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 cam 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. 

　　21. What is the author’s attitude toward high-tech communications equipment? 
　　A) Critical. 
　　B) Prejudiced. 
　　C) Indifferent. 
　　D) Positive. 

　　22. With the increased use of high-tech communications equipment, businesspeople ________. 
　　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

　　23. In this passage, “out of sight and out of mind” (Lines 2-3, 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 

　　24. 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. 

　　25. 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 businesspeople abroad 

　　21. D 
　　这道题问作者对高技术交流设备采取何种态度。 
　　A，批评的态度。 
　　B，持有偏见。 
　　C，无所谓。 
　　D，积极的态度。 
　　这道题比较简单，从文中的叙述来看，没有出现对高技术交流设备的反面论述，基本全部论述其积极影响，如开头的our ability to benefit from this high-tech communications equipment，这里所用的benefit已经直接表明我们会从这种设备中受益。二三四段讲的是较高的外语能力使我们如何受益于高技术，依然是受益。所以，本文作者对高技术交流设备的态度是积极肯定的。四个选项中前三个都具有否定意义，D的说法最为准确。 

　　22. C 
　　本题问随着高技术交流设备更多地得到使用，商业人士…… 
　　A，必须熟悉现代技术。 
　　B，通过国内业务赚取更多的经济利益。 
　　C，更加重视海外业务。 
　　D，渴望到海外工作。 
　　文章首次提到business people是在第二段，称他们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。 
　　第三段的内容中心依然和business people有关，大意是海外业务对business people的升职非常有利。此后的内容与business people的关系就不再紧密了，可以认为本题的答案就在第二和第三段中。 
　　A的说法有一定道理，但在文中没有直接提到，所以不能算最贴切，还应该继续看BCD有无更为贴切的说法。B的说法与文章的论述正好相反，应该是海外业务正给他们带来更多收益。 
　　C的说法最为合理，因为第二段已经说明business people认可了海外业务的经济价值，第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business people对海外业务的重视。 
　　D的说法也有一定道理，但和A一样，该说法在文中没有直接的落脚点，相对C来说还不够贴切。

　　23. C 
　　题目问文章中out of sight and out of mind一句很可能是什么意思。 
　　A，因缺少洞察力而不能正确地思考。 
　　B，与国内业务完全无关。 
　　C，任职国外时失去升职的机会。 
　　D，完全置之度外。 
　　这种考查短语或单词意思的题需要结合上下文思考，需要参考的上下文一般前后各一两句即可。前一句是Overseas assignments are becoming increasingly important to advancement within executive ranks，句意较好理解，意思是海外职务对于管理人员的升职越来越重要了。这一句是第三段的首句，可能具有总领全句的作用，所以初步判断本题所问可能和升职有关。该短语所在句的意思是驻守外国的管理人员无需再担心out of sight and out of mind。之后的一句是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，大意是海外业务对公司的成功是至关重要的，而海外任职往往意味着一次升职机会。 
　　从上下文大意来看，确实是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。 

　　24. B 
　　题目问根据文中所述，如今的跨国公司在雇佣员工时把什么条件作为一项重要的考虑。 
　　A，与海外业务的联系。 
　　B，会讲客户的语言。 
　　C，技术知识。 
　　D，商务经验。 
　　纵观这四个选项，似乎都有些道理，不过只能有一个是和原文联系紧密的。因为上一题已经考查过第三段，所以与本题相关的内容必定在第三段之后。 
　　第四段讲的是便宜的通讯设备降低了国际业务的门槛，使小企业也能参与国际业务。这里没有讲述任何有关员工的问题，所以答案不在第四段。 
　　第五段开头先讲到英语作为国际通用语的重要作用，但马上话锋一转，指出会讲客户的语言越来越受到重视。此后则直截了当地表示语言技能会增加应聘者被聘用的机会：having language skills gives a candidate the edge when other qualifications appear to be equal，这里的edge就是指的优势。 
　　看到这里应该可以为本题做出解答了，B是正确选项。 

　　25. A 
　　题目问具备外语技能的员工具有一定的优势，这些优势是指什么。 
　　A，能够更好地控制整个谈判的进程。 
　　B，容易发现满足市场需求的新途径。 
　　C，能使他们的建议很快地送达总部。 
　　D，容易和国外商务人士结交朋友。 
　　全文还有最后一段没有考查，从四个题支来看，本题不是考查对全篇的理解，则必然在考查最后一段。 
　　最后一段共两句话，第二句是对具备外语能力的员工的价值的评述：asset to the firm（非常有用的资产），这一句应该和本题无关。解答本题关键要看第一句话。这句话的主语非常长：The employee posted abroad who speaks the country’s principal language，意思是能够说当地语言的海外员工。下文对这样的员工有两点描述，一是有机会把某些谈判快速推进（has an opportunity to fast-forward certain negotiations），二是具有文化洞察力，知道何时该把谈判放慢（can have the cultural insight to know when it is better to move more slowly）。这两点都是和谈判有关，一快一慢，也就是如何把握谈判的节奏。 
　　四个选项中A的意思与此最为接近。C有一点迷惑性，因为原文中也出现了fast-forward一词，不过原文宾语是“谈判”，说海外雇员和总部谈判显然是不对的。