![](https://static.youtibao.com/asksite/comm/h5/images/m_q_title.png)
In cultures where close physical contact is acceptable and ____, Americans may be rega
Adesirable
Bavailable
Cadvisable
Dprofitable
![](https://static.youtibao.com/asksite/comm/h5/images/solist_ts.png)
Adesirable
Bavailable
Cadvisable
Dprofitable
In all cultures, women are generally seen _________to nature than men.
A. as close
B. closer
C. as closely
D. closely
Given the inclination toward change, it is not surprising that tradition plays a limited role in the American culture. Those who try to uphold traditional pattern of living or thought may be seen as rigid or "old-fashioned". In a society where change is so rapid, it is not uncommon for every generation to experience a "generation gap". Sometimes parents struggle to understand the values of their children, even religious institutions have had to adapt to contemporary need of their followers. Folk singers in church services, women religious leaders, slang versions of the Bible, all reflect attempts made by traditional institutions to "keep up with the times".
High rates of change, particularly in urban areas, have contributed to a focus on the future rather than the past or present. Some Americans believe that the benefits of the future orientation are achievement and progress which enable them to have a high standard of living. Others believe that high blood pressure and stomach ulcers are the results of such a life style.
As individuals in a culture, we all have an intuitive understanding about how time is regulated, usually we do not think about the concept of time until we interact with others who have a different time orientation. Although individuals from any now cultures may view time similarly, we often sense that in another culture, life seems to proceed at either a slower or faster pace. Knowing how time is regulated, divided, and perceived can provide valuable insights into individuals and their culture.
The American orientation toward the future might be demonstrated by ______.
A.the presence of religious institutions
B.the preference for "old-fashioned" parents
C.the limited role of tradition
D.the presence of folk singers in church services
?Read the article below about corporate culture on the opposite page.
?For each question 13-18, mark one letter (A, B, C or D) on your Answer Sheet for the answer you choose.
The term corporate culture refers to an organization's value system. Managerial philosophies, workplace practices, and organizational network are included in the concept of corporate culture. Tyson Food's corporate culture is reflected in the fact that everyone—even CEO Don Tyson wears clothes of a yellowish brown color on the job.
The leaders who developed the company and the corporate culture typically shape the corporate culture.One generation of employees passes on a corporate culture to newer employees. Sometimes this is part of formal training. New managers who attend McDonald's Hamburger University may learn skills in management,but they also pick up the basics of the organization's corporate culture. Employees can absorb corporate culture through informal contacts as well, by talking with other workers and through their experiences on the job.
Corporate culture has a major impact on the success of an organization. In organizations with strong cultures,everyone knows and supports the organizations' objectives. In those with weak cultures, no clear sense of purpose exists. In fact, the authors of the classic book In Search of Excellence concluded the presence of a strong corporate culture was the single common thread among many diverse but highly successful companies such as General Electric and McDonald's.
As you can imagine, changing a company's corporate culture can be very difficult. But some managers try to do just that when they feel the current culture is weak, or when the organization's objectives change and the old culture no longer fits. Sometimes the competitive situation of a company changes.For instance, electric utilities, which once had their profits guaranteed by public regulation, now face more competition than ever. Firms that were comfortable competing against other American companies now find themselves fighting competitors from overseas, too.
Management expert Peter Duckers feels that, rather than trying to change culture, managers should focus on changing employees and corporate practices, as follows.
?Define what results are needed. Specify in measurable terms what the organization or department,or office) needs to achieve.
?Determine where these results are already being achieved within the current organization. Analyze the departments that are already effective and find out what they are doing differently from the rest.
?Determine what top management can do to encourage these good results. Duckers suggests that executives openly ask what they can do to help, and then do it.
?Change the reward system—or develop a new one—to recognize these effective practices. When employees realize that the organization really does reward the new approach, they will adopt it much more quickly. Whether one wants to change an organization culture or not, it is important to choose managers and employees whose personal styles fit the organization's goals.
According to the passage, corporate culture
A.means the cultural atmosphere in a company.
B.is established by top leaders and can't be changed.
C.involves the core values of a company.
D.has little influence on the performance of a company.
According to the passage, the language of primitive cultures was ______.
A.nonexistent
B.only spoken by Eskimo
C.simple-minded
D.elaborate and complicated
The exposure to foreign cultures gradually led to the______.
A.distribution
B.disintegration
C.disorder
D.destruction
Few Asian-American students major in human sciences mainly because ______.
A.they don't like human sciences
B.they are afraid they might meet with unfair judgment in these areas
C.there is a wide difference between Asian and Western cultures
D.they know little about American cultures and Western cultures
The purpose of the author in writing the text is to ______.
A.introduce the Amazon River
B.illustrate some facts about Amazon River cultures
C.show the present situation of Amazon River
D.compare the differences between world cultures