Chinese buyers used to prize foreign brands, thinking that products made by American or European companies are of higher quality than Chinese ones. Increasingly, that's no longer the case.
Chinese people born before 1985 generally think that foreign brands are better than Chinese ones, billionaire William Li told Business Insider during a recent interview on CCTV 9.But for those who were born after 1985,it is a different picture.
"When I first went to the United Kingdom in1997,I thought that the difference between China and Europe was quite big," Li said. "But for those born in the 1990s, when they visit Europe or the US, they do not think there is a big difference."
The change in thinking among Chinese buyers is showing up in many markets in China where western companies used to control. A study by Credit Suisse published in March found that young Chinese buyers are increasingly showing a "home brand bias".
More than 90% of young Chinese buyers would prefer to buy home appliance brands, according to the study. Meanwhile, home companies producing food, drinks, or personal care products increased their share of the market by 3. 3% over the last ten years to nearly 70%.
"Chinese buyers, especially the younger ones, don't just believe that foreign brands are better. Right now, Chinese buyers think China is good and ‘Made in China’ is not bad at all," Charlie Chen, head of China buyer research at Credit Suisse, told South China Morning Post in March.
The Chinese smartphone market is controlled by home companies-Huawei, Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi. Apple is the only foreign brand in the top five, but it has lost large ground to the home brands in recent years. Its market share is believed to be down to 37% from a 2015 high of 54%.
1.What is this passage mainly about?
A.The quality of 'Made in China'.
B.The change in Chinese buyers' thinking.
C.Chinese products in the eye of foreigners.
D.Differences between older and younger Chinese buyers.
2.Which of the following is true according to the text?
A.More and more foreigners go to buy Chinese products.
B.Foreign products are more expensive than Chinese ones.
C.More and more Chinese buyers prefer Chinese products.
D.Older Chinese people don't like foreign products any more.
3.Which fact best explains "home brand bias"?
A.Apple had a market share of 54% in 2015.
B.More than 90% of young Chinese buyers prefer home brands.
C.Chinese people born before 1985 think that foreign brands are better.
D.William Li found a big difference between China and Europe in 1997.
It was December and the snow was falling quietly outside. The four March sisters were sitting around the fire in the living room. They were knitting(织)socks for soldiers(士兵).There was a war and everyone had to help.
Meg was the oldest of the four sisters. She was sixteen. She was very pretty and she loved pretty clothes. Jo was fifteen. She was very tall and thin. She was different from Meg. She didn't care about dresses or hairstyles. She was a tomboy(假小子).Beth was thirteen. She was very shy and quiet and she seemed to live in a happy world of her own. The youngest, Amy, looked like a snow princess with her blue eyes. She loved beautiful things and she was a little vain(虚荣的)?She also thought that she was a very important person.
"Christmas isn't Christmas without any presents," Jo said sadly. "I hate being poor!" Meg said, looking at her old dress.
"Some girls have lots of nice things, and other girls have nothing at all," said Amy. "I don't think it's fair!"
"But we've got Father and Mother, and each other," said Beth.
The four sisters looked happy for a moment when they remembered this.
"But we haven't got Father," said Jo. Their smiles suddenly disappeared. Mr March was far away with the soldiers.
"Mother says our men are suffering(受苦)and we mustn't spend money for pleasure," Meg said."That's why we can't have presents this year."
"Well, each of us has a dollar to spend," said Jo. "What can the army do with four dollars?
Nothing! I don't expect anything from Mother but I'd like to buy a book for myself !" Jo loved reading.
"I want to spend mine on some new music," said Beth. She played the piano and she loved singing.
"I'm going to buy a box of drawing pencils. I really need them!" said Amy. She wanted to be an artist.
"Mother didn't say anything about spending our own money," cried Jo. "We work hard for it so let's buy what we want and have a little fun."
It was true. The two older sisters had jobs. Meg worked as a teacher for the King family and Jo looked after Aunt March, their father's rich, bad-tempered(坏脾气的)old aunt. Beth and Amy helped with the housework.
1.What was Jo's hobby?
