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PAGEPAGE6BeyondBeckhamByMalcolmBeith(由马尔科姆Beith)Nursingabrokenfoot(护理受伤的脚),WayneRooneylimpedoffthefootballfieldjust27minutesintoEngland'sEuro2004quarter-finalagainstPortugal.（韦恩鲁尼一瘸一拐地走出足球场仅27分钟为英格兰2004欧洲杯四分之一决赛对阵葡萄牙。）Histournament（锦标赛）wasover,butwhatahardgameithadbeen:Rooneyhadshotfourgoalsandgivenhisteamthehope（DavidBeckhamhadfailedtoprovide）.Surelythe18-year-oldRooneywastheOne,thoughtthefootballexpertsfromBirminghamtoBangkok,thegoldenboy（金童）whowouldreplaceBeckhamasthenewfaceoffootball（新面孔）.Butthehype（炒作）dieddownassoonasthequestionofdollarstranslatedintosense.Sure,Rooneyisaverygoodplayer,declaredonecommentator（评论员）,butwhatcouldhepossiblysell"potatoes?"IntheAgeofBeckham,ittakesmorethanfootballskillstobecomeaglobalfootballicon（偶像）.Aplayer'sabilitytosellteamshirts,shavingcream(剃须膏)andeverythinghasbecomeevermorecrucial（至关重要的）toafootballclub'sabilitytoestablishitselfasaglobalbrand.Atthetopofthefoodchainstands(站着）Beckham--thesarong-wearing（穿着围裙的）starwhosegoodlooks,family-manimageandcelebrity（名人，知名人士）statushavehelpedselleverythingfromGilletterazors（吉列剃须刀）intheUnitedStatestoMeijiSeika（明治制果）chocolatesinJapan.Butallgoodthingsmustcometoanend,andtheAgeofBeckhamisnoexception（没有例外）.At29,Beckhamisenteringthetwilight（暮年，黄昏）ofhiscareer;thefootballindustryisbeginningtocontemplate（考虑）howtofillthevoidthathisdeclineasaplayerandeventualretirementwillcreate.Indeed,thatquestionwasonthemindsofmanyoftheworld'sclubbossesandmarketingexecutiveswhoattendedtheannualfootballtradefair（足球博览会）inDubai,UnitedArabEmiratesinearlyDecember2004.NewcastleUnitedchairmanFreddyShepherddeclaredfrankly（直率的，坦诚地）thatManchesterUnitedhadlostsomeofits"stardust"（星团，幻觉，星辰）sincelettingBeckhamtransfertoRealMadridin2003.Nowthewholeindustryisworriedaboutlosingitsbrightness（亮度，明亮）.Thereisnoobviouscandidate（候选人）tofillBeckham'sGuccishoes.Rooney,19,istoouninspiringoffthefield;thepug-faced（哈巴狗）Liverpudlian（利物浦人）hasonlylocalappealandlacksacelebrityreputation.ThesamegoesforRealMadrid'sMichaelOwen,althoughhe'scuteenoughtofemalefans.Otherstars,likeManchesterUnited'sPortuguesepassionateCristianoRonaldo,ItalianFrancescoTottiofASRoma,ArgentinewonderboyJavierSaviolaofMonacoandArsenal'sNo.1FrenchmanThierryHenryhavepotential（潜力）.Buttheirglobalrange（排列）islimitedbyoneimportantfactor:"Theydon'thavetheEnglish-languagefeature,"saysDominicMalcolm,asports-economicslecturer（体育经济学讲师）attheUniversityofLeicesterandauthorofTheFutureofFootball.SpeakingEnglishhascometoberegardedasavitalassetforanyfootballerhopingtowinoverfansfromBuenosAirestoBangkok.ItisgenerallybelievedthatthenextBeckhammaywellhavetobeEnglishorAmerican,justasmostglobalpopicons（流行偶像）are.Thelackofsuchafigure（扮演角色）isleadingEuropeanclubexecutivesandsponsors（赞助商）toconcentrateonfillingregion-specific（区域特异性）marketingneeds,particularlyinAsia,whichisnowseenasthemerchandisinggoldmine（商品金矿）thatcouldhelpbringEurope'sailing（病态的）teamsoutofthered.WhenCrystalPalacesignedChinesestarsFanZhiyiandSunJihaiin1998,theclub'sproductsflewoffshelves（飞下架）acrossChina,andcreatedinstant（即时的）brand-namerecognition.TottenhamenjoyedasimilareffectwithJapanesestriker（罢工者）KazuyukiTodalastyear,asdidParmawithJapanesestarHidetoshiNakata,whoisnowatFiorentina."We