LIANG TAO sold 80 pink Givenchy bags in 12 minutes. Becky Fang sold 100 Mini Cooper cars in just five. Both are wanghong, literally “red-hot on the web”. Every day millions of Chinese search social media for wanghong posts or tune in to live-streams for wanghong’s opinions on everything. The fans are helping this new Chinese Internet star to make money out of their popularity—and to shake up the country’s e-commerce industry in the process.
A few of wanghong have been hired by luxury brands. Jaeger-LeCoultre, a Swiss watchmaker, hired Papi Jiang for a video ad targeting young urbanites (都市人), including her 27m fans on Sina Weibo, a Twitter-like microblog. Zhang Yi of iiMedia Research, a consulting firm, estimates that up to 15% of sales on shopping sites like Taobao or social-media apps such as WeChat are influenced by wanghong’s public support. The length of a dress might be decided by a survey of a wanghong’s fans; its launch date might be based on the number of hits, shares or comments it collects, some of which can cause last-minute design changes.
This poses a new challenge for retailers(零售商), whose supply chains must respond ever more quickly to wanghong’s opinions. Whereas previously a company would look for a celebrity to match its image, wanghong and their admirers are shaping goods.
Another challenge comes directly from wanghong themselves. They increasingly make money not merely from online support or advice but by launching their own e-commerce stores. Sales of goods accounted for just under half of wanghong earnings of 53bn yuan ($8bn) in 2016, estimates Analysys, a Chinese market-research firm (the rest came mostly from live-show tips and adverts).
Some wanghong are going a step further. In November Becky Fang launched her own clothing line. Part of her motivation, she says, was that the brands she supported did not always match the trends she was sharing with her followers. By creating her own brand, Becky’s Fantasy, she have full control of the quality. She also gains a new income. For the time being only 3-5% of wanghong follow Becky Fang’s example, iiMedia Research estimates. But it expects the model to become an industry in its own right, including entertainment and e-commerce, and driven by online data.
1.Why can wanghong use their popularity to make money?
A. Because they are Internet stars.
B. Because they use social media.
C. Because their opinions influence fans.
D. Because they can shake the e-commerce industry.
2.What is the characteristic of the products supported by wanghong?
A. It is fans-based. B. It is social-media-based.
C. It is design-shared. D. It is youth-targeted.
3.What are the challenges for retailers?
A. Online support and advice.
B. Increasing sales of goods online.
C. Quick responses to the market changes.
D. Wanghong’s opinions and e-commerce stores.
4.Why do some wanghong create their own brands?
A. Because they want to attract more fans.
B. Because they want to share with their followers.
C. Because they want to set up a new industry model.
D. Because the brands they speak for can’t satisfy their fans.
Last year, when our three-year-old great-granddaughter Kylie was taken to see Santa Claus, she made sure to give him her wish list of toys. A week later, she ran into a different Santa in a mall. He stopped to ask what she wanted for Christmas. Kylie was surprised and let him know: “If you can’t remember what I told you last week, how are you going to remember on Christmas Eve?!”
Mary Paul, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
As my son Mike and I drove to the mall, we passed a Salvation Army Santa ringing his bell. “Mike,” I said, “there’s Santa!” He shook his head. “That’s just some guy in a Santa suit,” he said. It saddened me to think that maybe my son no longer believed in Santa, and we drove the rest of the way in silence. At the mall, we spotted another Santa greeting young believers. Suddenly, Mike took off toward him. Turning back to me, he shouted. “Now, there’s the real Santa!”
Michael E. Fahey, Huntley, Illinois
We immigrated to America from China when I was six. Because I was shy and didn’t speak English, I had few friends. My days were spent at home with my brother. Sometimes we’d help our neighbor Mr. Mueller pull weeds. One Christmas Day, there was a knock at the door. Grandma opened it, and there stood a big fellow in red with a snow-white beard, laughing, “Ho, ho, ho!” He handed out presents and made us laugh. I had so much fun. It was years later when I learned that our special Santa was our neighbor Mr. Mueller.
Joanne Tang, Litchfield Park, Arizona
1.Why was Kylie surprised when running into a different Santa?
A. Because she got what she wished.
B. Because she knew who the Santa was.
C. Because she wished to get another toy.
D. Because she thought they were the same Santa.
2.What would Mike’s parent feel as to Mike’s different attitudes towards Santa?
