Many factories and businesses around the globe have been struggling to deal with the severe economic realities of the recession(衰退), so they are having their employees take compulsory unpaid leave to save money. For some workers, their salaries have been cut by 20 percent, forced to stay home one out of every five working days. For some businesses, though, the economic downturn is actually a goldmine.
Instead of going out to fancy restaurants to dine with the whole family, many choose to stay at home. "People are eating out less and staying home more, which is driving our sales," reports Domino's Pizza chief manager Chris Moore. Pizza is very popular, and it is also very affordable for a family that has little extra money to spare. Domino's business in England rose 15 percent in the first six weeks this year compared with the previous year. Moore believes that the customers now will remain loyal when the financial situation rights itself. "By exceeding(超越) their expectations in terms of product quality and speed of delivery... these customers will stay with Domino's when the economy becomes better." said Moore.
Delivered pizza is not the only winner in the stay-at-home economy. Almost all online games have been reporting record-high income since the middle of 2008. Online games are designed to enable players to let off steam by interacting with each other socially in the comfort of their own homes. A Shanghai-based online game producer recently joked: "The game businesses are worried about economic recovery."
Another business that has boomed during the recession is camping equipment. Luxury vacations for families are down, but people still want to get away from their dull lives. This means that sales of tents, sleeping bags, and other outdoor equipment have gone up as families are trying to still have fun even though their bank accounts aren't as good as they once were. There have been reports that sales of fishing equipment are on the rise because many people believe this can help lower their grocery bills.
1.What is true about Domino's in economic hard times?
A. It is giving its employees a 20 percent cut.
B. It has added four or five new cheaper pizzas.
C. It has to close 15 percent of its stores.
D. Its business is increasing quite rapidly.
2.What does the phrase "let off steam" mean in the third paragraph?
A. Save money.
B. Free one's feelings.
C. Kill another player online.
D. Make money from an online game.
3.How does the author present his point?
A. By giving examples.
B. By showing a sequence.
C. By explaining causes and effects.
D. By making comparisons and contrasts.
4.Which is the best title for the passage?
A. Domino's Pizza B. In-house Economy
C. Booming Businesses D. Economic Recession
I needed to get some money, so, after Christmas, I took a job in the clothes department at Graham's for the first fortnight of the January sale. I can't say that I enjoyed it, but it was an experience I would never forget.
I could never understand why there were so many things in the sales; where did they all come from? Now I know the secret! Firstly, there is the special winter stock(货物) and the stock that people buy all the year round; some of these things are slightly reduced. Secondly, there are the summer clothes they couldn't sell last year; these are heavily reduced to clear them. Thirdly, there are cheap clothes bought in specially for the sales; these are put out at high prices ten days before the sale begins and then are reduced by 60% in the sale. Clever! Lastly, they buy in "seconds" (clothes not in perfect condition) for the sale and they are sold very cheaply.
When I arrived half an hour before opening on the first day of the sale, there was already a queue around three sides of the building. This made me very nervous.
When the big moment arrived to open the doors, the security guards, looking less comfortable than usual, came up to them, keys in hand. The moment they had unlocked the doors, they hid behind the doors for protection as the noisy crowd charged in. I couldn't believe my eyes; this wasn't shopping, it was a battlefield! One poor lady couldn't keep her feet and was knocked over by people pushing from behind.
Clothes were flying in all directions as people searched for the sizes, colors and styles they wanted. Quarrels broke out. Mothers were using their small children to crawl(爬行) through people's legs and get hold of things they couldn't get near themselves.
Within minutes I had half a dozen people pushing clothes under my nose, each wanting to be the first served. Where had the famous English queue gone? The whole day continued like that, but I kept my temper! I was taking money hand over fist and began to realize why, twice a year, Graham's were happy to turn their expensive store into a battlefield like this.
In the sale fever, people were spending money like water without thinking whether they needed what they were buying. As long as it was a bargain it was OK.
You won't believe this but as soon as I got home, I crashed out for four hours. Then I had dinner and went back to bed again, fearing the sound of the alarm which would tell me to get ready for the second day of the sale.
1.Which of the following statements is true?
A. The customers gave up the queuing, for which the English are famous.
B. The customers kept their temper while looking for the clothes they wanted.
C. Small children enjoyed crawling through people's legs.
D. The security guards were fearless of the crowd.
2.In the author's opinion, why were Graham's happy to make their expensive store into a "battlefield"?
A. There were too many clothes and they wanted to clear them in the sales.
B. They were eager to show that they were clever at doing business.
C. They could take the chance to raise the prices of all their clothes.
D. They wanted to make more money by having sales.
3.In the passage, the expression "crashed out" means _______.
A. chatted with her friends B. slept soundly
C. broke down D. dined out
4.What would be the best title for the passage?
A. The Best Bargain. B. Hunting for a Job.
C. Sale Fever. D. A Pleasant Fortnight.
Attractions
Do you:
◆ Love the National Park, value it and hope to safeguard its future?
◆ Wish to see the beautiful landscape of the Park protected?
◆ Like to enjoy peaceful informal recreation within the Park?
Aims
The Friends organization aims are to help protect and improve the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for all to enjoy. We are a voluntary organization and registered charity without financial links to the National Park Authority.
Activities
We encourage everyone to enjoy the National Park through regular talks and visits to interesting places in the Park with expert guides.
