📚 Year 7 AQA Business: Summer Preparation and Bridging Course | 七年级 AQA 商务：暑期预习与衔接课程
Welcome to the Year 7 AQA Business summer bridging course! This programme is designed to introduce you to the fascinating world of business, helping you build a solid foundation before you start your studies in September. Business is all around us, from the shops we visit to the apps we use. Understanding how businesses work will not only help you in your exams but also in everyday life. In this article, we will explore key concepts such as entrepreneurship, markets, finance, and ethics in a simple and engaging way.
欢迎来到七年级 AQA 商务暑期衔接课程！本课程旨在带你走进迷人的商业世界，在九月份开学前打下扎实基础。商业无处不在，从我们光顾的商店到使用的应用程序。了解企业如何运作不仅有助于考试，而且对日常生活也大有裨益。本文将用简单有趣的方式一起探索企业家精神、市场、财务和道德等关键概念。
1. What is Business? | 什么是商务？
A business is any organisation that provides goods or services to customers in exchange for money. Businesses can be small, like a local bakery, or large, like a multinational technology company. The main goal of most businesses is to make a profit, but some also aim to help the community or protect the environment.
商务是指任何为顾客提供商品或服务以换取金钱的组织。企业可以很小，比如一家本地面包店，也可以很大，比如跨国科技公司。大多数企业的主要目标是盈利，但也有一些旨在帮助社区或保护环境。
Businesses exist to satisfy people’s needs and wants. For example, a supermarket sells food (a need), while a video game company provides entertainment (a want). Understanding this difference is the first step in studying business.
企业的存在是为了满足人们的需要和欲望。例如，超市出售食品（需要），而电子游戏公司提供娱乐（欲望）。理解这一区别是学习商务的第一步。
2. Understanding Needs and Wants | 理解需要与欲望
Needs are things we must have to survive, such as water, food, shelter, and clothing. Wants are things we desire but can live without, like designer clothes, the latest smartphone, or holidays abroad.
需要是我们生存所必须的东西，如水、食物、住所和衣物。欲望是我们渴望但并非必需的东西，比如名牌服装、最新智能手机或国外度假。
Businesses must identify whether they are meeting a need or a want. Products that satisfy needs often have steady demand, while wants can change quickly with trends. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for face masks (a need) soared, while demand for luxury handbags fell.
企业必须辨别自己满足的是需要还是欲望。满足需要的产品通常需求稳定，而满足欲望的产品可能随潮流快速变化。例如，在新冠疫情期间，口罩（需要）需求飙升，而奢侈手提包需求下降。
3. Introduction to Entrepreneurship | 企业家精神入门
An entrepreneur is someone who starts and runs a business, taking on financial risks in the hope of making a profit. Famous entrepreneurs include Jeff Bezos (Amazon) and Sara Blakely (Spanx). Entrepreneurs are often creative, resilient, and willing to take risks.
企业家是创办并经营企业的人，他们承担财务风险以期获得利润。著名企业家包括杰夫·贝索斯（亚马逊）和莎拉·布莱克利（Spanx）。企业家通常富有创造力、坚韧不拔并乐于承担风险。
Why do people become entrepreneurs? Some want to be their own boss, others want to turn a hobby into a career, and many want to solve a problem they see in the world. For example, a teenager might start a dog-walking business in their neighbourhood to earn extra money.
为什么人们会成为企业家？有些人想当自己的老板，有些人想把爱好变成事业，还有很多人想解决自己看到的社会问题。例如，一名青少年可能会在社区开办遛狗业务来赚取额外收入。
4. Supply and Demand: The Basics | 供需基础
Supply is the amount of a product that businesses are willing to sell at different prices. Demand is the amount that customers are willing and able to buy. When supply and demand meet, we get the market price.
供给是指企业在不同价格下愿意出售的产品数量。需求是指顾客愿意且能够购买的数量。当供给与需求相遇，就形成了市场价格。
If demand is higher than supply, prices tend to rise. For instance, when a new games console is released and there are limited units, the price may increase because many people want it. On the other hand, if there are too many strawberries in summer, prices may fall.
如果需求大于供给，价格往往会上涨。例如，新款游戏机发布且数量有限时，由于想买的人多，价格可能会上升。反之，如果夏天草莓供应过多，价格可能会下跌。
5. Types of Businesses | 企业类型
Businesses can be classified by their size and structure. The main types are sole traders, partnerships, and private limited companies (Ltd). A sole trader is a business owned and run by one person, like a local plumber. A partnership involves two or more people sharing the work and profits, such as a law firm. A private limited company is a separate legal entity from its owners, offering limited liability.
企业可根据规模和结构分类。主要类型有个体经营者、合伙企业和私人有限公司。个体经营者由一个人拥有和经营，比如当地水管工。合伙企业由两人或多人分担工作、分享利润，如律师事务所。私人有限公司是与所有者分离的法人实体，提供有限责任。
Franchises are another common model. A franchise allows someone to trade under the name of an established business, like McDonald’s. The franchisee pays a fee and follows strict rules, but benefits from a recognised brand.
特许经营是另一种常见模式。特许经营允许某人在知名企业名下进行贸易，例如麦当劳。加盟商支付费用并遵守严格规则，但能受益于知名品牌。
6. Business Objectives | 商业目标
All businesses have objectives, which are the goals they aim to achieve. The most common objective is to make a profit, but others include survival, growth, providing a quality service, or being environmentally friendly.
所有企业都有目标，即它们希望实现的目的。最常见的目标是盈利，但其他目标还包括生存、成长、提供优质服务或环保。
Objectives can change over time. A new business might just want to survive its first year, while a well-established company might aim to expand into new markets. Social enterprises have objectives like reducing poverty or protecting the planet.
