Ⅳ.Reading Comprehension (20%)

A.Read the passage and answer the questions.

There are many ways of selling manufactured goods to foreign buyers. A manufacturer may sell direct to wholesalers and maintain his own traveling representatives, or set up his own offices or companies abroad. Alternatively he may sell to an export merchanting house; in this case there is little financial risk for the producer, since the merchant acts as a principal and pays for the goods himself. A third possibility is for the manufacturer to appoint foreign agents, who will work on commission and may be stockists. In this case goods may be sent on consignment, unsold, and the agent is expected to obtain the best price available; but this practice is more common with produce exports.

The prices of raw materials and produce change every day, so offers are usually only firm for about twenty-four hours. The prices of manufactured goods, on the other hand, remain unchanged, as a rule, for weeks or months. So buyers can place orders on the basis of manufacturer's printed price list.

26.How many ways of selling goods to foreign buyers are there mentioned in the text?（      ）

A. Two               B. Three                    C.Four              D.One

27.Which of the methods that are usually used to sell goods to foreign buyers was NOT mentioned in the text? （      ）

A. Selling directly to wholesalers

B. Setting up their own offices or companies abroad

C.Giving permission to use patents and licences

D.Working with foreign agents.

28.Which of the following statements is NOT true? （      ）

A.The merchant of export merchanting house is someone who acts as a principal and pays for the goods himself.      

B.Foreign agents can only work on allowance according to the text.

C.The prices of raw material may change everyday

D.In order to sell manufactured goods to foreign buyers, a manufacturer can set up his own offices or companies abroad.

29.Which export is more common with the practice that goods may be sent on consignment, unsold, and the agent is expected to obtain the best price available? （      ）

A.produce exports                                           B. exports of raw material

C.exports of intellectual property rights             D. service exports

30.The word “firm” in the first sentence of second paragraph means “____”.（      ）

A.secure               B.steady                  C.strong            D.valid

B.Read this passage and decide whether these statements are true (T) or false (F).

The buyer’s order is an offer to buy. The agreement is not legally binding until the supplier has accepted the offer. After that, both parties are legally bound to honor their agreement. An order can be sent by a letter, a printed order form, a fax or E-mail message. To get exactly what is being ordered, accuracy and clarity must be ensured.

Upon receipt of an order, the seller should acknowledge it as soon as possible. If the goods ordered cannot be supplied or delivered immediately, a letter should be written to give an explanation.

31.It is not until the supplier accepts the buyer’s order that the agreement is legally binding.（      ）

32.Only the seller is legally bound to honor the agreement.（      ）

33.An order can only be sent by a letter, a printed order form, or E-mail message.（      ）

34.Upon receipt of an order, the seller should acknowledge it at a convenient time. （      ）

35. If the goods ordered cannot be supplied, a letter should be written to give an explanation.（      ）