袁建華
自從1989年英國皇家保險(xiǎn)學(xué)會與中保集團(tuán)在北京簽署協(xié)議在中國保險(xiǎn)管理干部學(xué)院設(shè)立CII考試中心以來,已有13年的歷史。隨后, 又有北京、上海相繼成立了考試中心。隨著中國的保險(xiǎn)市場進(jìn)一步對外開放,越來越多的保險(xiǎn)從業(yè)人員想學(xué)習(xí)國外的先進(jìn)技術(shù),越來越多的人想?yún)⒓佑捎始冶kU(xiǎn)學(xué)會舉行的會員資格考試,以獲取更多的國際保險(xiǎn)理論與保險(xiǎn)實(shí)務(wù)以及相關(guān)的保險(xiǎn)信息和保險(xiǎn)技術(shù),為提高我國保險(xiǎn)行業(yè)的整體水平作貢獻(xiàn)。本文擬從CII考試的命題入手,透過CII考試試題這個窗口,對這種考試試題的布局以及如何迎接這種考試作一個簡要的分析,以便讓更多的人了解CII考試的這種考試的形式。 一、CII命題形式及試題分析 CII考試的試題分為兩大部分:第一大部分為簡答題,第二大部分為論述題,(其中有些科目還包括計(jì)算題)。滿分為200分,其中,第一部分有8個小題,每小題10分,計(jì)80分;第二部分有6大題,任選其中的4小題,每題30分,計(jì)120分,兩部分加在一起共計(jì)200分。考試時(shí)間為180分鐘,全部用英語作答。我們以1995年4月份《合同法與保險(xiǎn)》(Contract Law and Insurance)的部分試題為例,對之進(jìn)行簡要的分析。 我們先看簡答題部分, 其中有一道題是這樣的:請區(qū)分習(xí)慣法與衡平法。(Distinguish between common law and equity) 答案是:Common law is the underwriting, unwritten law and general legal customs of the country.It is in itself a complex system of law, both civil and criminal, although it is greatly modified and extended by statute law and equity. It has come down in the recorded judgment of the judges who for hundred of years have interpreted it. The judgments are adapted to the cause of doing justice between authoritative records, reports and textbooks. Despite the existence of such records, common law is still known as’ unwritten law’ mainly to distinguish it from legislation, which disembodied in statute or code. Common law consists of numerous more or less well-defined principles sufficiently flexible to be adapted to the cause of doing justice between the parties to a suit. Equity is the special system of law administered only in the Court of Chancery before 1875 but now administered by all courts. 從這道題就可以看出,簡答題并不那么簡單,從字?jǐn)?shù)上看,就有151多個單詞。但是,有的簡答題字?jǐn)?shù)就比較少,這要看題目的具體情況而定。例如,有這么一道題:請指出3種必須采用書面形式的合同。(State three contracts whichmust be in writing) 答案是這樣的:Any three of the following examplescould be used: .bills of exchange, cheques and promissory notes; .transfers of shares in a registered company; .some consumer credit transactions; .contracts of marine insurance; .contracts for the sale or other disposition of land; .deeds; .transfers of ships. 本道題列出了7種合同形式必須采用書面形式,但考生只要列出3種就可以等滿分,不用作別的附加解釋和說明。但是,有的簡答題不僅要列出要點(diǎn),而且還要對要點(diǎn)進(jìn)行必要的闡述或簡要的說明。例如,有這么一道題:請列出違反合同的主要補(bǔ)救辦法。(Outline the main remedies for breach of a contract) 答案是這樣的:There are four main remedies. .Rescission Failure to perform a contract properly, or failure to perform at all, will generally amount to a breach. If the breach is sufficiently serious, the injured party will be entitled to rescind. .Damages If the situation can be adequately redressed by the payment of financial compensation to the injured party, this will generally be preferable to an attempted unraveling of the contract. .Specific performance If the plaintiff cannot be adequately compensated by an award of damages, the court may order the defendant to honor his contractual promise. .Injunction Where a contract contains a negative undertaking, an injunction can be sought to prevent an action that would otherwise lead to a breach of contract. 從這道題可以看出,考生除了列出要點(diǎn)之外,還應(yīng)對要點(diǎn)加以必要的闡述或補(bǔ)充說明。否則,要扣除50%的分。 我們再看論述題部分。上面已經(jīng)提到,這部分題是選做題,從6道題中選做4道,為什么要從6題中選做4題呢?