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Passage Three
第三篇文章
Communication can essentially be divided into two categories: the written and the spoken.
沟通基本上可以分为两类：书面沟通和口头沟通。
How the balance is struck between these two forms of communication-the point at which one needs to be exchanged for another-really depends on individual cultures.
如何在这两种交流形式之间取得平衡——选择哪种交流方式——实际上取决于不同的文化。
Understanding when it's appropriate to exchange one form for another can be a major key to success in international business.
了解何时适合将一种形式转换为另一种形式是国际商业成功的关键。
Many cultures place a much greater value on the spoken word than the American working culture does.
许多文化比美国的工作文化更加重视口语。
In parts of the Middle East, you'll find spoken word agreements are seen as seriously binding.
在中东的部分地区，你会发现口头协议具有很强的约束力。
A person's word is linked to their honor, so verbal agreements are seen as important, whereas written contracts are taken as memos of understanding.
一个人的言语与他们的荣誉息息相关，因此口头协议被视为重要的，而书面合同则被视为谅解备忘录。
Western working culture tends to place a high value on the written word, and this reaches its highest level of intensity when it comes to contracts.
西方工作文化倾向于高度重视书面文字，合同就是最高的体现。
In the US, France and Germany, written contracts tend to be seen as something that must be strictly carried out.
在美国、法国和德国，书面合同往往被视为必须严格执行的事项。
By contrast, other cultures may not see written contracts as quite so binding, it can prove a challenge to Western businesses if your business partner wants to renegotiate terms that you thought were already agreed on.
相比之下，其他文化可能并不认为书面合同具有如此大的约束力，如果你的商业伙伴想重新就已经达成一致的条款进行谈判，这可能会对西方企业构成挑战。
For example, a Japanese firm may have signed a contract, but they may not feel bound by every detail of it-particularly if circumstances later change.
例如，一家日本公司可能已经签署了一份合同，但他们可能不会觉得受到合同每一个细节的约束，尤其是在以后情况发生变化时。
Such differences in value that different working cultures place on the written word tend to cause many problems when it comes to business relationships.
在商业关系方面，不同的工作文化对书面文字的价值差异往往会造成许多问题。
Questions 22 to 25 are based on the passage you have just heard.
请根据你刚刚听到的文章回答问题22到问题25。
Question22: What is a major key to success in international business according to the passage?
问题22：根据文章，国际商务成功的关键是什么？
Question23: What does the passage say about spoken word agreements in some Middle East countries?
问题23：这篇文章对一些中东国家的口头协议说了些什么？
Question24: What do we learn about the Western working culture?
问题24：我们从西方工作文化中学到了什么？
Question25: How does a Japanese firm tend to view a written contract?
问题25：日本公司倾向于如何看待书面合同？