A. Angry. B. Sad.
C. Confused. D. Understandable.
3.What did Mr. Mueller do on Christmas Day?
A. He stood outside our house.
B. He gave out gifts by acting as Santa.
C. He continued to pull weeds.
D. He stayed with us in our home.
A few days ago, I observed a teenager doing yardwork that his dad had told him to do. Instead of doing the task ________, he wandered around there for hours,________ to himself and doing a bad job.
The person he hurt the most was himself. His dad was trying to teach him _______ and how to do a good job. As a result of his _________ attitude, he spent the whole afternoon finishing a task that should have taken one or two hours. And the yard _______ wasn’t clean enough when he got through.
He _______ his day because of his attitude. And his dad was _______ with him, and the boy’ s bad mood ended up ________ the whole family that day.
A sweet lady was working in a fast-food _______. The minute I walked in, she welcomed me ________. She smiled as she took my order, and then as we ________ for the food, she talked with me. As I walked off with my tray, she said with a big ________, “I hope you have a blessed day!” I think the food tasted better because of her ______. There was a delay, during which I sat there hearing her singing as she ________ her tasks behind the counter.
She wasn’t making a large salary, and she didn’t have a powerful ________, either. In addition, she stood on her feet for a long shift each day, often dealing with ________ customers. But she chose to be joyful.
I want to ________ from her. I want to do my best, even when there’s no ________ or glory. Other people are watching me _______ I might not realize it at the time. I want to bring joy to all those around me. A(n)____
can make a great difference.
1.A. gradually B. happily C. secretly D. silently
2.A. responding B. applying C. explaining D. complaining
3.A. goodness B. safety C. responsibility D. gardening
4.A. poor B. positive C. strange D. efficient
5.A. almost B. even C. still D. ever
6.A. lost B. ruined C. perfected D. changed
7.A. upset B. pleased C. impressed D. satisfied
8.A. breaking B. benefiting C. affecting D. controlling
9.A. factory B. restaurant C. supermarket D. shop
10.A. warmly B. proudly C. seriously D. coldly
11.A. looked B. asked C. waited D. struggled
12.A. shout B. smile C. cheer D. decision
13.A. experience B. trust C. courage D. kindness
14.A. performed B. started C. discovered D. planned
15.A. appearnce B. motivation C. position D. effort
16.A. ordinary B. painful C. important D. difficult
17.A. escape B. learn C. hear D. differ
18.A. applause B. regret C. sadness D. forgiveness
19.A. now that B. in case C. even though D. as if
20.A. lifestyle B. attitude C. habit D. attempt
Brandon and Derek’s mother, Beth Lash, shared a Facebook video on Dec. 25, 2017. It captured the moment when Bandon______his card out loud. On Brandon Lash’s 24th birthday, his little brother, Derek, __________ him with a rather large card filled with an even bigger _________.
“I have always ________ you,” Brandon reads from the front of the card, ________ by this brother.
“I love spending time with you. I’m so ________ I have you for my brother. You have always been there for me, even though I get on your nerves sometimes. You will always have a piece of my heart,” Brandon continues, opening up the _________.
“And now you will have my _______, too. We are a ________ match.” Brandon reads, _________the card to the floor and breaking down into _________.
Brandon has kidney receives _________three times a week, and was told that he had been recommended for the transplant list. Unfortunately, his parents are not a match, but _________, his brother is.
“I can’t believe Derek would ________so much all this for me,” Brandon tells the publication. “He’s giving me a _____to have a healthy life again. I _________ can’t believe it’s happening.”
“I _________ seeing him sick and knew something needed to be done to make him healthy again.” Derek adds. “Not only was I the ________ thing to do, but the only thing to do. He’s my brother. We didn’t know _________ he could be on the transplant list, and I knew I just wanted my __________ brother back.”
1.A. read B. sang C. called D. shouted
2.A. provided B. issued C. presented D. supplied
3.A. claim B. award C. smile D. surprise
4.A. taken charge of B. looked up to C. got hold of D. lived up to
5.A. signed B. drawn C. written D. described
6.A. thankful B. satisfied C. awkward D. confused
7.A. paper B. card C. book D. cover
8.A. nerves B. eves C. kidney D. heart
9.A. perfect B. possible C. equal D. friendly
10.A. losing B. dropping C. throwing D. blowing
11.A. screams B. worries C. laughs D. tears
12.A. treatments B. experiments C. directions D. observations
13.A. finally B. possibly C. luckily D. exactly
14.A. advise B. experience C. allow D. sacrifice
15.A. chance B. fortune C. accident D. occasion
16.A. always B. already C. forever D. still
17.A. regretted B. minded C. hated D. opposed
18.A. fair B. right C. normal D. real
19.A. when B. how long C. how much D. while
20.A. lovely B. brave C. honest D. healthy
While high school does not generally encourage students to explore new aspects of life, college sets the stage for that exploration. I myself went through this ________ process and found something that has changed my ________ at college for the better: I discovered ASL — American Sign Language(美式手语).
