1 . 听下面一段较长对话，回答以下小题。
1. What is in the woman’s land?

A．Oil.

B．Gold.

C．Gas.

2. How much will the woman receive for the first five months?

A．$1,000 per day.

B．$1,100 per day.

C．$1,200 per day.

3. What are the speakers doing?

A．Buying something.

B．Talking about the land.

C．Signing a contract.

2 . 听下面一段独白，回答以下小题。
1. What is the speaker probably doing?

A．Introducing a family.

B．Making a speech.

C．Giving a lesson.

2. How long was the company in business?

A．About a century.

B．About half a century.

C．About a quarter of a century.

3. Why did the company nearly go out of business?

A．They paid for the fire loss.

B．They spent too much building the new factory.

C．They paid the employees regularly while rebuilding.

3 . 阅读下面短文，在空白处填入1个适当的单词或括号内单词的正确形式。

Yiwu’s market bounces back after three difficult years

Orders from all over the world     1     (flood) into Yiwu factories since earlier this month, a snapshot of global trade in the post-pandemic era     2     indicates a strong recovery for foreign trade in Zhejiang province in early 2023.

Statistics show that on Feb 2, 75,000 merchants     3     (participate) in the opening ceremony at Yiwu International Trade City — the world’s largest     4     (distribute) center for small commodities — placing orders on-site after almost three years of being unable to do so     5     person since the COVID-19 epidemic began.

Lu Qingrong, manager of the Jingrong Toy Company, said that orders have already been scheduled for May and June,     6     that this year’s sales are expected to be 30 percent     7     (high) than the previous two years.

For the past three years, Yiwu’s manufacturing companies     8     (devote) more energy to innovation and quality as they have upgraded, in a bid to underpin steady and accelerated growth.

Lu added that Jingrong will focus on strengthening innovation and research     9     (satisfy) increasing demands and plans to launch at least 10 new products every week.

In addition, the company is currently adding more production lines, which will raise     10     (efficient) and is expected to increase production by 50 percent.

4 . The concept of dynamic pricing is simple—and easy for businesses to implement. Whether it’ s a Friday-evening fight, a hotel during the holidays, or a taxi ride in a downpour, we have all been burned by higher-than-normal prices due to excess demand. Raising costs when businesses are busiest is the norm across the travel industry. Perhaps the most well-known example of this is within ride-share companies, which have used surge pricing for years to charge riders when demand for cars rockets relative to the number of drivers available.

Outside travel, online stores are increasingly using this dynamic pricing, too, says Vomberg. “On Amazon. com alone, millions of price changes occur within a day, corresponding to a price change of about every ten minutes for each product. ”While consumers might not always pick up on these variations in price, Vomberg says time-based dynamic pricing will likely become a competitive standard at least in online markets. “AI-enabled tools can suggest the best prices via machine learning algorithms(算法). They can also track and learn competitor and customer responses to price changes,” he says.

Now, surge pricing is happening in stores including bars and supermarkets as well. “Physical businesses are adopting electronic shelf labels that enable real time price adjustment depending on the time of day, stock levels and whether items are approaching their sell-by date,” says Sarwar Khawaja, chairman of the Oxford Education Group. He says this technology is likely to cause prices in bars that use these signs to increase during the rushes of dinner,weekends or holidays,or for supermarkets to adjust prices throughout the day or week,depending on volume of shoppers.

The current economic climate is also driving the need for these pricing technologies. While creating competitive prices is always key to healthy profit margins, Khawaia says dynamic pricing enables businesses to optimise their pricing depending on the financial situations of their customer base. “Businesses can offer discounts during downturns while increasing prices in better off areas,” he says.

The changes, however, may not sit well with consumers. “Dynamic and surge pricing will likely expand to more industries and more companies in the long term, but just because a product may be popular does not mean that customers are willing to turn a blind eye to being charged more,” says Khawaja. He adds surge pricing can cause customers to lose faith in a company if they believe they are being overcharged. “Perhaps dynamic pricing of a drink in your favourite pub might be a step too far for loyal customers.”

1. Which of the following best explains “dynamic pricing” in paragraph 1?

A．A system of deciding what the prices should be.

B．A means for companies to find target customers.

C．A method that helps promote sharing economy

D．A strategy of offering discounts to attract clients.