'reseeingplayerssignedinEuropebecauseofthecommercialopportunitytheyopenup（打开）,"saysMalcolm."Itenablesafootballclubasabrandtoexpandintoamarket."Considerthis:WhenChinesestarLiTie'sEvertonplaysagainstManchesterCity,whereSunJihainowplays,anestimated（估计的，预计的，估算的）300millionChinesewatchthematch(lessthan1millionBritstunein--andthat'sifRupertMurdoch'sBSkyBchoosestobroadcastit).Somecriticsarguethatteamsaresacrificingqualityinthisquest（探索，探寻）tobuildinternationalbrands.ManyoftheAsianplayerstransferredtoEuropehavefaileddismally（悲惨地）onthefield--Toda,forinstance,playedjustfourgamesbeforebeingsentbacktoaJapaneseclub.Thisprompted（促使）MohammedbinHammam,theheadoftheAsianFootballConfederation,toaccuseEuropeanclubsofexploiting（利用）Asianplayersas"slaves"forcommercialpurposesearlierthisyear,demandinginsteadthattheyhireAsiansonplayingabilityalone.Nevertheless（然而，尽管如此）,someteamsaregoingoutoftheirwaytohelpraiseplayerqualityalongwiththeirreputations;StockportCountyFCinBritain'sDivisionOneplaysannualexhibitions（展览会）inChinaandofferstrainingscholarshipstolocalplayers."Recruiting（招募的）playershastobepurelyabouttalent,"saysaformerexecutiveofonebig-nameEnglishclub."Iftheplayerhasmarketingvalue,it'sabonus（奖金）--butnotthereason.Ifyoudothatyoustarttoendanger（违背）theintegrity(正义，诚信)ofsportingprinciples."Perhaps,buttheseprincipleshavelargelydiedinrecentyears,assatellitetelevisiondraggedfootballfromitslocal,smallrootsandtransformed（转化）itintoamultibillion-dollar（数十亿美元）industrythatfavoredbrandingoverballskills.Asthefootballingworldmovesintoanewera（纪元，年代）,desperately（急切地）seekingitsnewcashcow--orcows--fewclubsorsponsorsarelisteningtotheoldtimers.SomestilldreamoffindingtheOne,perhapsinanAmericanlikeWashingtonDCUnited's15-year-oldGhanaianbornFreddyAdu,whohasendorsement（担保，承认）dealswitheveryonefromNiketoCampbell'ssoup,andhashelpedraiseattendance（提高出勤率）athisgamesthispastseasonto50percentaboveaverage."Itmaybethatthepersonwhorivals（竞争）BeckhamisgoingtobethepersonmostcloselylinkedtotheAmericanteamwheniteventuallywinstheWorldCup,"speculates（思索推测）Malcolm.Othersthinkthat'snotlikelyevertohappen.So,whenBeckhamfinallyfadesintothehistorybooks,asBillGerard,aprofessorofsportsmanagementandfinanceatLeedsUniversityBusinessSchool,putsit,"itwillbeacaseof'Thekingisdead.Longlivetheking.（国王万岁）'"Thenewrulermayfaceanaltogetherdifferentkindofkingdom（王国）.ACriticReviewofTheTerminal(Adapted)ByA.O.ScottStevenSpielberg'snewfilm,TheTerminal,opensnationwidetoday.Anairlineterminalis,bydefinition,aplaceatravelerpassesthroughonthewayfromoneplacetoanother.Itisaplacewhereonewantstospendonlyasmuchtimeasisabsolutelynecessary.However,theword"terminal"alsohassomedarkerconnotationsthatchallengeitsmodest,everydaymeaning.TheLatinoriginoftheword,termini,referstothelocalgods,whoseshrinesservedasboundarymarkersinancientRome.Itsuggestsafrontierbetweenworlds.Themodernmedicalusageof"terminal"isassociatedwithdeath.Therefore,tobetrappedindefinitelyinaterminal,withoutanyopportunitytoescape,bringstomindakindoflivingdeath,afrustratingstateofperpetualimprisonment.Withthisscenarioinmind,itmakesStevenSpielberg'stransformationofthistypicalmodemnightmareofinterruptedairtravelintoavisionofearthlyparadisemuchmoreremarkable.Thedirector(StevenSpielberg)hasrepeatedlyshowninhisothermovieshowromanticflyingcanbe.StevenSpielberg'sinterestinflyingcouldbeseenintheflashingspaceshiplightsattheendofCloseEncounters(1977),inthesoaringbicycleofE.T.