Passage 3
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 satellite link. And, of course, our ability to benefit from this hightech communications equipment is greatly enhanced by foreign language skills.
Deeply involved with this new technology is a breed 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 cope back in the United Sates 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?
第一段最后一句提到our ability to benefit from this high-tech communications equipment is greatly enhanced by foreign language skills。作者认为我们能从高科技通讯设备中受益，由此可推断出他 对high-tech communications equipment持积极态度。
With the increased use of high-tech communications equipment, business people ________.
根据第二段中的have a growing respect for the economic value of doing business abroad，即对海外业务的经济价值的认可度正在提升。 第三段认可了海外业务能带来的仕途价值，两段共同说明business people对海外业务的重视。选C。
In this passage (Para.3), “out of sight and out of mind” probably means ________.
第三段首句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。从前后文来看，作者在讲述海外任职和职位升迁的关系。文中的观点是海外任职有助于职位晋升，那么 out of sight就是指自己的业绩不佳，领导瞧不上眼，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项。
According to the passage, what is an important consideration of international corporations in employing people today?
第五段先提到英语作为国际通用语的重要性，但随即话锋一 转，指出会说客户的本国语言，能与客户无障碍交流越来越受到重 视。最后则直截了当地表示语言技能会增加应聘者被录用的机会 having language skills gives a candidate the edge when other qualifications appear to be equal，这里的edge就是指优势。故选B。
The advantage of employees having foreign language skills is that they can ________.
最后一段中The employee posted abroad who speaks the country's principal language，指的是会说当地语言的海外员工。后文对此类员 工有两点描述，一是有机会快速推进某些谈判（has an opportunity to fast-forward certain negotiations）；二是具有文化洞察力，知道何时该 放慢谈判速度（can have the cultural insight to know when it is better to move more slowly）。这两点都与谈判有关，一快一慢，也就是如何把握谈判的节奏。选A。