2002年12月四级考试试题及听力参考答案

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.

21. What is the author’s attitude toward high-tech communications equipment?

A) Critical. B) Indifferent.

C) Prejudiced. 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 and .

A) better control the whole negotiation process

B) easily find new approaches to met market needs

C) fast-forward their proposals to headquarters

easily make friends with businesspeople abroad

Passage Four

Questions 26 to 30 are based on the following passage.

In recent years, Israeli consumers have grown more demanding as they’ve become wealthier and more worldly-wise. Foreign travel is a national passion; this summer alone, one in 10 citizens will go abroad. Exposed to higher standards of service elsewhere, Israelis are returning home expecting the same. American firms have also begun arriving in large numbers. Chains such as KFC, McDonald’s and Pizza Hut are setting a new standard of customer service, using strict employee training and constant monitoring to ensure the friendliness of frontline staff. Even the American habit of telling departing customers to “Have a nice day” has caught on all over Israel. “Nobody wakes up in the morning and says, ‘Let’s be nicer, ” says Itsik Cohen, director of a consulting firm. “Nothing happens without competition.”