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.

 

She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart．She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence．Outside, it was pouring so heavily．
We all stood there just inside the door of the Wal-Mart．We waited, some patiently, others annoyed because nature messed up their hurried day．I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world．
Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance （昏昏欲睡） we were all caught in．"Mom, let's run through the rain," she said．
"No, honey．We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied．
This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain．"
" We'll get wet totally if we do," Mom said．
"No, we won't, Mom．That's not what you said this morning," the young girl said as she tore at her Mom's arm．
"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"
"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"
The entire crowd stopped dead silent．I dare say you couldn't hear anything but the rain．We all stood silently. No one came or left in. the next few minutes,Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say．
Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly．Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's lifetime when innocent trust can be developed so that it will bloom into faith．"Honey, you are absolutely right．Let's run through the rain．If get wet, well maybe we just need washing," Mom said．Then off they ran.
We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they rushed past the cars and they held their shopping bags over their heads just in case．They got soaked．But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars．And yes, I did．I ran．I got wet．I needed washing．
You may lose your material possessions, your money and even your health, but no one can ever take away your precious memories．So don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories．
【小题1】Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word "affirmation"?

A．happiness

B．approval

C．disagreement

D．love

【小题2】What do we know about the mother in the story?

A．Her husband was cured of his cancer．

B．She was strong-willed and considerate．

C．She was in despair and pretended to forget what she said．

D．Her daughter completely understood the situation her family was in．

【小题3】Which of the following may the author agree with?

A．The mother should not tell her child about the family misfortune．

B．Parents should act more bravely than their children．

C．Parents should grasp every opportunity to influence their children to grow well．

D．Children should learn to show gratitude and understanding to their parents．

【小题4】The best title for the passage might be _____．

A．Run Through the Rain	B．Be a Determined Mother
C．Wait in the Rain	D．Have a Wonderful Experience

The Wal-Mart in Cleburne, Texas, was crowded. People were waiting in long lines at checkout counters to pay for small things that would be next-morning treasures under someone’s Christmas tree.

       The woman standing in cashier Jeffrey Kandt’s line seemed to be living on the edge of subsistence（生计）. Her clothes were worn and her hands were those of a person who’d worked hard for what she had. She held a single item in her arms as she patiently waited to move to the front of the line — a Sony CD player. She had saved all year for this. With tax, the total would be close to $ 220.

       As the woman got close to the cashier, she suddenly shouted, “Where’s my money? All of my money fro my son’s gift! Oh no!”

       “Why my line?” Kandt thought as he watched the poor woman searching through her clothes. He was going to have to call his manager to avoid the sale but it would mean a long wait for the customers behind her. “I am going to go home late tonight,” Kandt thought.

       Then an amazing thing happened. At the back of the line, a man took out his wallet, pulled out $100 and passed it forward. As the cash moved up the line, a twen5ty-dollar bill was added here, and a ten-dollar bill was added there. When the collection finally reached the registewr, Kandt counted $ 220.

       Strangers had fulfilled a poor woman’s Christmas wish.

       The poor in his line at the Wal-Mart in Cleburne, Texas, had come together on Christmas Eve, 2002.

According to the passage, the woman’s Christmas wish was to ______.

       A．collect $ 220 for her family    B．buy her son a CD player as a gift

       C．buy enough food for her family     D．organize a big party for her son

Which of the following statements is TRUE about Jeffrey Kandt when the woman couldn’t find her money?

       A．He was impatient and wanted to go home.

       B．He wanted to see whether the woman had money or not.

       C．He wanted the woman to stand in another line.

       D．He didn’t think about the customers waiting behind the woman.

What does paragraph 5 mainly talk about?

       A．a description of a man standing in the line           

       B．the cashier, Jeffery Kandt

       C．the collection of $ 220

       D．a reason why the strangers collected he money

What can we learn from the passage?

       A．The woman collected money by herself.

       B．The woman seemed to be poor, but in fact had lots of money.

       C．Strangers in the line volunteered to help the woman.

       D．The woman had never ay money.

For each blank in the following passage there are four words or phrases marked A, B, C and D. Fill in each blank with the word or phrase that best fits the context.

