[单选题]Inrecentyears,Israeliconsumershavegrownmoredemandingasthey’vebecomewealthierandmoreworldly-wise.Foreigntravelisanationalpassion;thissummeralone,onein10citizenswillgoabroad.Exposedtohigherstandardsofserviceelsewhere,Israelisarereturninghomeexpectingthesame.Americanfirmshavealsobegunarrivinginlargenumbers.ChainssuchasKFC,McDonald’sandPizzaHutaresettinganewstandardofcustomerservice,usingstrictemployeetrainingandconstantmonitoringtoensurethefriendlinessoffrontlinestaff.EventheAmericanhabitoftellingdepartingcustomersto“Haveaniceday”hascaughtonalloverIsrael.“Nobodywakesupinthemorningandsays,‘Let’sbenicer,’”saysItsikCohen,directorofaconsultingfirm.“Nothinghappenswithoutcompetition.”Privatization,orthethreatofit,isamotivationaswell.MonopoliesthatuntilrecentlyhavebeenfreetotaketheircustomersforgrantednowfearwhatMichaelPerry,amarketingprofessor,calls“therevengefulconsumer.”WhenthegovernmentopenedupcompetitionwithBezaq,thephonecompany,itsinternationalbranchlost40%ofitsmarketshare,evenwhileofferingcompetitiverates.SaysPerry,“Peoplewantedrevengeforalltheyearsofbadservice.”Theelectriccompany,whosemonopolymaybeshort-lived,hassuddenlymoppedrequiringuserstowaithalfadayforarepairman.Now,appointmentsarescheduledtothehalf-hour.ThegracelessElAlAirlines,whichisalreadyatauction,hasrestraineditsemployeestoemphasizeserviceandisboastingabouttheresultsinanadcampaignwiththeslogan,“Youcanfeelthechangeintheair.”Forthefirsttime,praiseoutnumberscomplaintsoncustomersurveysheets.Intheauthor’sview,higherservicestandardsareimpossibleinIsrael________.
[单选题]Cross-cultureUnderstandingonBusinessWeliveinaglobalvillage,buthowwelldoweknowandunderstandthecross-cultureonbusiness?MaybeweassumethatthewidespreadunderstandingofEnglishlanguagemeansacorrespondingunderstandingofEnglishcustoms.However,itmightnotbenecessarilythecase.Ifwewanttohavegoodbusiness,wemusthavethecross-cultureunderstandingonbusiness.Herearesometipsforyoutopayattentionto:1.EyeContactInmanyWesterncountries,includingtheUnitedStates,apersonwhodoesnotmaintain“goodeyecontact”isregardedasbeingslightlysuspicious.Americansunconsciouslyassociatepeoplewhoavoideyecontactasunfriendly,insecure,untrustworthy,inattentiveandimpersonal.However,incontrast,Japaneseadultslowertheireyeswhenspeakingtoasuperior,agestureofrespect.InThailandyoushouldclaspyourhandstogetherandloweryourheadandyoureyeswhenyougreetsomeone.LatinAmericanculture,aswellassomeAfricancultures,suchasNigeria,havelongerlookingtime,butprolongedeyecontactfromanindividualoflowerstatusisconsidereddisrespectful.IntheUS,itisconsideredrudetostare–regardlessofwhoislookingatwhom.Incontrast,thepoliteEnglishmanistaughttopaystrictattentiontoaspeaker,tolistencarefully,andblinkhiseyestoletspeakerknowheorshehasbeenunderstoodaswellasheard,whileinPakistanyoumustn’twinkforit’soffensive.2.TimeofArrivalImagineyouhavemadeanappointmentatthreeo’clock.Whattimeshouldyouexpectyourforeignbusinesscolleaguestoarrive?Ifthey’reGerman,they’llberightontime.Ifthey’reAmerican,they’llprobablybe15minutesearly.Ifthey’llbeBritish,they’llbe15minuteslateandyoushouldallowuptoanhourfortheItalians.3.AtMealandDrinkingTimeTheBritisharehappytohavebusinesslunchanddiscussbusinessmatterswithadrinkduringthemeal;theJapaneseprefernottoworkwhileeating.Lunchisatimetorelaxandgettoknowoneanother,andtheyrarelydrinkatlunchtime.TheGermansliketotalkbusinessbeforedinner.However,incontrast,theFrenchliketoeatfirstandtalkafterwards.Theyhavetobewellfedandwateredbeforetheydiscussanything.Andyoushouldn’tsitdowninacaféuntilyou’veshakenhandswitheveryoneyouknowinFrance.InRussiayoumustmatchyourhostsdrinkfordrink,ortheywillthinkyouareunfriendly;inAmericayoushouldeatyourhamburgerwithbothhandsandasquicklyasyoucan.Youshouldn’ttrytohaveaconversationuntilitiseaten;intheMiddleEastyoumustneverusethelefthandforeating,drinking,smokingorgreeting.Also,youshouldtakecarenottoadmireanythinginyourhost’shome.Theywillfeelthattheyhavetogiveittoyou.Thereareothersuggestionsoncross-cultureunderstandingonbusinessthatmighthelpyouwithyourbusiness.Onlyafewhavebeenmentionedhere.Beforeyougotoacountryonbusiness,youshouldhavetolearnsomethingmoreaboutherculture.WheninRome,doastheRomansdo.Choosethebestanswerforthefollowingquestions.2)WhichofthefollowingisnottrueabouttheBritishaccordingtothetext?
