Mrs. Squirrel and I Negotiated Terms

       I was sitting in the room reading when I heard a loud noise. To defend my home from break-in, I picked up my defense weapon--- a broom and went out. There on the roof of my porch（门廊）, I saw a grey fluffy squirrel. I drove her away with the broom, but the next day I heard her again.

       I searched squirrels on the Internet and found because their teeth keep growing, they have to constantly chew on things to shorten their teeth. This was disturbing so I asked my husband to call in some wildlife control people.

       On Monday morning two men showed up, with guns in their hands. I pointed uneasily to the hole in my porch roof. They held up their guns. Suddenly I saw in my mind the baby nursery inside. I stopped them and confirmed that they wouldn’t harm her. They hesitated, but finally put down their guns. Then they brought out a bottle of deodorizer（除臭剂）and sprayed it into the squirrel’s home. They told me she would not like the smell and would leave.

       There was no sign of Mrs. Squirrel, so they blocked the hole, took my cheque for $250 and left.

       Shortly after they left, Mrs. Squirrel returned from her shopping trip. She was mad at being driven out and began feverishly clawing at the porch roof. In order to stop the destruction of my home, I drove her away with the broom again.

       Each day thereafter, Mrs. Squirrel continued her attack on my possession. I then called the company to report that “SHE’S BAAAAAACK…” The receptionist said that if Mrs. Squirrel had managed to find another way into my porch roof, it would be a new charge. I replied I couldn’t continue contributing my husband’s hard-earned income to their silly wildlife experts and hung up.

       I went to the porch and banged on the roof. Mrs. Squirrel came out and glared at me. We negotiated some terms, came to an agreeable arrangement and went back into our respective homes.

       All is quiet these days, although large quantities of materials have been removed from my garage wall and my daughter claims that some of her doll-house furniture has disappeared. I still hope that Mrs. Squirrel would leave, but I will wait until it is warmer and hopefully until after the birth of the little ones.

56. What did the author think of the squirrel at first?

       A. Troublesome.         B. Dangerous.            C. Interesting.     D. Clever.  

57. Why didn’t the author ask the wildlife control people to come again?

   A. She worried about the safety of the squirrel.

   B. She thought the company charged too much.

   C. She decided to drive away the squirrel herself.

   D. She doubted the ability of the wildlife control people.

58. What can we learn from the passage?

   A. Getting rid of the squirrel needs patience.

   B. The squirrel has destroyed the author’s house.

   C. The author has developed love for the squirrel.

   D. The author signed an agreement with Mrs. Squirrel.

59. The underline word in the fifth paragraph probably means_________ .

   A. surprisingly        B. delightedly              C. quickly        D. crazily

Mrs. Squirrel and I Negotiated Terms

       I was sitting in the room reading when I heard a loud noise. To defend my home from break-in, I picked up my defense weapon--- a broom and went out. There on the roof of my porch（门廊）, I saw a grey fluffy squirrel. I drove her away with the broom, but the next day I heard her again.

       I searched squirrels on the Internet and found because their teeth keep growing, they have to constantly chew on things to shorten their teeth. This was disturbing so I asked my husband to call in some wildlife control people.

       On Monday morning two men showed up, with guns in their hands. I pointed uneasily to the hole in my porch roof. They held up their guns. Suddenly I saw in my mind the baby nursery inside. I stopped them and confirmed that they wouldn’t harm her. They hesitated, but finally put down their guns. Then they brought out a bottle of deodorizer（除臭剂）and sprayed it into the squirrel’s home. They told me she would not like the smell and would leave.

       There was no sign of Mrs. Squirrel, so they blocked the hole, took my cheque for $250 and left.

       Shortly after they left, Mrs. Squirrel returned from her shopping trip. She was mad at being driven out and began feverishly clawing at the porch roof. In order to stop the destruction of my home, I drove her away with the broom again.

       Each day thereafter, Mrs. Squirrel continued her attack on my possession. I then called the company to report that “SHE’S BAAAAAACK…” The receptionist said that if Mrs. Squirrel had managed to find another way into my porch roof, it would be a new charge. I replied I couldn’t continue contributing my husband’s hard-earned income to their silly wildlife experts and hung up.

