阅读理解。 The Friday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving is called Black

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阅读理解。     The Friday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. It"s said that it"s the day that
store ledgers (分类账) move into the black and companies become profitable. On that day, retailers slash prices
to get consumers to buy. It is also a time when many Americans start their Christmas shopping. VOA"s
Elizabeth Lee tells us how the economy may affect consumers on that bargain day.
    "It"s just the deals, the sales and everything you can get for a lesser price," said Sandy Thomas, a shopper.
But it"s a nightmare for others. "I think it"s crazy. I"ve done all of my shopping throughout the week so I don"t
have to go out on Friday," she said. It"s called Black Friday, the start of the traditional Christmas shopping
season in the United States. Every year it"s the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. Stores open before sunrise
and there are deep discounts everywhere you look.
     While the lead up to Christmas is known as the season of giving, Black Friday can get ugly.
     Last year a crowd of bargain-hunters killed a Wall-mart worker in a New York suburb. This year, many
stores are increasing security while they slash prices. "This is a huge time for the retail stores," said Fred Joutz
from George Washington University. "This is when they begin making their profits for the year."
     Economics professor Fred Joutz says how Americans spend the weekend after Thanksgiving is a good
indication of how consumers feel about the future.
     With the unemployment rate above 10 percent, Joutz says Americans are saving more and spending less.
"Credit is still strictly controlled whether through credit cards or through borrowing from banks," he said.
Some retailers are attracting consumers by opening on Thanksgiving Day, when shops are traditionally closed.
Other stores open their doors anywhere from midnight to four in the morning.
     And shoppers will be lining up in front of the doors in order to be one of the first ones to walk through and
get a big discount. Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually the first items to go. Sandy Thomas says it"s an
annual family tradition and well worth it. "I just save maybe half of what I would have spent on a regular, you
know, shopping trip," she said.
     Economists say U.S. consumers will spend money this Black Friday, but they will spend it more carefully. 1. The underlined word "slash" in the first paragraph probably means ____. A. reduce
B. raise
C. increase
D. change 2. The sentence "This day should be a shopper"s dream." should be placed between ____. A. paragraph two and paragraph three
B. paragraph one and paragraph two
C. paragraph three and paragraph four
D. paragraph five and paragraph six 3. Why are many stores increasing security according to the passage?A. Because there are too many people saving more and spending less.
B. Because it"s a time when they begin making their profits for the year.
C. Because last year a crowd of bargain-hunters caused an accident.
D. Because many stores open their doors from midnight to four a.m. 4. What can we learn from the passage? A. Christmas shopping is traditional time and this year it is no exception.
B. Electronics like flat screen TVs are usually least discounted.
C. The economy only affects consumers on that bargain day.
D. Thanksgiving is a good indication of how consumers feel about the future.

答案

1-4: A B C A

举一反三

阅读理解。     The government may control prices when there is a problem such as rapidly increasing rents or a rise in
the cost of living. When the government controls prices, there is no longer a normal relationship between the
price of a product and the quantity consumers will buy. Government controls may help in an emergency.
However, some economists believe that the controls can have negative effects over a long period of time.
     In cities with rent control, the city government sets the maximum rent that a landlord can charge for an
apartment. Supporters of rent control argue that it protects people who are living in apartments. Their rent
cannot increase; therefore, they are not in danger of losing their homes. However, the critics say that after
a long time, rent control may have negative effects. Landlords know that they cannot increase their profits.
Therefore, they invest in other businesses where they can increase their profits. They do not invest in new
buildings which would also be rent-controlled. As a result, new apartments are not built. Many people who
need apartments cannot find any. According to the critics, the end result of rent control is a shortage of
apartments in the city.
     Some theorists argue that the minimum wage law can cause problems in the same way. The federal
government sets the minimum that an employer must pay workers. The minimum helps people who generally
look for unskilled, low paying jobs. However, if the minimum is high, employers may hire fewer workers.
They will replace workers with machinery. The price which is the wage that employers want decreases.
Thus, the critics claim, an increase in the minimum wage may cause unemployment. Some poor people may
find themselves without jobs instead of with jobs at the minimum wage.
     Supporters of the minimum wage say that it helps people keep their dignity. Because of the law, workers
cannot sell their services for less than the minimum. Furthermore, employers cannot force workers to accept
jobs at unfair wages.
     Economic theory predicts the results of economic decisions such as decisions about farm production, rent
control, and the minimum wage. The predictions may be correct only if "other things are equal". Economists
do not agree on some of the predictions. They also do not agree on the value of different decisions. Some
economists support a particular decision while others criticize it. Economists do agree, however, that there
are no simple answers to economic questions. 1. There is the possibility that setting maximum rent may ____. A. cause a shortage of apartments
B. worry those who rent apartments as homes
C. increase the profits of landlords
D. encourage landlords to invest in building apartments 2. The problem of unemployment will arise ____.A. if the minimum wage is set too high
B. if the minimum wage is set too low
C. if the workers are unskilled
D. if the maximum wage is set 3. The passage tells us ____.A. the relationship between supply and demand
B. the possible results of government controls
C. the necessity of government controls
D. the urgency of getting rid of government controls

