2009年12月大学英语四级考试模拟试题(五)

　　Questions 11 to 20 are based on the following passage.

　　The anthropologist (人类学家) Clifford Geertz defines culture as a “historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbols ... by 11 of which men can communicate, perpetuate and develop their own knowledge about and attitudes towards life.”

　　Why is it important that you 12 about other cultures? There are a number of reasons. Some may do it 13 because they find fascinating the different ways that people think, speak, act, evaluate, and communicate. But let me assume that you are a more pragmatic sort of person, and are 14 in the “cash value” of a course like this — apart, that is, from the grade you will receive at the end of it. What is a class like this good for? Let me make a couple of suggestions on how what you learn in this class may prove 15 to you in the future:

　　Business: Geert Hofstede’s excellent book on culture is 16 not primarily out of academic theory, but out of his study of the practical problems faced by one particular modern corporation (IBM), which exists across national and cultural 17 . In the world we live in, understanding 18 in general and also specific individual cultures in particular can make the difference between success and failure in the global market and economy.

　　Politics and Diplomacy: If your career goal involves anything that relates to international politics and diplomacy, then understanding other cultures is 19 .

　　Neighbors: If none of these previous factors 20 you, then you can just look at this class as a lesson in good neighborliness in the global village.

　　A) learn I) boundaries

　　B) written J) ways

　　C) means K) motivates

　　D) simply L) important

　　E) exactly M) disturbs

　　F) interested N) read

　　G) culture O) useless

　　H) useful