Buy Now, Pay Later Spending
Buy now, pay later(BNPL) spending is expected to rise to record levels this holiday season. With so many young “buy now, pay later” shoppers already in debt from this short-term financing tool not requiring interest, questions emerge: Why do these shoppers use such a tool? And what risks does it pose to their budgets in the months
The many Generation Z and millennials (typically around 40 years and younger) tend to use this short-term financing,
However, since BNPL
Family meals are important in living with a family. A recent survey
Firstly,
Secondly, family meals also play
Know how much to tip New rules of gratuities | ||
The pandemic has been particularly hard on people who work for tips. Some haven’t been able to do their jobs at all, while others don’t interact with customers the same way. In either case, tips dried up, causing a lot of people to suffer. Meanwhile, many customers felt the need to tip more because of the new risks and hardships that essential service workers suddenly faced. Just as many services have changed, so should tipping. Some old standards no longer seem fair, and several newer ones will apply long after the pandemic is over. Some new rules of tipping that are likely here to stay: | ||
Give more if you can. It’s common for tips to be divided between all the workers at a store or restaurant, not just those who interact directly with customers. So giving generously ensures a fairer tip for all. | Think outside the (cash) box. You can also “tip” with a thank-you note or a homemade gift when a business (or your budget) doesn’t permit gratuities. Consider writing a review online, making sure to name names. | Treat business owners differently. A practice of the past, tipping the boss separately is no longer necessary. But if he provides you with your service, tip him as you would any of his workers. |
As for specific situations, here’s what the experts recommend: FOOD AND DRINKS Restaurant workers Old rule: Leave a tip only when you dine in. New rule: Always tip, even for takeout. Tip: 15 to 20 percent when you dine in, and 10 to 15 percent on takeout or delivery orders. Personal shoppers Old rule: N/A(Not applicable). Many of these services, such as grocery pickup, are newer. New rule: Tip, and do it in the app, since you are unlikely to interact directly with your shopper. Tip: 10 to 15 percent. If a tip is already included, add a few dollars extra. HOME DELIVERIES Package delivery drivers Old rule: Don’t tip. New rule: Show appreciation if you get deliveries more than once a week. Tip: Drinks, snacks, or $5 to $20 if a package is particularly heavy or large. Postal workers cannot accept cash or gifts worth more than $50 per year. UPS tells drivers to decline tips unless a customer insists. And FedEX prohibits employees from accepting cash or cash equivalents (such as gift cards). Flower delivery drivers Old rule: The person who places the order tips those who deliver flowers (and other specialty items). New rule: You can’t assume the gift giver already tipped, so if you’re lucky enough to get such a delivery, pass the goodwill along in the form of a tip. Tip: $5 to $10. PERSONAL SERVICES Ride-share drivers Old rule: Tip in cash. New rule: Ask your driver. The Lyft and Uber apps let you add gratuities, but some drivers prefer cash. Tip: 15 to 20 percent. |
A.the pandemic has driven many businesses to financial ruin |
B.some people have to work from home without interaction |
C.some old standards can’t help out some service workers now |
D.customers dismiss the old standards as unfair to themselves |
A.Tip every worker fairly in case some may keep the money to himself. |
B.Writing a review online is highly recommended to express gratitude |
C.The more you tip, the more those who interact directly with you will get. |
D.There is no need to tip the boss because he doesn’t provide any service. |
Names | Situations | Tips |
Michael | order a roast goose ($50) at Kam’s Roasts for takeout | None |
Susan | take a delivery of a package from FedEx (bottled water, 500ml, 24-pack) | None |
Brittany | receive a bunch of flower delivered by a Flower Plus driver | $5(cash) for the gardener |
Steven | take an Uber ($15) from St Vincent’s Hospital to the Central Library | $3(cash) for the driver |
A.Michael | B.Steven | C.Brittany | D.Susan |
4 . Why working from anywhere isn’t realistic
For most white-collar workers, it used to be very simple. Home was the place you left to go to work. The office was almost certainly where you were
The pandemic has thrown these neat
Another set of obstacles is more
The option to work from anywhere will be most attractive to people who have well-paid jobs and fewer
Adding it to the menu of working options for sought-after employees
A.heading | B.resisting | C.worrying | D.navigating |
A.demanded | B.modified | C.defined | D.served |
A.programs | B.means | C.cases | D.categories |
A.merely | B.properly | C.responsibly | D.remotely |
A.However | B.Therefore | C.Instead | D.Besides |
A.isolated | B.unrestricted | C.complicated | D.distinguished |
