| A．The woman. | B．The man. | C．The man’s mother. |
| A．Exchange it. | B．Return it. | C．Have it fixed. |
| A．Books. | B．Clothes. | C．Shoes. |
| A．In a bookstore. | B．In a classroom. | C．In a publishing house. |
1. According to the man, how often should shoes be replaced?
| A．Every 200 miles. | B．Every 500 miles. | C．Every 300 miles. |
| A．Saving money. | B．Buying fashionable shoes. | C．Protecting her feet. |
The term “car boot sale” refers to the selling of items from a car’s trunk (后备箱). Most of the goods on sale are used personal items with only a few of professional traders
1. What does the man suggest the woman do?
| A．Buy another car. | B．Get the car checked. | C．Save up for the car. |
| A．Offer a discount. | B．Take care of the car. | C．Examine the car in advance. |
| A．Pay for her car. | B．Drive her car home. | C．Talk with the salesman. |
8 . To be honest, I’ve been missing the online shopping experience in China since I moved to the US four years ago. So when I noticed Shein becoming mainstream in the US over the past few years, I thought, Great! I finally have a Taobao replacement! So I went on my first Shein journey in August 2022.
But somewhere along the way, I started questioning why I enjoy this particular kind of shopping, and also what it means for an e-commerce platform to offer endless deals.
To be fair, there are Shein purchases that I’ve really enjoyed, like a $2 nylon watchband that feels better than my original Apple Watch band. I also think people should be able to choose quantity and price over quality, because the idea of demanding that people only buy premium products feels unrealistic.
But as it turns out, I’ve finally started to see through the illusion (错觉) of Shein-like platforms. To get these occasional incredible deals, you are encouraged to shop much more than is necessary or even reasonable. This illusion has worked for a long time and for a lot of people, including me! But it’s become harder and harder to ignore the environmental consequences of my purchases, and the ways in which platforms trick people into buying more and more.
And I don’t think I’m the only one experiencing that awakening. Broadly speaking, I think society is slowly but surely shifting toward recognizing the climate impact of mass-produced cheap goods. While these conversations have yet to happen as widely and furiously in China, companies like Taobao and Shein will inevitably have to answer the question of whether their business model is sustainable for everyone or only for themselves. So where are they heading from here? There’s certainly a lot of soul-searching for the industry to do.
And I’m doing some soul-searching of my own.
1. Why does the author mention a “$2 nylon watchband”?| A．To compare it with her original band. | B．To persuade readers to buy it. |
| C．To show her satisfaction with Shein. | D．To show its cheapness. |
| A．High-quantity | B．Expensive. | C．High-quality. | D．Original. |
| A．They get incredible products on sale. |
| B．They often buy much more than what they need. |
| C．They ignore the environmental impacts. |
| D．They are tricked into buying more and more reasonable products. |
| A．Serious environmental damage. | B．Decline in physical shopping. |
| C．Severe energy shortage. | D．Disturbing moral dilemma. |
9 . A bunch of flowers, a box of chocolates and a bottle of wine are the classic moves when it comes to buying the best mother’s day gifts. If you want something a little different this year, we’ve prepared a guide to fine gifts for your mother, grandmother or mother-in-law.
Personalized Chopping Board (切菜板)
From £40, Etsy
Quickest delivery: 5-7 days, free
A good chopping board will stay with you for life. This wooden board is handmade in a Yorkshire workshop, and can be personalized on one or both sides. Sizes vary from small to extra large.
Bloom & Wild Flower Subscription
£104 for six months, Bloom & Wild
Give the gift of fresh flowers once a month, for six months with this well priced Bloom & Wild gift subscription. It works out at £17.33 per bunch. That’s a pretty good deal considering the average bunch at Bloom & Wild costs nearer £25.
The Body Shop Rose Quartz Gua Sha Stone
£15, The Body Shop
Quickest delivery: next day if you order before 11am, £4.99
The practice of gua sha is rooted in ancient Chinese medicine but became the number one western beauty trend in 2020 after influencers and beauty editors alike were crazy about how it made their faces appear more attractive. It involves combing a gua sha along your cheeks, jawline, chin and around your mouth in delicate dragging motions to de-puff (消肿).
Fitbit Inspire 2
£44.99, John Lewis
Quickest delivery: next day from £7.50
It’s a common misconception that you have to break the bank to buy a fitness watch, but this Fitbit watch suggests otherwise. For less than £50, she gets a tracker of activity, heart-rate and sleep, as well as a battery that lasts up to 10 days.
1. How much may yearly subscribed flowers cost at Bloom & Wild?| A．£100. | B．£104. | C．£208. | D．£300. |
| A．Its beautifying effect. | B．Its easy-to-use feature. |
| C．Its body weight control. | D．Its Chinese medicine origin. |
| A．It is water-proof. | B．It is reasonably priced. |
| C．It has a long battery life. | D．It can track users’ activity. |
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1. Which of the following is a bonus of the subscription?| A．Some great prices. | B．Discounted restaurant offers. |
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