1 . For many consumers, low prices are often equal to cheap products. While everyone loves a good bargain (特价商品), low prices can harm how your product is viewed. Instead of getting a great deal, customers often believe that you get what you pay for. Though everyday low-pricing strategies can work for some companies, they’re not always the best idea for certain lines of business.
Consumer perceptions play a significant role in strategic pricing. Despite all the promotions surrounding great deals, it turns out that cheaper isn’t always better. Research from Vanderbilt University suggests that low prices can backfire because consumers sometimes see them as signs of low-quality products. However, researchers also found that consumers sometimes see low prices as simply good deals. Shoppers’ perceptions depend on what they’re thinking about when deciding whether or not to buy a product.
If consumers come across a low-priced product or service, they may see it as either a good deal or not worth their time and money. How consumers think about price is just as important as the actual price itself.
Consumers rarely have complete information and use various strategies to fill gaps in their knowledge when considering products. One strategy involves using naive theories: informal explanations used by consumers to make sense of their environment. A consumer may perceive an upscale (高档的) company’s prices are too high or assume discount retailers’ (零售店) products are inferior (次的) due to its reputation being associated with lower quality items than other stores selling similar goods.
Companies can influence how customers feel about their low prices by conducting market research and improving marketing strategies focused on highlighting product quality rather than just value alone which tends towards making people rate cheaper products more favorably. When companies focus on the product quality in marketing materials, consumers look more favorably upon more expensive products. However, when companies focus on value, consumers rate cheap products more favorably.
Businesses can also identify their customer base and narrow their marketing efforts to become perceived as a specialist. This leaves customers less likely to question pricing strategies because they trust that the company knows what it’s doing and has done its research into what works best for them.
1. What does research from Vanderbilt University suggest?| A．Strategic pricing determines shoppers’ perceptions. |
| B．Promotions are linked with high-quality products. |
| C．Consumers only see low prices as a real bargain. |
| D．Consumers’ perceptions of low prices vary greatly. |
| A．Produce an opposite result. | B．Cause a serious explosion. |
| C．Meet people’s expectations. | D．Have a positive effect. |
| A．By emphasizing product quality. | B．By targeting a wider audience. |
| C．By offering more promotions. | D．By lowering prices even further. |
| A．Low prices are always a good thing for businesses |
| B．Low prices can sometimes scare off customers |
| C．Companies should focus on value rather than quality |
| D．Companies should ignore consumers’ perceptions of price |
2 . Whether you’re moving across the country or across the world, it’s important to choose a moving company that’s the right fit for your exact needs or budget. Read about the top packing and moving companies with our guide covering pros and cons, offerings, and customer reviews.
With over 90 years of experience, the moving company has finished over 750,000 moves in different states in the U.S. in the last 15 years alone.
Pros and Cons
✔ Available for local, long-distance and international moves
✔ Great customer service
✘ Discount information is not readily available
AVL focuses on providing highly experienced and skillful movers to your packing services. The moving company provides its services in every state.
Pros and Cons
✔ Highly skilled movers with an average of 10 years of experience
✔ Promises to match or beat the price if the same service is found at a lower cost
✘ An up-front deposit is required
✘ Limited pricing information online
IVL provides its packing and moving services for both local and long-distance moves in all 50 states, as well as 180 countries. And the company allows you to have control over your packing experience.
Pros and Cons
✔ Specialty services for difficult items such as artwork, antiques and pianos
✔ Protection plans with an adjustable coverage cap
✘ Customer reviews mention the difficulty in communication at times
This full-service moving company has more than 80 years of moving experience and a network of more than 500 locations nationwide.
Pros and Cons
✔ Online shipment tracking
✔ Moving containers available for interstate moves
✘ Service and experience may vary by agent
✘ No instant online quotes
1. Which of the following companies rates highest?| A．Allied. | B．American Van Lines. |
| C．International Van Lines. | D．North American Moving Services. |
| A．It gives pricing information online. |
| B．It is experienced in packing expensive items. |
| C．It has moving containers for interstate moves. |
| D．It guarantees the lowest price of the same service. |
| A．They feature highly skilled movers. |
| B．They have over 80 years of experience. |
| C．They can provide moving services nationwide. |
| D．They can offer services for customized packing. |
3 .