       I went to the porch and banged on the roof. Mrs. Squirrel came out and glared at me. We negotiated some terms, came to an agreeable arrangement and went back into our respective homes.

       All is quiet these days, although large quantities of materials have been removed from my garage wall and my daughter claims that some of her doll-house furniture has disappeared. I still hope that Mrs. Squirrel would leave, but I will wait until it is warmer and hopefully until after the birth of the little ones.

56. What did the author think of the squirrel at first?

       A. Troublesome.           B. Dangerous.        C. Interesting.     D. Clever

57. Why didn’t the author ask the wildlife control people to come again?

   A. She worried about the safety of the squirrel.

   B. She thought the company charged too much.

   C. She decided to drive away the squirrel herself.

   D. She doubted the ability of the wildlife control people.

58. What can we learn from the passage?

   A. Getting rid of the squirrel needs patience.

   B. The squirrel has destroyed the author’s house.

   C. The author has developed love for the squirrel.

   D. The author signed an agreement with Mrs. Squirrel.

59. The underline word in the fifth paragraph probably means_________ .

   A. surprisingly         B. delightedly         C. quickly         D. crazily

When companies do business overseas, they come in contact with people from different cultures. These individuals often speak a different language and have their own particular custom and manners.  These differences can create problems.

For example, in France, business meetings begin immediately at the scheduled time and everyone is expected to be there. Foreign business people who are slow in acting are often left outside to cool their heels as a means of letting them know the importance of promptness（准时）. Unless one is aware of such expected behaviors he may end up insulting the people with whom he hopes to establish trade relations.

A second traditional problem is that of monetary conversions（货币兑换）. For example, if a trade is conducted with Russia, payment may be made in rubles.  Of course, this particular type of money used in Russia is of little value to the American firm. It is, therefore, necessary to exchange the foreign money to American dollars.  How much are these Russian rubles worth in terms of dollars?   This exchange rate is determined by every market, where the money of countries are bought and sold. Thus there is an established rate, although it is often different from day to day.  For example, the ruble may be worth 0.75 on Monday and 0.72 on Tuesday because of an announced wheat shortage in Russia.  In addition, there is the problem associated with exchange at 0.72.  Some financial institutions may be unwilling to pay this price, feeling that the ruble will sink much lower over the next week. As a result, exchange may finally come at 0.69. These "losses" must be accepted by the company as one of the costs of doing business overseas.

A third unique problem is trade barriers.  For one reason or another, all countries impose trade barriers on certain goods crossing their borders. Some trade barriers are directly related to exports. For example, the United States permits strategic military material to be shipped abroad only after government permission has been obtained.  Most trade barriers, however, are designed to restrict import. Two of the most common import barriers are quotas and tariffs.

76. The best title for the passage would be ___.

A. How to Succeed in International Trade

B. Monetary Conversion

C. Trade Barriers

D. Unique Problems in International Trade

77. In France, slow business people ___.

A. are often insulted

B. often suffer from coldness

C. are often left outdoors waiting

D. are often asked to polish their shoes

78. According to the passage, exchange rates ___.

A. seldom change

B. are determined by financial institutions

C. are agreed upon by two trading countries

D. vary from day to day

79. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A. Misunderstanding may occur because of the culture differences.

