Question

The Friday after the American holiday of Thanksgiving is called Black Friday. It’s said that it’s the day that store ledgers(分类账)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】文章讲述的是在黑色星期五这一天，无数的人都会去购物，商家都会在这一天大幅打折。

1.推理判断题，根据第二段的It’s just the deals, the sales and everything you can get for a lesser price,可知，顾客可以以低价买商品，

2.推理判断题，根据第三段Last year a crowd of bargain-hunters killed a Wal-mart worker in a New York suburb可知，由于去年发生的事情，所以增加了保安。

3.推理判断题，根据文章第一段和文章的内容可知，每天都有这样的一天，今年也是这样的。

4.推理判断题，整篇文章都讲的是经济方面的问题，所以选择C，经济研究报告

5.推理判断题。根据文章内容，尤其是倒数第二段可知，当天有很多很多的人去购物。