A.principles | B.insights | C.barriers | D.arguments |
A.In other words | B.On the contrary | C.What’s more | D.After all |
A.compensation | B.enforcement | C.pressure | D.sympathy |
A.distinct | B.complicated | C.personal | D.unnoticeable |
A.realize | B.escape | C.disappear | D.make |
A.visions | B.outlooks | C.perspectives | D.obligations |
A.jealousy | B.cooperation | C.appreciation | D.interaction |
A.takes time | B.steals the show | C.makes sense | D.works wonders |
A.review | B.blueprint | C.source | D.sacrifice |
A.Admiration for one’s own appearance. |
B.A need for popularity. |
C.A need to belong to a group. |
D.A love for photography. |
A.Women are more likely to be famous. |
B.Men are more eager to be seen as popular. |
C.Man tends to post selfies more often. |
D.Women use editing software more frequently. |
A.Photos have to be looked at. |
B.Cameras are mostly used for selfies. |
C.Clicking “like” doesn’t necessarily mean photos have been seen. |
D.It is the same experience as traditional one. |
6 . In the past, video conference technology was mainly used for just a few elements of business meetings or hangouts (聚集处) with friends and family. Now, video conference tools are important for our productivity, learning and social interaction. We use them not only for fun, but mainly as a meaningful part of our work.
However, once we start to join endless video calls for a few hours each day, we become very tired. This term is called “zoom tiredness”, and it’s related to overusing virtual (虚拟的) communication platforms.
There are some advantages of using video conferencing tools. Without them, it might be impossible for us to work from home. But what we haven’t expected is a price that we need to pay for that sort of convenience.
When we are having a face-to-face conversation with others, everything seems pretty natural. While speaking, you look into the eyes, sometimes slightly moving your stare onto something else. You know when to stop talking and when to speak up. Even if you’re in a conference room with 10 people, you don’t have a terrible feeling of being observed all the time. You notice that people mostly look at the person who is speaking, and then they move their attention onto someone else. But when you use a teleconferencing tool, things are different. Being physically on camera makes you very aware of being watched all the time, because you don’t know who is looking at you. You just see many faces on your screen.
Marissa Shuffler from Clemson University once said, “When you’re on a video conference, you know everybody’s looking at you; you are on stage, so there comes the social pressure—a feeling like you need to perform. Being performative is stressful.”
Moreover, there is another interesting tendency as far as video calls are concerned. Who are you looking at most of the time? The answer is yourself. For most people, it’s hard not to look at their own face if they can see it on the screen. We are likely to make sure that our head is at the right angle and that our shirt is tidy.
1. What might cause the so-called “zoom tiredness”?A.The fast pace of modern life. |
B.Getting bored with video calls. |
C.The wide spread of video technology. |
D.Spending too much time on video calls. |
A.Higher cost | B.More pressure |
C.More free time | D.Better performance |
A.The popularity of video calls | B.People’s attitude towards video calls |
C.Some unexpected effects of video calls | D.Changes in people’s way of communication |
A. numerous B. regulations C. compared D. elaborate E. advantage F. adopted G. previously H. additionally I. estimated J. ranging K. innovation |
Live Shows are back, and so are street stalls
With the revival of live music gigs in China this year, stalls outside of concert venues have become increasingly popular again across the country.
Vendors offer goods
The China Association of Performing Arts (CAPA, 中国演出行业协会) reported that in the first half of 2023, the country hosted over 190,000 performances. The number increased by 400.86%
“Where there are business opportunities, there is potential for stalls,” said Hu Xiaowu, an expert on urban science. “As more concerts are organized in different cities, many young people have found the chance to sell goods related to the events.“
Zeng Dexiong, a professor of social sciences, believed more people would take
Sun Ximin,25, set up a stall as a side hustle when a large venue near her home in Guangzhou hosted its first concert in April. There weren’t many stalls back then, and she sold simple hair accessories (配饰).When more vendors gathered outside, Sun had to offer more
For Li Zhenzhen, a 23-year-old citizen of Xi’an in Shaanxi province, success lies in seeking the best location. She found it was more beneficial to locate her stall near a subway station rather than the concert venue’s entrance. She explained that concertgoers are likely to buy the goods on impulse (一时冲动) as they get out of the station. However, as they walk past
The rapid development of the street stall economy offers young people flexible opportunities to earn money, Hu noted.