A.Knitting. B.Singing. C.Drawing. D.Reading.
2.On a snowy day, the March sisters are .
A.complaining about having no money for Christmas presents
B.talking about what presents they will buy with some money
C.expecting some nice Christmas presents from their parents
D.talking about what jobs they will have to make more money
3.The passage is probably from .
A.a poem B.a guide C.a novel D.an advertisement
Traveling can be a fun way to gain life experiences. But you're a student and don't have enough money for a trip. Don't worry. Here are some useful suggestions.
●Save; This probably is the most important preparation for traveling. Cut expenses to fatten your wallet so you'll have more choices about where to go and how to get there.
●Plan ahead : Don't wait until the last minute to plan your trip. Tickets may cost more whenbought on short notice. Giving yourself several months to get ready can mean security and savings.
●Do your homework: No matter where you go , research the places you will visit. Decide what to see. Travel books will provide information on the cheapest hotels and. restaurants.
●Plan wisely: Write down how much you expect to spend for food and hotels. Stick to your plan or you may not have enough money to cover everything.
●Travel in groups: Find someone who is interested in visiting the same places. By traveling with others you can share costs and experiences.
●Work as you go: Need more money to support your trip? Look for work in the places you visit.
●Be away from tourist cities: Tourist cities may be expensive. You may want to rethink your trip and go to a less-known area. Smaller towns can have many interesting activities and sights.
By planning carefully，even students can enjoy- the travel. Your travel experiences will be remembered for a lifetime.
1.Before your trip，the most important thing you should do is .
A.to make a plan of the route B.to buy tickets ahead of time
C.to save money before your trip D.to get information from the Internet
2.The writer advises you .
A.to share costs with families B.not to go to well-known places
C.not to visit dangerous places D.to buy anything you want to buy
"Please take my penny(便士)," said Maggie to old Man, the fisherman, who sat on a bench repairing his nets. Her mother drew her back, _______ , "Maggie, he is not a beggar(乞丐)!" But Maggie paid no _______ . "Please take it," she said again. Old Man smiled, and took it. "Thank you, little miss," he said, "It is kindly meant."
After that, Maggie went to the beach to ________ shells on her own. She never thought how fast the hours were passing until being ________ , she sat down on a rock beside a little pool. Soon she was scared by a noise near her. Dan's large dog Rover jumped down from a rock, barked _________and began to pull her coat. "Rover wishes me to ________ , I see," she said, and she rose from the rock and wanted to go home. However, that was not so easy as she had expected. She found the places she had gone down very difficult to ________ , and as the tide(潮水)had been coming in for some time. She found some of the stones wet and ________ .
Rover jumped upon a big stone and raised his loud bark. Luckily, the fisherman heard the loud barking. He got to the boat, and rowed fast to the bay(海湾)and took them safely to land!
Maggie hugged the old man and said, "Thank you so much." "It was the _________ that did it, little miss," the old man said. "I saw Rover looking at you when you put it so kind-like into my hand—just as if he would have said, 'Rover will be your friend now, little girl.' And I think he was ________ you all the day, for he never came near me after that."
Some years later, Rover came to Maggie's home with a little note, in which was written—"Will Maggie help Rover?—his master is dead."
1.A.screaming B.shouting C.whispering D.crying
2.A.price B.attention C.care D.money
3.A.gather B.sell C.buy D.watch
4.A.surprised B.awful C.worried D.tired
5.A.gently B.weakly C.loudly D.happily
6.A.stay B.leave C.swim D.run
7.A.fall down B.climb up C.jump down D.look up
8.A.soft B.hard C.smooth D.comfortable
9.A.penny B.rock C.wave D.shells
10.A.talking about B.looking after C.taking pity on D.complaining about
- Could you please tell me _____?
- For two weeks.
A.how soon will he be back B.how soon he will be back
C.how long he will be away D.how long will he be away
- Your room is in a terrible mess, Tom. Don’t leave your books here and there.
- OK, _____. I’ll _____ in five minutes.
A.I won’t; put them away B.I will; put them off
C.I will; put them away D.I won’t; put off them
