1. How much should the man pay in total?
A.£120. | B.£125. | C.£130. |
A.Wrap his gift up. | B.Give him a discount. | C.Arrange a tailoring service. |
A.Who will shorten them. | B.When he can collect them. | C.Whether he can return them. |
A.It’s necessary for work. | B.It’s her favorite style. | C.It’s very cheap. |
1. Whom does the woman choose jewelry for?
A.Herself. | B.Her mother. | C.Her friend. |
A.A ring of size 6 and a long necklace. |
B.A ring of size 7 and a long necklace. |
C.A ring of size 7 and a short necklace. |
A.Its price depends on its quality. |
B.It’s cheaper than the ring. |
C.The longer one is more expensive than the shorter one |
4 . Christmas is long gone and Valentine’s Day is a distant memory. That means it’s a slow time for jewelers, and a good time for you to make a purchase. Whether you’re out shopping for gold, or silver, here are a few things you need to know:
What determines price?
The purity of the metal is one of the elements that determines the price. Gold purity is indicated with a stamp of 10K, 14K, 18K, or 24K. And different countries have their own standards. For example, for a piece to be considered gold in the US, it must be at least 10K. In Britain and Canada: 9K. In Italy and France: l8K. Anything over l8K is really too soft for everyday wear. That’s why jewelry stores in the US sell mostly 14K.
How much can you expect to pay?
That depends on the weight of the metal and the gemstone(宝石). So keep that in mind, especially when buying online. To keep yourself from getting ripped off, ask yourself the following:
●How long has the company been around?
●What is its return policy?
● Is the jewelry featured on the website visible from all directions?
● Is the company transparent with the gram weights and the size of the gemstones?
Yellow gold? White? Rose?
Yes, it’s confusing, and while this is largely a personal decision, there are a few things to keep in mind. For starters. white or rose gold costs about l 0% more than yellow gold. If you want the “look for less”, consider gold plated jewelry. “Gold plated” and “gold overlay” mean the same thing and guarantee a thicker layer of finish than “vermeil” which is a flash finish that is thinner and less consistent, but more affordable. Buy vermeil finished pieces you want for a season or two just to follow the fashion. For pieces you want to wear for a lifetime, solid gold is best.
What about sterling silver(标准纯银)?
Sterling silver has been an alternative for white gold during the difficult economy, and while it used to be more popular with just the younger these days it has much more mass appeal. So much so that retailers are now offering fine gemstones with silver-something you used to see only with gold.
Keep in mind that in the US. the sterling silver standard is 92.5% real silver. Don’t buy it if there isn’t a “925” stamp on it. And keep in mind that the lower price you’re paying for silver means more maintenance. To keep silver jewelry from becoming less shiny, consider keeping a piece of chalk in your jewelry box.
1. According to the passage, the underlined phrase “getting ripped off” in Paragraph 3 probably means “_______”.A.being charged | B.being affected |
C.being cheated | D.being attracted |
A.A 14K necklace. | B.A gold-plated ring. |
C.A gemstone necklace. | D.A vermeil earring. |
A.in a cold place | B.in a dry place | C.in a wet place | D.in a hot place |
A.encourage young people to buy fashionable jewelry |
B.tell people the best time to purchase gold and silver |
C.introduce the real value and popularity of gold and silver |
D.inform people of the factors to consider in buying jewelry |
5 . “Few articles change owners more frequently than clothes. They travel downwards from grade to grade in the social scale with remarkable regularity,” wrote the journalist Adolphe Smith in 1877 as he traced a coat’s journey in the last century: cleaned, repaired and resold repeatedly; cut down into a smaller item; eventually recycled into new fabric. But with the improvement in people’s living standards, that model is mind-boggling in the era of fast fashion. The average British customer buys four items a month. And it is reported that 350,000 tonnes of used but still wearable clothes go to landfills in the UK each year.
Yet the gradual revival of the second-hand trade has gathered pace in the past few years. At fashion website Asos, sales of vintage clothes (古董衫) have risen by 92%. Clothing was once worn out of necessity, and now it is simply a way of life. Busy families sell used items on eBay, teenagers trade on Depop and some fashion people offer designer labels on Vestiaire Collective. Strikingly, it has become big enough business that mainstream retailers (零售商) want a slice of the action.
For some buyers and sellers, the switch to the second-hand is born of financial difficulties. Only a few have become worried about the impact of their shopping habit on the planet. But the shift is only a partial solution. Some people worry that some mainstream brands may “greenwash” — using second-hand goods to improve their image, rather than engaging more seriously with sustainability.
However, the biggest concern may be that people keep buying because they know they can resell goods, still chasing the pleasure of the next purchase but with an eased conscience (愧疚). Boohoo, a powerful fast fashion company, has seen sales and profits rise, despite concerns about environmental problems in its supply chain that led to an investigation last year.
A new Netflix series, Worn Stories, documents the emotional meanings that clothes can have: Each old item is full of memories. Actually, a handbag from a grandmother and a scarf passed on by a father are both valuable for us. A love of style is not a bad or an unimportant thing. But a committed relationship is better than a quick flash. Can we learn to appreciate our own old clothes as well as others’?
1. What does the word “mind-boggling” underlined in paragraph 1 probably mean?A.Unbelievable. | B.Popular. | C.Reasonable. | D.Influential. |
A.old clothes are more popular than new pieces |
B.the online second-hand markets are booming |
C.the fashion world begins to favor vintage clothes |
D.many clothing brands are innovative in their new products |
A.It makes people feel free to pursue fast fashion. |
B.It makes people more cautious about their budgets. |
C.It encourages people to choose eco-friendly clothes. |
D.It pushes people to be more engaged with sustainability. |
A.Old items have lost favor with the public. |
B.Old items are worthy of being long cherished. |
C.Older generations attach great importance to old items. |
D.Older generations care about the quality of their clothes. |
1. What do we know about the jacket?
A.It was unsuitable for the man. | B.It was large for the man’s son. | C.It was bought at a reduced price. |
A.The jacket. | B.The receipt. | C.The credit card. |
A.Get his money back. | B.Take a credit note. | C.Visit the store again. |
1. What size shoes does the man probably often wear?
A.42. | B.41. | C.40. |
A.Running. | B.Tennis. | C.Hiking. |
A.Teammates. | B.Husband and wife. | C.Salesperson and customer. |
A.Go shopping. | B.Save money. | C.Buy a new house. |
A.A bank clerk. | B.A hotel worker. | C.A restaurant manager. |
1. What does the man think of online shopping?
A.It is quite convenient. |
B.Returning goods is difficult. |
C.The delivery is a bit too slow. |
A.It offers some rare records. |
B.He often buys books and CDs on it. |
C.He can buy things from other users on it. |
A.A golf bag. | B.A coat. | C.A sofa. |
A.How the sofa will be delivered. |
B.When the sofa will arrive. |
C.How much the delivery will cost. |