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 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 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-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 clients over the telephone or by fax machine is an obvious asset to the firm.

　　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，business people____.

　　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 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 corporations in employing people 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 business people abroad

　　讲解答案：

　　1.D 从第一段第一句及第三句中benefit，enhanced，第四段thanks to，inexpensive等褒文词语的使用，作者对高科技通讯设备的积极态度显而易见。

　　2.C 由题干中关键词high-techcommunical，Uon-equipment和business people可知本题答案指向短文第2段，这一段的中心内容是海外业务发展的经济价值及对国内业务的促进作用。

　　3.C 引述的短语内容在第三段，该短语本意是“眼不见，心不想”，但在这一特殊的上下文，由于现代高科技通讯设备，派驻海外的管理人员不会因国内公司老板看不到自己而想不到提拔自己。

　　4.B结合短文主题，特别是第6段有要点，推知跨国公司在起用人员时，一个重要的考虑应当是除英语以外能否说公司所在国的语言。

　　5.A本题答案涉及短文第六段要点归纳：an opportunity to fast-forward certain negotiations，have the cultural insight to know when it ia better to move more slowly，故选A。