Half off usually unaffordable products? Only $49.99 for that $100.00 dinner? That’s the magic of Groupon, but for some small business owners the “great business” offered by Groupon can be equal to the kiss of death. How could that occur?
The math of Groupon seems simple at a glance, but upon further inspection the numbers don’t add up when it comes to smaller businesses. A Groupon typically offers a 50% discount on a product or service, then the remaining profit is divided between Groupon and the small business. While Groupon has already received the profit in advance, the merchant is left waiting for their cut. Those worrying numbers are assuming the price cut is 50/50, which, in some cases, is being generous.
When you break it down to numbers, a Groupon deal seems disastrous, but it’s not only the numbers small business owners have to worry about. The point of Groupon deals is to attract new and hopefully long term customers. Yet, does this actually happen? The majority of consumers buying the Groupon are there for the bargain and don’t return after using their Groupon. CFHS Junior Angelita Pope stated, “I love the deals offered by Groupon! They can really save you so much money.” However, she went on to say that she hadn’t returned once to any of the businesses after using her Groupon.
For some small businesses, the pressure lies with the responses of their loyal customers, who watch as new faces get the same product or service for half the price that they have been paying for years. When you break it down, Groupon indicates that the business offering the deal is not only willing to be flexible with their price, but also that their product or service isn’t worth the price they’re charging for. When combining these factors, it’s no wonder loyal customers are put off by the idea of their favorite shop offering Groupons.
Now I by no means say Groupon have bad effects on all businesses; however the storm of Groupon is actually a disaster for a small business.
1.What is good about Groupon?
A. It can offer a large discount.
B. It helps add up the numbers.
C. It can improve the quality of the product.
D. It brings small business owners more profit.
2.CFHS Junior Angelita Pope’s statement suggests that _______.
A. small business owners needn’t worry about deals
B. people like using Groupon in the same business
C. the purpose of Groupon is to promote business
D. Groupon may not bring customers back
3.What does the underlined word “they” in Paragraph 4 refer to?
A. New faces. B. Loyal customers.
C. Groupon dealers. D. Small businesses.
4.What could be the best title for the text?
A. A new business trend—Groupon dealing
B. The development of a Groupon company
C. The effects of Groupon on small businesses
D. A fantastic shopping experience—Groupon
Patients in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease often struggle to remember recently learned information, meaning they forget things like important appointments or where they left their keys. But it seems that these memories are not lost. They are still filed away in the brain somewhere; they just can’t be easily accessed.
Now, researchers at MIT have developed a means of getting back memories in mice suffering from Alzheimer’s. The method relies on a technique that uses light to control genetically modified neurons (转基因神经元). Currently it is too early to be used in human trials as it involves inserting light emitting (发光) equipment into the subjects’ brains, but the same principles still apply, the researchers said.
“The important point is that this is evidence of concept. That is, even if a memory seems to be gone, it is still there. It’s a matter of how to get it back,” said senior researcher Susumu Tonegawa.
The team took two groups of mice, one genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s and one healthy. They then placed them into a room and gave them a mild electric shock. All of the mice showed fear when put back in an hour later. When placed in the room a third time several days later, the Alzheimer’s mice acted normally. They had forgotten the shock.
The researchers were then able to bring back the memory of the shock by activating (激活) the cells in which the memories were stored. Even when the mice were put into an unfamiliar room, they showed fear when the cells associated with the shock were activated.
“Short-term memory seems to be normal, on the order of hours. But for long-term memory, these early-Alzheimer’s mice seem to be damaged,” said lead researcher Dheeraj Roy. “Directly activating the cells that we believe are holding the memory helps them get it back. This suggests that it is indeed an access problem to the information, not that they’re unable to learn or store this memory.”
1.What can we learn about the researchers at MIT?
A. They are the pioneers of brain research.
B. They have used the method in human trials.
C. They can cure Alzheimer’s using the new method.
D. They can get back memories in mice with Alzheimer’s.
2.Why did the Alzheimer’s mice behave normally a third time?
A. They failed to remember the electric shock.
B. They were accustomed to the situation.
C. They managed to overcome the fear.
D. They activated the association.
3.For long-term memory, the early Alzheimer’s mice _______.
A. can activate their blood cells
B. can’t learn new tricks well
C. can easily get back their memory
D. can’t access the information stored
4.The main purpose of the text is to _______.
A. introduce a method of a research
B. report the latest discovery about a disease
C. give advice on how to improve memory
D. explain how our brain stores information
Many young people these days adore the advertised magazine body and become too focused on attaining this image instead of worrying more about what lasts and even grows over time. But could you imagine being considered beautiful for years, and suddenly being ugly after moving to another continent? It is a sad reality that people don’t realize how vacillating the idea of beauty can be from one country to another.
Think of the most typical American girl you know. Is she blonde haired with white skin and light eyes, and does she love shopping or sports? Now place this girl in the heart of Africa, a place where beauty is placed on what you can control. The Maasai tribe in Kenya focuses on how clean people are, and how stylish their piercings (穿孔) are. This tribe’s culture is to be a brave fighter, so they will cut their skin with patterns in it to show that they are strong. If you don’t look fierce, you are not beautiful.
