Businesswomen have started to learn foreign languages and artificial intelligence technology at the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, East China’s Zhejiang province.

Data show that the average daily visit of foreigners to the market has reached about 3,500 this year. “Foreign buyers are more interested in sellers who can speak their native language because it is easier to make a deal. Speaking the same language helps to build trust and connection, which can turn into friendship,” said Fu Jiangyan, a 42-year-old businesswoman in Yiwu. Fu’s shop is one of the 75,000 outlets at the Yiwu International Trade Market, which supplies nearly 2.1 million varieties of goods to the world, including about two-thirds of the world’s Christmas decorations.

In the first four months of this year, Yiwu’s import and export value exceeded (超过) 201 billion yuan ($27.71 billion), up 22 percent year-on-year. Africa, Latin America and the ASEAN countries are Yiwu’s major trading partners, and Yiwu’s foreign trade with India and Saudi Arabia is also growing rapidly.

Currently, cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence are opening up even more possibilities for business people such as Fu Jiangyan. Thanks to an AI intelligent innovation service platform launched last year, a recorded Chinese video can be automatically converted into 36 languages, and the output can be adjusted to the shape of the mouth based on the pronunciation.

At present, more than 10,000 merchants in Yiwu are using AI to conduct business. Fu Jiangyan and seven other English-speaking Yiwu owners even promoted their products to global audiences via a big screen in the Times Square in New York last month. Fu Jiangyan also mastered skills such as short-video editing and sold out a type of socks with the help of an English-language video within seconds.

With the aid of foreign languages and new technologies, businesswomen in Yiwu can use various digital tools to contact customers, offer prices, receive orders and do business with global customers.

1.Businesswomen in Yiwu learn foreign languages mainly to __________.

A purchase from abroad

B boost their businesses

C find new sources of profits

D build friendships with customers

解析：选B。B推理判断题。根据第二段中的“Foreign buyers are more interested in sellers who can speak their native language because it is easier to make a deal.”可知，外国买家对能说自己国家语言的人更有兴趣，因为（语言顺畅）更容易谈成生意。因此义乌老板娘们学习外语是为了提升她们的生意。故选B。

2.What do the statistics in Paragraph Three show?

A Yiwu’s rise in national market.

B Technological progress in Yiwu.

C People’s increasing love for Yiwu.

D The rapid development of Yiwu.

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据第三段数据“201 billion yuan”“up 22 percent year-on-year”可知，义乌今年前四个月进出口总额非常高，同比增长率也很高，由此可推知，义乌发展相当迅速。故选D。

3.The author explains the importance of AI to merchants in Yiwu by ___________.

A presenting research findings

B setting down general rules

C making comparisons

D listing some examples

解析：选D。D推理判断题。根据第四段和第五段内容可知，作者通过举例（去年上线的AI智能创新服务平台、傅江燕和其他7位会说英语的义乌老板通过纽约时代广场的大屏幕向全球观众推销自己的产品）来说明，义乌商家利用AI助力贸易。故选D。

4.What is the author’s opinion on foreign languages and new technologies?

A They help merchants avoid problems.

B They are helpful only in a limited way.

C They’re helpful in expanding the global market.

D They increase people’s desire to buy goods.

解析：选C。C推理判断题。根据最后一段中的“businesswomen in Yiwu can use various digital tools to contact customers, offer prices, receive orders and do business with global customers”可知，借助外语和新技术，现在的义乌老板娘会用各种数字化工具与全球客户联系、报价、接单、做外贸，因此这有助于拓展国际市场。故选C。