I never felt an urge to ________ any sign language before. My entire family is hearing, and so are all my friends. The ________ languages were enough in all my interactions(交往). Little did I know that I would discover my ________ for ASL.
The ________ began during my first week at college. I watched as the ASL Club ________ their translation of a song. Both the hand movements and the very ________ of communicating without speaking ________ me. What I saw was completely unlike anything I had experienced in the ________. This newness just left me ________ more.
After that, feeling the need to ________ further, I decided to drop in on one of ASL club’s meetings. I only learned how to ________ the alphabet that day. Yet instead of being discouraged by my ________ progress, I was excited. I then made it a point to ________ those meetings and learn all I could.
The following term, I ________ an ASL class. The professor was deaf and any talking was ________. I soon realized that the silence was not unpleasant. ________, if there had been any talking, it would have ________ us to learn less. Now, I appreciate the silence and the ________ way of communication it opens.
1.A. searching B. planning C. natural D. formal
2.A. progress B. experience C. major D. opinion
3.A. choose B. read C. learn D. create
4.A. official B. foreign C. body D. spoken
5.A. love B. concern C. goal D. request
6.A. meeting B. trip C. story D. task
7.A. recorded B. performed C. recited D. discussed
8.A. idea B. amount C. dream D. reason
9.A. disturbed B. supported C. embarrassed D. attracted
10.A. end B. past C. course D. distance
11.A. showing B. acting C. saying D. wanting
12.A. exercise B. explore C. express D. explain
13.A. print B. write C. sign D. count
14.A. slow B. steady C. normal D. obvious
15.A. chair B. sponsor C. attend D. organize
16.A. missed B. passed C. gave up D. registered for
17.A. prohibited B. welcomed C. ignored D. repeated
18.A. Lastly B. Thus C. Instead D. However
19.A. required B. caused C. allowed D. expected
20.A. easy B. popular C. quick D. new
Several things Beijingers do during wintertime
In winter, Beijing offers the city’s fun-seekers many appealing options, from royal gardens to winter resorts. Your sweet tooth and palate for fine art can also be satisfied by the abundant choices in food and art exhibitions. Here are some recommendations for you.
1.
The Summer Palace was designed as a summer resort for the Emperor Dowager Cixi in the Qing Dynasty (1644 — 1911). Recently it has attracted thousands of tourists hoping to catch sight of the setting sun shining through the Seventeen-Arch Bridge over the frozen Kunming Lake.
Mutton hot pot with family and friends.
2. Eating mutton, according to Chinese traditional medicine, is able to drive out the coldness inside the body and nourish your vitality.
A weekend at Ice skating & ski resorts.
Surrounded by historical mansions and natural beauty, Shichahai is a must-go scenic area in Beijing. In winter, I he frozen lake becomes n giant ice rink (溜冰场), offering skating, sleigh riding and ice bicycles for beginners who don’t want to miss out on the fun.3. You can ski, participate in snow activities, or just sit in a cozy bar and appreciate the snow-covered landscape.
Hot spring resort getaway.
It is said that a hot spring bath is good for the body and the soul.4. Gathered in the northern part of Beijing, especially Xiaotangshan town in the Changping district, these resorts offer a great experience for a weekend getaway.
Culture tours at museums.
Going to a museum certainly is much nicer and warmer than staying outdoors. Luckily, cultural agencies like the National Museum and the National Art Museum recently displayed several important exhibitions.5.
A. Sightseeing at Summer Palace.
B. Add ski resorts to your list of fun.
C. As winter chill takes hold in Beijing, hot pot becomes more popular.
D. As the temperature goes down, swimming turns out to be a good choice.
E. No matter whether you are an experienced skier or not, you can make a perfect holiday there.
F. For more information, please go to the National Museum and National Art Museum websites.
G. For those who search for relaxation from stresses and strains, the city’s hot spring resorts are life-savers.