Other countries like North Korea and South Korea have their own unique views on beauty. In an interview, a woman who has lived in both North and South Korea claims that beauty in North Korea is based more on your ability to be a good woman and wife. She says that women in North Korea are less concerned about fashion and beauty in the physical sense. She says they did have a time when big eyes were a big deal and everyone wanted to get double eyelid surgery. This is something extreme and could perhaps be influenced by Western culture. And the idea of getting surgery done to look more attractive is crazy.
1.What does the underlined word “vacillating” in Paragraph 1 probably mean?
A. Inconsistent. B. Reasonable. C. Unusual. D. Similar.
2.The Maasai tribe in Kenya is mentioned to show that in their eyes _______.
A. getting dirty is stylish
B. looking fierce is beautiful
C. strong people cut their skin
D. American girls love shopping
3.According to the woman interviewed, women in North Korea now_______.
A. care a lot about their appearance
B. put the beauty of eyes in the first place
C. pay great attention to their ability
D. are crazy about double eyelid surgery
4.What does the text mainly tell us?
A. Inner beauty is of great importance.
B. Ideas of beauty vary among culture groups.
C. Different ways are needed to admire true beauty.
D. Fashion magazines easily influence young people.
Bookstores are a traveller’s best friend:they provide convenient shelter in bad weather,and they often host readings and other cultural events.Here is a look at world’s six greatest bookstores.
Adrian Harrington—since 1971.Rare books:rare first editions;leather bound sets and general antiquarian(古玩).Address:64a Kensington Church Street,Kensington,London,England,U.K.
Another Country—Kreuzberg,Berlin,Germany.Another Country is an English Language second-hand bookshop which is mostly used as a library.They have about 20,000 books that you can buy or borrow.Some regular events are held at the shop,such as readings,cultural events,social evenings and film nights.
Atlantis Books—Oia,Santorini,Greece.Atlantis Books is an independent bookshop on the island of Santorini,Greece,founded in 2004 by a group of friends from Cyprus,England,and the United States.Throughout the year it has hosted literary festivals,film screenings,book readings,and good old fashioned dance parties.
Bart’s Books—Ojai,California,U.S.A.“The World’s Greatest Outdoor Bookstore”,a bookstore founded by Richard Bartinsdale in 1964.Shelves of books face the street,and regular customers are asked to drop coins into the door’s coin box to pay for any books they take whenever the store is closed.
Corso Como Bookshop—Milan,Italy.Extensive selection of publication on art,architecture,design,graphics and fashion,along with a strong emphasis on photography.It was founded in 1990 in Milan,Italy,by Carla Sozzani.
The Bookworm—Beijing,China.A bookshop,library,bar,restaurant and event space,now with four divisions in three cities—Beijing,Suzhou and Chengdu.The interconnecting rooms with floor-to-ceiling books on every wall are light and airy in summer,yet warm and comfortable in winter.
1.Which of the following bookstores has the longest history?
A. Adrian Harrington. B. Atlantis Books.
C. Bart’s Books. D. Corso Como Bookshop.
2.What can you do in Atlantis Books?
A. Attend a festival. B. Learn photography.
C. Enjoy rare books. D. Buy books anytime.
3.How is The Bookworm different from the other bookstores?
A. It is used as a library. B. It hosts all sorts of activities.
C. It focuses on photography. D. It has branches in different cities.
假如你是李华，你校国际部即将举行一次主题为“我爱中国古典诗词”的读书活动。你将代表全体学生，在启动仪式上发言。请你根据以下提示，用英文写一篇发言稿。内容包括：
1.说明活动的目的；
2.从中国古典诗词的特点的角度，陈述热爱它的理由；
3.对学习中国古典诗词的认识。
注意：
1.词数100词左右；
2.开头已写好，不计入总词数；
3.可适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。
参考词汇：古典诗词 classical poetry; 押韵 rhyme
Good morning, everyone!
Welcome to our Reading Activity.
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假定英语课上老师要求同桌之间交换修改作文，请你修改你同桌写的以下作文。文中共有10处语言错误，每句中最多有两处。每处错误仅涉及一个单词的增加、删除或修改。
增加：在缺词处加一个漏字符号（∧），并在其下面写出该加的词。
删除：把多余的词用斜线（\）划掉。
修改：在错的词下划一横线，并在该词下面写出修改后的词。
注意：1. 每处错误及其修改均仅限一词；
只允许修改10处，多者（从第11处起）不计分。
As it is often the case, when people are attending meetings, having meals or waiting for buses, you can always find them addicting to their phones, completely ignoring others.
This is really a common phenomena in our life. The reason is why smart phones nowadays can be used for people to play mobile games and kept in touch with friends through QQ and WeChat. Therefore, too much exposure to phones are bad for people in terms of health. Moreover, people involved in phones fail to communicate well with these around them.
As far as I am concerned, people should wisely make use of their phones to help their work and study. Meanwhile, care much about their family and friends rather than mobile phones.
