1 . Shoppers in the United States have many different retail stores (零售店) to choose from. You can shop at large department stores, furniture stores, jewelry stores, electronic equipment stores and many others. Another type of retail store—the catalog store, has become popular in the U.S.

Catalog stores offer much of the same goods as traditional retail stores. However, in these stores, shoppers select the items they wish to buy from large catalogs that are filled with photos and descriptions of all the different goods. The variety of products listed in the catalogs includes everything from baby clothing to video equipment and watches. The prices of these items are very low. In fact, the same items often cost more in other retail stores. And that’s the reason many people prefer to shop in catalog stores.

When shoppers go to a catalog store, they see many brand-name products on display. If they are interested in purchasing an item, they need to follow this simple procedure.

●First, they go to a counter to find the store’s catalog.

●They look in the catalog to find the exact item they wish to buy.

●Then, they fill out an order form with the name of the item, the item number from the catalog, the price, and their name and address.

●After completing the form, the customer gives it to a salesperson, who checks to see if the item is in stock.

If the item is available, the stockroom sends it on a conveyor belt (输送带) to the pick-up   counter. When the item arrives at the pick-up counter, the customer’s name is called, and the customer pays for the item.

The whole procedure usually takes ten to twenty minutes. If the item isn’t available, the salesperson can usually check the store’s computer and find out when it will be in stock again.

Catalog stores usually don’t offer all the services that regular retail stores do. They usually don’t have many salespeople, so customers can’t expect to receive much assistance or attention from store employees. Customers need to know about the features and the quality of the items they wish to buy before they shop, since there isn’t much opportunity to ask questions or examine the product in the store. However, catalog stores offer quality items at lower prices, and consumers seem to appreciate this.

1. What is the difference between the traditional retail stores and the catalog stores?

A．The prices of products in catalog stores are higher.

B．Shoppers select the items they need from large catalogs.

C．Catalog Stores offer more products than the traditional stores.

D．Catalog stores usually offer all the services that regular retail stores do.

2. Which of the following is the right procedure for a shopper in a catalog store?
①Check the catalog to select the items.
②Fill out the order form.
③Wait at the pick-up counter.
④Find a catalog at a counter.
⑤Find a salesperson to cheek the form.

A．④-①-③-⑤-②	B．①-④-②-③-⑤
C．④-①-②-⑤-③	D．④-②-⑤-③-①

3. From the text we know that shopper of catalog stores______.

A．become salespeople now

B．do the same as in retail stores

C．have more chances to examine the goods

D．should know the information of the goods ahead

4. Catalog stores are popular mainly because they________

A．offer quality goods at lower prices

B．have many salespersons for service

C．can help save much time when doing shopping

D．offer the exact items the customer wishes to purchase