19.Gift certificates,or rather their high-tech new replacements,gift cards,are America's most popular present.They spare gift-givers the tension of choosing anything specific,and receivers the horror of having to keep the result.Retailers like them too,because they are quite profitable.But like most goods in the recession (衰退),they have become harder to shift,prompting some radical redesigns.
Gift cards are profitable because retailers receive money for them up from,and around 10% of them are never redeemed (收回),according to Lew Paine of the GFK Group,a market-research firm.When people do use them,they often spend more than the amount given,on products with high margins.
 But sales of gift cards were down by around 6% last year in America,to about 25 billion,partly because discounts in stores were so steep that customers saw more value in buying products directly.Bankruptcies (破产) among retailers also scared people away from gift cards,for fear that stores would not be around to honour them.Some financial-services companies that offer gift cards which can be used in various stores,including Visa and American Express,came under fire for charging monthly maintenance fees on unspent balances.
    Analysts expect another tough holiday season for gift cards this year.Sales will be down by about 5%,projects Archstone Consulting,which studies the business.Retailers are trying to counter this decline by making gift cards more attractive.One approach is to add nifty (俏皮的) packaging.Target,for example,is selling gift cards that double as wind-up toys or play recorded greetings.Other retailers have launched schemes that let people e-mail one another electronic gift certificates,which the receivers can then print out for use.
    Some retailers have even given gift cards away in an effort to drum up business.Neiman Marcus,for example,sent 50 gift cards to big customers to tempt them back for further shopping.Target will give a l0 gift card to people who spend l00 before noon on the Friday after Thanksgiving,which is considered the start of the holiday shopping season.Such handouts can be cheaper than sharp store-wide discounts,which proved destructive to profits last year.Expiration dates add a sense of urgency,which retailers are eager to promote.
 (Note:Answer the questions or complete the statements in NO MORE THAN 10 WORDS)
78.The reason for the popularity of gift cards to gift-givers is that they don't have to worry aboutchoosing anything specific.
79.Some financial-services companies that offer gift cards were criticized last year becausethey charged monthly maintenance fees on unspent balances.
80.Give one example of retailers'responding to the decline of the sales of gift cards according to the passage.Add nifty packaging./Promote electronic gift certificates (let people email electronic gift certificates)/make gift cards more attractive/…
81.Retailers gave out handouts to promote consumption last year,but their efforts turned outto be destructive to profits.
18.(You may read the questions first.)
We have designed all our bank cards to make your life easier.
Using your NatWest Service Card
As a Switch card,it lets you pay for all sorts of goods and services,whenever you see the Switch logo.The money comes straight out of your account,so you can spend as much as you like as long as you have enough money (or an agreed overdraft (透支) to cover it).It is also a cheque guarantee card for up to the amount shown on the card.And it gives you free access to your money from over 31,000cash machines across the UK.
Using your NatWest Cash Card
You can use your Cash Card as a Solo card to pay for goods and services wherever you see the Solo logo.It can also give you access to your account and your cash from over 31,000cash machines nationwide.You can spend or withdraw what you have in your account,or as much as your agreed overdraft limit.
Using your cards abroad
You can also use your Service Card and Cash Card when you're abroad.You can withdraw cash at cash machines and pay for goods and services wherever you see the Cirrus or Maestro logo displayed.
We take a commission charge (手续费) of 2.25% of each cash withdrawal you make (up to£4)and a commission charge of 75pence every time you use Maestro to pay for goods or services.We also apply a foreign-exchange transaction fee of 2.65%.
Using your NatWest Credit Card
With your credit card you can do the following:
*Pay for goods and services and enjoy up to 56days'interest-free credit.
*Pay in over 24million shops worldwide that display the MasterCard or Visa logos.
*Collect one AIR MILE for every£20of spending that appears on your statement (结算单).(This does not include foreign currency or traveler's cheques bought,interest and other charges.)
66.If you carry the Service Card or the Cash Card,B.
A.you can use it to guarantee things as you wish
B.you can draw your money from cash machines conveniently
C.you can spend as much money as you like without a limit
D.you have to pay some extra money when you pay for services in the UK
67.If you withdraw£200from a cash machine abroad,you will be chargedA.
A.£4B.£4.5        C.£5.25            D.£5.3
68.Which of the following is TRUE about using your NatWest Credit Card?C
A.You have to pay back with interest within 56days.
B.You can use the card in any shop across the world.
C.You will be charged some interest beyond two months.
D.You will gain one air mile if you spend£20on traveller's cheques.
69.The purpose of the passage is to show you how toD.
A.pay for goods with your cards          
B.use your cards abroad
C.draw cash with your cards      
D.play your cards right.
 0  136910  136918  136924  136928  136934  136936  136940  136946  136948  136954  136960  136964  136966  136970  136976  136978  136984  136988  136990  136994  136996  137000  137002  137004  137005  137006  137008  137009  137010  137012  137014  137018  137020  137024  137026  137030  137036  137038  137044  137048  137050  137054  137060  137066  137068  137074  137078  137080  137086  137090  137096  137104  151629 

违法和不良信息举报电话:027-86699610 举报邮箱:58377363@163.com

精英家教网