A used book or nearly-new kitchen gadget (配件) may not be at the top of every Christmas wish list, but hard economic times coupled with a new green awareness are changing attitudes about gift-giving in France.
French holiday shoppers are choosing larger numbers for “green” gifting this Christmas, studies show. About 30 percent of French consumers will give second-hand items as gifts to stretch out their tight budgets but also to do their little bit for recycling, according to a study by international consulting firm Deloitte.
The survey of Christmas consumer behaviors in 18 European countries found the French were more than twice as likely as other Europeans to give second-hand items. Websites promoting re-gifting and green gifting are popular in France, with many reporting a rise in business.
“Concerns about the ecology and the economy have come together and we are now seeing people who accept the types of gifts that were not appreciated just a short time ago,” said Sebastien Ravut, who runs a website promoting eco-friendly consumerism. His site lists shops in France that offer fair trade products, bio-friendly goods and recycled items. Over the Christmas holidays, the number of visits to the site has doubled from last year, reaching 60,000 a month.
A study by online survey firm Vivodi for PriceMinister showed eight out of 10 people would be happy to receive a used item as a gift and that younger consumers were more open to the idea.
But Gilles Goldenberg, author of the Deloitte study, said that environmental concerns are not why customers buy used goods. “The number one concern is getting the lowest possible price,” said Goldenberg. “Eco-friendly products are drawing a lot of interest, but not if that means paying more.”
Theatre tickets and other low-carbon gifts are fashionable, and eco-friendly websites are also encouraging gift givers to offer time and services instead of stuff. “The order of the day is to spend less time shopping and more time connecting” over the holidays, said Florence de Monclin from the Nicolas Helot foundation for Nature and Humanity.
1.We can judge from the Deloitte study that _________.
A. over a quarter of the French give second-hand Christmas gifts
B. the French are less willing to buy eco-friendly gifts than other Europeans
C. 80% of French people are happy to receive second-hand gifts
D. less than 10% of European consumers are likely to give second-hand gifts
2.According to Goldenberg, the main reason for customers to buy used goods is that _______.
A. they want to be eco-friendly B. they want to save money
C. it is encouraged by websites D. it is a new fashion in Europe
3. All the following might be a promoted gift EXCEPT ________.
A. a theatre ticket
B. a second-hand book
C. a nearly-new digital toaster
D. a box of heavily packaged chocolate
4.Which of the following statements is TRUE?
A. Old people are not open minded enough to accept second-hand gifts.
B. People wish to receive second-hand gifts because of the economic downturn.
C. Ravut’s website received a sharp decrease in visits during the Christmas holidays.
D. In de Monclin’s opinion, people should spend more time with friends and family during holidays
Dreaming is believing, claim researchers of a new study, who found that dreams have an effect on people’s behavior, judgment and they might contain important hidden truths as well.
“Psychologists’ interpretations (解释) of the meaning of dreams vary widely. But our findings show that people believe their dreams provide meaningful insight (见识) into themselves and their world,” said a lead author of the study Carey More wedge, an assistant professor at Carnegie Mellon University.
In six different studies, researchers surveyed nearly 1,100 people about their dreams. One of the studies focused on general beliefs about dreams and involved 149 university students. All students were asked to rate different theories about dreams. The experts found that a surprising majority of the participants supported the theory about dreams revealing (揭示) the hidden truths about themselves and the rest of the world.
In a second experiment, they surveyed 182 people at a Boston train station, and asked them to imagine one out of four possible situations that could have occurred the night before a scheduled airline trip. Most of the participants said that dreaming of a plane crash would be more likely to affect their travel plans than would just thinking about a crash, or being warned by the government of a terrorism risk. They said a dreamed crash would influence their travel plans just as much as learning about a real crash on their planned route would.
Another experiment involved 270 men and women from across the United States. In a short online survey, they were asked to recall one of the dreams they had seen about any person they knew. The findings showed that people were more likely to remember and describe pleasant dreams about a person they liked, rather than a person they disliked. Meanwhile, in most cases they tended to consider an unpleasant dream as more meaningful if it was about a person they disliked.
“In other words,” said More wedge, “people attribute (归因于) meaning to dreams when it corresponds (与……一致) with their pre-existing beliefs and desires.” The researchers say that more investigation (研究) is needed to fully understand how people interpret their dreams. According to More wedge, most people realize that dreams are not predicting their future, but they still try to find some meaning in there.
1.The purpose of the studies is to _______.
A. determine when people tend to remember their dreams
B. research whether dreams have anything to do with real life
C. find out how people interpret their dreams and what impact that has
D. understand what causes people to dream and how to interpret dreams
2.According to the second experiment, what might influence people’s travel plans most?
A. Thinking about a past plane crash.
B. Dreaming about a plane crash.
C. Hearing a government’s warning of a terrorism risk.
D. Imagining a plane crashing on their planned route.
3.What can be concluded from the study?
A. When a dream conflicts with people’s existing beliefs and desires, they tend to attribute less
meaning to it.
B. Most people disagree that dreams help them better know themselves and the world.
C. A majority of people believes that dreams can predict their future and try to find their meaning.
D. Dreams can be a useful tool for learning and problem solving.
4.Which kind of dream is seen as more meaningful than the rest?
