单选题
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 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 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. (322 words)
单选题
What is the author"s attitude toward high-tech communications equipment?
【正确答案】
D
【答案解析】解析：本题属于推断作者写作态度题。文中作者用到了“benefit from this high—tech communications equipment”和“growing respect”以及“thanks to a variety of relatively inexpensive communication devices”这样的字眼，由此可推断，作者对高科技通讯设备持积极态度。因此，本题选D。
单选题
With the increased use of high-tech communications equipment, businesspeople
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：本题属于细节理解题。文章第二段提到“In modern markets，success oversea often helps support domestic efforts．”文章第三段又提到“Overseas assignments are becoming increasingly important to advancement within executive ranks．”这些都说明了海外生意的重要性以及商人们越来越看重海外生意。
单选题
In this passage, "out of sight and out of mind" (Lines 2~3, Para. 3) probably means______.
【正确答案】
C
【答案解析】解析：本题属于细节理解题。out of sight and out of mind原意为眼不见，心不烦。这里意为长期在国外的员工，由于out of sight of the superiors，所以他们担心会out of mind of the superiors，即担心上级会忘记他们而失去提升的机会。因此本题选C。
单选题
According to the passage, what is an important consideration of international corporations in employing people today?
【正确答案】
B
【答案解析】解析：本题属于细节理解题。文章第五段提到“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．”这就是说，会说外语是求职人员的优势。因此本题选B。
单选题
The advantage of employees having foreign language skills is that they can
【正确答案】
A
【答案解析】解析：本题属于细节理解题。文章最后一段第一句提到“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．”会说所驻国家语言的雇员有机会加快或减慢某些谈判的进程。因此本题选A。