you always looking for the next big idea? Maybe, like me, you might feel setting up a new company is something you might do when you’re older, when you have more experience. But that’s not always the case.
While some of us may feel young adulthood is a time of tentatively finding our place in the world, sleeping late and partying hard, others are already on a path to great business success. Take the founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates, who started his company as a young university student at Harvard in the US. There are many other examples of young entrepreneurs who have become hugely successful, proving that there’s no minimum age to becoming top dog.
But to be the next business executive requires effort. You need to acquire a keen mind and good business acumen and above all, you need enthusiasm. Starting a new business comes with an element of risk but if you are able to spot the next big idea, it’s probably worth giving it a try. Jessica Rose owns a jewellery making business and admits that “when I first started I had no business training whatsoever… but I kind of woke up one day and thought I’d really love to be a jewellery designer.” She went on to be a successful young entrepreneur.
Being young and in business does have its drawbacks; you may worry you have nothing to bring to the table and that the people who work for you tend to be older and wiser. That’s what young British entrepreneur Suleman Sacranie found. He started his third business whilst studying chemistry at university. He says “now I’ve got two additional directors who have grey hair” but when they first started he says he “could tell they were thinking in the back of their heads, ‘I’ve got a kid sitting in front of me.'”
You may think setting up a new start-up is easier said than done. As well as ideas, you need financial backing and expert guidance. But if you’re studying hard at university and don’t have the desire to go into business and make your fortune, keep on studying – an education is priceless!
詞匯表
a business brain 經商頭腦，商業頭腦
big idea 創意，想法
founder 創始人
entrepreneur 企業傢
top dog 權威，優勝者
executive 主管，經理
acquire 獲得，取得
a keen mind 敏銳的頭腦
acumen 敏銳，精明
drawback 弱點，缺點
to bring to the table 提供有用的東西
easier said than done 說來容易做來難
financial backing 資金支持，財政支援
priceless 無價的
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Where was Bill Gates studying when he founded his company, Microsoft?
2. What did British entrepreneur Suleman Sacranie say to suggest that two of his employees were much older than him?
3. Name something, mentioned in the article, that you need to start up a new business.
4. True or false? You have to be at least 21 years old to start out in business.
5.Which word in the text means having a lot of energy or excitement about something?
2.請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. John thought he was _________ and would boss everyone around even though he wasn’t actually the boss.
top cat topping dog top dog dog top
2. She has _________ the knowledge to be able to do all the online accounts.
founded acquired backed required
3. One of the ________ of going by train is that it takes much longer than going by plane.
drawbridges drawbacks drawbacked drawback
4. I’ll never replace my stolen engagement ring. It was _________ .
cheap priceful worthless priceless
5. Jim can finally open his new cafe now that he has the _________ .
big idea founding financial backing top dog
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Where was Bill Gates studying when he founded his company, Microsoft?
Harvard in the US.
2. What did British entrepreneur Suleman Sacranie say to suggest two of his employees were much older than him?
He said two of his directors have ‘grey hair’.
3. Name something mentioned in the article that you need to start up a new business.
Ideas, financial backing, expert guidance.
4. True or false? You have to be at least 21 years old to start out in business.
False. The article says “there’s no minimum age to becoming top dog.”
5. Which word in the text means having a lot of energy or excitement about something?
Enthusiasm.
2.請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. John thought he was top dog and would boss everyone around even though he wasn’t actually the boss.
2. She has acquired the knowledge to be able to do all the online accounts.
3. One of the drawbacks of going by train is that it takes much longer than going by plane.
4. I’ll never replace my stolen engagement ring. It was priceless.
5. Jim can finally open his new cafe now that he has the financial backing.
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