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阅读理解。     Nothing says love like a dozen long-stemmed roses on Valentine"s Day. More than a million roses will
be sold during this festival for lovers, the biggest day of the year for the nation"s rose industry. It"s going
to remain the most popular flower because love never goes out of style.
     Yes, a rose is a rose. But selling them is no longer a beautiful experience for traditional flower shops.
Supermarkets now offer convenience to the busy and discount rose shops help those hopelessly in love
save money. Roses Only is a good example of a discount rose retailer that was transformed from a
traditional shop to answer the challenge in the 90"s.
     Inside this store on Sixth Avenue near 40th Street, contemporary white furniture and wall-to-wall
mirrors give it an expensive look. Customers move about freely among the counters, looking eagerly at the
roses in more than 50 colors from shelf to shelf. Some customers say it"s the high quality of the roses that
attracts them there. "I spent ＄20 but the flowers looked like I paid 60 or 70 dollars," says one customer.
     Studies show more people are buying roses in ones, twos and threes these days. In fact, more than half
of all roses are sold in bunches of fewer than a dozen. But Roses Only"s low prices encourage people to
spend. Even on Valentine"s Day, when the price of a dozen roses and delivery can soar as high as $150, 12
of Roses Only"s most expensive flowers sell for just ＄35. The company"s key to success is to hold prices
down by controlling every link in the rose chain. It grows its own roses in the sunshine of the Andes
Mountains. In addition, the company also sells other items such as balloons and stuffed animals.
     While discount rose retailers are witnessing their business bloom, U.S. rose growers aren"t able to
compete with the fierce foreign competition. More than 57% of roses sold in the USA are grown in other
countries. The biggest foreign producers are Colombia and Ecuador, which accounted for almost 90% of
the total imported last year. The trend has hurt domestic rose growers such as Johnson Flowers of California,
considered to be this country"s leading producer.
     Now, instead of fighting overseas rivals, the Johnsons are trying to work with them. "We have a few
big fighting overseas rivals, the Johnsons are trying to work with them. We may also widen our business
to include the service area and be a representative for overseas flower producers."
     As a result of severe competition, those in the rose business long for the good old days, whereas ordinary
people benefit from the low price. 1. What is the central theme of this text? A. The US rose business is going from bad to worse in spite of the efforts made.
B. The rose will remain the most popular flower as love never goes out of date.
C. The rose business is trying to meet the challenges in the market to succeed.
D. The rose industry plays an important role in American economy. 2. How does Roses Only obtain success in the discount rose retailing field? A. By setting up more chain stores across the country.
B. By selling roses in supermarkets.
C. By selling high quality roses at a low price.
D. By selling roses by the dozen. 3. Which of the following shows the structure of the passage? (① to ⑦represent paragraphs l to 7) A.

4. After reading the passage,we learn all of the following EXCEPT _____.A. selling roses is no longer as easy for traditional flower shops as it was
B. almost 90% of roses sold in US are imported from Colombia and Ecuador
C. US rose growers are faced with intense foreign competition
D. the Johnsons are trying to co-operate with foreign competitors instead of fighting them

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阅读理解。     By 2010, spending on Internet advertising will account for 10% of total US ad dollars, according to
"The Changing Face of Advertising in the Digital Age" from Parks Associates.
     Roughly 21% of Internet users consider Internet advertising to be the most effective ad format. It has
gone beyond traditional media, such as newspapers, magazines, and radio.
     Behavioral targeting with a variety of sounds makes the channel attractive. "Because the Internet is an
interactive platform and offers rich consumer usage data, advertisers can improve their ad target ability
and achieve better results," said Parks Associates research analyst Harry Wang.
     Due to audience and media fragmentation (分裂), large companies and established brands will move
dollars from TV and other formats to the Web. Anheuser-Busch, Procter & Gamble, Verizon, and Wachovia
have already moved portions of their budgets to online advertising.
     "The Internet has changed the standard for the entire world, and traditional media have to respond by
making their media platforms more interactive and results-oriented," said Wang.
     The report was compiled (编写) from the findings of an Internet-based survey of 2,084 US consumers
in households with Internet access. The group includes 270 teenagers ages 13 to 17. The report contains
data from Parks Associates" consumer study "Digital Entertainment: Changing Consumer Habits". 1. According to the context, Anheuser-Busch, Procter & Gamble, Verizon, and Wachovia are all the names
    of _____. A. international companies
B. foreign companies
C. large companies or established brands
D. famous established brands 2. Compared with traditional media, what are the biggest advantages of the Internet? A. The Internet is an interactive platform with a variety of sounds and offers rich consumer usage data.
B. The Internet is available to anybody who are interested in information.
C. Traditional media, such as newspapers, magazines and radios can"t reach the latest news to people as
     soon as possible.
D. The Internet is changing people"s habits. 3. What does the underlined words "account for" in the first paragraph mean? A. cover up
B. make up
C. count out
D. take up 4. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true? A. Traditional media is not popular any more.
B. Internet advertising is increasing now.
C. The Internet is more attractive than traditional media.
D. Internet adverting is the most effective ad format.

