1 . Market traders and street vendors (摊贩)are making a comeback across China, and this time they find themselves equipped with a new set of digital skills essential to navigating the vast consumer market. To revitalize (复兴)retail stands, in a move aimed at stimulating domestic spending and stabilizing employment, the country's leading e-commerce platforms are lending a helping hand, offering services like accessible financing backed by technologies.
Domestic wholesale site 1688. com is among the first group of tech players with such offerings. At the heart of the action plan is an effort to link street vendors directly with factories, effectively avoiding middlemen and saving time and costs.
According to general manager Wang Hai, numerous small-scale merchants on the site have managed to gain the upper hand in price negotiations, while manufacturers are more willing to mass-produce as the economy of scale serves to reduce costs, thus creating a win-win situation.
“Data analytics also kicks in, giving traders some insight into current consumer trends so that they no longer need to operate their business purely based on intuition (直觉),and they can avoid stockpiling,“ Wang said. For instance, the most sought-after categories in markets are daily necessities ? underwear , digital gadgets and beauty products, according to the company, whereas the most passionate buyers come from Guangdong, Zhejiang and Jiangsu provinces.
Meanwhile, to stabilize employment , e-commerce major JD. com vowed to add a number of job positions that either require flexible working hours, allow working from home or are designed to promote startup businesses. For posts related to delivery, warehouse management and packaging, priority is given to people from poverty-stricken areas.
“The COVID-19 outbreak will accelerate the digital transformation of the real economy, and individual traders and smaller stores are no exception,” said Xu Lei, CEO of JD's retail unit. "We have the capability and, more importantly, the responsibility to inject vitality (活力)into these entities, thus contributing to the economic rebound (回弹)and stabilizing employment.
1. What can we learn about e-commerce platforms like 1688. com?A.They have an advantage in price negotiation. |
B.Their efforts help street vendors cut the cost. |
C.They increase production through technology. |
D.Their services are financed by the government. |
A.By improving traders' business intuition. |
B.By helping traders find out market trends. |
C.By telling traders when to stockpile goods. |
D.By aiding traders in controlling the market. |
A.A person experienced in driving a truck. | B.A person willing to start a new business. |
C.A person from an underdeveloped village. | D.A person preferring flexible working hours. |
A.Culture. | B.World. |
C.Lifestyle. | D.Business. |
2 .
(1) WANTED Are you hard-working?Do you like to meet people?If your answer is “Yes”, then we have a job for you as a waiter. Call AL Hotel at 556779! | (2) SUMMER JOB Do you like to talk with people? Do you like to write stories? If you want to work for our magazine as a reporter, please call Karen at 558366. |
(3) HELP WANTED Do you like babies? Can you look after one baby for two days? If you are sure to take good care of it, call us at 766588. $80 or more.Today! Hurry! | (4)CLEANER WANTED Can you make a large house clean and tidy? If you hope to get the job paid at $20 once, call us this evening. 18:00-20:00 Tel:633800 |
A.TV show | B.newspaper | C.story book | D.radio program |
A.558366 | B.633800 | C.556779 | D.766588 |
A.$240 | B.$200 | C.$160 | D.$120 |
3 . Growing up, your mom probably kept telling you that you should make your bed in the morning. But it’s time to put this little habit to rest. In fact, it could be better for your physical health to leave your bed unmade during the day, experts say.
What allows you to be extra lazy? Dust mites (尘螨). These little creatures live on our dead skin and produce allergens that you could breathe in while you are sleeping. And about 1.5 million dust mites are spending every night with you right now. Thankfully, there’s an easy way to get rid of them: Don’t make your bed in the morning.
Researchers at Kingston University have found that dust mites live well in warm and humid (潮湿的) environments but die in dry conditions, the BBC reports. Making your bed every morning produces a good place for these little creatures, but keeping your bed sheets open kills them off. Sometimes it pays to be a little lazy.
“Something as easy as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove humidity from the bed sheets and mattress. If dust mites won’t be able to get enough water, they’ll finally die,” Dr Stephen Pretlove told the BBC.
Fewer dust mites means fewer health problems, too. However, not all experts agree; according to some, most homes are wet enough for dust mites to live on, no matter what we do. “I find it hard to believe that just not making your bed would have any effect on solving the problem,” Professor Andrew Wardlaw from Britain said.
1. What do experts suggest us doing in Paragraph 1?A.Following our mothers’ advice. | B.Enjoying good physical health. |
C.Keeping away from bad habits. | D.Leaving our bed unmade in the morning. |
A.By keeping our beds dry. | B.By cleaning up our rooms. |
C.By warming up our rooms. | D.By giving dust mites enough water. |
A.Not making the bed can make us lazier. |
B.It’s easy to keep dust mites away from our home. |
C.Dust mites have nothing to do with health problems. |
D.Some experts have different ideas about making the bed. |
A.Sports. | B.Advertisement. |
C.Science. | D.Business. |
4 . Alabama: Priester’s Pecans
Dessert in the South basically starts and ends with an ooey-gooey pecan(核桃) pie. Especially in Alabama, where the pecan is the official state nut. While there are plenty of farms that pick and package pecans, perhaps the most famous is Priester’s, a family-run business that’s been supplying Alabama with its favorite nuts for over seven decades.
