Question

    Chinese consumers’ crazy appetite for luxury goods and services appears unstoppable, with just 2 percent of the Chinese population responsible for one-third of the world’s luxury items.

As China’s economic miracle develops, the market opportunities for all sorts of luxury goods and services are increasing. Luxury consumption in China now extends ways beyond well-known car, clothing and jewelry brands. For example, the luxury jet market in China is the fastest-growing in the world, even outstripping that of the United States, with a market share of 25 percent. This trend appears to continue, with 20 to 30 percent growth expected in China, compared with only 2 to 3 percent in the US. But more importantly, China’s luxury jet market growth represents a major development in the private consumption of luxury items.

China’s high-quality red wine market also provides evidence of the growth in private consumption of luxury goods. In 2013, China became the largest market for red wine in the world, even overtaking France, with l.86 billion bottles consumed in China last year. Over the past five years, China’s red wine consumption has grown 136 percent.

According to my ongoing consumer research in this area while working at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, public consumption of such expensive global luxury brands such as Prada and Armani is easily explained by the desire to “gain face” and publicly display social climbing through material possessions. On the other hand, it is “self-reward” that lies behind consumer motivation in this area. Chinese consumers who have experienced rapid financial and economic gains appear particularly prone to the need to reward themselves for their success. But this has little to do with ”gaining face” and impressing others and much more to do with the need for personal contentment.

Finally, the growth in private luxury consumption in China is set to continue in part due to the maturity of the Chinese consumer and advancement of Chinese consumer culture generally.

1.What do you think the author would most probably be?

A.A news reporter. B.An accountant.

C.A professor. D.A conductor.

2.What can we learn from Paragraphs 2 and 3?

A.China’s luxury jet market growth is only 2% to 3%.

B.France was once the largest market for red wine in the world before 2013.

C.The luxury jet market in the US shares 25% of the jet consumption in the world.

D.China’s red wine consumption has increased to 1.86 billion bottles since 2013.

3.The main idea of the fourth paragraph is______.

A.public consumption of global luxury brands is increasing.

B.Chinese consumers have experienced rapid financial and economic gains.

C.Chinese consumers enjoy “gain face” and “self-reward”.

D.the reason why Chinese consumers are fond of the global luxury goods.

4.What can be the best title for the passage?

A.Future Private Luxury Consumption in China

B.Chinese Appetite for Luxury Goods and Services

C.The Potential Luxury Jet Market in China

D.The Maturity of the Chinese Consumers

Answer

1.C

2.B

3.D

4.B

【解析】

本文是一篇说明文，介绍了中国消费者对全球奢侈品和服务的热烈追捧及其背后的原因。

1.推理判断题。根据第四段中的“According to my ongoing consumer research in this area while working at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing”（根据我在北京国际经济贸易大学工作期间对这一领域进行的消费者的研究）可知，作者可能是一位大学教授，故C项正确。

2.细节理解题。根据第三段中的“In 2013, China became the largest market for red wine in the world, even overtaking France,”可知，2013年，中国超过法国成为世界上最大的红酒消费市场，也就是说2013年之前，法国是世界上最大的红酒消费市场，故B项正确。

3.主旨大意题。根据第四段内容，特别是根据“the desire to “gain face” and publicly display social climbing through material possessions. On the other hand, it is “self-reward” that lies behind consumer motivation in this area. Chinese consumers who have experienced rapid financial and economic gains appear particularly prone to the need to reward themselves for their success.”可知，中国人热衷于购买奢侈品是因为他们希望通过物质财富来“赢得面子”，并公开展示社会地位的提升；另一方面，这一领域的消费者动机背后是“自我奖励”，经历过经济和金融快速增长的中国消费者似乎特别倾向于为自己的成功而奖励自己，由此可知，本段主要介绍的是中国消费者喜爱全球奢侈品的原因，故D项正确。

4.主旨大意题。通读全文，特别是根据第一段中的“Chinese consumers’ crazy appetite for luxury goods and services appears unstoppable”可知，本文主要介绍了中国人对全球奢侈品和服务的热烈追捧及其背后的原因，故B项正确。