Successful people in international business understand the cultures of other countries and learn to change their practices in different cultures. They understand the importance of avoiding business decisions based on misconceptions—mistaken ideas.
One cause of misconceptions is ethnocentrism, the belief that one’s own culture’s way of doing things is better than the way of other cultures. It’s ethnocentrism that leads to failure in international business. To avoid ethnocentrism, it’s necessary to study the different elements（组成部分）of culture: language, values and attitudes, and customs and manners.
Language
A knowledge of the local language can help international business people in four ways. First, people can communicate directly. Second, people are usually more open in their communication with someone who speaks their language. Third, an understanding of the language allows people to infer meanings that are not said directly. Finally, knowing the language helps people to understand the culture better.
Values are people’s basic beliefs about the difference between right and wrong, good and bad . An attitude is a way of thinking or acting. Values and attitudes influence international business. For example, many people in the United States believe that chocolate from Switzerland is better than chocolate from other countries, and they buy a lot of it.
Customs and manners
Customs are common social practices. Manners are ways of acting that the society believes are polite. For example, in the United States, it is the custom to have salad （色拉） before the main course at dinner, not after. It’s not acceptable to talk with food in mouth at table. Failure to understand the customs and manners of other countries will bring difficulty selling their products. Orange juice as a breakfast drink of an American company in France doesn’t sell well because the French don’t usually drink juice with breakfast.
1. A knowledge of the local language allows international business people _________.
A. to communicate without outside help
B. to be more open with their customers
C. to express their thoughts indirectly
D. to have a better idea of their own culture
2. The act of many people buying chocolate of Switzerland shows the role of ________.
A. attitudes B. values C. manners D. customs
3. What would be the best title for the text?
A. Misconceptions in Business B. Basic Beliefs in Business
C. International Business Culture D. Successful International Business
4. The author’s purpose of writing this article is to tell people ___________.
A. how to take a right attitude in business
B. how to act politely and properly in business
C. how to use a local language in business
D. how to avoid misunderstandings in business
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Empire State Building
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Five blocks west of Time Square, this museum has hundreds of air, deep-sea and space exhibit’s. Walk the fight deck of the 900-foot-long aircraft carrier Intrepid,see dozens of old and modern aircraft and ride the Intrepid Navy Flight Simulator.Pier 86,W. 46th St.and 12th Ave./(212)245-0072.
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1. The New York Skyride is for ______.
A. sightseeing B. fight training
C. model plane-sports D. city transportation
2. If a visitor is interested in music,he will probably go to______.
A. Central Park B. Empire State Building
C. Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum D. Madison Square Garden
3. What is the purpose of these texts?
A. To provide information of living in New York.
B. To provide directions of city traffic in New York.
C. To give visitors a guide to New York.
D. To give a brief introduction to the history of New York.
It is natural for young people to blame their parents for most of the misunderstandings between them. They have always complained (抱怨), more or less justly, that their parents are out of touch with modern ways;that they always want to control them; that they do not trust them to deal with problems; and that they have no sense of humor, at least in parent-child relationships.
Young people often irritate their parents with their choices in clothes, hairstyles, and music. Actually this is not what they really intend to do.They feel cut off from the adult world into which they have not yet been accepted. So they create a culture and society of their own. Then, if it turns out that their music or clothes or hairstyles make their parent angry, this gives them additional enjoyment. They feel they are better,at least in a small way, and that they are leaders in style and taste.
Sometimes you do not obey orders,and are proud because you do not want your parents to say yes to what you do. If they do, it looks as if you are unfaithful to your own age group. But in that case, you will probably think that you are the underdog: you can’t win but at least you can keep your honor. This is a passive way of looking at things. It is natural enough after long years of childhood, when you were completely under your parent’s control. If you plan to control your life,co-operation can be part of that plan. You can persuade others, especially your parents, into doing things the way you want. Get them to feel your sense of responsibility (责任) and initiative (进取心) so that they will allow you to do what you want to do.
1. The first paragraph is mainly about ______.
A.children’s complaints about their parents
B.misunderstandings between children and their parents
C.the control of the parents over their children
D.children’s ability to deal with problems
2. The underlined word “irritate” in this passage is closest in meaning to “______”.
A. to make someone excited B. to make someone angry
C. to please someone D. to comfort someone
3. Children choose to have certain strange clothes and hairstyles because they ______.
A. want to show their existence by creating a culture of their own
B. have a strong desire to be leaders in style and taste
C. have no other way to enjoy themselves better
D. want to make their parents angry
4. Children do not want their parents to say yes to whatever they do because they ______.
A. have already been accepted into the adult world
B. feel that they are better in a small way than the adults
C. are not likely to win over the adults
D. have a desire to be independent
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1. This is one of the advertisements put for a ______.
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2. Detailed information about films can be found in ______ section.