An Anthology (选集) of Aquatic Life(DK Children’s Anthologies) | |
| Author: Sam Hume ★★★★☆206 ratings Buy new: $26.90 Free delivery: on orders over $28.00 shipped by Amazon.com Buy used: $15,88, $3.98 delivery March 18-August 17 |  An Anthology of Aquatic Life is a stunning ocean encyclopedia for young readers to explore, with reference pages packed with fascinating information. From the deepest, widest ocean to the tiniest puddle, this beautiful book takes young readers on a spellbinding journey through the aquatic world. Stunning photography and gorgeous illustrations complement storybook descriptions about each life form, and children can uncover hundreds of fascinating facts as they read. |
| It arouses your child’s curiosity as they: -Explore detailed photographs and striking illustrations of nature in action. -Reveal fun facts and myths about how a range of animals and plants adapt to their environments. -Uncover more than 100 aquatic life forms, each with stunning images and captivating information. This ocean encyclopedia for children is the perfect blend of storybook style text with out-of-this-world illustrations. Compared with reading alone, reading the book with families doubles the pleasure as family ties are strengthened through exploring the unknown together. Explore the diversity of the animal kingdom while uncovering: -Stunning Jacket Detail: gold book cover &luxury metallic gold edges. -Striking photography &illustrations inside. More in the Series An Anthology of Aquatic Animals is part of the beautiful and informative Anthology series. Complete the series and cultivate your child’s curiosity as they explore the natural world with The Wonders of Nature or let them walk with the dinosaurs in Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Life. For more information, please click here. | |
| A．$15.88. | B．$3.98. | C．$26.90. | D．$28.00. |
| A．Promoting the skills of telling stories. | B．Boosting curiosity about underwater life. |
| C．Acquiring the capability of photography. | D．Increasing the knowledge of dinosaurs. |
| A．A brochure. | B．A website. | C．A textbook. | D．A report. |
4 . In the past, the imported makeups(化妆品)shelves in Japan’s department stores were usually dominated(主导)by South Korean makeups. As “Chiborg boom”—Chinese-style makeup becomes popular on social media, Chinese makeups start to make inroads in Japan.
The term “Chiborg” is a Japanese-made word, which is a combination of “China” and “cyborg”, referring to a Chinese beauty so perfect and inhuman that looks like a cyborg. In the eyes of Japanese young women, “Chiborg” usually uses bright colors reminding China’s classical Peking Opera, with a focus on eyes and lips to create a sharp and chiseled(轮廓分明的)look. While Japanese-style makeup always centers around cute and innocent features, Chinese-style makeup gives an appearance that is more elegant, cool and mature.
“Chiborg” began to attract the attention of Japanese young women around 2019, when abundant information on Chinese-style makeup has been circulating on Twitter and Instagram. It spread even more after tutorial videos of Chinese-style makeup were being posted on You-Tube.
Emilin, a Japanese girl who shares information on fashion on YouTube, posted a video on “Chiborg” and harvested more than 2 million views in January this year.
Another blogger called “Shikanoma” explained the unique charm(魅力)of “Chiborg.” “Chinese-style makeup expresses the inner strength and confidence of a person and it feels new. I think the concept of a ‘cool woman’ is becoming widespread in Japan nowadays. I also desire to be a strong-willed woman,” she said.
According to Yueko Nishihara, research planner at Japanese makeup and cosmetics portal site @cosme, nowadays Japanese women tend to emphasize the emotional value of makeups, such as “I am happy to have it” or “It is fun to use”.
Furthermore, Chinese makeups are gradually shaking off the stereotype of cheap, low-quality products, said Saya Hayashi, CEO of Japan Functional Cosmetic Laboratory Co. Ltd. “A few years ago, it was thought that Chinese makeups were mainly aimed at middle and low-income groups, but in the last year or two, there has been an increase in high-price, high-quality makeups, attracting office ladies and high-income customers,” she said.
1. What can we learn from “Chiborg boom”?| A．Korean-style makeups become popular in Japan. |
| B．Japanese-style makeups become popular in Korea. |
| C．Chinese-style makeups become popular in Japan. |
| D．Peking Opera makeups become popular in Korea. |
| A．Innocent. | B．Elegant. | C．Cool. | D．Mature. |
| A．It makes them sense upset. | B．It makes them feel confident. |
| C．It makes them get fame. | D．It makes them post more videos. |
| A．They are for low-income customers. | B．They used to be expensive. |
| C．They aim at middle-income people. | D．They are for high-income people. |
5 . Want to reduce your carbon, footprint? Here are the best sustainable choices for carrying your luggage(行李).
Paravel Aviator Grand $ 425
The Paravel Aviator Grand combines recycled fabric with recycled metal parts, including zippers(拉锁)and a handle that can be used as long as you do. The fabric lining is made from recycled and single-use plastic bottles. Its producer Paravel has up-cycled 3.1 million plastic bottles and planted 70,000 trees. A five-year after service,covering wear and tear, ensures you’ll get a lot of use from the Paravel Aviator Grand.