目标可能随时间改变。新企业可能只想在头一年生存下来，而成熟公司可能会开拓新市场。社会企业的目标可能是减少贫困或保护地球。
7. Introduction to Marketing | 市场营销入门
Marketing involves identifying customers’ needs and promoting products to them. The marketing mix (often called the 4 Ps) consists of Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Businesses must get all four right to succeed.
市场营销包括识别顾客需求并向他们推销产品。营销组合（通常称为4P）包括产品、价格、渠道和促销。企业必须在四个方面都做对才能成功。
Product refers to what is being sold, whether a physical item or a service. Price is how much the customer pays. Place is where the product is sold, such as online or in a shop. Promotion covers advertising, social media, and special offers.
产品是指所销售的东西，可以是有形商品或服务。价格是顾客支付的金额。渠道是产品销售的地点，如线上或商店。促销则包括广告、社交媒体和特别优惠等。
8. Managing Money: Simple Budgeting | 理财：简单预算
Every business must manage its money carefully. A budget is a plan for how much money the business expects to earn (revenue) and how much it expects to spend (costs). Revenue is the income from selling goods or services. Costs include things like rent, wages, and raw materials.
每个企业都必须谨慎管理资金。预算是一项计划，用于规划企业预计赚取多少钱（收入）和预计支出多少钱（成本）。收入来自销售商品或服务。成本包括租金、工资和原材料等。
Profit is what remains when costs are subtracted from revenue. The formula is:
Profit = Revenue – Costs
If revenue is greater than costs, the business makes a profit. If costs are higher, it makes a loss. Understanding this is crucial for keeping a business healthy. Even a simple lemonade stand needs to track how much it spends on lemons and sugar compared to what it earns from sales.
利润是收入减去成本后的剩余。公式为：
利润 = 收入 – 成本
如果收入大于成本，企业就盈利。如果成本更高，就亏损。理解这一点对保持企业健康至关重要。即使是一个简单的柠檬水小摊，也需要记录花在柠檬和糖上的钱与销售收入之间的对比。
9. The Role of Technology in Business | 科技在商务中的角色
Technology has transformed how businesses operate. E-commerce allows companies to sell products online 24/7 to customers all over the world. Social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok help businesses promote their brands cheaply and engage with customers directly.
科技改变了企业的运作方式。电子商务使公司能够全天候在线向全球客户销售产品。Instagram和TikTok等社交媒体平台帮助企业低成本推广品牌，并直接与客户互动。
Digital payment systems such as Apple Pay and PayPal make transactions faster and more convenient. Data analytics helps businesses understand customer behaviour and improve their products. However, businesses must also be careful about cybersecurity and protecting personal data.
Apple Pay和PayPal等数字支付系统使交易更加快捷便利。数据分析帮助企业了解客户行为并改进产品。然而，企业也必须注意网络安全和保护个人数据。
10. Business Ethics and Sustainability | 商业道德与可持续发展
Ethics means doing what is morally right. In business, this can involve paying workers fairly, not using child labour, and being honest in advertising. Customers increasingly prefer brands that behave ethically.
道德意味着做道德上正确的事。在商业中，这可能涉及公平支付工人工资、不使用童工以及在广告中诚实。顾客越来越青睐那些行为合乎道德的品牌。
Sustainability focuses on meeting our needs without harming future generations. Businesses can reduce waste, use renewable energy, and design products that last longer. For example, a clothing company might use organic cotton and recycle old garments.
可持续发展关注在不损害后代的前提下满足我们的需求。企业可以减少废物、使用可再生能源并设计更耐用的产品。例如，一家服装公司可能使用有机棉并回收旧衣物。
11. Summer Bridging Activities | 暑期衔接活动
To prepare for your Year 7 Business course, try these fun activities over the summer:
- Keep a business journal: note down any businesses you visit, what they sell, and how they attract customers.
- Watch ‘Dragons’ Den’ (age-appropriate clips) to see entrepreneurs pitch their ideas.
- Design your own mini-business plan for a lemonade stand, a car-washing service, or a homemade craft shop. Include costs, pricing, and marketing ideas.
- Research one famous entrepreneur and write a short paragraph about what makes them successful.
为了准备七年级商务课程，暑假可以尝试以下有趣的活动：
- 写商业日志：记录你光顾的任何企业，它们卖什么，以及它们如何吸引顾客。
- 观看《龙穴》（适合年龄的片段），看看创业者如何推介自己的想法。
- 为自己的小生意设计一份商业计划，比如柠檬水摊位、洗车服务或手工艺品店。包括成本、定价和营销想法。
- 研究一位著名企业家，写一段短文介绍他们的成功之道。
These activities will give you a head start and make the first few weeks of school much easier. You can even discuss your observations with family and friends.
这些活动会让你领先一步，使开学头几周轻松许多。你甚至可以与家人朋友讨论自己的观察。
12. Key Terms to Remember | 要记住的关键术语
Below is a handy table of key business terms you will encounter in Year 7 AQA Business. Try to learn them before starting school.
下面是一张实用的关键商业术语表，你会在七年级 AQA 商务课程中遇到。尽量在上学前掌握它们。
| English Term | 中文术语 | Simple Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Entrepreneur | 企业家 | A person who starts a business, taking risks. |
| Revenue | 收入 | Money earned from selling goods or services. |
| Profit | 利润 | Revenue minus costs. |
| Market | 市场 | Where buyers and sellers meet to exchange goods. |
| Supply | 供给 | The amount of a product businesses offer for sale. |
| Demand | 需求 | The quantity of a product consumers want to buy. |
| Marketing Mix | 营销组合 |
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