2. It can be inferred from Arnd Vomberg’s comments that online stores ________.

A．offer the most competitive prices

B．make profits by changing prices in real time

C．confuse customers by changing prices

D．rely too much on machine learning algorithms

3. According to the passage, why do physical businesses adopt dynamic pricing?

A．To match supply and demand during peak hours.

B．To lift customer experience and encourage loyalty.

C．To maintain consistent pricing across all products.

D．To compete with online stores and businesses.

4. Which of the following best predicts how customers may react to the expansion of dynamic pricing?

A．Turn to whatever offers the lowest prices.

B．Protest against it for being too annoying.

C．Refuse to give in and are likely to resist.

D．Take it for granted and accept it altogether.

5 . If you have a car, you most likely have been feeling pain at the pump. At the time of writing, a gallon of gas in Lafayette County costs $3.94, with the national average even higher at $4.24. These are the most expensive gas prices in history. The White House has regarded this rise in prices as “Putin’s Price Hike”, but how much is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine really to blame?

The White House’s claim could be believable if gas prices had not already been way above normal before Russian soldiers ever set foot in Ukraine. In fact, Biden told the Federal Trade Commission to investigate high gas prices back in November 2021, long before the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

For many Americans, gas prices are the limiting factor in how much food is on the dinner table, because nearly all goods need gas to be transported. Egg prices are up 13.1%, pork has risen 14.1% and chicken rose 10.3% over the past year. In February, as a result of the climbing gas prices and other factors, such as the supply chain crisis, the Consumer Price Index, which tracks average inflation (通胀), rose another 0.8%, which can have terrible impacts for low-income families. This was a trend before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and blaming it on Putin is shying away from the real problem of 40-year high inflation.

While Americans are struggling to pay for things that just a few years ago would be affordable, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg had a tone-deaf solution. If you cannot afford gas, just get an electric vehicle. Easy, right? An electric car costs tens of thousands of dollars, and when people cannot even afford a tank of gas, they will surely not be able to afford a brand new car.

President Biden has said he “can’t do much” about high gas prices and inflation, but that is not true. We do not need to rely on Russian oil to keep prices low. The answer is for President Biden to increase United States oil production to offset any lost oil imports from Russia.

1. What can we learn about the gas prices?

A．They remained normal before the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

B．They rose mainly because Russia decided to export less oil.

C．They climbed to the highest in history for uncertain reasons.

D．They went up suddenly because of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

2. What does the author think of Pete Buttigieg’s suggestion?

A．Reasonable.

B．Senseless.

C．Practical.

D．Funny.

3. Which can replace the underlined word “offset” in the last paragraph?

A．Give rise to.	B．Launch an attack on.
C．Get rid of.	D．Make up for.

4. Which serves as the best title for the passage?

A．Gas prices are Biden’s fault, not Putin’s

B．High gas prices hit Americans really hard

C．The truth behind an abnormal phenomenon

D．Time to take measures to keep gas prices down

6 . Have you noticed how the price of online purchases can increase at checkout? This is due to a strategy called “drip pricing,” coined by American economist Richard Thaler in 1971. Drip pricing is a strategy where businesses gradually add extra charges to a customer’s bill, making the initially advertised price rise.

This strategy takes advantage of customers’ tendency to commit to a purchase when they see a low original price. As extra fees are added, customers often continue with the purchase despite the increased cost due to their emotional investment. Businesses, from e-commerce stores to airlines, use this technique to significantly boost their profits. The initial price of a product or service can sharply increase with the addition of various costs. For example, a flight ticket can considerably increase due to the inclusion of extra costs such as baggage fees, seating options, and access to express lanes.

However, current laws seem inadequate in the face of these practices, resulting in calls for new regulations and clearer retailer responsibilities. Dr. Jane Doe from the Consumer Behavior Research Group at the University of Cambridge found that customers’ knowledge plays an effective role. “Our study shows that when customers are informed about drip pricing techniques, they are less likely to fall for them, ultimately leading to more cost-effective purchases,” Dr. Doe said.

The success of drip pricing depends on customers not knowing or accepting these extra costs. An interesting suggestion to fight these practices could be the start of an annual event to highlight and criticize the worst examples of drip pricing. Possible award categories might include The Biggest Drip, Most Uselessly Named Charge, and the Droplet Award for multiple extra pricing add-ons. Such an event could strengthen customers and promote openness in pricing, thereby challenging the success of drip pricing.

