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 punctually at the chosen time and everyone is expected to be there．Foreign business people who are late are often left outside to cool their heels as a means of letting them know the importance of being punctual．Unless one is aware of such expected behaviors he may end up hurting 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 business is conducted with Russia, payment may be made in rubles．Of course, this currency is of little value to the American firm．It is, therefore, necessary to convert the foreign currency to American dollars．How much are these Russian rubles worth in terms of dollars? This conversion rate is determined by every market, where the currencies of countries are bought and sold．Thus there is an established rate, although it will often rise and fall 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 dilemma(进退两难的窘境)associated with converting 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, conversion 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(障碍)．For one reason or another, all countries impose trade barriers on certain goods crossing their borders．Some trade barriers are directly related to exports．Most trade barriers, however, are designed to limit import．Two of the most common import barriers are quotas and tariffs(限额和关税)．
(1)
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
(2)
In France, business people who are late _________．
[ ]
A．
can easy establish trade relations with others
B．
often suffer from coldness
C．
are often left outdoors waiting
D．
are often asked to polish(擦亮)their shoes
(3)
According to the passage, conversion rates _________．
[ ]
A．
are always not changing
B．
are determined by financial institutions
C．
are agreed upon by two trading countries
D．
vary from day to day
(4)
Which of the following is likely to be discussed next?
She took up skating at age 85, made her first movie appearance at age 114, and held a concert in the neighborhood on her 121st birthday．
Whe n it comes to long life, Jeanne Calment is the world’s recordholder．She lived to the ripe old age of 122．So is 122 the upper limit to the human life span(寿命)?If scientists come up with some sort of pill or diet that would slow aging, could we possibly make it to 150－or beyond?
Researchers don’t entirely agree on the answers．“Calment lived to 122, so it wouldn’t surprise me if someone alive today reaches 130 or 135,”says Jerry Shay at the University of Texas．
Steve Austad at the University of Texas agrees．“People can live much longer than we think,”he says．“Experts used to say that humans couldn’t live past 110．When Calment blew past that age, they raised the number to 120．So why can’t we go higher?”
The trouble with guessing how old people can live to be is that it’s all just guessing．“Anyone can make up a number,”says Rich Miller at the University of Michigan．“Usually the scientist who picks the highest number gets his name in Time magazine．”
Won’t new anti-aging techniques keep us alive for centuries?Any cure, says Miller, for aging would probably keep most of us kicking until about 120．Researchers are working on treatments that lengthen the life span of mice by 50 percent at most．So, if the average human life span is about 80 years, says Miller,“adding another 50 percent would get you to 120．”
So what can we conclude from this little disagreement among the researchers?That life span is flexible(有弹性的)，but there is a limit, says George Martin of the University of Washington．“We can get flies to live 50 percent longer,”he says．“But a fly’s never going to live 150 years．”
“Of course, if you became a new species(物种)，one that ages at a slower speed, that would be a different story,”he adds．
Does Martin really believe that humans could evolve(进化)their way to longer life?“It’s pretty cool to think about it,”he says with a smile．
(1)
What does the story of Jeanne Calment prove to us?
[ ]
A．
People can live to 122．
B．
Old people are creative．
C．
Women are sporty at 85．
D．
Women live longer than men．
(2)
According to Steve Austad at the University of Texas, ________．
[ ]
A．
the average human life span could be 110
B．
scientists cannot find ways to slow aging
C．
few people can expect to live to over 150
D．
researchers are not sure how long people can live
(3)
Who would agree that a scientist will become famous if he makes the wildest guess at longevity?
[ ]
A．
Jerry Shay．
B．
Steve Austad
C．
Rich Miller
D．
George Martin
(4)
What can we infer from the last three paragraphs?
[ ]
A．
Most of us could be good at sports even at 120．
B．
The average human life span cannot be doubled．
C．
Scientists believe mice are aging at a slower speed than before．
D．
New techniques could be used to change flies into a new species．
千里马走向假期期末仿真试卷寒假系列答案