Recognizing this, local governments are now easing
The term “killjoy parents” has been trending on Chinese social media platforms as many young people complain that their parents would rather criticize than
It’s a terrible feeling to have someone “burst your bubble” when you think they should be sharing your Joy. And your parents, after all, are probably the people
I think a lot of it has to do with Chinese society. Parents know that life can be full of hardship and difficulties, and they want their children to be hardened“ to these realities. Another reason
When I asked a Chinese friend
American parents, at the other extreme,
Having “killjoy parents “ may not be enjoyable,
9 . Directions: Read the following passage. Summarize the main idea and the main point(s) of the passage in no more than 60 words. Use your own words as far as possible.
Will Plant-based Protein Continue to be an Appetizer in Food World?
A good vegan milk needs to look like milk and taste like milk, whether it’s a fatty version, preferred by bakers, or a skimmed one, favored by the health-conscious. For years, manufacturers of plant-based protein have had trouble hacking this delicate imitation game and it seems that they are winning back a bit. The global revenues (收益) from alternative proteins could reach $290 billion by 2035 and that is a cautious estimate. However, can it last?
Unlike those early products, which were neither terribly tasty nor particularly nutritious, cleaver (剁肉刀) processing improves textures, additives boost taste and a pinch of specially engineered peas and beans adds nutrient in the latest products. Still, ultra-processed substitutes seldom match animal proteins in nutritional value. Animal products, including milk, are better for children’s bone development, though lab- grown versions of meat or dairy are becoming more nutritious. Meanwhile, green-minded consumers are realizing that plant-based does not necessarily mean sustainable in that it still takes a lot to obtain raw materials. Farming almonds (杏仁) to make a milk-like drink, for example, uses huge quantities of water.
Plant-based proteins are also a tough sell in giant markets like India, where diets are already rich in plants and vegetables, or Nigera, where meat-eating is a sign of wealth. That limits their global appeal.
All these suggests that alternative proteins have far to go to replace the animal kind. The limitations may be weighing on the firms involved. Oatly’s market value has fallen by about 80% since its listing, partly because of production difficulties. That of Beyond Meat, whose burgers feature in McDonald’s latest menu, is down by 90% from its peak. Plant-based foods may no longer be only an appetizer in diets, but their maker remain one in food business.
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10 . The rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. has tripled over the past 50 years. But what this trend means for children’s long-term health, and what to do about it (if anything), is not so clear.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) made waves this year by recommending that doctors put obese kids as young as two years old on intensive, family-oriented lifestyle and behavior plans.
Yet the lifestyle programs the AAP recommends are expensive, inaccessible to most children and hard to maintain — and the guidelines acknowledge these barriers. Few weight-loss drugs have been approved for older children, although many are used off-label.
Rather than fixating on numbers on a scale, the U.S. and countries with similar trends should focus on an underlying truth: we need to invest in more and safer places for children to play where they can move and run around, climb and jump, ride and skate.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, children between ages six and 17 should get at least an hour of moderate to intense physical activity every day. Yet only 21 to 28 percent of U.S. kids meet this target, two government-sponsored surveys found. The nonprofit Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance evaluates physical activity in American children, and in 2022 the group gave the U.S. a grade of D–.
Why is it so hard to get kids moving? In addition to fewer opportunities at school, researchers cite increased screen time, changing norms around letting kids play outdoors unsupervised, and a lack of safe places for them to play outside the home.
New York City, for example, had 2,067 public playgrounds as of 2019 — a “meager” amount for its large population, according to a report from the city comptroller — and inspectors found hazardous equipment at one quarter of them. In Los Angeles in 2015, only 33 percent of youths lived within walking distance of a park, according to the L.A. Neighborhood Land Trust. Lower-income neighborhoods tend to have the fewest public play spaces, despite often having a high population density.
Kids everywhere need more places to play: trails, skate parks and climbing walls, gardens and ball fields, bike paths and basketball courts. Vigorous public funding to build and keep up these areas is crucial, but other options such as shared-use agreements can make unused spaces available to the public.
A.Moving more may not prevent a child from becoming overweight, but studies show clearly that it helps both physical and mental health. |
B.And although rural areas have more undeveloped outdoor space, they often lack playgrounds, tracks and exercise facilities |
C.A lack of safe places for them to play outside the home also contributes to kids obesity. |
D.It also suggested prescribing weight-loss drugs to children 12 and older and surgery to teens 13 and older. |
E.Increased screen time and changing norms around letting kids play outdoors are unsupervised. |
F.They have significant side effects for both kids and adults. |