A. A pleasant dream about a person the dreamer likes.
B. A pleasant dream about a person the dreamer dislikes
C. An unpleasant dream about a person the dreamer likes.
D. An unpleasant dream about a person the dreamer dislikes.
For a long time, a boy wondered why his next-desk-pal was always the first in the class, whereas he could only rank the 21st. At home, he asked his mom, “Am I more stupid than other kids? How come I always lag behind? I just can’t come up with an answer.” Mom was aware that her son’s self-respect had been damaged by the ranking system, but she didn’t know what to say to help.
She was tempted (想要) to say that intelligence differs and that yes, her son’s friend really was the smarter boy. But that would have so upset her son. Thank goodness she resisted the temptation to say it.
Her son and his friend went on to high school that year, but despite trying as hard as he could, her son’s friend still outdid him. But she was proud of her boy for his hard work, sincerely proud. It was around this time she decided to take him on a trip to the seaside. On the trip, she at last found an answer for him.
Today her son no longer cares about rankings. He doesn’t have to, for he himself is now the top of the class – at the top national university he attends. Invited to speak to his old high school, he mentioned a valuable childhood experience: “Once, on a trip to the sea, my mother and I were lying on the beach. She pointed to the sea and said to me: ‘Do you see the seabirds fighting for food out there? When a wave comes near, the little birds rise quickly. The “clumsy” seagulls (海鸥) are far less agile (灵活的) and have to struggle to get away from the wave. But these “clumsy” birds prove to have the biggest, strongest wings, which open the widest and allow the bird to travel the furthest. When the season changes, they leave for foreign shores, leaving the little birds behind. Son, I have a feeling that you are one of those seagulls.”
1. From the first paragraph, we could conclude the mother ______.
A. knew her son was not bright enough
B. saw the negative effects of the ranking system
C. decided to help with her son’s school work
D. was troubled by her son’s low rankings
2.The mom was glad she didn’t give an answer at first because ______.
A. she knew her son would forget his rankings soon
B. she felt intelligence doesn’t mean everything
C. she knew he was not strong enough for the truth
D. she wanted to avoid another blow to her son’s self-respect
3.The story conveys the message that ______.
a. only rankings show intelligence
b. hard work and confidence can lead to a change in rankings
c. parents should see children’s strengths and encourage them
d. competition between students is good for society
A. bc B. cd C. abc D. bcd
4. Which of the following would be the best title for the story?
A. How important are rankings?
B. Little birds and seagulls
C. The answer Mom gave
D. Hard work pays off!
Last weekends, my kids along with few other kids from the neighborhood volunteered to help me wash my car. My 10-year-old daughter came up with the idea of 31 other people’s cars as well. It was pretty 32 outside and I had no plans to 33 to be in the bright sun. She 34 wanted to give lemonade（柠檬汽水）to passersby for free. I had seen little kids 35 and sell fresh lemonade for a small cost but not free. Although I felt 36 , I decided to help her. 37 she asked me, “What if we 38 this a smile car wash?” I couldn’t hold back my tears and 39 her and the other kids to go outside the house and come up with 40 ideas. While I kept myself busy in drying the car, the gang walked up to me with a(n) 41 with beautiful images of smiles. They had “Free Car Wash” written on it and the 42 of their exercise was “smile”. It was pretty neat to see a team of kids ranging 5－11 years with the 43 to do something for others.
All that seemed 44 and came right from their heart. Nothing seemed to 45 to them: their playtime, the heat outside—they just wanted to 46 others and do something nice in the community!
I helped them make some fresh lemonade and brought out some additional 47 to help clean cars. The passersby were 48 and one even shouted back to them saying “God Bless You, my kids…” One of them even tried giving them 5 dollars, which they refused. A pretty heartwarming 49 ! I feel blessed by being 50 by such wonderful and loving souls.
1. A. decorating B. repairing C. washing D. drying
2. A. dirty B. hot C. different D. quiet
3. A. practice B. avoid C. continue D. suggest
4.A. hardly B. therefore C. already D. further
5. A serve B. enjoy C. buy D. choose
6. A. difficult B. popular C. confused D. worried
7.A. Luckily B. Simply C. Then D. Finally
8.A. order B. leave C. make D. show
9.A. encouraged B. expected C. invited D. challenged
10.A. familiar B. ready C. changed D. creative
11.A. board B. picture C. idea D. car
12. A. purpose B. trouble C. secret D. theme
13.A. need B. duty C. imagination D. skill
14.A. important B. disappointing C. hopeful D natural
15.A. matter B. object C. belong D. refer
16.A. relax B. try C. help D. smile
17.A. friends B. rags C. children D. Fruit
18.A. interested B. amazed C. bored D. frightened
19.A. scene B. gift C. story D. explanation
20. A. supported B. understood C. refused D. surrounded
With the approach of the Spring Festival, the sharply rising prices of many goods a new wave of purchase.
A. send off B. take off C. set off D. show off
She felt completely during the vacation but now she has to go back to her work again.
A. at sea B. at ease C. at a loss D. at risk