(1982),andEmpireoftheSun(1987).TheTerminalstillshowsStevenSpielberg'sfascinationwithairtravel,butitisalsoadirectcontrasttohispreviousdepictionsofflightatthesametime.Thismovieisabouttheromanceofbeingstuckontheground.TheplotofthefilmbeginswithViktorNavorski(TomHanks),whofliestoNewYorkfromtheimaginaryeasternEuropeanrepublicofKrakozia.ViktorarrivesatJ.F.K.InternationalAirportjustasamilitarycoupabolisheshiscountry'sgovernmentandrendershimwithoutahome.Alargeamountofcomplicated(andsomewhatunrealistic)bureaucracyandregulationsstrandhimattheairport,whereheremainsfornearlyayear.HeisunabletoboardaflighthomeoreventakeacabintoManhattan.However,heisinnocentofanythingthatwouldwarranthisdetentionbytheairportauthorities.Heisutterlytrappedandcompletelyfreeatthesametime.(ThismovieislooselybasedontherealexperienceofanIraniantravelerwhowasabandonedforamuchlongerperiodinaParisairportafterthefalloftheShah).StevenSpielbergandthescreenwriters,SachaGervasiandJeffNathanson,emphasizefreedomratherthanconstraint.TheyfocusonthehumorofViktor'ssituationratherthanonitsseriousness.Whatsoundslikeascenariooutofahorrorstoryturnsintoaninnocentfairytaleoffriendlinessandpleasure.ThetroublesthatafflictViktor'shome-landaresafelyconfinedtocablenewsbroadcastsonairporttelevisionmonitors.Real-lifeshocksoflonelinessanddisplacementmeltawayintotheatmosphereoftheterminal.Eventhecheeriestfairytalemusthaveavillain.InTheTerminal,thevillainisanambitious,humorlessHomelandSecurityofficialnamedFrankDixon(StanleyTucci),whoisabouttogetabigpromotion.Withpursedlipsandnarrowedeyes,heregardsViktornotasapersonindistress,butasaproceduralinconvenience.WhenhefailstoscareViktorintoleavingtheairport,Dixonbecomesobsessed.InthecomicalworldofTheTerminal,Dixon'svindictivenessisananomaly.Beforelong,Viktorfindshimselfwelcomedintoaneasygoing,multi-culturaltribeofnongovernmentalairportemployees.AmongthemareadustmanfromIndianamedGupta(KumarPallana),abaggagehandlernamedJoe(ChiMcBride)andasweet-facedrestaurantworkernamedEnrique(DiegoLuna).AtfirstthelightheartednessofTheTerminalmayseemfalse.Attimethestoryoffersnothingspecial,andthefilmmakersseemuncomfortablewithcharactersthatareanythingmorethansimpleandkind.CatherineZeta-Jonesisasspiritedandlovelyasever,butthemovieiscontenttouseherforherbeautyratherthanforthehumorthatishergreatestattributeasacomicactress.Inherothermovies,thisqualityhasbeenusedinRobMarshall'sChicagoandJoeRoth'sAmerica'sSweethearts.Otherdirectors,StevenSpielbergincluded,seemuncomfortablebytheideathatawomanofsuchregalbeautycouldactuallybefunny.AsforStanleyTucci,heisanobviouschoicetoplayanauthoritativebureaucrat,buthisperformanceisnotinspired.Ifhewerealesstechnicalactor,Dixon'scoldnessandmalicemightbepsychologicallyinteresting.DixonandAmelia(Zeta-Jones)aretheretoservetheplot.Thestoryissweetandhumorous,butStevenSpielberghasmadeittolerable.RarelyhaveIbeensoacutelyawareofamovie'ssoftnessandsentimentality,andrarelyhaveImindedless.SomeofthecreditgoestoTomHanks.Heisamanwithnothinglefttoprove.Hisperformanceissofriendlythatitsnuancesemergeonlyinretrospect.AtfirstViktorseemslikeaholyfoolwithafunnyaccent,butthepouchesunderhiseyesandthedeterminationofhisattitudetellanotherstory.IntimewelearnthatViktorisaskilledcarpenterandadevotedson.However,beforewelearnthisandbeforehelearnsenoughEnglishtotellus,weunderstandthatheisresourcefulandstubbornaswellasgenerous.TherearesomesimilaritiesbetweenViktorandthecharacter,ChuckNoland,whichTomHanksplayedinCastAway.However,therearemanydifferences.Viktor'scharacterisalreadystoicwhenthefilmbegins,whereChucktakesfouryearsoflivingonadesertislandtobecomeasstoic.InsomewaysViktor'sjourneyisthereverseofChuck's.Chuckwascastoutofmodemconsumersocietyandlearnedtomakedowithverylittle.Viktoriscomingfromcircumstancesofrelativelylittlematerialwealthandmustadapttoasceneofsurrealisticandenormousabundance.I'mguessingthatViktor'shomelandwasoriginallyaneasternEuropeanunderdevelopedcountry.SomeonefromthatregionmightpointoutthatTheTerminalpresentsacharmingfantasyofglobalcapitalism,whichisnotalwayssobenevolent.Fairenough,butanotherwaytosaythisistonoticethatthefilmchangesanalienatingcommercialenvironmentintoaplaceofutopianpossibility,inthesamewayE.Ztransformedamonotonous,sprawlingsuburbintoarealmofenchantment.Theappealofbothofthesemoviesisduetothedesireandingenuityofthecharacters,whoreflectthemindofStevenSpielberg.ThemagicofTheTerminalisabitforced,perhapsbecauseitismoreurgentlyneeded.Airtravel,onceasymboloffreedomandmobility,isnowoftenassociatedwithfrustration,anxietyandterror.StevenSpielberg,assistedbythemusicofJohnWilliams,thecinematographyofJanuszandthesetdesignsofAlexMcDowell,makestheaudienceforgettheirideasofarealairlineterminalwitheffortlessgraceandoptimism.TheTerminalchangesthescarymodemworldintoafriendly,artificialgardenofescalatorsandrestaurantsandexpandstowardthefarthesthorizonofthehumanimagination.(1,157words)ChineseReligionsandCultureEarlyChinesereligionbelongstothemythicalandprehistoricperiod.TraditionspeaksoftheoriginsofChineseculturelyinginthe3rdmillenniumB.C.withtheXiaDynasty.Asofyetnohistoricalevidencehasbeenfoundforsuchadynasty,andallreferencestoitaremythical.ItisonlywiththeShangDynasty,whichistraditionallydatedfrom1766B.C.to1122B.C.,thatwefindevidenceofadevelopingcultureandreligiouspractices.ThereligionoftheShangwasprincipallycharacterizedbytheuseoforaclebonesfordivinationandthedevelopmentofthecultofancestors.Itwasbelievedthatthecracksthatresultedfromburningoxbonesortortoiseshellsrepresentedmessagessentfromthegodsaboutavarietyofmatterssuchasillness,weatherorhunting.BeliefindeitiesandthepracticeoftheworshipofancestorshavepersistedinChineselife,andhavecometoformthebasisofwhathasbroadlybeentermedpopularreligion.Popularreligioninfactrepresentsamixtureofearlyreligionandelementsofthethreegreatreligions:Buddhism,ConfucianismandTaoism.Attheheartofpopularreligionistheworshipofdeitiesandvenerationofancestorsatshrinesinthehomeortemples.Therearemanydeitiesassociatedwiththisformofreligion,butthebestknownareYuDi,thesupremerulerofheaven,andGuanYin,thegoddessofmercyandprotectorofwomenandchildren.IntheZhouDynastyamorestructuredformofreligiondeveloped.ThisisassociatedwiththeteachingofKungFuzi(551B.C.