Question

The Friday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. It’s said that it’s the day that store ledgers(分類賬)move into the black and companies become profitable. On that day, retailers slash(砍) 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.

 This day should be a shopper’s dream. “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.

Last year a crowd of bargain-hunters killed a Wal-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. 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.By saying “This day should be a shopper’s dream”, the writer means ________ .

A．shoppers have longed for this day for a long time

B．the shops will be very crowded on that day

C．the shops will keep open until the daybreak of next day

D．shoppers can buy many items at low prices on that day

2.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.

3.From the passage we know that_________.

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.

4.We can find this passage in_________.

A. a science fiction                       B. a travel brochure

C. an economic research report             D. a book on psychology

5.Why American people call it a black day?

A. Because they organize activities in honor of some great person.

B. Because there are too many people going out shopping for Christmas.

C. Too many people are celebrating Thanks giving.

D. The sky is black that day.

 

Answer 1

【答案】

 

1.D

2.C

3.A

4.C

5.B

【解析】

試題分析：文章大意：文章講述的是在黑色星期五這一天，無數的人都會去購物，商家都會在這一天大幅打折。商家在黑色星期五這天可以盈利很多，顧客也能買到便宜的商品，但是也同時會帶來一定的社會問題。

1.推理判斷題，根據第二段的句子：It’s just the deals, the sales and everything you can get for a lesser price,可知在黑色星期五，顧客可以以低價買商品，選D。

2.推理判斷題，根據第三段的句子：Last year a crowd of bargain-hunters killed a Wal-mart worker in a New York suburb可知，由于去年打折的時候發生了事故，所以增加了保安。選C。

3.推理判斷題，根據文章第一段和和第二段的句子：Every year it’s the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. Stores open before sunrise and there are deep discounts everywhere you look.可知，每天都有這樣的一天，今年也是這樣的。選A。

4.推理判斷題，整篇文章都講的是經濟方面的問題，最后一段引用經濟學家的話Economists say U.S. consumers will spend money this Black Friday, but they will spend it more carefully.所以選擇C，經濟研究報告

5.推理判斷題。根據文章內容，尤其是第一段的句子It is also a time when many Americans start their Christmas shopping.可知，當天有很多很多的人去購物。所以是黑色星期五，選B。

考點：考查日常生活類短文