四级阅读单选题讲解:因果条件题

Passage 1

The rise of multinational corporations ，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 U. leadership in public relations is being threatened by PR efforts in other countries. Ten years ago,for example, the worlds top five public relations agencies were American-owned. 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 pf their corporate ,planning activities，compared to about one-third of U. S. companies. It may not be long,before London replaces New York as the capital of PR.

Why is America lagging behind in the global PR rap Q?

First,Americans as a whole tend to be fairly provincial and take more of an 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 in knowing a second language. Less than 5 percent of Burton Marshalls U.S. employees know two languages. Ogilvy and Mather has about the same percentage. Conversely, some European firms have half or more of their employees fluent in a second language, Finally, people involved in PR abroad tend to keep a closer eye on international affairs. In the financial PR 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,publications not often read in this country.