Over the past few decades, more and more countries have opened up their markets, increasingly transforming the world economy into one free-flowing global market. The question is: Is economic globalization   50   for all?

According to the World Bank, one of its chief supporters, economic globalization has helped reduce   51   in a large number of developing countries. It quotes one study that shows increased wealth   52   to improved education and longer life in twenty-four developing countries as a result of integration (融合）of local economies into the world economy. Home some three billion people, these twenty-four countries have seen incomes   53   at an average rate of five percent—compared to two percent in developed countries.

Those who   54   globalization claim that economies in developing countries wilt from new opportunities for small and home-based businesses.   55   , small farmers in Brazil who produce nuts that would originally have sold only in   56   open-air markets can now promote their goods worldwide by the Internet.

Critics take a different view, believing that economic globalization is actually   57   gap between the rich and poor. A study carried out by the U.N.-sponsored World Commission on the Social Dimension of Globalization shows that only a few developing countries have actually.   58   from integration into the world economy and that the poor, the uneducated, unskilled workers, and native peoples have been left behind.   59   , they maintain that globalization may eventually threaten emerging businesses. For example, Indian craftsmen who currently seem to benefit from globalization because they are able to   60   their products may soon face fierce competition that could put them out of   61   . When large-scale manufacturers start to produce the same goods, or when superstores like Wal-Mart move in, these small businesses will not be able to   62   and will be crowded out.

One thing is certain about Globalization—there is no   63   . Advances in technology combined with more open policies have already created an interconnected world. The   64   now is finding a way to create a kind of globalization that works for the benefit of all.

50. A. possible               B. smooth              C. good                 D easy

51. A. crime                  B. poverty              C. conflict              D. population

52. A. contributing         B. responding         C. turning              D owing

53. A. remain                B. drop                  C. shift                  D. increase

54. A. doubt                  B. define                C advocate             D. ignore

55. A. In addition           B. For instance       C. in other words    D. All in all

56. A. mature                B. new                  C. local                  D. foreign

57. A. finding                B. exploring           C. bridging             D. widening

58. A. suffered              B. profited             C. learned              D. withdrawn

59. A. Furthermore        B. therefore            C. However            D. Otherwise

60. A. consume             B. deliver               C. export               D. advertise

61. A. trouble                B. business            C power                D. mind

62. A. keep up               B. come in             C. go around         D. help out

63. A. taking off            B. getting alone       C. holding out         D. turning back

64. A. agreement           B. prediction          C. outcome            D. challenge

She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. Outside, it was pouring so heavily.

We all stood there just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others annoyed because nature messed up their hurried day. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world.

Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance (昏昏欲睡) we were all caught in. “Mom, let’s run through the rain,” she said.

“ No, honey. We’ll wait until it slows down a bit.” Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated, “Mom, let’s run through the rain. ”

“We’ll get soaked if we do,” Mom said.

“ No, we won’t, Mom. That’s not what you said this morning,”  the young girl said as she tore at her Mom’s arm.

“This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?”

“Don’t you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!”

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I dare say you couldn’t hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.

Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child’s lifetime when innocent trust can be developed so that it will bloom into faith. “Honey , you are absolutely right. Let’s run through the rain. If get wet, well maybe we just need washing.” Mom said. Then off they ran.

We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they rushed past the cars and they held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, l did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

You may lose your material possessions, your money and even your health, but no one can ever take away your precious memories. So don’t forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories.

1. Which of the following is the closest in meaning to the underlined word “affirmation”?

A．happiness         B．love              C．disagreement      D．approval

2. What do we know about the mother in the story?

A．Her husband was cured of his cancer.

B．She was strong-willed and considerate.

C．She was in despair and pretended to forget what she said.

D．Her daughter completely understood the situation her family was in.

3. Which of the following may the author agree with?

A．The mother should not tell her child about the family misfortune.

B．Parents should act more bravely than their children.

C．Parents should grasp every opportunity to influence their children to grow well.

D．Children should learn to show gratitude and understanding to their parents.

4. The best title for the passage might be _______.

A．Be a Determined Mother                 B．Wait in the Rain

C．Have a wonderful experience              D．Run Through the Rain