13 According to the first paragraph, improved communications have enabled companies to
A offer a wider variety of products and services.
B expand beyond their domestic markets.
C perform better than their international competitors.
D open more manufacturing facilities abroad.
14 Some companies have succeeded at an international level even though they have
A produced inferior goods.
B failed to adapt products for local markets.
C ignored the standards set by their competitors.
D reduced the standard of the service they offer.
15 Approaches to doing business vary between countries because of
A local economic considerations.
B the existence of cultural differences.
C strong wishes to remain independent.
D regulations about business practices.
16 The writer thinks that the use of modern technology will
A speed up the process of language interpretation.
B never replace the need for face-to-face interaction.
C help solve the problems involved in maintaining strong teams.
D not lead to greater communication between companies and clients.
17 A common weakness of training courses is that they
A are developed by the wrong team.
B do not give good value for money.
C are provided only if there is an immediate need.
D do not deal with a company's specific requirements.
18 Why should companies do business in the language of the countries they are operating in?
A to prevent other companies taking their business
B to help them find new international partners
C to meet clients' current expectations
D to become more aware of their competitors' activities
《Speaking Your Customers' Language》，说客户的语言。这篇文章强调了开发海外市场时说当地语言的重要性，层次清楚，答案也很明确。
13题，问根据第一段，改善的沟通能力可以使公司怎么样。答案是第一段的第二句话：Thanks to sophisticated IT and communications systems, businesses can now market their products on a truly global scale.感谢精密的IT和沟通系统，企业现在可以在一个真正的全球规模上开发它们的产品的市场。Globe是个关键的暗示，可以联想到海外市场。13题的B选项符合这个意思：在国内市场以外的地方扩张。A和C都没有提到，D不对，只说了可以在海外扩张，没有提到开更多的生产设备。
14题，说一些公司可以在国际水平上成功，即便是它们怎么样了。答案在第一段的最后几句：This new philosophy has led to many companies, some of which have even offered products of a lesser quality, gaining success overseas.这种新的哲学导致很多公司获得了海外的成功，它们当中的一些甚至提供了一些较差质量的产品。这里新的哲学是指前面提到的在特定市场上服务伴随产品才是至关重要的。答案A跟这一句的信息相吻合：成产次品。这里的inferior goods也就是原文的products of a lesser quality。
15题，问在不同国家做生意的方法不同的原因是什么。答案是第二段开头一段话：Although globalisation may, in some senses, have brought national economies closer together, societies around the world still have radically different expectations, processes and standards.世界各地有着极端不同的期望、过程和标准。后面又提到了一句“You will also need to reconcile any national biases you have with the diverse ways of doing business that exist around the globe.” 你需要用不同的做生意的方式来与民族偏见和解。这一段整体讲的就是要克服沟通上的障碍，理解了内容不难作答，选B，原因是文化差异的存在。
