Q35 to Q37:
In corporate purchasing,
competitive scrutiny is typically
limited to suppliers of items that are
Line directly related to end products.
(5) With “indirect” purchases (such as
computers, advertising, and legal
services), which are not directly
related to production, corporations
often favor “supplier partnerships”
(10) (arrangements in which the
purchaser forgoes the right to
pursue alternative suppliers), which
can inappropriately shelter suppliers
from rigorous competitive scrutiny
(15) that might afford the purchaser
economic leverage. There are two
independent variables—availability
of alternatives and ease of changing
suppliers—that companies should
(20) use to evaluate the feasibility of
subjecting suppliers of indirect
purchases to competitive scrutiny.
This can create four possible
situations.
(25) In Type 1 situations, there are
many alternatives and change is
relatively easy. Open pursuit of
alternatives—by frequent com-
petitive bidding, if possible—will
(30) likely yield the best results. In
Type 2 situations, where there
are many alternatives but change
is difficult—as for providers of
employee health-care benefits—it
(35)
is important to continuously test
the market and use the results to
secure concessions from existing
suppliers. Alternatives provide a
credible threat to suppliers, even if
(40) the ability to switch is constrained.
In Type 3 situations, there are few
alternatives, but the ability to switch
without difficulty creates a threat that
companies can use to negotiate
(45) concessions from existing suppliers.
In Type 4 situations, where there
are few alternatives and change
is difficult, partnerships may be
unavoidable.
Q35:
Which of the following best describes the relation of the second paragraph to the first?
- The second paragraph offers proof of an assertion made in the first paragraph.
- The second paragraph provides an explanation for the occurrence of a situation described in the first paragraph.
- The second paragraph discusses the application of a strategy proposed in the first paragraph.
- The second paragraph examines the scope of a problem presented in the first paragraph.
- The second paragraph discusses the contradictions inherent in a relationship described in the first paragraph.
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35题答案是C, 说第二段describle 了第一段一种proposed strategy 的应用
但我觉得：相关文字：There are two independent variables—availability of alternatives and ease of changing suppliers—that companies should use to evaluate the feasibility of subjecting suppliers of indirect purchases to competitive scrutiny 。This can create four possible situations.
只是说需要考虑两种因素，由此产生4种情况，相当是讨论了问题的所有可能范围，所以应该选D , 请大家给解解惑，谢谢。