We keep an eye on planning applications. Park Authority policies and threats to the National Park such as massive leisure complexes. We work with like-minded organizations such as the Campaign for National Parks to make our voice more effective.
We help children to understand the National Park by sponsoring publications such as an adventure booklet and projects in local schools.
Benefits
◆ Guided visits to places of interest which may not always be available to the general public.
◆ All members receive our regular News and Views.
◆ Talks by experts in their fields on current issues.
◆ A discount is available on Friends items for sale.
◆ Satisfaction of participation in work parties, for those willing and able to be involved.
If interested, please complete the Application Form at www.fpnp.org.uk
Attractions
Do you:
◆ Love the National Park, value it and hope to safeguard its future?
◆ Wish to see the beautiful landscape of the Park protected?
◆ Like to enjoy peaceful informal recreation within the Park?
Aims
The Friends organization aims are to help protect and improve the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for all to enjoy. We are a voluntary organization and registered charity without financial links to the National Park Authority.
Activities
We encourage everyone to enjoy the National Park through regular talks and visits to interesting places in the Park with expert guides.
We keep an eye on planning applications. Park Authority policies and threats to the National Park such as massive leisure complexes. We work with like-minded organizations such as the Campaign for National Parks to make our voice more effective.
We help children to understand the National Park by sponsoring publications such as an adventure booklet and projects in local schools.
Benefits
◆ Guided visits to places of interest which may not always be available to the general public.
◆ All members receive our regular News and Views.
◆ Talks by experts in their fields on current issues.
◆ A discount is available on Friends items for sale.
◆ Satisfaction of participation in work parties, for those willing and able to be involved.
If interested, please complete the Application Form at www.fpnp.org.uk
1.Which of the following is discouraged by the Friends organization?
A. To build massive complexes for public amusement.
B. To prevent possible damages to the National Park.
C. To help protect and improve the Park for all to enjoy.
D. To sponsor publications and projects in local school.
2.One of the benefits for members of Friends is to ________.
A. have Friends' goods free of charge
B. visit any place not open to the public
C. take part in work parties if they want to
D. give talks in their fields on current issues
3.The purpose of this poster is to invite more people to ________.
A. raise money for the Friends organization
B. join the Friends organization and be members of it
C. work as managers for Pembroke shire National Park
D. enjoy the landscape of Pembroke shire National Park
When I was 8, a gentleman came to my orphanage(孤儿院)and taught us how to do woodworking projects.
I remember my first project－a small table. I was so ______ of it that I looked upon it as if I had created a(an) ______. It was absolutely beautiful and it had taken me six weeks to ______ it. I could hardly wait to give it to Mother Winters as a ______. She was the head mistress of our orphanage, who was always ______ with us.
As the tables were not dry from the clear coating, the man told us to wait a few days before taking them to our dormitories. But I was just so ______ and happy that I couldn't wait. I dashed out like a ______, carrying my table, smiling from ear to ear.
When I reached the dormitory, I placed the little table beside my bed. I was ______ it when Mother Winters entered. She walked over to the table. Running her hand ______ it, she noticed that it was still wet.
"Were you ______ to bring this home?" she asked.
"No, ma' am," I ______ with my head down.
She ordered me to throw the table out and so I did. After she left, I immediately opened the door to get it back. There was ______ stuck all over. I brushed and cried, but it would not come off.
I hid the table in my closet and never ______ it. A year later while cleaning up, I gave the table to Mother Henderson, my houseparent(宿管员), thinking that she would ______ it away.
Thirty years later at a reunion, I ______ that Mother Henderson was living nearby, so I drove up to see her. We talked cheerfully for long. As I was about to leave, she asked me to come down to her ______ to get something important. I followed her ______ into a dark corner. She picked something up. ______ she turned around, I could see that she was holding a little table.
Mother Henderson kept the little table that I had given up so long ago.
Today, I look at that table with bittersweet memories but full of ______ to Mother Henderson, who kept it for a young orphan who tried very hard to _______.
1.A. tired B. ashamed C. proud D. aware
2.A. award B. wonder C. record D. product
3.A. design B. invent C. paint D. complete
4.A. gift B. reward C. prize D. souvenir
5.A. satisfied B. strict C. patient D. angry
6.A. upset B. amazed C. confident D. excited
7.A. thief B. hero C. sword D. flash
8.A. drying B. observing C. admiring D. hiding
9.A. into B. across C. above D. after
10.A. supposed B. embarrassed C. encouraged D. determined
11.A. agreed B. sighed C. whispered D. argued
12.A. dirt B. glue C. paint D. wood
13.A. removed B. touched C. shook D. split
14.A. put B. give C. take D. throw
15.A. learned B. recommended C. remembered D. expected
16.A. bathroom B. balcony C. basement D. bedroom
17.A. curiously B. unwillingly C. doubtfully D. worriedly
18.A. Before B. Since C. As D. Until
19.A. admiration B. gratitude C. sympathy D. regret
20.A. adapt B. study C. perform D. please
Every year, thousands of tourists came to the island, ________ the warm sunshine and splendid view.
A. blocking out B. breaking down
C. referring to D. taking advantage of
If I had known that, I ________ so.
A. wouldn't have done B. didn't do
C. won't do D. wouldn't do