原因可能有以下兩點(diǎn):一是這種考試題涉及面廣,小到一個概念題、名詞解釋題,大到長篇大論的論述題。考生難免復(fù)習(xí)不周,所以提供這樣的選擇,讓考生有選擇的余地,以便充分地發(fā)揮他們的寫作能力、分析能力和判斷能力,以至于不因?yàn)橐坏李}不會做而影響其成績。二是因?yàn)镃II考試教材內(nèi)容很多,篇幅也很長,全是用大16開紙和5號字體印刷,書本很厚。如《風(fēng)險(xiǎn)與保險(xiǎn)》(510)就有400多個頁碼。其次,CII考試屬于一種自學(xué)考試性質(zhì),參加考試的人大都是保險(xiǎn)公司的從業(yè)人員,他們只能利用工作之余進(jìn)行自學(xué)。由于路程遙遠(yuǎn)的關(guān)系,很少有英國專家來國內(nèi)組織輔導(dǎo),既使有,都是非常有限。如果有的考生工作忙,就難免復(fù)習(xí)不周全。而這種選做題的好處就不言而喻了。另外,有的考生是學(xué)文科的,有的考生是學(xué)理科的,遇到論述題和計(jì)算題時(shí),他們可以進(jìn)行選擇。 下面我們來看一道分析題,題目是這樣的:丹尼斯(Denise)是一位理發(fā)師,她有一位顧客名叫肯(Ken),在一年多的時(shí)間內(nèi)欠她100英鎊的理發(fā)費(fèi),肯(Ken)一直想償還這筆錢,但是,他們兩人都很浪漫,彼此有那種關(guān)系。丹尼斯總是很樂意讓他拖欠這筆錢。 肯目前處于經(jīng)濟(jì)困難時(shí)期,對丹尼斯說,他不能支付欠款。 丹尼對肯說,她很樂意放棄這筆錢,但是她同肯斷絕關(guān)系,不再有來往。并且她發(fā)現(xiàn)肯帶著他的前妻黛德娜(Deirdre)去豪華餐館美食了一頓。 問:法律是否能夠授權(quán)丹尼斯追回肯拖欠她的100英鎊的欠款。 (Denise is a hairdresser and has allowed one of her customers Ken, to run up a debt of£100 over a year. Ken has always intended to pay for his haircuts but because they are romantically linked, Denise is happy for Ken to defer payment. Ken is now in financial difficulties and tells Denise he is unable to pay her the £100 he owes. Denise tells Ken she is happy to forgo the £100 altogether but she then breaks up with Ken and discovers that Ken has taken his former wife Deirdre out for an expensive dinner. Advise Denise whether she is legally entitled to the £100 Ken owes her.) 答案如下: The main points upon which candidates were expected to focus as follows: Whether this was a social and domestic agreement, whether there was an intention to create legal relations and the implications of this. Despite being romantically linked, in the absence of specific evidence to the contrary, the contract between Denise and Ken is likely to be legally enforceable. For a party to be released from his contractual obligations he must provide fresh consideration (satisfaction) in return for the other party’s agreement to release him. (accord)-Pinnel's case (1602). As Ken has provided no consideration in return for Denise forgoing the debt, Denise can still require Ken to pay the full amount of the debt. Ken is unlikely to be able to rely on the defense of promissory estoppel. Central London Property Trust v High Trees House (1947). 根據(jù)以上的參考答案我們可以看出: 命題者的意圖是讓考生用學(xué)到的法律知識以及合同的要求運(yùn)用于實(shí)際中去,這里面有一些合同法中要掌握的東西,如consideration和contractual obligations 以及promissory estoppels 等。 我們再看一題: (A)克里斯(Chris)以書面的形式同麥當(dāng)勞(McDonalds)簽署合同,麥當(dāng)勞為他建造一棟房屋; (B)海德醫(yī)生(Dr Hyde)同大衛(wèi)(David)簽署合同,給他動手術(shù); (C)布賴安(Brian)同意借錢給年僅17歲的蘭(Lan)。 討論運(yùn)用于上述各例的法律原理來判斷:如果麥當(dāng)勞、海德醫(yī)生和布賴安各自拒絕履行他們的合同責(zé)任,那么,克里斯、大衛(wèi)和蘭是否能讓法庭給予具體執(zhí)行的命令。 答案是:Specific performance will not be awarded where the plaintiff can be adequately compensated by an award of damages. The remedy will not be awarded in the following circumstances: .contracts for the sale of goods; .contracts of personal service; .where it would cause undue hardship to the defendant (for instance, where the cost would be out of all proportion to the benefit to the plantiff); .where the court could not adequately supervise the performance: specific enforcement of contracts to build has been refused for this reason. .where the contract is not