The tourists can not help wondering ______ the ancient people could manage to complete the magnificent building without modern equipment.

A．that              B．how              C．where            D．what

Thirty computers have been sent to the school       some other new teaching equipment. 

A．except           B．including          C．such as           D．more than

New technology links the world as never before. Our planet has shrunk（收缩）. 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 communication’s 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(国内的) business efforts.
Overseas assignments are becoming increasingly important to advancement within executive(行政的) 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, superior 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 common.
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(候选人) 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(客户) over the telephone or by fax machine is an obvious asset to the firm.
【小题1】What is the author’s attitude toward high-tech communications equipment?

       People want action on noise, a recent public meeting in Brisbane showed．Some want technical improvements such as quieter air conditioners or better sound barriers around major roads．Others want tougher laws to restrict noise from building sites or to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs．But the highest priority was a noise complaints system that works．

       Brisbane City Council receives more complaints about noise than all other problems put together．So it conducted a survey and found that about half its residents are upset by noise in one form or another –traffic, mowers, pool pumps, air conditioners or loud parties．This inspired the Council to bring together more than 100 citizens one evening to talk through a range of options．

       The meeting found the present regulatory system bizarre．Depending on the problem, responsibility for noise can lie with the Council, the Environment Protection Authority, one of three government departments or even the police．So complainants often feel they are getting the run-round．When the people at the forum were asked to vote for changes, the strongest response was for a 24-hour noise hotline to be the first part of call for all complaints．

       The forum also favored regulatory measures, such as tougher minimum standards for noise in appliances like air conditioners．This even makes economic sense, as noise is a waste of energy and money．Other measures the meeting supported were wider buffer （缓冲） zones around noisy activities and controls to keep heavy traffic away from residential areas．

       But there are obvious conflicts．Many people like to have a bar within walking distance if they feel like a drink, but they don’t want a noisy pub keeping them awake when they want an early night．Most people want to live near a major road providing good access to other parts of the city, but they don't’ want the problem of road noise．

       I was most interested by the proposals aimed at behavioral change．There was strong support for measures to reduce traffic: better public transport, cycle ways and footpaths, even charges for road use．Many people optimistically thought industry awards for better equipment would stimulate the production of quieter appliances．It was even suggested that noise from building sites could be alleviated （减轻） if Brisbane adopted daylight saving, thus shifting the working day and providing longer, quieter evenings．

According to the recent public meeting in Brisbane, what was the first step to take in order to reduce noise pollution?

       A．Produce quieter air conditioners．

       B．Provide better sound barriers around major roads．

       C．Establish a noise complaints system．

       D．Make stricter laws to require owners to take responsibility for barking dogs．

It can be inferred from the passage that _______．

       A．the Brisbane residents were satisfied with the present noise regulatory system

       B．many people in Brisbane preferred to live near a pub to which they have easy access

       C．nearly all the inhabitants in Brisbane were bothered by noise in one form or another

       D．noise pollution is the most serious among pollution complaints in Brisbane

What does the word “run-round” （Para．3） mean?

       A．Unfair treatment． 

       B．Quick response．

       C．Delaying action in response to a request．           

       D．Full attention．

How could noise from building sites be alleviated if Brisbane adopted daylight saving?

       A．If daylight saving was adopted, the daytime would be prolonged and the night would become quieter．

       B．If daylight saving was adopted, the working hours during the daytime would be shortened while the night would be extended and thus quieter．

       C．If daylight saving was adopted, the night would be shortened and thus quieter．

       D．If daylight saving was adopted, both the daytime and the night would be shortened and the noise would be reduced．

What was the author’s attitude towards the industry awards for quieter equipment?

       A．Suspicious．           B．Positive．       

       C．Enthusiastic．         D．Indifferent．

New technology links the world as never before. Our planet has shrunk（收缩）. 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 communication’s 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(国内的) business efforts.
Overseas assignments are becoming increasingly important to advancement within executive(行政的) 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, superior 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 common.
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(候选人) 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(客户) over the telephone or by fax machine is an obvious asset to the firm.
65. What is the author’s attitude toward high-tech communications equipment?
A. Critical.                   B. Indifferent.               C. Negative.                 D. Positive.
66. With the increased use of high-tech communications equipment, business people_________.
A. have to get familiar with modern technology
B. are gaining more economic benefits from domestic operations
C. are placing more importance on their overseas business
D. are eager to work overseas
67. In this passage, “out of sight and out of mind” (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
68. 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.