1 . Not long ago, “blind box economy” suddenly became popular, winning the heart of large numbers of faithful fans. People simply get interested in it. A couple spent 200 thousand yuan on them. Another sixty-year-old guy spent over 700 thousand yuan in buying blind boxes. Statistics showed that last year 300 thousand hobbyists made deals through a second-hand shopping platform.
The blind boxes usually contain peripheral (附带的) dolls of comics and animation, or film and television, or specially designed ones. A single blind box usually costs about thirty to fifty yuan. But there is no mark on the box, and only after opening it can the buyer see what he has bought. This is rather like buying lottery tickets, for the buyer has to bet on his luck.
However, addiction to blind box is much like that to gambling (赌博). It is highly nontransparent compared with lottery ticket. Nobody knows whether sellers of blind boxes exaggerated (夸大) the winning rate so as to attract people to buy them, thus digging a consumption trap. Besides, it is also unknown whether the objects in the blind boxes are genuine or not. The blind box economy promoted its second-hand trade. The price of some classic dolls or dolls of limited edition have skyrocketed in second-hand trade platforms, and some may reach thirty to forty times. But it is difficult for buyers to judge whether it is the result of real supply and demand, or the consequence of businessmen’s tricks.
The basis of the “blind box economy” is the cultural trend of collection. Many of the target consumers are young people who have scanty experience of life. They are thus attracted by deliberately exaggerated probability of “winning a prize” and constantly throw money to buy blind boxes in order to gain dolls that they desire. Or they may buy at second-hand trade platform high-priced blind box dolls, thinking they can keep value preservation and appreciation, thus falling into the fixed pattern of trap carefully designed by businessmen.
Therefore, it is necessary to remind young people to control their consumption in case they become addicted.
1. Why are a couple and a sixty-year-old guy mentioned in Paragraph 1?A.To stress the importance of “blind box economy” . |
B.To give the sum of money spent on “blind box economy”. |
C.To show the popularity of “blind box economy” . |
D.To prove older people can afford to pay more. |
A.The fondness of gambling to bet on their luck. |
B.The high winning rate exaggerated by sellers. |
C.The blind faith in the cultural trend of collection |
D.The possibility of making a fortune in second-hand trade. |
A.previous | B.inadequate | C.personal | D.unforgettable |
A.To inform readers of the “blind box economy”. |
B.To promote the products of “blind box economy”. |
C.To list the reasons behind the popularity of “blind box economy”. |
D.To warn the consumers to think twice before buying blind boxes. |
1. Who is the woman shopping for?
A.Herself. | B.Her boss. | C.Her husband. |
A.Black. | B.White. | C.Light blue. |
A.It is of good quality. | B.It is worth the money. | C.It is well designed. |
A.A tie. | B.A suitcase. | C.Nothing. |
1. Why does the woman want to return the dress?
A.Its color faded. |
B.It doesn’t fit her daughter. |
C.Her daughter doesn’t like the brand. |
A.Annoying. | B.Delightful. | C.Acceptable. |
A.Having a birthday party. | B.Doing some exercise. | C.Getting Lydia a gift. |
6 . The Best Eco-Friendly Gifts
For the eco-conscious, we’ve rounded up our favorite eco-friendly gifts to send to your love.
Reusable Produce Bags (Price: $ 33)
Website: Sears. com
This pack of seven teusable bags are plastic free and made from 100 percent biodegradable cotton. The set includes one cotton net bag, three produce bags, and three food bag. Double stitching and durable seams mean these bags are built to last, and they’re machine washable for easy cleaning.
Wood Bookmarks with Tassels (Price; $ 25)
Website: Etsy. com
Teachers often like to hand out small gifts to students at the end of the year, and this set of wooden bookmarks is a sustainable, affordable way to let students know you care. (Plus, they’re a great reminder to read over holiday breaks!) The bookmarks come with colorful tassels as well, making it easy to mark your place while reading.
Personalized Notebook (Price: $ 13)
Website: Journal. com
This customizable journal is a great gift to jot down notes, used as a daily thought journal, or as a place to keep travel memories or even grocery lists. The cover is made from eco-friendly heavy cotton paper. The pages are recycled cartridge paper that’s perfect for fountain pens and ink as well as other media.
Greener Bamboo Cutting Board (Price: $ 90)
Website: Amazon. com
This bamboo cutting board is naturally bacteria resistant and made from 100 percent Moso bamboo that’s grown in organic soil. One side of the board has a deep juice-catching groove that’s perfect for capturing juices as you cut. After cutting, simply flip the board to the other side for a beautiful presentation large enough for veggie arrangements, watermelon, and more.
1. What can remind you to read?A.Reusable Produce Bags. | B.Personalized Notebook. |
C.Wood Bookmarks with Tassels. | D.Greener Bamboo Cutting Board. |
A.Etsy. com. | B.Sears. com. | C.Journal. com. | D.Amazon. com. |
A.They all are expensive. | B.They are popular with students. |
C.They are made of cotton paper. | D.They are sustainable and eco-friendly. |
Double 11 falls
T-mall (formerly Taobao Mall), a B2C website
Each year T-mall has a
8 . Let’s say you want to purchase a camera, and you’re comparing two different advertisements. In one, the pictures, colors, and instructions make the information easy to read. The other has an unclear style that takes more time for you to understand. If you decide to purchase the second camera with the more confusing advertisement, new research out of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute shows that, over time, you’ll likely be happier with your choice.