B. Exchange rate can bring losses when doing international trade.

C. Most trade barriers are designed to restrict import.

D. All the exports must get the permission of the government.  .

D
When companies do business overseas, they come in contact with people from different cultures.  These individuals often speak a different language and have their own particular custom and manners.  These differences can create problems.
For example, in France, business meetings begin immediately at the scheduled time and everyone is expected to be there.   Foreign business people who are slow in acting are often left outside to cool their heels as a means of letting them know the importance of promptness（准时）. Unless one is aware of such expected behaviors he may end up insulting the people with whom he hopes to establish trade relations.
A second traditional problem is that of monetary conversions(货币兑换).  For example, if a trade is conducted with Russia, payment may be made in rubles.  Of course, this particular type of money used in Russia is of little value to the American firm.  It is, therefore, necessary to exchange the foreign money to American dollars.  How much are these Russian rubles worth in terms of dollars?  This exchange rate is determined by every market, where the money of countries are bought and sold.   Thus there is an established rate, although it is often different from day to day.  For example, the ruble may be worth 0.75 on Monday and 0.72 on Tuesday because of an announced wheat shortage in Russia.  In addition, there is the problem associated with exchange at 0.72.  Some financial institutions may be unwilling to pay this price, feeling that the ruble will sink much lower over the next week.   As a result, exchange may finally come at 0.69.   These "losses" must be accepted by the company as one of the costs of doing business overseas.
A third unique problem is trade barriers.  For one reason or another, all countries impose trade barriers on certain goods crossing their borders.  Some trade barriers are directly related to exports.  For example, the United States permits strategic military material to be shipped abroad only after government permission has been obtained.  Most trade barriers, however, are designed to restrict import.  Two of the most common import barriers are quotas and tariffs.
76. The best title for the passage would be ___.
A. How to Succeed in International Trade
B. Monetary Conversion
C. Trade Barriers
D. Unique Problems in International Trade
77. In France, slow business people ___.
A. are often insulted
B. often suffer from coldness
C. are often left outdoors waiting
D. are often asked to polish their shoes
78. According to the passage, exchange rates ___.
A. seldom change
B. are determined by financial institutions
C. are agreed upon by two trading countries
D. vary from day to day
79. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?
A. Misunderstanding may occur because of the culture differences.
B. Exchange rate can bring losses when doing international trade.
C. Most trade barriers are designed to restrict import.
D. All the exports must get the permission of the government.   .

D

When companies do business overseas, they come in contact with people from different cultures.  These individuals often speak a different language and have their own particular custom and manners.  These differences can create problems.

For example, in France, business meetings begin immediately at the scheduled time and everyone is expected to be there.   Foreign business people who are slow in acting are often left outside to cool their heels as a means of letting them know the importance of promptness（准时）. Unless one is aware of such expected behaviors he may end up insulting the people with whom he hopes to establish trade relations.

A second traditional problem is that of monetary conversions(货币兑换).  For example, if a trade is conducted with Russia, payment may be made in rubles.  Of course, this particular type of money used in Russia is of little value to the American firm.  It is, therefore, necessary to exchange the foreign money to American dollars.  How much are these Russian rubles worth in terms of dollars?  This exchange rate is determined by every market, where the money of countries are bought and sold.   Thus there is an established rate, although it is often different from day to day.  For example, the ruble may be worth 0.75 on Monday and 0.72 on Tuesday because of an announced wheat shortage in Russia.  In addition, there is the problem associated with exchange at 0.72.  Some financial institutions may be unwilling to pay this price, feeling that the ruble will sink much lower over the next week.   As a result, exchange may finally come at 0.69.   These "losses" must be accepted by the company as one of the costs of doing business overseas.

A third unique problem is trade barriers.  For one reason or another, all countries impose trade barriers on certain goods crossing their borders.  Some trade barriers are directly related to exports.  For example, the United States permits strategic military material to be shipped abroad only after government permission has been obtained.  Most trade barriers, however, are designed to restrict import.  Two of the most common import barriers are quotas and tariffs.

76. The best title for the passage would be ___.

A. How to Succeed in International Trade

B. Monetary Conversion

C. Trade Barriers

D. Unique Problems in International Trade

77. In France, slow business people ___.

A. are often insulted

B. often suffer from coldness

C. are often left outdoors waiting

D. are often asked to polish their shoes

78. According to the passage, exchange rates ___.

A. seldom change

B. are determined by financial institutions

C. are agreed upon by two trading countries

D. vary from day to day

79. Which of the following is not true according to the passage?

A. Misunderstanding may occur because of the culture differences.

B. Exchange rate can bring losses when doing international trade.

C. Most trade barriers are designed to restrict import.

D. All the exports must get the permission of the government.   .