Passage 2
New technology links the world as never before. Our planet has shrunk. It‘s now a"global village" where countries are only seconds away because of 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, superior 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.
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.
What is the author‘s attitude toward high-tech communications equipment?
根据第一段中"...our ability to benefit from this high-tech communications equipment is greatly enhanced by foreign language skills."可知， 作者对于这类高科技产 品持支持的态度， 本题答案为D。
With the increased use of high-tech communication equipment, business people_____.
根据第二段开头"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." 意思是对海外业务的经济价值的认可正在增加。 三段认可了海外业务所能带来的仕途价值， 这两点共同说明businesspeople对海外业务的重视。 本题答案为C。
In this passage, "out of sight and out of mind"(Para. 3) probably means _____.
前一句是"Overseas assignments are becoming increasingly important to advancement within executive ranks"， 意思是海外职务对于管理人员的升职越来越重要了。 文中的观点是海外任职有助于职位提升， 那么out of sight可能就是指自己的业绩不入领导的视野， out of mind就是指有了升职机会时， 海外高管从来不在领导的考虑之列。 符合这个意思的是C。
According to the passage, what is an important consideration of international corporations in employing people today?
根据倒数第二段内容"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."直截了当地表示语言技会增加应聘者被聘用的机会， 这里的edge指的就是优势 。 本题答案为B。
The advantage of employees having foreign language skills is that they can_____.
根据最后一段内容"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."会讲目标国家语言可以判断谈判的进度， 根据进度来调节快慢。 因此这里是说可以控制谈判的进度。 本题答案为A。