Passage Four
Those who work in the Netherlands often feel that a lot of time is wasted in discussions that lead to nothing. There are often meetings with documents，an agenda and a chairmen. All those present will have their say，after which their remarks are discussed.
He who decides to skip a meeting though he has nothing more urgent to attend to，will find it unwise. The interacting that takes place during a meeting is very important for the general process. He who does not appear is saying that he does not think the subject is sufficiently important，or that the apparently does not take his colleagues seriously. Furthermore，he might miss some of the essential information that may become evident during the meeting. Those who are present show an interest in the problems of their colleagues. They supply questions，rather than commands，and thus declare themselves “co-responsible”. The Dutch，in their final conclusions，like to use such metaphors as “We are all in one line” or “Our noses are pointing in the same direction again”.
If you present a decision，you will find that everyone has something to say about it and has questions to ask. This is why the Dutch will not be quick to present something as the only correct solution. The advantage to this approach is that such a meeting will often lead to genuine suggestions for improvement on certain aspects of a plan. As a result，the plan will be a joint approach.
This time-consuming and seemingly useless process helps colleagues become a team. The amount of time that is lost around the table is more than what made up for inefficiency，once everyone goes back to work. Statistics show Dutch employees are among the world leaders when it comes to work productivity.
According to Paragraph 1, meetings in Dutch companies seem to ________.
细节题。第一段的第一句Those who work in the Netherlands often feel that a lot of time is wasted in discussions that lead to nothing.意思是：在荷兰工作的人常常觉得在讨论中浪费了大量的时间而一无所获。与选项B. waste a lot of time in fruitless discussions（在毫无结果的讨论中浪费了很多时间）表述一致。所以选B。
【参考译文】
在荷兰工作的人常常觉得在讨论中浪费了大量的时间而一无所获。会议经常有文件、议程和一位主席。所有在场的人都有发言权，然后讨论他们的发言。
虽然没有什么紧急的事情要做，但决定不去开会，这是不明智的。整个会议过程中，相互交流是非常重要的。不去开会说明他认为这个问题不够重要，或者很明显他没有认真对待他的同事。此外，他可能错过了会议期间可能出现的一些重要信息。在场的人对他们同事的问题表现出兴趣。他们提出问题，而不是命令，从而宣布自己“共同负责”。在最后的结论中，荷兰人喜欢用这样的比喻：“我们都在同一条线上”，或者“我们的鼻子又指向同一个方向”。
如果你提出一个决定，你会发现每个人都有话要说，以及有问题要问。这就是为什么荷兰人不能很快找到一个唯一正确的解决办法。这种方式的优点是，这样的会议往往会导致对某个计划的某些方面的改进提出真正的建议。因此，这个计划将是一个联合的办法。
这个耗时而看似无用的过程有助于同事成为一个团队。当每个人都回去工作时，在桌子周围所耗费的时间比弥补效率低所费的时间要更有意义。统计数据显示，荷兰员工在工作效率方面属于世界领先者。
To Dutch employees, one who is absent from a meeting ________.
细节题。根据题干中one who is absent from a meeting定位至第二段：... or that the apparently does not take his colleagues seriously.与选项A. does not take his colleagues seriously（对待同事不认真）表述一致，所以选A。选项B. may have something more urgent to do与第二段第一句话“...though he has nothing more urgent to attend to...”意思相反，选项C. does not miss much critical information与第二段中：“Furthermore，he might miss some of the essential information...”意思相反；选项D. may have nothing to say at the meeting与第二段中：“Those who are present show an interest in the problems of their colleagues. They supply questions...”意思不一致。所以B、C和D都不正确。
According to Paragraph 3, why can't Dutch employees come to a quick decision?
细节题。第三段：If you present a decision，you will find that everyone has something to say about it and has questions to ask. This is why the Dutch will not be quick to present something as the only correct solution. The advantage to this approach is that such a meeting will often lead to genuine suggestions for improvement on certain aspects of a plan.意思是：如果你提出一个决定，你会发现每个人都有话要说，以及有问题要问。这就是为什么荷兰人不能很快找到一个唯一正确的解决办法。这种方式的优点是，这样的会议往往会导致对某个计划的某些方面的改进提出真正的建议。此部分与选项B. An idea usually undergoes a full discussion.（一个想法往往要经过充分的讨论）表述一致。所以选B。选项A. People are constantly in dispute.（人们持续争论中），选项C. Suggestions often lead nowhere.（建议通常会导致一事无成），选项D. People often forget the aims of meeting.（人们经常忘记会议的目的），这三个选项均不正确。
What does the last paragraph tell us?
细节题。最后一段：This time-consuming and seemingly useless process helps colleagues become a team.…Statistics show Dutch employees are among the world leaders when it comes to work productivity.意思是：这个耗时而看似无用的过程有助于同事成为一个团队。……统计数据显示，荷兰员工在工作效率方面属于世界领先者。与选项B. Dutch employees are highly productive.（荷兰员工很高效）表述一致。所以选B。
The author's attitude towards the Dutch meeting is quite ________.
主旨题。作者对荷兰人的会议的态度可从全文大意中获悉。第一段作者提出通常人们对会议的看法。第二段列举出不参加会议的弊端。第三段讲出了会议耗时的原因及好处。最后一段是总结。总而言之，作者是积极支持参加会议的。所以选C。