Question

New technology links the world as never before. Our planet has shrunk. It’s now a “global village” where countries are only seconds away by fax or phone or satellite link. And, of course, our ability to benefit from this high-tech communications equipment is greatly increased by foreign language skills.

Deeply involved with this new technology is a kind of modern businesspeople who have a growing respect for the economic value of doing business abroad. In modern markets, success overseas often helps support domestic business efforts.

Overseas assignments are becoming increasingly important to advancement within executive ranks. The executive stationed in another country no longer need fear being “out of sight and out of mind.” He or she can be sure that the overseas effort is central to the company’s plan for success, and that promotions often follow or accompany an assignment abroad. If an employee can succeed in a difficult assignment overseas, superiors will have greater confidence in his or her ability to manage back in the United States where cross-cultural considerations and foreign language issues are becoming more and more common.

Thanks to a variety of relatively inexpensive communications devices with business applications, even small businesses in the United States are able to get into international markets.

English is still the international language of business. But there is an ever-growing need for people who can speak another language. A second language isn’t generally required to get a job in business, but having language skills gives a candidate the edge when other qualifications appear to be equal.

The employee posted abroad who speaks the country’s language has an opportunity to fast-forward certain negotiations, and can have the cultural insight to know when it is better to move more slowly. The employee at the home office who can communicate well with foreign customers over the telephone or by fax machine is an obvious asset to the firm.

1.With the increased use of high-tech communications equipment, businesspeople ________.

A. are eager to work overseas

B. have to get familiar with modern technology

C. are gaining more economic benefits from domestic operations

D. are attaching more importance to their overseas business

2.In this passage, “out of sight and out of mind” (Line 3, Para. 3) probably means ________.

A. leaving all care and worry behind

B. being unable to think properly for lack of insight

C. being totally out of touch with business at home

D. missing opportunities for promotion when abroad

3.According to the passage, what is an important consideration of international corporations in employing people today?

A. Ability to speak the customer’s language.

B. Connections with businesses overseas.

C. Technical know-how.

D. Business experience.

4.The advantage of employees having foreign language skills is that they can ________.

A. fast-forward their proposals to headquarters

B. better control the whole negotiation process

C. easily make friends with businesspeople abroad

D. easily find new approaches to meet market needs

Answer

1.D

2.D

3.A

4.B

【解析】

试题分析：

【文章大意】本文是一篇说明文。文章讲述随着新技术的发展，商人们越来越重视国外贸易的价值。从事国际贸易的员工也需要学习客户国家的语言和文化，以便快速进行谈判。在国外的经理也不必担心不被提拔。因为国外业绩是重要的筹码。

1.D考查推理判断。根据文章第二段中的Deeply involved with this new technology is a kind of modern businesspeople who have a growing respect for the economic value of doing business abroad.可知，商人更加重视国外贸易的经济价值。这和选项D意思相同，故选D。

2.D考查推测词义。根据文章第三段中的The executive stationed in another country no longer need fear being “out of sight and out of mind.” He or she can be sure that the overseas effort is central to the company’s plan for success, and that promotions often follow or accompany an assignment abroad.可知，在别的国家总经理不用担心他们不被关注，相反，提升常常依据国外的业绩。故选D。

3.A考查推理判断。根据文章最倒数第二段中的A second language isn’t generally required to get a job in business, but having language skills gives a candidate the edge when other qualifications appear to be equal.可知，这说明要想得到工作，懂客户国家的语言是很重要的。故选A。

4.B考查推理判断。根据文章最后一段中的The employee posted abroad who speaks the country’s language has an opportunity to fast-forward certain negotiations, and can have the cultural insight to know when it is better to move more slowly.可知，会讲客户国家的语言有机会进行快速谈判，并且知道文化背景“在什么时候进展缓慢”。故选B。

考点：考查说明文的阅读。