Delight or deception?
It’s hard to beat the excitement of receiving a present—opening a carefully wrapped box to find something that’s both unexpected and suits you perfectly. Now, imagine if you could get the same feeling when you go shopping for yourself.
Mystery boxes are not a new idea.
So, are mystery boxes a fun way of reducing waste and making shopping more exciting, or more an opportunity for disappointment, or worse-deception (欺骗)?
A.They can also potentially offer great savings. |
B.There is an obvious downside to mystery boxes. |
C.That’s the feeling that mystery boxes hope to provide. |
D.Some mystery boxes even include rare and exclusive items. |
E.The pleasant surprise is not the only attraction of mystery boxes. |
F.The concept of mystery boxes has developed significantly over time. |
G.They were a feature of department stores in Japan in the early 20th century. |
相似题推荐
【推荐1】The Fifth C?
Cut, Color, Carat, Clarity… Chemistry?
Is it possible that the mind of a scientist can create more beauty and romance than Mother Nature? The Ultimate Diamond AlternativeTM, DiamondAurar, was created with one mission in mind: Create brilliant cut jewelry that allows everyone to experience more clarity, more brilliance and larger carat weights than they have ever experienced. So, we’ve taken 2 1/2 carats of our Ultimate Diamond AlternativeTM DiamondAurar and set them in the most classic setting-the result is our of these stones is very high, and the color dispersion (色散) is actually superior to mined diamonds.
Perfection from science. We named our brilliant cut diamond alternative stones DiamondAura because “they dazzle just like natural diamonds but without the outrageous cost.” We will not bore you with the incredible details of the scientific process, but will only say that it involves the use of rare minerals heated to an incredibly high temperature of nearly 5000℉. This can only be accomplished inside some very modern and expensive laboratory equipment. After several additional steps, scientists finally created a clear marvel that looks even better than the vast majority of mined diamonds. According to the book Jewelry and Gems-the buying Guide the technique used in our diamond alternative diamond DiamondAurar offers “The best diamond simulation to date and even some jewelers have mistaken these stones for mined diamonds.”
The 4 C’s. Our 3-Stone Classique Ring retains every jeweler’s specification:color, clarity, cut, and carat weight. The transparent color and clarity of our diamond altermative DiamondAurar imitate the most perfect diamonds--D Flawless, and both are so hard they will cut glass. The brilliant cut maximizes the fire and radiance of the stone so that the light disperses into a delicate rainbow of colors.
Rock solid guarantee. This 925 sterling silver ring is prong-set with a 1% carat round brilliant stone in the center, showcased between two round brilliants stones of 1/2 carat each. Adding to your 4 C’s, we will include our Ultimate Diamond AlternativeTM DiamondAurar stud earrings for FREE! Try the DiamondAurar 3-Stone Classique Ring at $39 for 30 days. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, simply return it to us for a full refund of the item purchase price and keep the stud earrings as our gift.
1. What do we learn from the passage?
A.The DiamondAurar stone has been the best substitute for diamond ever. |
B.To get a full refund, you need to return the sterling silver ring and the stud earrings. |
C.Common people but experts can hardly distinguish the DiamondAurar stone from diamond. |
D.After several steps of process, the DiamondAurar stone is heated at an extremely high temperature. |
A.$299 | B.$260 | C.$138 | D.$398 |
A.shopping on the website www.stauer.com |
B.using the offer code via teleshopping |
C.going to the physical store in Burnsville, Minnesota |
D.paying $99 for the stud earrings first |
1. Who wrote the story about a little boy and a little mouse?
A.Bill Bosworth. | B.Michelle O. Donovan. |
C.Dr. Joseph L. Rose. | D.Gloria Coykendall. |
A.9781462031795 | B.9781412027854 |
C.9780595433582 | D.9781462058679 |
A.Those who are searching for the meaning of life. |
B.Those who are trying to be spiritual leaders. |
C.Those who study the art of writing. |
D.Those who like traveling abroad. |
A.Seeking the Edge. |
B.Creation or Evolution. |
C.Joshua, Helmut, and Bethlehem. |
D.More Things in Heaven. |
The Silver City Council recognizes that citizens have certain needs. To better meet your needs, we have made several changes to community facilities in 2014. The followings show how we have tried to make your life better.
Transport
☆Three stations for the suburbs have been added to the western train service.
☆20 new buses for the southern line were purchased in January.
☆50 per cent of city bus-stops have been upgraded.
Communication
☆Broadband cable is now available to all parts of the city.
☆All of the new Government buildings are smart-wired for better computer service!
Medical Facilities
☆The new state-of-the-art Nightingale Hospital was opened in June.
☆To overcome a shortage of trained medical staff at Dover Hospital, 10 doctors have been employed from overseas.
☆Some facilities at Station Street Hospital have been upgraded.
Education
☆Textbooks will be free to all primary students in 2014 !
☆Rental for private schools has been reduced.
Protection and Security
☆Extra police now patrol (巡逻 ) the tourist areas.
☆50 new police officers graduated in July and have taken up duties in the city area.
Entertainment / Recreation
☆The new Central Community Building opened in May.
☆5,000 new fiction books were bought for the Silver City Library.
1. What is the purpose of the changes in Silver City?
A.To satisfy all the needs of the citizens. |
B.To better the citizens’ life. |
C.To make public service upgraded. |
D.To meet the needs of the Silver City Council . |
A.The work carried out by the people of Silver City. |
B.The facilities available in Silver City. |
C.Some improvements in Silver City. |
D.Information for interested tourists. |
A.Travel books are provided in the new library. |
B.More bus lines and stops are bought in Silver City. |
C.Free medical treatment is available at Station Street Hospital. |
D.There are more police officers on duty now. |
A.the community | B.the local government |
C.the Silver City Library | D.a travel agency |
【推荐1】How do you know if the perfect house you have found is in the perfect neighborhood?When driving by on a sunny Sunday afternoon,you cannot see the true nature of the area.All too often people will fall in love with a house without taking the nearby area into consideration.This can lead to serious problems and cause you to regret the decision to buy.