As we progress into the era of digital commerce, the need for transparency and fairness in pricing is becoming increasingly important. Consumer advocates argue that the key to fighting drip pricing lies not only in stricter laws and regulations from the government but also in equipping consumers with the necessary knowledge and tools.

1. What does the term “drip pricing” refer to?

A．An outdated approach applied in e-commerce pricing.

B．An in-depth study on the continual rise of business prices.

C．A pricing strategy involving added costs to the initial price.

D．A cost reduction technique commonly employed in airlines.

2. What drives customers to proceed with a purchase even as costs increase?

A．Fear of losing previous orders.	B．Restrictions from acts and laws
C．Emotional commitment to the product.	D．Unawareness of the additional charges.

3. According to Dr. Jane Doe, how to protect consumers from drip pricing?

A．By enforcing clear new laws	B．By providing consumer education.
C．By promoting cost-effective shopping.	D．By organizing challenging annual events

4. What can be inferred from paragraphs 4 and 5?

A．Annual events will award successful drip pricing.

B．Ignoring drip pricing is an effective way to resist it.

C．Consumer advocates need support from the media.

D．Consumers and authorities should make joint efforts.

7 . Men aren’t typically known for their shopping power. As the “She economy” became a buzz phrase in business magazines, the ever-expanding Chinese female middle class has been eagerly pursued by consumer brands from cosmetics to electronics. For some companies, that means there is a huge missed opportunity in the male market, especially given the fast-rising living standards across the most populous country on the earth and a male population that’s increasingly longing for a better quality of life.

Those instincts appear to be largely on point, according to the latest report on male consumption trends conducted by Suning Institute of Finance. The author of the report, the institute’s Senior Researcher Fu Yifu, concluded the male-oriented (男性导向的) market in China has great potential after observing three specific shopping habits of Chinese men in recent years: widened category, improved awareness and increased online consumption.

These trends are particularly noticeable in the country’s tech-adapted Millennial and Gen-Z populations, who have warmly embraced some special-interest consumer culture in other parts of the world through the Internet, such as the sneakerhead subculture, as a way to express their individuality. More importantly, many are willing to spend a fortune on it.

Also, nowadays, many Chinese men are definitely looking to lead more refined lives. The desire for “refined lives” has been channeled strongly through the pursuance of a more polished look-lighter skin, longer eyelashes and bigger eyes. These features are widely considered to be desirable traits for modern Chinese men.

JACB, which stands for “just a cool brand”, is one of the Chinese start-ups looking to capitalize on men’s increasing desire for a finer appearance. While most male cosmetic products today still focus on fixing skin problems such as acne (粉刺), JACB is pioneering the “men makeup” category with products such as BB cream for men. And the company mainly targets men in their 20s and early 30s, as they are more accepting of the new trends.

“The individual’s awakening in consumption has helped drive the men-oriented market to new heights that we are seeing today,” Fu said. “Chinese men have learned to buy skincare products, expensive suits, watches and luxury cars as a way to show their personal abilities.”

1. What may have given chance to the male market?

A．Men desire to have a better quality of life.	B．Men spend more time on consumption.
C．Men expect to raise their living standards.	D．Men pursue some consumer brands.

2. What might be the characteristic of the Gen-Z populations?

A．They are addicted to the Internet.	B．They are eager to spend a fortune.
C．They are reluctant to express themselves.	D．They are keen on some consumer culture.

3. What does the underlined word “refined” in Paragraph 4 probably mean?

A．Educated.

B．Precise.

C．Elegant.

D．Polite.

4. What does the passage mainly talk about?

A．The awakening of individual consumption.	B．The rise of male-oriented economy.
C．The potential of special-interest culture.	D．The desire for a finer appearance.

8 . With coffee beans in short supply worldwide and Chinese consumers expanding their coffee habit, Yunnan province beans have increasingly appeared in major coffee chains in China.

Yunnan, the largest coffee planting area in China, is blessed with high altitudes and suitable climate for planting high-quality coffee beans. The province is the source of more than 99% of domestically (国内地) produced coffee.