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阅读理解。     More than 17,000 flights to and from European airspace were cancelled, including all flights from Britain"s
major airports.
     The Met Office reported that volcanic ash had begun to fall across Britain, coating surfaces with a fine
layer of dust and raising fears for people with breathing difficulties.
     Meanwhile experts warned of shortages of some foods with produce destined for British shops rotting in
airport warehouses in other parts of the world.
     Geologists reported that activity at the volcano increased yesterday, spewing a plume of ash 5.3 miles high
into the atmosphere.
     The Icelandic Meteorological Office said the winds blowing the volcanic ash southeast to Europe and up
into Scandinavia and Russia will continue in the same direction for at least two days and could go on until
Wednesday. But scientists fear there could be more eruptions from the 5,466-foot volcano, Mount
Eyjafjallajkull.
     A university geophysicist said, "From what we"ve seen, it could erupt, pause for a few weeks, and then
possibly erupt again. It could go on for months." As the no fly zone expanded yesterday, so did the chaos.
The Icelandic volcano causing travel chaos across Europe could go on erupting for months, geologists have
warned.
     The National Air Traffic Control Service (Nats) extended restrictions on flights from British airports to
7 p.m. on Sunday, with the expectation of further extensions.
     Ferry operators have reported record bookings. P&O took 6,000 foot passengers across the Channel on
Friday compared to the 100 to 200 it would expect on a normal Friday in April.
     Eurostar trains were fully booked until tomorrow, with 50,000 more passengers than normal since the
airline disruption (中断) began on Thursday, including comedian John Cleese who arrived back in London last
night after a most difficult overland journey from Switzerland.
     The operator is charging passengers a minimum ＄223 for a single ticket from Paris to London over the
next two days prompting criticisms of profiteering. A return ticket can normally be bought for as little as 69.
Eurostar denied it was cashing in.
     Some 4,000 British tourists have been stranded in South Africa.
     The British Embassy in Athens said there were currently "many thousand" British holidaymakers trying to
leave Greece after the holidays, in many cases anxious to get back in time for the start of the school term this
week, with some of those desperate to return resorting to renting cars or embarking on long train journeys. 1. Where is the volcano, Mount Eyjafjallajkull located?A. England
B. Ireland
C. Iceland
D. Switzerland 2. Which of the following is NOT the influence of the volcano eruption? A. Breathing difficulties
B. Shortages of food
C. The airline disruption
D. A fine layer of sand 3. What does the underlined word "chaos" mean in Para. 6? A. Danger.
B. Anxiety.
C. Desperation.
D. Disorder.4. From the passage, we know that the volcano eruption _____.A. forced all the people to go back home
B. brought the train company a large profit
C. made 6,000 passengers take ships to cross the Channel
D. prevented British students from going to school on time

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阅读理解。     Sony and Toyota are struggling. But one brand name is booming (繁荣) in Japan during the economic
slowdown-Mickey Mouse.
     According to the company that runs Tokyo Disneyland, Japan"s busiest theme park will be more packed
than ever over Christmas and New Year"s Day. Despite the bad economy, it"s already been a record year for
an escape which is cheaper than the average night out in pricey Tokyo.
     "Here, economic depression (萧条) seems a world away " visitor Namie Katsunuma said. "This is the only
place where I can totally forget the economic worries and hardship of my life."
     The single mother"s salary at an auto factory was cut in November, but with her $ 500 yearly pass in hand,
she makes the 95-km journey from her home to Tokyo Disneyland every couple of months.
     The park"s operator, Oriental Land Co., estimates (估算) a record 26.5 million people will visit Tokyo
Disneyland and its nearby sister park, Disney Sea, during the financial year ending in March. The company is
forecasting sales of a record $ 4.2 billion, up almost 10 percent.
     "In a way, the economy works well for Tokyo Disneyland," said Hiroshi Watanabe, an economist at the
Tokyo-based Daiwa Research Institute. "Because of the economic depression, people have stopped buying cars
and houses or going to Hawaii, and Tokyo Disneyland offers an affordable and pleasant alternative."
     Around the world, Disney"s theme parks have been a bright spot for the brand this year as people seem to
look for an escape from bad times. 1. According to the passage, what happens to Tokyo Disneyland this year? A. Fewer people visit it.
B. Less money is made.
C. It attracts more visitors.
D. Its sales have reached $ 4.2 billion. 2. What can be the possible reason for Tokyo Disneyland" s boom? A. It costs less money to play here than in any other theme park.
B. People have a new understanding of amusement.
C. The economic depression has changed people"s plans to spend money.
D. Visitors seek an escape from economic depression. 3. What does the underlined word "alternative" mean in the sixth paragraph? A. choice
B. park
C. time
D. trip 4. According to the last paragraph, what is the writer probably going to write? A. The theme parks that attract most visitors.
B. More examples of the success of Disney theme parks.
C. Tokyo Disneyland" s plan for the next year.
D. The economic depression in other companies.

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