What is logistics? In the current business environment,logistics is generally accepted as a very important element for the economic development and business growth of a region,especially a port city. In reality,what does logistics mean?In which way does it operate? For simple definition,logistics is a set of procedures in which commodity is delivered in an efficient manner from suppliers to customers.There are three key aspects to the concepts: 1．Movement of goods Goods can be considered as valuable objects,such as cargo and materials that are valua-ble and purchasable through commercial transactions and processes.Flow can be determined as methods in which goods are moved or transferred between locations,intermediaries and merchandisers.Modes of transportation include motor,rail,water,air and pipeline. 2.Direction of the flow of goods In the open market place,buyers and sellers represent two ends of a commercialtrans-action.Buyers are usually customers who demand the goods,while,as sellers are suppliers who provide such goods.When a transaction is agreed upon (sometimes payment is comple-ted,other times the payment is arranged to be completed at a later stage),the suppliers have the responsibility to arrange for the goods to be delivered to the customers. 3.Efficient management of the flow process The transportation of goods should bear low cost and ensure safety and punctuality.It should do its best to avoid wasting customers＇resources.Currently,the flow of goods is generally controlled by both hardware and software.By hardware,we mean logistics facili-ties and equipment,such as ports,warehouses and trucks,ships,railroad,cars and air-lines.By software,we mean information system,standardization and data sharing.Questions:

How is flow of goods controlled?( )

A:By hardware. B:By software. C:By people. D:By both hardware and software.

Transport and Trade

    1 Transport is one of the aids to trade. By moving goods from places where they are plentiful to places where they are scarce, transport adds to¹ their value. The more easily goods can be brought over the distance that separates producer and consumer, the better for trade. When there were no railways, no good roads, no canals, and only small sailing ships, trade was on a small scale².

    2 The great advances made in transport during the last two hundred years were accompanied³ by a big increase in trade. Bigger and faster ships enabled a trade in meat to develop between BritainandNew Zealand, for instance. Quicker transport makes possible mass-production and big business, drawing supplies from, and selling goods to, all parts of the globe. Big factories could not exist without transport to carry the large number of workers they need to and from their homes. Big city stores could not have developed unless customers could travel easily from the suburbs and goods delivered to their homes. Big cities could not survive unless food could be brought from a distance.

    3 Transport also prevents waste. Much of the fish landed at the ports would be wasted if it could not be taken quickly to inland towns. Transport has given us a much greater variety of foods and goods since we no longer have to live on⁴ what is produced locally. Foods which at one time could be obtained only during a part of the year can now be obtained all through the year. Transport has raised the standard of living.

    4 By moving fuel, raw materials, and even power, as, for example, through electric cables, transport has led to the establishment of industries and trade in areas where they would have been impossible before. Districts and countries can concentrate on⁵ making things which they can do better and more cheaply than others and can then exchange them with one another. The cheaper and quicker transport becomes, the longer the distance over which goods can profitably be carried. Countries with poor transport have a lower standard of living.

    5 Commerce requires not only the moving of goods and people but also the carrying of messages and information. Means of communication, like telephones, cables and radio, send information about prices, supplies, and changing conditions in different parts of the world. In this way, advanced communication systems also help to develop trade.

词汇：

aid /eid/ n．帮助，援助

plentiful /"plentiful/ adj．充裕的，丰富的

scarce /skeəs / adj．匾乏的，缺少的

canal /kə"næl/ n．运河

suburbs /"sʌbəbz/ n．郊区

deliver /di"livə/v．送（货）

port /pɔ:t/ n．港口

cable /"keibl/ n．电缆

commerce /"kɔməs/ n．商业

注释：

1.    add to：增添，增加

2.    on a small scale：小规模地。注意这里用的介词是on。

3.    accompany：伴随。例如：The dance was accompanied by music．音乐伴舞。

4.    live on：以……为主食

5.    concentrate on：集中

B at any time during the year

C has gieatly promoted trade

D is it possible to produce on a large scale

E the transport of goods

Only when goods can be carried to all parts of the world quickly_________.

A:A B:B C:C D:D E:E F:F

the goods which have entered the territory,approved by the Customs as items for which no formalities are performed in the way of duty payment,and will be reshipped out of the territory after being stored,processed or assembled in the territory are defined as （）

A:bonded，goods B:Through，goods C:Transshipment，goods D:Transit，goods

According to China’s Maritime Code, the responsibilities of the carrier with regard to the ( 1 ) covers the entire period during which the carrier is in charge of the goods, starting from the time the carrier has taken over the goods at the ( 2 ), until the goods have been delivered at the ( 3 ). The responsibility of the carrier with respect to ( 4 ), covers the period during which the carrier is in charge of the goods, starting from the time of loading of the goods onto the ship until the time the goods are discharged (5). During the period the carrier is in chare of the goods, the carrier shall be liable for the loss of or damage to the goods.

A:non-containerized goods B:containerized goods C:bulk goods D:dangerous goods

According to China’s Maritime Code, the responsibilities of the carrier with regard to the ( 1 ) covers the entire period during which the carrier is in charge of the goods, starting from the time the carrier has taken over the goods at the ( 2 ), until the goods have been delivered at the ( 3 ). The responsibility of the carrier with respect to ( 4 ), covers the period during which the carrier is in charge of the goods, starting from the time of loading of the goods onto the ship until the time the goods are discharged (5). During the period the carrier is in chare of the goods, the carrier shall be liable for the loss of or damage to the goods.

A:non-containerized goods B:containerized goods C:bulk goods D:dangerous goods

"The goods are in nude" means( ).

A:The goods are packed with wooden box B:The goods are packed with iron box C:C. No basket is used for the goods D:No package is used for the goods

“The goods are in nude．”means( )。

A:The goods are packed with wooden box B:The goods are packed with iron box C:No basket is used for the goods D:No package is used for the goods

The goods which do not pass through the territory by land but call for a change of the means of transport at a place with a Customs establishment is defined as （）.

A:transit goods B:transhipment goods C:through goods D:import and export