supported by consideration (even thought may have been made under seal); .where the court cannot ensure that the other party will also honor his promise, because that party's own obligations have not yet been fulfilled and could not in turn be enforced by specific performance .Thus a defendant could not be compelled to convey a house to a plaintiff who had promised to sign in a series of concerts by way of payment, since performance of personal services cannot be specifically enforced. There must be `mutuality of remedy'; .where there has been undue delay on the part of the plaintiff in seeking the remedy; .where the plaintiff, although within his strict legal rights, has acted unfairly (a qualification which applies to all equitable remedies). Applying the above principles: (A) Every piece of real property is in a sense unique and therefore specific performance is commonly awarded to enforce contracts for the sale of land. A court will generally not award specific performance of a building contract but if the contract is sufficiently precise in defining the work to be done, damages are inadequate and if McDonalds are in possession of the land on which the house is to be built, then specific performance may be ordered. (B) As Dr. Hyde's duty is one of personal services, it cannot be specifically performanced as the court is incapable of supervising it. (C) Lan cannot obtain specific performance because: contracts by minors to borrow money are void; Even if the contract was enforceable, damages would be an adequate remedy. 從這一道題目來看,比較復(fù)雜。首先要列出哪些合同在哪些情況下,法庭是不能判決給予補(bǔ)償?shù)。此道題列出了8個要點(diǎn),然后說明上述3個合同屬于哪一類,再對每個合同加以分析,指出其合同的性質(zhì)以及是否履行合同責(zé)任的原因。 二、評分標(biāo)準(zhǔn)及合格分?jǐn)?shù)線 在上面已提到了簡答題部分為80分,論述題部分為120分,滿分為200分。合格分?jǐn)?shù)線為120分。但是英國CII判卷的時(shí)候,只根據(jù)判卷分?jǐn)?shù)劃定一個等級, 這與我們國內(nèi)高等院校判卷與評分不太一樣。 其等級有6種, D=優(yōu)秀,P=及格,X=不及格,但離及格只有10分之內(nèi)之差,Y=不及格,離及格還差10多分,Z=不及格,離及格還差很大一部分分?jǐn)?shù),U=?jīng)]有給分,不到15分,H=分?jǐn)?shù)有待咨詢,A=缺考,W=棄考。但X等級說明只差5-10分左右, 如果考生某一科目得了一個X等級,可以查分,但要交納20多英鎊,如果幸運(yùn)的話,能得到P等級,不幸運(yùn)的話,還是不能得到通過,而且所交納的查詢費(fèi)也不退。 英國CII的教師在作參考答案時(shí)寫道:本科目的答案只是參考答案,并非是唯一正確的答案。因?yàn)閷τ谠囶}的解答有多種多樣,在許多例子中,試題容許有充分理由不同的觀點(diǎn),只要理由充分,同樣也能得到高分。他們的這一許諾可以讓考生發(fā)揮充分的分析能力,給考生答題留有一定的余地。另外,要多了解外國人的思維方式,對作好題有一定的好處。一些考生向我反映,認(rèn)為自己作得好的題目沒有得到高分,認(rèn)為作得很一般的題目卻得了理想的分?jǐn)?shù)。這是因?yàn)槲覀兣c他們在思維方式上存在一定的差異。這一點(diǎn)也應(yīng)引起我們注意。 三、中國考生如何迎接CII考試 根據(jù)CII考試的特點(diǎn),考生在學(xué)習(xí)當(dāng)中,應(yīng)注意如下幾個問題: 一是通讀教材。也就是說對教材反復(fù)讀幾遍,花時(shí)間較多的就是讀第一遍,因?yàn)橐榇罅康膯卧~,不管是專業(yè)方面的還是常用單詞都要認(rèn)真地查,如果有條件的話,用電腦詞典查起來就快,可以節(jié)省大量時(shí)間。 二是主動地作課后練習(xí)題,這一點(diǎn)也很重要。因?yàn)檎n后練習(xí)題是根據(jù)每一章要掌握的重點(diǎn)而編寫的。作好這些題對鞏固所學(xué)習(xí)的內(nèi)容有很多好處,對于考出好成績打下了良好的基礎(chǔ)。 三是背誦一些概念題或名詞解釋題。不管是國內(nèi)國外的資格考試,都會有一些名詞解釋題,對于這些題目沒有別的捷徑可走,只有靠背誦或記憶才能解決。如《合同法與保險(xiǎn)》這一科來說,常用的概念要掌握,而且能夠背誦。 如proximate cause, insurable interest, contribution, indemnity, subrogation等等。 四是相互交流?忌诳荚囍暗15-20天的時(shí)間集中在考試中心復(fù)習(xí), 這時(shí)考生可利用這段時(shí)間同參加同類科目考試的考生一起學(xué)習(xí)與交流,討論在學(xué)習(xí)中遇到的問題。通過學(xué)習(xí)與交流,能達(dá)到解決問題的目的。當(dāng)然,每個人都有一套自己的學(xué)習(xí)方法,不論采用何種方法,只要能夠?qū)W好,能順利通過考試,這才是真正的目的。 (CII* The Chartered Insurance Institute.)
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