Before buying a house it is wise to do some research on the area it is located in.Do you know what the crime rate is for the area?How are the schools?What is the average age of your neighbors?Is there a “party house” next door?Does the quiet street turn into a busy shortcut during the rush hour?Is there a known drug house?These things should all be considered before a final decision is made.
Making several visits to the house at various times and on different days can help you know a lot about the area.Sit in front of the house with your windows rolled down and just listen to the activity,take a walk around the block and observe the sights,sounds,and smells.Be sure to go to judge how loud things can get on a weekend evening.
You will also need to find out if the neighborhood is improving or on the decline (下降).Are stores and services closing or have new businesses been opening up?These are things that will affect the resale value of your house.Also check with local governments to discover if any developments are planned for the area.
The best advice is not to let your heart rule your head.Do your homework, and make sure your dream house is in your dream neighborhood.
Theme | Do your homework,and ensure your | |
Problems | ·When driving by on a sunny Sunday afternoon, you cannot see the true nature of the area. ·People don’t | |
Ways to help you buy a desirable house | Researching the area | Before making a final decision, you should consider such factors as whether the crime rate is high, and what the ages on |
·Make a | ||
Finding out if the neighborhood is improving or declining | ·Many things will have an Check whether local governments have plans to |
【推荐2】Consumers in the US spend more money when doing the grocery shopping online, but spend less on sweets and desserts than when they shop in physical stores.
In recent years, online grocery shopping has grown massively. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the amount consumers spend through online shopping has more than doubled in the US.
Laura Zatz at Harvard University and her colleagues have looked at how people’s habits change when they’re spending in-store compared with shopping online. They hired 137 participants, who were regular consumers of two supermarkets in the US state of Maine. Each participant was the key shopper for their household, and they also had experience in shopping both online and in-store.
The researchers studied each participant for a total of 44 weeks and tracked what items they purchased. They collected data from a total of 5,573 transactions (交易), 1,062 of which were made online and 4,511 in-store. “They purchased more items when shopping online, both in terms of overall number of items but also a greater variety of unique items,’ says Zatz. On average, participants spent 44% more per transaction when shopping online than in-store.
The results show that people spent more money on sweets and desserts when shopping in-store, spending on average $ 2. 50 more per transaction. However, there was no difference in spending on sugary drinks.
It seems that in-store shopping attracts shoppers to unhealthier food choices. “When you’re shopping in-store, you’re facing all sorts of stimuli (刺激) that could make you more willing to buy unhealthy food groups when you might not have otherwise planned to,” says Zatz. Unhealthy food choices are often placed in supermarkets at the end of aisles(走道) and at checkouts, where you can easily see, touch or even smell the food.
“The findings could help consumers reflect on how to avoid unhealthy food purchasing choices, especially as complex marketing is coming online,” says Zatz. “Besides offering seemingly appealing discounts, online stores may follow physical stores in many ways. You can never be too careful when shopping online.”
1. According to the text, the participants of the study are ________.A.experienced regular shoppers |
B.unlucky COVID-19 patients |
C.working in large supermarkets |
D.uninterested in online shopping |
A.The time spent on shopping online and in-store. |
B.The amount of the money spent on healthy food. |
C.The consumers’ attitudes towards unhealthy food. |
D.The types of food people buy online and in-store. |
A.They have easier access to checkouts. |
B.They are offered appealing discounts. |
C.They are exposed to sensory stimuli. |
D.They consume energy while shopping. |
A.Ambiguous. | B.Favorable. |
C.Uncaring. | D.Cautious. |
【推荐3】“Freelance retail consultant” refers to daigou in Chinese, or overseas people who buy goods for customers in the Chinese mainland.
It’s estimated that there are 40,000 daigou in Australia, most of whom are young migrants or international students looking for ways to help cover their rent and university cost.
These freelance retail consultants have created thousands of trading routes, both small and big, into China.
Shops in Australia sold out of instant formula (婴儿配方奶粉), leaving many Australian parents unable to buy their preferred brands. The Sydney Morning Herald reported last year that half of Australia’s infant formula sold went to China through customers selling to other customers.
Because of this, daigou have received criticism from Australian media. The Sydney Morning Post even suggested that the Australian government should put a limit on instant formula exports.
However, not everyone dislikes daigou. “We think daigou are good for the local economy and they are very good for our business,” Peter Nathan, the chief executive of A2 Milk, a New Zealand infant formula maker, told Reuters. “We clearly believe they are a positive force.”
Others agree that nothing is wrong with the practice. “People are buying these products legally on the Australian market… they’re not illegally being exported to China,” Tim Foulds, head of research at Euro monitor Australia and New Zealand, told The Washington Post.
1. Why do most daigou in Australia buy goods for Chinese customers?A.To improve living conditions. | B.To satisfy import demand. |
C.To pay their expenses. | D.To get sales experience. |
A.Australian parents criticize daigou. |
B.Consumers prefer milk made in Australia. |
C.Australian government has limited exports. |
D.Different ideas about daigou exist in Australia. |
A.the practice of daigou will balance supply and demand |
B.daigou will probably be welcomed in New Zealand |
C.infant formula will grow in popularity in China |
D.daigou will be a legal job in Australia soon |
A.Supportive. | B.Doubtful. | C.Negative. | D.Objective. |