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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 enhanced by foreign language skills.

　　Deeply involved with this new technology is a breed of modern business people 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 canbe 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 cope back in the United States where cross-cultural considerations and foreign language issues are becoming more and more prevalent (普遍的).

　　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 principal language has an opportunity to fast-forwardcertain negotiations, and cam have the cultural insight to know when it is better to move more slowly. Theemployee at the home office who can communicate well with foreign clients over the telephone or by fax machine is an obvious asset to the firm.

　　练习题：

　　Choose correct answers to the question:

　　1. What is the author’s attitude toward high-tech communications equipment?

　　A. Critical.

　　B. Prejudiced.

　　C. Indifferent.

　　D. Positive.

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

　　A. have to get familiar with modern technology

　　B. are gaining more economic benefits from domestic operations

　　C. are attaching more importance to their overseas business

　　D. are eager to work overseas

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

　　A. being unable to think properly for lack of insight

　　B. being totally out of touch with business at home

　　C. missing opportunities for promotion when abroad

　　D. leaving all care and worry behind

　　4. According to the passage, what is an important consideration of international corporationsin employingpeople today?

　　A. Connections with businesses overseas.

　　B. Ability to speak the client’s language.

　　C. Technical know-how.

　　D. Business experience.

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

　　A. better control the whole negotiation process

　　B. easily find new approaches to meet market needs

　　C. fast-forward their proposals to headquarters

　　D. easily make friends with businesspeople abroad

答案：

　　1.D

　　2.C

　　3.C

　　4.B

　　5.A

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