Everywhere we look, we see advertisements that urge us to buy. Most people only buy
Shopaholics often spend hours and hours
There are several reasons for shopping addiction. For some people, it is a way of relieving stress. For
Exploring the Appeal of Vintage
Today, the term “vintage” applies to almost everything. Vintage is more recent than an antique (古董) which is defined as 100 years old or more. It basically means reviving something old-fashioned or filled with memories. For an object to be considered vintage, it must be unique and genuine enough to retain at least some of its original charm.
We buy vintage because it creates a sense of personal connection for us: it speaks to our childhood memories and that feels good. We also buy vintage because we’re rebels. Vintage is a protest against modern mainstream culture. In an age of technology, buying vintage is a refuge from our fast-paced, high-tech world. We want our children to make the most of their creativity and know how to entertain themselves without electronic gadgets. Ironically, early video games are now considered vintage.
Of all the vintage objects, vintage toys are forever attractive for both adults and children. Although some toys have emotional value, others have high market value and are expensive to collect. Vintage toys that were made in small quantities often bring a higher value than those that were mass produced. That means, if you own one of the 2,000 “Peanuts” royal blue beanie baby elephants that were manufactured with a darker blue coat than originally intended, you might have something valuable on your hands. In fact, due to a manufacturer error, this is the most collectible beanie baby around — and worth about £3,000.
If you’re motivated and feeling lucky, you can find deals on vintage toys by browsing charity shops, secondhand stores, community centers, flea markets and garage sales. You never know what kind of treasures are hiding at the bottom of a mixed box in someone’s basement, garage or attic.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________1. What are the two speakers talking about?
A.Buying holiday presents. | B.Making a Christmas plan. | C.Sharing opinions on friendship. |
A.Fruit. | B.Coffee. | C.Chocolate. |
A.She prefers fruit to coffee. |
B.She is trying to lose weight. |
C.She usually goes abroad during holidays. |
A.Doubtful. | B.Satisfied. | C.Surprised. |
1. What did the man buy?
A.Shoes. | B.Ties. | C.Pants. |
A.Rude. | B.Annoying. | C.Helpful. |
1. How does Andrew find self-service supermarkets?
A.Unsafe. | B.Convenient. | C.Time-consuming. |
A.The poor products. | B.The rude salesperson. | C.The troublesome process. |
A.In a supermarket. | B.In a self-service store. | C.In a convenience store. |
6 . A growing number of under-35s in England are discovering the joys of going to or selling at craft (手艺) fairs and makers’ markets. A 2019 report found that 34% of those who buy hand-made items prefer markets and festival s to galleries or online purchases. The current craft revival (复苏) started through TV and the internet, but now it’s also about face-to-face sales and experiences. When product designer Ben Watson went to his first-ever craft fair in October, he didn’t have great expectations. “I thought there would be retirement-age couples hanging around but found the huge variety of attendees, most of whom engaged with makers throughout the day,” he says.
Nicky Dewar, director at the Crafts Council, says that what we consider as craft has widened, which has brought in an increase in shoppers under 35 buying craft. They also prefer to buy in markets rather than online. There’s something lovely about seeing markets pop up in so many different spaces. They’re important for emerging businesses and a big step for traders.
Sinead Koehler, founder of Crafty Fox Market, says there’s been an explosion of specialist markets all over the country. The festive market provides a platform to showcase unique handcrafted gifts and decorations. The common spread of markets doesn’t find universal approval, though. Koehler says that many craftspeople are aware of markets: “There can be a wide range of possibilities at these events. Quality can vary.”
Involved in selling and running markets since 2015, Sinead O’Connor confirms there has been an increased interest in craft, but she warns traders against selling items that are sourced rather than made by the seller at markets. “I find it encouraging that a lot of customers mentioned they liked my crafts. The feeling I get is that people really like something that can’t be bought from Amazon,” she says.
1. What did the 2019 report find about one-third of craft buyers?A.They turn online for a good deal. | B.They use sources from television. |
C.They favor face-to-face purchases. | D.They show less interest in crafts. |
A.People don’t have a correct understanding of craft. |
B.The qualities of the items in the markets differ a lot. |
C.There’s a lack of well qualified crafts in the markets. |
D.The online craft businesses are a threat to galleries. |
A.Many consumers appreciate her items. | B.She’s careful about the items sold. |
C.She enjoy s a boom in business. | D.Her customers are critical. |
A.Online Purchase Becomes Outdated | B.Buyers Create Interest in Making Craft |
C.Shopping in Stores Is Making a Return | D.The Magic of Hand-Made Craft Is Back |
1. What are the speakers talking about?
A.Shopping habits. | B.The latest fashion. | C.A healthy lifestyle. |
A.Shoes. | B.Clothes. | C.Books. |
A.Some books. | B.A skirt. | C.A pair of shoes. |
9 . Buying clothes for special events, hiding the price tickets and returning them to the store the next day has for years been the method of money-saving shoppers. Today people are doing it just for social media.
A survey conducted by the credit card company Barclaycard showed that nearly one in ten UK shoppers admits to buying clothing only to post photos on social media for likes. After the “outfit (装束) of the day” (OOTD) makes it online, they return it back to the store. According to Barclaycard, the “try before you buy” policy of online retailers (零售商) — where people pay for clothing they order online after they try it on at home — could be leading to this rising trend.
But the rise of social media means that everyone, not just superstars, expects to build and maintain a personal brand. Since we’re recording our lives and posting them online for public judgement, getting caught in the same outfits more than once should be avoided. And the cost of all those outfits of the day adds up, which makes returning a popular way.
There are brands that make clothes specially for social media shoppers, like Fashion Nova. “These are clothes made for social media: meant to be worn once, photographed and abandoned,” Allison P. Davis wrote in her report about the brand. Another favourite of the social media age is Rent the Runway, which lets customers rent designer clothing for a fee.
Some, however, are moving in the opposite direction. Groups promoting “work uniforms” have increased greatly in recent years, aiming to free women from “the trouble of clothing decisions”. The concept of the “capsule wardrobe (胶囊衣橱)”, which calls for purchasing a small number of high-quality pieces instead of lots of trendy throwaway clothes, is also making a comeback.
1. What does the survey by Barclaycard suggest?A.Britons follow the fashion stars closely. |
B.Some Britons over-order and return clothes. |
C.Britons try on clothes before online purchases. |
D.Some Britons send outfits back after taking pictures. |
A.Renting top designers’ clothes. |
B.Offering customers single-use clothes. |
C.Creating unique shopping experiences. |
D.Helping shoppers improve their clothing style. |
A.Better fewer, but better. | B.Less addition, but more enjoyment. |
C.Less uniform, and more freedom. | D.More choices, and less trouble. |
A.To compare different wearing trends. |
B.To introduce Britain’s new wearing trend. |
C.To support buying high-quality clothes. |
D.To criticize the “try before you buy” policy. |
A.It offers the latest style. |
B.Orders always arrive quickly. |
C.The discounts are excellent. |