Dakine Terminal Spinner $220
With a 40-liter capacity, the Dakine Terminal Spinner is not only roomy but also lasting, with waterproof polyester(聚酯纤维)made from recycled plastic water bottles. The roomy outer pocket is padded for laptops up to 17 inches. It’s even got a cup rest—a place to set your coffee when you’re standing still.
Peak Design Travel Backpack $483
The Peak Design Travel Backpack expands to 45 liters. It has both internal and external pockets, with quick-access pockets for frequently-used small items. Made from lightweight polyester, this travel backpack is weatherproof. The bottom liner provides even more protection and a thicker fabric, so you don’t have to worry about setting your bag down on a wet surface, The Peak Design Travel Backpack is also Fair Trade certified and carbon neutral.
Solgaard Check-in Closet $355
The Solgaard Check-in Closet is designed with five inner shelves, so you interact with its contents with the bag standing up. It can handle more than enough for a week of travelling. Despite its size, the Solgaard Check-in Closet is also easy to roll around, thanks to smooth 360-degree wheels. Built from a polycarbonate shell made from recycled plastic bottles, the Solgaard Check-in Closet is lasting enough and has a 10-yearafter service.
1. Which luggage container has recycled metal parts?| A．Paravel Aviator Grand. |
| B．Dakine Terminal Spinner. |
| C．Peak Design Travel Backpack. |
| D．Solgaard Check-in Closet. |
| A．They are waterproof. |
| B．They have quick-access pockets. |
| C．They are made of recycled bottles. |
| D．Their producers have planted many trees. |
| A．Low price and outer pockets. |
| B．Strong zippers and a cup rest, |
| C．Large capacity and easy movement. |
| D．Roomy outer pockets and long after service. |
6 . 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. |
7 . More and more online shopping platforms now offer consumers a detailed look into products’ historical prices. But how does this information influence buying decisions?
To explore this question, we conducted a series of experiments with a total of more than 5,000 business school students and working adults. We measured the impact of different kinds of price shifts on people’s interest in purchasing products and identified several consistent trends:
First, when consumers saw that the price today was lower than it had been in the past, they were more likely to buy now, because the current price seemed like a good deal.
However, the picture gets more complicated when you consider the frequency of historical price shifts: In our studies, we found that if consumers were shown at least three changes in the same direction, they were likely to assume the price would continue to move in the same direction. While if they were only shown one or two changes in the same direction, they expected the price to change in the opposite direction.
So what does this mean for sellers? It may be tempting to slowly lower the price over time. However, our data shows that this can lead consumers to assume that the price will continue to fall, making them hesitant to buy. But if they just see a single price drop, they ‘re more likely to expect a reversal in the near future, pushing them to buy the product now.
Our findings can also help buyers make more informed decisions about whether and when they choose to make a purchase. As with any irrational bias (非理性的偏见), awareness of the natural tendency to expect trends to continue and single large changes to reverse can help consumers question this assumption before acting on it. Instead of letting this arbitrary (武断的) expectation guide buying decisions, consumers may benefit by doing a bit more research around the underlying factors driving price shifts. Buyers may also benefit from learning more about a product’s longer-term price history, fluctuations (波动), and typical industry-wide price ranges, to avoid being disproportionately influenced by near-term price changes. It’s also always a good idea to think about both how urgent your need for a given product is, and your own risk tolerance for a potential price increase, as this can affect whether it’s worth it for you to wait and see if the price falls.
Of course, there are countless factors that influence both consumers’ decisions around whether and when to buy and sellers’ decisions around how to price their products. But it’s important for both sides to recognize the key role that expectations play in influencing these decisions.
1. Which of the following is true about the experiment?| A．It proves that people’s interest in the product drives the purchasing behavior. |
| B．E-commerce platforms turn to it to connect with customers and boost sales. |
| C．It’s designed to figure out the purchasing decision process based on pricing. |
| D．Business school students make up the whole control group for comparison. |
A． | B． |
C． | D． |
| A．decide on the assumptions that long-term price trend will continue |
| B．research longer-term price history, price ranges and hidden factors |
| C．put off the purchase for better deals because of the unsustainable market |
| D．cooperate with sellers while putting aside the personal risk and urgency |
| A．How do price changes influence buying decisions? |
| B．Why should products’ historical prices be shown? |
| C．When is the best time for consumers to purchase? |
| D．What do businesses need to price their products? |
8 . Best devices for students 2023
External hard drive
Price: about £50
The last thing you want is for your laptop to break (or get stolen) and to lose all of your work as a result. An external hard drive like this one from Western Digital can store a backup copy of pretty much your entire laptop.
Amazon Kindle
Price: about £130
Even if you’re a die-hard fan of physical books, the pain of carrying university textbooks around every day might change you.
