Question

【題目】 Decision-making can be extremely difficult. Decision-making styles are significantly different in different cultures.

In any approach to a problem and in any negotiations, the Western world turns to the "I to you" approach while Japan, the "you to you" approach. The former means both sides present their arguments openly from their own point of view. Naturally, often comes a confrontation (沖突) situation, which Westerners are very skillful in dealing with. The latter is based on each side trying to understand the other person's point of view. Thus, the direction of the meeting is a mutual (相互的) attempt to reduce confrontation and achieve harmony.

Besides, Western decision-making goes mostly from top management and often does not consult middle management or the worker. However, in Japan great consideration is given to the thoughts and opinions of everyone at all levels. Based on "bottom-up direction", ideas can be created at the lowest levels, travel upward through an organization and have an effect on the final decision.

Difference in decision-making also comes from different communication styles. The Japanese business person works to achieve harmony, even if the deal fails, and will spend whatever time is necessary to determine a "you to you" approach, communicating personal views only indirectly. They put a thorough job above the Western deadline approach. So the Japanese are thorough in their meetings. Thus Americans are often annoyed by the many meetings in many Japanese businesses. But where the American is pressing for a specific decision, the Japanese is trying to think up a rather broad direction.

On the other hand, once a given agreement is made, it is the Japanese who sometimes wonder at the slow pace in which Westerners carry out the decision. The Japanese are eager to move forward and Westerners, perhaps, lag behind as they take the time for in-depth planning.

【1】A Japanese business bases its decision .

A.on top-down directionB.on nothing but its workers' views

C.on bottom-up directionD.only on its top leaders' opinions

【2】The text mainly tells us that Japan and the Western world .

A.face great difficulty in making decisions

B.are different in decision-making styles

C.have all members contribute to a decision

D.have two approaches:"I to you" and "you to I"

【3】Which of the following is TRUE of the Westerners?

A.They carry out the decision once it is made.

B.There are many meetings in their businesses.

C.They work to achieve harmony in doing business.

D.They are good at handling confrontation situation.

【4】The author's attitude towards Japanese decision-making is .

A.positiveB.critical

C.negativeD.casual

Answer 1

【答案】

【1】C

【2】B

【3】D

【4】A

【解析】

這是一篇說明文。文章主要介紹了日本和西方世界決策風格的差異。

【1】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第三段的However, in Japan great consideration is given to the thoughts and opinions of everyone at all levels. Based on "bottom-up direction", ideas can be created at the lowest levels, travel upward through an organization and have an effect on the final decision. (然而，在日本，人們很重視各個階層的思想和意見�；�于“自下而上的方向”，思想可以在最底層次上產(chǎn)生，向上傳遞到組織中，對最終的決策產(chǎn)生影響)可知，一家日本企業(yè)的決策基于自下而上的方向。C. on bottom-up direction (自下而上的決策)符合以上說法，故選C項。

【2】主旨大意題。根據(jù)全文內(nèi)容，尤其是文章第一段Decision-making can be extremely difficult. Decision-making styles are significantly different in different cultures. (做決定是非常困難的。決策風格在不同文化中有很大差異)可知，本文主要介紹的是日本和西方世界決策風格的差異。B. are different in decision-making styles (在決策風格上是不同的)符合以上說法，故選B項。

【3】細節(jié)理解題。根據(jù)第二段的Naturally, often comes a confrontation situation, which Westerners are very skillful in dealing with. (自然，經(jīng)常會有一個沖突的情況，西方人非常擅長處理)可知，西方人在處理沖突方面很擅長。D. They are good at handling confrontation situation. (他們擅長處理沖突情況)符合以上說法，故選D項。

【4】推理判斷題。根據(jù)第二段的Thus, the direction of the meeting is a mutual (相互的) attempt to reduce confrontation and achieve harmony. (因此，會議是一個可以減少沖突、實現(xiàn)和諧的共同嘗試)和最后一段的The Japanese are eager to move forward and Westerners, perhaps, lag behind as they take the time for in-depth planning. (日本人渴望前進，而西方人可能因為花時間進行深入規(guī)劃而落在后面)可推斷，作者對日本的決策方式持肯定的態(tài)度。A. positive (贊成的)符合以上推測，故選A項。

第2小題考查文章的主旨大意

說明文和議論文的主旨大意一般體現(xiàn)在首段或尾段。以本篇為例：

根據(jù)全文內(nèi)容，尤其是文章第一段Decision-making can be extremely difficult. Decision-making styles are significantly different in different cultures. (做決定是非常困難的。決策風格在不同文化中有很大差異)可知，本文主要介紹的是日本和西方世界決策風格的差異。故選B項：are different in decision-making styles.