-479B.C.),whoseLatinizednameisConfucius.Confuciussoughttoestablishasocio-politicalethicalsystem,withtheologicalbeliefsconcernedwithhumandestinyandtheconductofhumanrelationshipsinsociety,basedonabeliefinthegoodnessofhumannature.HebelievedinaprovidentialHeaven(tian)andinprayerwhichencouragedhiminhismission.Heemphasizedthefiverelationships--namely,father-son;ruler-subject;husband-wife;eldestson-brothers;friend-friend--tobeexpressedbyli(correctceremony)tobringhe(harmony).Suchrelationshipswererootedinfamilypietywhichcametogiveaprominentplacetoancestorworshipandtorespectfordeifiedmen,whichcametofindexpressionintheSacrificesoftheStatereligion.TheConfuciancanoncanbedividedintotwoparts:theFourBooksandtheFiveClassics.TheFourBooksconsistofTheAnalects(ConversationsofConfucius);TheBookofMencius;TheGreatLearning,'andTheDoctrineoftheMean.TheFiveClassicswerehandeddownfromearliertimesandemphasizedbyConfucius.TheseareTheBookofChange;TheBookofHistory;TheBookofOdes;TheBookofRites;andTheSpringandAutumnAnnals.OutoftheteachingsofConfuciusemergedvariousschoolseachassociatedwithamaster.NotablewastheworkofMengzi(orMencius)(371B.C.-289B.C.)andXunzi(c.313B.C.-238B.C.).MengziandXunziformedrivalschoolswhosedoctrinaldifferenceswerebasedinafundamentallydifferentconceptionofhumannatureo.Mengzithoughtthatpeoplewerefundamentallygoodandthatwhatmadethembadwastheirenvironment.Consequently,Mengziemphasizedtheimportanceofeducationasameansforbringingouttheinnategoodnessofpeople.Bywayofcontrast,Xunzihadamorepessimisticviewofhumannature.Xunzithoughtthatpeoplewereinherentlyevil,andthattheycouldonlybetaughttobegoodthroughtraining.ThebriefruleoftheQinhadadevastatingimpactonConfucianism,whosescholarsitpersecutedandwhosebooksitdestroyed.Fortunatelyforthetradition,ConfucianismreceivedofficialacceptanceoftheHanDynastyandflourishedduringtheHanperiod.UndertheHanDynasty(206B.C.-220A.D.),theTangDynasty(618-907A.D.),andtheSongDynasty(960-1279A.D.)Confucianteachingwasusedforpublicexaminations.In631A.D.theConfuciancanonwasmadethesolesubjectfortheexaminationofaspirantstoofficialpositions,soConfucianismcametobeknownas"thedoctrineofthelearned".DuringtheSongDynastyNeo-ConfucianismemergedasadistinctmovementinresponsetoTaoismandBuddhism.TwotraditionsofNeo-Confucianthoughtemerged:theSchoolofPrinciple,representedbyZhuXi(1130-1200A.D.),andtheSchoolofMind,representedbyLuJiuyuan(1139-1193A.D.)and,later,WangYangming(1472-1529A.D.).ZhuXisoughttoprovideametaphysicalexplanationofthenatureofrealityaswellasanethicforhumanconduct.ForZhuXithebasisofallrealitywastheSupremeUltimate(Taiji).Inorderforpeopletoliveproperlytheyhadtopurifytheirqi(vitalenergy)throughtamingtheirdesiressothattheycouldbeunitedwiththeSupremeUltimate.InreactiontoZhuXi'sdualisticperceptionofreality,LuJiuyuanpresentedamonisticpictureoftheuniverse.Heclaimedthattheuniverseandthemindareone.Therefore,throughunderstandingone'sownmindonecouldunderstandthenatureofthecosmos.ThiswasdevelopedbyWangYangming.WangYangmingbelievedthatindividualscouldperfectthemselvesthroughmoralself-cultivation.Thisinvolvedreturningtoanoriginalmindwhoseprincipalqualitywaslove(ten).AlsoofancientoriginisTaoism--whoseclassictext,theDaodejing,isattributedtoasupposedcontemporaryofConfucius,Laozi.Thistexthashadmanyinterpreterswhoseworkshavedevelopedinvarioussects,someofwhichhavebeenveryinfluential.TherearetwostreamsofTaoism:ReligiousTaoism,whichisrepresentedbythemanysectsconcernedwiththequestforimmortality;andPhilosophicalTaoism,whichwasconcernedtoexplainthehumancondition.ThemajorimportedreligionisMahayanaBuddhismwhichisbelievedtohaveenteredChinainthe1stcenturyB.C.AnimportantearlyBuddhistteacherwasAnShihKaowhofoundedwhatcametobeknownastheDhyanaSchool,characterizedbyitsemphasisonmeditation.AnothermajorearlyschoolwasthePrajnaSchoolwhosedoctrineswerebasedontheinterpretationofthePerfectionofWisdom.Itwas,however,betweenthe5thand8thcenturiesthatBuddhistschoolsflourishedanddevelopedinChina.ThegreatpersecutionofBuddhisminthemiddleofthe9thcenturyledtoitsrapiddecline,andbythetimeoftheSongdynastyonlytheChanandChingtuschoolsremainedsignificant.Recentchangeshavebeenprofound,strengtheningagnostictendenciesformanyinthepopulation.TraditionalpracticesarestillcontinuedinmanyhomesinChinaandamongoverseasChinese.Inrecenttimesrelaxationofrestrictionhasgivenfreshopportunityforreligiousactivity.ManyTaoistandBuddhisttemples,aswellasmosquesandchurches,arereopened.GreateropennesstotheWesthasbeenaccompaniedbyrenewedconversiontoChristianity;thegovernmenthasencouragedtherediscoveryoftraditionalreligiousvalues.(1,115words)TheCulturalDifferencesBetweentheEuropeanUnionandNorthAmericaandTheirImpactonTransatlanticBusinessByLionelLaroche,Ph.D.Progressintelecommunicationsandtransportationtechnologieshasresultedinunprecedentedgrowthininternationaltradeingeneralandtransatlantictrade(betweentheEuropeanUnionandNorthAmerica)inparticular.Asaresult,EuropeansandNorthAmericansinteractroutinelytonegotiateandimplementbusinessagreements.ForNorthAmericansandEuropeans,doingbusinesswithoneanotherisconsideredeasierthandoingbusinesswiththethirdmajortradingblock,namelytheFarEast.Indeed,EuropeanUnionandNorthAmericancountriessharecommonhistoricalandreligiousroots;asaresult,mostNorthAmericanpeopletravelingthroughtheEuropeanUnionandmostEuropeanpeopletravelingthroughNorthAmericaexperiencecultureshocktoamuchlesserextentthanNorthAmericanorEuropeanpeopletravelingthroughtheFarEast.Unfortunately,theapparentsimilaritiesbetweencountriesoftheEuropeanUnionandNorthAmericamasksignificantculturaldifferences.BusinesspeoplefromeithersidemaybeluredintoafalsesenseoffamiliaritywhentheycrosstheAtlanticOcean.Takingtheseculturaldifferencesintoconsiderationincreasessignificantlytheprobabilityofsuccessofone'sprofessionalendeavors.TheweightandimportanceofhistoryareverydifferentdependingonwhichsideoftheAtlanticOceanyouare.OntheNorthAmericanside,historyismuchshorter:theU.S.A.starteditsexistenceasacountryin1776,Canadain1867.Bycontrast,thehistoryofmostEuropeannationsgoesbackmuchfurtherintime.Thisdifferencetranslatesinthebusinessworldintheamountofbackgroundinformationneededtointroduceacompanyorproject~.FormostNorthAmericans,eventsthattookplacemorethanthreetofiveyearsagoareconsideredirrelevanttothecurrentsituation,andbackgroundinformationonaprojectisusuallylimitedtothelatestdevelopments.Bycontrast,manyEuropeansgobackmuchfurtherintimeandoftenstartthedescriptionoftheircompanyorprojectattheconceptionstage,nomatterhowlongagothateventtookplace.Thisoftenresultsinmiscommunicationduringjointmeetingswherepeoplefrombothsidesmakepresentations:NorthAmericanaudiencesoftenfindEuropeanpresentationsuninteresting,becausetheycontainmuchsuperfluousbackgroundinformation(byNorthAmericanstandards),whileEuropeanaudiencesoftenfindthatNorthAmericanpresentationslackkeybackgroundinformation,makingthesepresentationsdifficulttofollow.InNorthAmerica,Englishisthelanguageforbusiness.TheonlysignificantexceptionisQuebecwhere,whilemanyQuebecersspeakbothEnglishandFrench,theexclusiveuseofEnglishmaycreatesomedifficulties.IntheEuropeanUnion,whileEnglishisgenerallyacceptedastheinternationallanguageofbusiness,theabilitytospeakEnglishisnotubiquitous.Furthermore,theabilitytospeakEnglishisnotuniformacrossgenerations.Indeed,theacceptanceofEnglishastheinternationallanguageofbusinessisrelativelyrecent.Asaresult,youmayfindthat,outsidetheBritishIsles,youngEuropeansspeakandunderstandEnglishmuchbetterthantheiroldercounterparts.Thisdifferencecancreatetension,particularlywhenthesepeoplecomefromcountrieswherehierarchyisimportant(suchasFrance,Italy,andSpain).Insomecases,goodcasesmayberejectedbecauseseniordecision-makersdonotunderstandthemandmaynotwanttoacknowledgetheirlackofunderstandinginfrontoftheiryoungercolleagues.BoththeU.S.AandCanadawerebuiltontheassumptionthatland,energyandresources(suchaswater,minerals,wood,etc.)arealwaysavailable.Ifthereisnotenoughavailablewhereyouare,gosomewhereelse(west,inmostcases)andyouwillfindit.InNorthAmerica,energy,landandresourcesareconsideredavailableinvirtuallyunlimitedsupply;theonlycommoditythatiscontinuouslyinshortsupplyistime.Bycontrast,space,energyandresourcesareallinvisiblylimitedsupplyinEurope.TheneedtoconservethemisalwayspresentinEuropeanminds,particularlythosewhohaveexperiencedthedamagesofWorldWarII.ThisresultsinverysignificantbusinesspracticedifferencesbetweentheEuropeanUnionandNorthAmerica:thesizeofcarsandequipment(fromrefrigeratorstoofficeequipment),theuseoflighting,theuseandwhitenessofpaper(NorthAmericandocumentsareoftensingle-sidedandcontainmuchblankspace,forexample)aredailyexamplesofthisdifferenceinapproach.Similarly,NorthAmericanbusinessestendtopreferbuildingnew,flatbuildingsonlargepiecesoflandratherthanrevampexistingbuildings.OnecommonoversimplificationmadebypeopleonbothsidesoftheAtlanticOceanconsistsinviewingtheothersideasrelativelyhomogeneousfromaculturalstandpoint.Forexample,withthenotableexceptionofQuebec,manyEuropeanstendtoviewNorthAmericaasacontinuum,withlittledifferencefromonelocationtoanother.Similarly,manyNorthAmericanstendtothinkofEuropeastheBritishIslesandtherestofthecontinent.Europeitselfisverydiverse,andtheUKisculturallycloserinmanyrespectstotheU.S.A.andtoEnglishCanadathantoItalyorFrance.Similarly,therearemajorregionaldifferenceswithinNorthAmerica:EnglishCanadiansandAmericansholdverydifferentvaluesonmanysocialissues(includingguns,healthcare,andeducation).WithintheU.S.A.,therearesignificantdifferencesbetweentheNortheasternStates,theSouth,theMidwest,andtheSouthwest.CulturaldifferencesbetweenNorthAmericaandtheEuropeanUnioncanbequitesignificantandneedtobetakenintoconsiderationwhendoingbusinesswithpeopleontheothersideoftheAtlanticOcean.ItisalsoimportanttokeepinmindthatneitherNorthAmericanortheEuropeanUnionisculturallyuniformentities:therearesignificantvariationswithineachtradingbloc,and