Section BDirections: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each p
Section B
Directions: In this section, you will hear 3 short passages. At the end of each passage, you will hear some questions. Both the passage and the questions will be spoken only once. After you hear a question, you must choose the best answer from the four choices marked A, B, C and D.
听力原文: The rise of multinational companies, global marketing, new communications technologies, and shrinking cultural differences have led to an unparalleled increase in global public relations or PR.
Surprisingly, since modern PR was largely an American invention, the US leadership in PR is being threatened by PR efforts in other countries. Ten years ago, for example, the world's top five public relations agencies were American-owned. In 1991, only one was. The British in particular are becoming more sophisticated and creative. A recent survey found that more than half of all British companies include PR as part of their companies planning activities, compared to about one third of US companies that do so. It may not be long before London replaces New York as the capital of PR.
Why is America lagging behind in the global PR race? First, Americans as a whole tend to be fairly provincial and take more interest in local affairs. Knowledge of world geography, for example, has never been strong in this country. Secondly, Americans lag behind their European and Asian counterparts in knowing a second language.
Finally, people involved in PR abroad tend to keep a closer eye on international affairs. In the financial area, for instance, most Americans read The Wall Street Journal. Overseas, their counterparts read the Journal as well as the Financial Times of London and The Economist, the latter two being publications not often read in this country.
(1)
A.Huge increase in the number of public relations companies.
B.Shrinking cultural differences.
C.New communications technologies.
D.PR efforts in other countries.