In a paper co-authored by Gaurav Jain, an assistant professor of marketing in the Lally School of Management at Rensselaer, researchers found that nonstop stimuli (刺激), or the difficulty for an individual to process a message, increases people’s attitudes toward that message after a time delay.
“This research has a real-life impact,” Jain said. “Most of the time, marketing communicators try to make their message clear. What we learned, however, is that there are certain times, especially when people need to make choices, when we should actually use nonstop stimuli so that whatever people are choosing, they will like it once time has passed.”
Using primary data collection designed by Jain of about 500 diverse individuals, researchers also found that consumers judge the time spent in the decision-making process wrongly. Rather than recognizing that the lengthy decision came from trying to understand the information, when looking back on the process, consumers instead believe they spent the time on making the decision. This leads the consumer to believe the decision they made was informed and worthy.
These findings are meaningful for marketing communications in many fields.
“When people are making decisions,” Jain said, “like choosing insurance products, retirement funds, or even when choosing an elected official, marketers and designers need to remember that if we can make an individual spend some time in that choosing process, it’s more likely people will stick with the option they chose over time.”
Jain says that when consumers’ attitudes about a product increase, the impact on post-purchase decisions like returns and reviews of the product will be more favorable to the brand.
1. How does the author introduce the topic?A.By listing figures. | B.By giving examples. |
C.By using others’ words. | D.By showing people’s reviews. |
A.Make their message short. |
B.Make their message attractive. |
C.Make their message easy to understand. |
D.Make their message hard to understand. |
A.Writing a paper. | B.Selling a product. |
C.Choosing a camera. | D.Designing a new brand. |
A.Time Delay: What is it |
B.Suggestions to the Marketers |
C.How to Make Consumers Happy |
D.Difficult Decision, Satisfactory Choice |
9 . Just wanting a hamburger, Hembert Figueroa was surprised to learn the dollar bills in his pocket were no good at Dos Toros Taqueria in Manhanttan.
Figueroa, an ironworker, had to stand to the side, holding his hamburger, until a cashier helped him find another customer willing to pay for his meal with a card in exchange for cash. “I had money but I couldn’t pay,” he said.
Cash-free stores are causing a backlash among some activists who say the practice looks down upon people like Figueroa, who either lack bank accounts or rely on cash for many transactions(交易).
Supporters for banning cashless stores worry technology is moving too fast for the 6.5% of American households—8.4 million—that do not have a bank account.
Business owners who go cashless say they are following the lead of majority of customers who are abandoning cash payments. Retailers(零售商)are under pressure to satisfy customers with higher expectations for fast and convenient service, driven by companies like Amazon and Uber.
Leo Kremer, co-worker of Dos Toros, said the amount of cash transactions at his stores fell from about 50% a decade ago to 15% last year. Cash transactions made handling cash especially troublesome. Before going cashless, Dos Toros locations were robbed twice.
Financial experts who work with low-income people caution against making assumptions about the shopping preferences or buying power of those who rely on cash. Justine Zinkin, CEO of Neighborhood Trust Financial Partners, said the greater urgency in the digital time is finding ways to better include low-income people in the banking system, such as urging banks to offer no-fee starter accounts and encouraging banks to open branches in underserved areas.
1. What trouble was Hembert Figueroa faced with at Dos Toros Taqueria?A.He couldn’t make a deal with cash. |
B.He failed to find a cashier for help. |
C.He took no money or a card with him. |
D.He was caught carrying false bank notes. |
A.Heated debate. | B.Warm welcome. |
C.Strong disagreement. | D.High expectation. |
A.Making regulations to ban cashless stores. |
B.Raising the buying power of low-income people. |
C.Finding ways for banks to adapt with the digital time. |
D.Making banks more accessible to low-income people. |
A.Cashless stores—a production of new technology |
B.Should cashless stores be banned? |
C.Cashless stores, a new form of transaction |
D.Are cashless stores preferred by low-income people? |
10 . Hands-on experience is still attractive to many buyers, although online ordering is popular in the UK today.
Oxford Street
London is shoppers’ paradise, and most visitors head for Oxford Street. Halfway along is Selfridges, one of the world’s first department stores where the architecture and window dressing impress even before you go in. There are at least four other major stores on this street, plus Europe’s largest music shop. In December the atmosphere is especially festive because of the Christmas lights which are always lit by a politician, a great sportsman, or a superstar.
Kensington High Street
A fashionable area for shopping is Kensington High Street. One of its department stores even has a roof garden — good for relaxing between purchases. There’s also an organic food superstore.
Borough Market
One of the oldest and best for food is probably Borough Market on the south bank of the Thames. Get off the underground at London Bridge and wander among fresh fish stands, bakeries, and fruit and vegetable sellers. You can also buy special food to take away, like cheeses, pork pies, mustard and chutney.
More places for bargains
Portobello Road on a Saturday is your best choice for jewelry or collector’s items. It’s a short walk from the subway station at Notting Hill Gate and you never know what you will find. For clothes, Camden Market is the place. It gets a little crowded at weekends, though. Convent Garden offers great experience for the simple pleasure of looking at jewelry and gifts.
1. What makes Oxford Street become special in December?A.The wonderful window dressing. |
B.The Europe’s largest music shop. |
C.The lights lit by a famous person. |
D.Many bargains to choose from. |
A.Kensington High Street. | B.Camden Market. |
C.Borough Market. | D.Portobello Road. |
A.A trip guide. | B.A news report. |
C.A science book | D.A financial magazine. |