The latest model of the Kindle Paper white comes with Bluetooth and a front-lit screen that has an adjustable warm light and, as is the case with most e-readers, the battery can last for weeks on a single charge.
Tile Mate key finder
Price: about £20
If you’re the kind of person who’s always losing stuff — particularly your phone or keys — then this little device could be a lifesaver.
Attach your Tile Mate key ring to your set of keys, and you can use the Tile Mate app to locate them if you happen to lose them.
And best of all, if you’ve got your keys but can’t find your phone, hitting the button on the Tile Mate key ring will make your phone ring — even when it’s on silent.Genius.
WiFi range extender
Price: about £35
All too often, the routers supplied by broadband companies aren’t quite up to the job.
We’ve used this WiFi range extender from NETGEAR and can confirm that it does a great job of improving the WiFi signal around the house. It plugs straight into the wall, and although you might need to trial a couple of different locations before finding the perfect position, you should notice the difference straight away.
1. What is the price of an external hard drive?| A．About £20. | B．About £35. |
| C．About £50. | D．About £130. |
| A．It can be attached to your keys. |
| B．It can be located very easily. |
| C．It can save your life in time of emergency. |
| D．It can make your phone ring — even when it’s on silent. |
| A．External hard drive. | B．Amazon Kindle. |
| C．Tile Mate key finder. | D．WiFi range extender. |
9 . Nagamori Department Store’s Countdown to the Holidays!
Only 2 days to go to place your order and get
SPECIAL FREE DELIVERY*for delivery by June 24
Good news to everyone!Come and shop at Nagamori Department Store!It’s almost your last chance to place your holiday gift orders and ensure free city-wide delivery by June 24. Don’t miss out on this great deal, and avoid leaving loved ones disappointed by submitting your order before 5 p.m. on Friday June 16.
And you may be assured if you cannot spare some time to pick up a gift by 16. Orders placed after that time and before 3 p.m. on Thursday June 22 will still be guaranteed to arrive by June 24 using our standard delivery option. This remains at our year-round low price of $7 per item (to anywhere in the city — regular rates apply outside of the Townsburg Metropolitan area).
Don’t forget to wrap it: If you are short of time, go to our Gift Wrapping corner on this floor for a number of great options(at just S5.95 per item) and put a personalized message on your complimentary (免费赠送的) card.
*Free delivery applies to gifts delivered to addresses within the Metropolitan area only and to orders of $10 or more. For all other delivery rates (including international), please ask the staff at our Delivery Service on the ground floor of this store. As for group purchase and delivery, a special discount is offered. Please contact our Sales Department at 347-448-8888 for more details.
1. What is stated about the special free delivery?| A．Items must cost more than $10. |
| B．Orders must be placed before June 24 |
| C．Delivery must be locations within the city. |
| D．Items must be bought at full price and gift-wrapped. |
| A．$5.95 | B．$7. | C．$10. | D．$12.95. |
| A．In a delivery company. | B．In a department store. |
| C．In a post office. | D．In a gift factory. |
10 . Instruction Manual (手册) of Oximeter
Thank you for purchasing HBO-SMART Fingertip Pulse Oximeter. The main use of this product is for measuring patients’ oxygen saturation (SpO2) (饱和度) and Pulse Rate (PR). Please carefully read the User Manual before use.
Product Features
● Visual and audible alarms for high/low SpO2 and Pulse Rate.
● High-performance sensors to improve data accuracy.
● Small & lightweight design (total 28g without batteries).
● Low battery indicator, plus automatic power off.
Instructions for Use
● Insert your finger into the rubber hole of the oximeter and rest your hand on your chest at heart level & hold it still.
● Lightly press the button on the panel of the oximeter to automatically test the results within about 8 seconds.
● Necessary maintenance must be performed by qualified service engineers only.
● Do not use the oximeter while the user is measured by MRI and CT.
● When the oximeter needs cleaning, please wipe its surface with medical alcohol by soft material. Do not spray any liquid on the device directly.
Environment Requirements
● Operation environment:
Temperature: 5℃ ~ 40℃; Humidity: 15% ~ 80%;
Atmospheric pressure: 70kPa ~ 106kPa.
● Transportation and storage environment:
Temperature: -10℃ ~ 55℃; Humidity: 95%;
Atmospheric pressure: 50kPa ~ 106kPa.
1. Which is a feature of the oximeter?| A．It gives warnings if wrongly operated. | B．It provides sensitive detection. |
| C．It is small in volume and low in price. | D．It uses energy-saving batteries. |
| A．Shaking it when in use. | B．Maintaining it personally. |
| C．Removing it during a CT check. | D．Cleaning it with water. |
| A．Temperature. | B．Humidity. |
| C．Air pressure. | D．Atmospheric quality. |