Last year, Brazil, the world’s largest coffee producing country, experienced extreme weather, including drought and frost, which caused a decrease in output of nearly 20%. The epidemic (疫情) is another reason for the price increase. The COVID-19 pandemic has hampered the timely transportation of coffee beans to overseas markets.

With coffee from international markets in short supply, Yunnan has drawn attention of coffee chains in China.

Ye Peng, a coffee farmer in Pu’er, Yunnan, for more than a decade, said she has seen the prices of orders double from last year. With advanced planting technologies and higher quality local coffee beans, her company ships its product to famous coffee chains such as Starbucks and Manner Coffee.

Baoshan Chunzheng Coffee Company is a major coffee provider in Yunnan. It provides coffee beans to Yum China, which operates fast food chains KFC and Pizza Hut (必胜客) in the country.

With promising markets at home and abroad, there are more and more coffee farmers and coffee factories in Yunnan.

1. Why is Yunnan province suitable to grow coffee beans?

A．It is with high altitudes and proper climate.

B．It is a spring city with no summer or winter.

C．People in Yunnan are fond of drinking coffee.

D．Local government encourages people to grow them.

2. What is Paragraph 3 mainly about?

A．Foreign coffee markets.	B．The weather and transportation.
C．The COVID-19 pandemic.	D．Reasons for increased prices.

3. What does the underlined word “hamper” in Paragraph 3 mean?

A．Speed up

B．Slow down.

C．Update.

D．Change.

4. What can we learn from the passage?

A．The prices of coffee are decreasing for many reasons.

B．Brail is no longer the biggest coffee producing country.

C．Most of the Yunnan coffee beans are transported abroad.

D．Many people in Yunnan are willing to enter the coffee markets.

9 . What caused the company sales to increase?

A．The online marketing campaign.

B．The extra salespeople.

C．The discount prices.

10 . Hotels are introducing programs aimed at healing the body and mind to appeal to health-conscious guests and those looking to boost their energy levels.

Typically a lifestyle observed by middle-aged or older people, yangsheng has gained popularity among younger Chinese in recent years. Yangsheng, or nurturing life, is a core component of traditional Chinese medicine that places essential emphasis on the prevention of illness and fostering health and well-being.

Growing stress from life and work is one of the reasons why people are seeking more ways to rejuvenate themselves. In an online survey polling 1,000 participants conducted by Shanghai-based consultancy CBNData in June 2021, 59 percent said they had experienced work-induced pressure and anxiety in the past year. Fifty percent of 962 respondents said they would participate in healing activities, such as massage and yoga, to relieve stress.

The increased interest in wellness is driving changes in the hotel industry. “Changes in society and the COVID-19 pandemic have greatly changed people’s attitudes toward health,” Tang Min, general manager of the Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain hotel in Sichuan Province, told Jing Daily, a digital publication that focuses on luxury culture and lifestyles in China. “People are more eager to establish contact with themselves, others and nature. Generally, they hope that when their trip is over, they can live better than before,” she said.

For the hotel industry as a whole, she said the era of hotels only providing beds and meals is becoming a thing of the past. “Hotels today are more focused on the guest experience,” she said, adding that staying in a wellness hotel is a healthy experience that allows people to relax physically and mentally, change themselves and become a positive influence to people around them.

Looking into the future, Tang Min told Jing Daily that the concept of sustainable development will be a major trend in the wellness hotel industry. Sustainability(可持续性) in personal health and that in the natural world are expected to complement and exert a positive influence on each other, she noted.

1. What can we know about yangsheng according to paragraph 2?

A．It plays a vital role in curing diseases.

B．It is only appropriate for people over forty.

C．It appeals to the younger generation nowadays.

D．It is a minor element of traditional Chinese medicine.

2. What does the underlined word “ rejuvenate” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Reward.

B．Reflect.

C．Recognize.

D．Refresh.

3. What can we infer from Tang Min’s words?

A．The wellness hotels highlight guests’ health and well-being.

B．People are unwilling to interact with others after the pandemic.

C．Hotels today focus on providing superior accommodations.

D．Sustainability in personal health contradicts that in the natural world.

4. Which of the following is a suitable title for the text?

A．Casual Lifestyle Among Chinese Youth

B．Bringing Sustainable Trend to Wellness Industry

C．Escaping from Stress Boosts a Growing Market

D．When Tradition Chinese Medicine Meets Yangsheng