A. The Arts B. The Dining In,Dining Out
C. The House & Home D. Weekend
3. The advertisement tells us The Times is ______.
A. of great benefit B. of little use
C. paid D. priceless
4. The main idea of this advertisement is ______.
A. many opportunities will be provided just to those who order home delivery
B. several new sections have been printed separately from now on
C. readers can be well informed of the latest news and sports results
D. people can pick up all the information they are interested in
第二部分 阅读理解（共25小题。第一节每小题2分，第二节每小题1分；满分45分）
第一节 阅读下列短文，从每题所给的四个选项（A、B、C、D）中，选出最佳选项，并在答题卡上将该项涂黑。
When a consumer (消费者) finds that something he or she bought is faulty or in some other way does not live up to what the producer says for it, the first step is to present the warranty（保单），or any other records that might help, at the store of buying. In most cases, this action will produce results. However, if it does not, there are various means the consumer may use to gain satisfaction.
A simple and common method used by many consumers is to complain（投诉）directly to the store manager. In general, the“higher up” the consumer takes his or her complaint, the faster he or she can expect it to be settled. In such a case, it is usually settled in the consumer’s favour taking it as true that he or she has a just right.
Consumers should complain in person whenever possible, but if they cannot get to the place of buying, it is acceptable to phone or write the complaint in a letter.
Complaining is usually most effective when it is done politely but firmly and especially when the consumer can show clearly what is wrong with what was bought in question. If this cannot be done, the consumer will succeed best by presenting specific information as to what is wrong, rather than by making general statements. For example, “The left speaker does not work at all and the sound coming out of the right one is unclear” is better than “This stereo（立体音响）does not work.”
The store manager may advise the consumer to write to the producer, if so, the consumer should do this, stating the complaint as politely and as firmly as possible. But if a polite complaint does not achieve the expected result, the consumer can go a step further. He or she can threaten (恐吓) to take the seller to court or report the seller to a public organization responsible for protecting consumers’ rights.
1. When a consumer finds what he bought has a fault in it , he should first .
A. complain personally to the manager
B. show something provable in written form to the store
C. threaten to take the matter to court
D. write a firm letter of complaint to the store
2. If a consumer wants a quick settlement of his problem, it’s better to complain to .
A. a shop assistant B. the producer
C. a public or ganization D. a store manager
3. The most effective complaint about what was bought can be made by .
A. showing the fault of it to the producer
B. saying firmly it is of poor quality
C. asking politely to change it
D. explaining exactly what is wrong with it
4. The passage tells us .
A. how to make the complaint have a good effect
B. how to settle a consumer’s complaint
C. how to avoid buying something wrong
D. how to deal with complaints from consumers
5. According to the passage, the last way a consumer has to use is .
A. to write to the producer
B. to quarrel with the manager
C. to warn the seller that he or she will turn to the court or a consumers’ organization for help
D. to collect several fighters to threaten the seller
Second Life is a 3D, online world in which computer users can create a new self and live a different life. Second Life is one of the most popular new online games.
But unlike other games, Second Life is not about winning or losing. Second Life is technically a computer game. But people involved in it do not consider it a game because the players create everything. Second Life is more for socializing and creating communities.
Users of Second Life are called residents. To take part, they must create an avatar, or an electronic image of themselves. Some avatars look like humans, while others look li
ke animals or imaginary creatures.
Inside the Second Life world, residents live in different versions of themselves. They build homes, run businesses, buy and sell things, work, play, and attend school. They even have relationships and get married.
Second Life was created in 2003 by Linden Lab in San Francisco, California. Linden Lab controls the Website where the ever-changing world is being created. There are now about one million people around the world who are active in Second Life. The number has grown quickly since the beginning of the year when there were about one hundred thousand users.
The average age of people involved with Second Life is about thirty. However, Linden Lab recently created Teen Second Life for younger users. Second Life has its own economy and its own money, called Linden dollars.
Millions of dollars are made and spent each month in Second Life. Users can enter Second Life for free. But they must pay for a membership if they want to own land or buy and sell goods and services.
Recently, several major companies have become involved with Second Life. They wanted to be part of the growing business world that exists within the made-up reality.
1. What’s special about the game “Second Life”?
A. It’s a game about losing and winning.
B. It creates everything in life.
C. It benefits one’s abilities to socialize and create.
D. It is simply a popular game to kill time.
2. What does the underlined word “avatar” mean?
A. An instrument someone uses. B. A picture someone takes.
C. An imaginary identity of someone. D. A weapon used in Second Life.
3. Which is NOT true about the game “Second Life”?
A. A resident in Second Life lives a life somewhat like that of real life.
B. The number of users of Second Life is about ten times as large as that of 2003.
C. You can’t enter Second Life until you pay for the entrance fee.
D. To own possessions, a resident has to pay to be a member of Second Life.
4. Why do some big companies want to join in Second Life?
A. They want to experience life in the made-up reality.
B. They want to promote their products more widely.
C. The want to be a member of Second Life.
D. They want to build agencies in Second Life.
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