Alaska: Salmon jerky
Forget beef jerky(肉干)—in Alaska, it’s all about the salmon jerky. Home to five different species of the flavorful fish (king, red, pink, silver, and chum), the northernmost state produces nearly one-third of the wild salmon consumed around the world. Bonus: Salmon is one of the seven healthiest fish you can eat.
Arizona: Saguaro cactus
The largest cactus(仙人掌) in the United States, the saguaro cactus is found only in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert. Living to be up to 200 years old, the cacti, whose flower is also the state’s flower, are generally around 30 feet tall and can grow unlimited arms. Want to see for yourself? Visit one of these 10 outstanding desert escapes in America.
California: Wine Guide
It isn’t called “Wine Country” for no reason. Northern California, specifically Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, produce over 60,000 registered wine labels, making vino(酒类产品) the state’s most valuable agricultural product. If you’re looking for the most popular varietals(优质酿酒葡萄汁), the top two frequently planted grapes are chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.
1. How long has the Priester’s farm lasted?A.About 7 years. | B.About 30 years. |
C.About 70 years. | D.About 200 years. |
A.Alaska. | B.Arizona. |
C.Alabama. | D.California. |
A.A library guide. | B.A news report. |
C.A project handbook. | D.A travel guide. |
5 . Volunteer Chances for Teens
About Learning Buddies
Learning Buddies is an education program for K-5 students at the Beacon Hill, Columbia, Douglass-Truth, New Holly and West Seattle Library branches (分馆). Teen volunteers and kids read together, learn math and play educational games with support from librarians.
If you are a high school student who enjoys math, reading and helping kids succeed in school, please consider volunteering as a Learning Buddy. You will get service learning experience and earn(获得) community service hours for school.
Learning Buddies teaches kids once a week. Volunteer chances are offered at the following Library branches, October through December and March through May.
●Beacon Hill Branch: Tuesday, 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
●Columbia Branch: Thursday, 4:15p.m. to 5:45 p.m
.●Douglass-Truth Branch: Tuesday, 4:15 p.m.to 5:45 p.m.
●New-Holly Branch: Tuesday, 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
●West Seattle Branch: Tuesday, 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Become a Learning Buddy
High school students must be at least 14 years old and live close to a Library branch that offers the Learning Buddies program.
You can ask for a volunteer application (申请书) and attend an interview at one of the following Library branches at least one month before the fall or spring Learning Buddies series.
● Beacon Hill Branch: call the Teen Services Librarian at 206-684-4711.
●Columbia Branch: call the Teen Services Librarian at 206-386- 1908.
●Douglass-Truth Branch: call Services Librarian at 206-684-4704.
● New-Holly Branch: call the Supervising Librarian at 206-386- 1905.
●West Seattle Branch: call the Teen Services Librarian at 206-684-7444.
1. Which number should you call if you want to volunteer on Thursday?A.206-684-4711. | B.206-386-1908. |
C.206-684-4704. | D.206-386-1905. |
A.be 14 years old or over |
B.do well in all school subjects |
C.live close to the kids being taught |
D.be able to teach kids twice a week |
A.A travel guide. | B.A science report. |
C.An invitation. | D.An advertisement. |
6 . The Healthy Habits Survey (调查) shows that only about one third of American seniors have correct habits. Here are some findings and expert advice.
1.How many times did you brush your teeth yesterday?
·Finding:A full 33% of seniors brush their teeth only once a day.
·Step:Remove the 300 types of bacteria in your mouth each morning with a battery-operated toothbrush. Brush gently for 2 minutes, at least twice a day.
2.How many times did you wash your hands or bathe yesterday?
·Finding:Seniors, on average, bathe fewer than 3 days a week. And nearly 30%wash their hands only 4 times a day-half of the number doctors recommend.
·Step:We touch our faces around 3,000 times a day-often inviting germs (病菌) to enter our mouth, nose, and eyes.Use toilet paper to avoid touching the door handle. And, most important, wash your hands often with hot running water and soap for 20 seconds.
3. How often do you think about fighting germs?
·Finding:Seniors are not fighting germs as well as they should.
·Step:Be aware of germs. Do you know it is not your toilet but your kitchen sponge (海绵) that can carry more germs than anything else? To kill these germs, keep your sponge in the microwave for 10 seconds.
1. What is found out American seniors?A.Most of then have good habits. |
B.Nearly 30%of then bathe three days a week . |
C.All of then are fighting germs better than expected . |
D.About one third of them brush their teeth only once a day |
A.twice a day | B.three times a day |
C.eight times a day | D.four times a day |
A.a guide book | B.a popular magazine |
C.a book review | D.an official document |