Do We Really Need To Buy Them(我们真的需要买它们吗)
新世纪高级英语视听说4 unit5 听力原文
Unit 5 Big BusinessListeningAudio Track 4-5-1Talk 1Our company employs 100 people from the local area. It develops and produces wooden artware which it sells in one of its five city stores. Even without advertisement, the products are very popular and the stores are always busy. Customers often come directly to the stores to make purchases.*Talk 2I’m the Product Marketing Manager of our company. We are working on a marketing plan at the moment. Before any contracts are signed, there are a lot of things we have to take into careful consideration. We should know, for instance, the needs and preferences of consumers, the best distribution channel, the governing rules and regulations concerning the distribution of products, and the price at which products can be sold.**Talk 3My employer is a world-leading information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider. The company supplies networking and telecommunications equipment to 45 of the world’s 50 largest telecom operators. In such a compet itive market, the company has to innovate to stay ahead. That’s why it invests heavily in research and development, the department I work in. I’m a senior analyst in the R&D division.Audio Track 4-5-2/Audio Track 4-5-3He may have been your typical teenager in most ways. But he was different in one particular way: he started his own magazine. At the age of 15 he managed the magazine called Student. It was written for and about young people in school. He was very busy, but it was a satisfying job.His next business venture was completely different. He and some friends started a mail order record company. It was also the same year, 1970, when his music discount store was opened in England. It made a lot of money.In the early 1990s, he sold his successful music business and used the money for another business idea: an airline company. And so, Virgin Airways Ltd. was born. To compete with other airlines, his company offered good prices to customers. Today Virgin is known for its excellent service. Richard Branson now runs the Virgin Group, Ltd. He employs 50,000 people and in many different fields, such as book publishing, financial services, modeling, and even bridal services! Not bad for a teenager from the UK who dreamed of editing his own magazine!Audio Track 4-5-4/Audio Track 4-5-5Host: Welcome back to “You Snooze, You Lose!” the best game show on television! This is our final round. Let me remind you of the rules. We will show an object for a couple of seconds. It’s your job to guess what it is. Michael? Linda? Are you ready to play?Michael & Linda: Yes!!Host: OK, then, let’s play ”You Snooze, You Lose!” Show us item number one.Host: Yes, Michael?Michael: I know what they are. They’re called “cams” and they’re used in mountain climbing. Host: That’s right for one point! They’re used to hold climbing ropes. All right then, here’s our second object. Yes, Linda?Linda: Is it some kind of tool?Host: Can you be more specific?Linda: I don’t know ... a tool used to fix some kind of machine?Host: No, I’m sorry. It’s a nose and ear hair trimmer. Next … item number three. Do you have any idea? Time is up. Since no one guessed, I’ll tell you the answer. Those are called Hopi ear candles. Linda: You stick them in your ears?Host: That’s right. They are used to clean out your ears. They also help to relax you. Let’s move on to item number four. Here it is.Michael: That’s obvious. It’s a corkscrew. You use it to open bottles.Host: Yes, that’s correct! It’s a mini-travel corkscrew. You can pack it in your suitcase. Oh, no! You know what that means! We’re out of time. Michael, with two correct answers, you are today’s winner! Congratulations! And before we leave, let me show the remaining objects. Item number five is an egg slicer. Item number six is a tongue scraper —make sure to use it so that you don’t have bad breath! That’s all the time we have for today. See you next time on “You Snooze, You Lose!” Goodbye everybody!Audio Track 4-5-6/Audio Track 4-5-7Microsoft CorporationMicrosoft Corporation is a multinational computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices. Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, its best selling flagship products are the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite. Microsoft ships products to Europe, Asia, and Latin America.Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975. In the mid-1980s, it rose to dominate the home computer operating system market with MS-DOS. Since 1985, Microsoft has released an upgrading line of Windows operating systems featuring a friendly user interface. The latest one, Windows 7, was released in October 2009 and has sold 600 million copies to date. A more powerful one, Windows 8, is to be released in late 2012. It is reported that this product can deliver a fast and fluid experience, along with a new user interface that responds equally well to touch as it does to keyboard and mouse.As one commentator notes, Microsoft’s original mission was “a computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software,” and now it is a goal near fulfillment. Microsoft alsomakes profits in other markets such as computer hardware products and home entertainment products.Audio Track 4-5-8/Audio Track 4-5-9A different kind of holiday: Shop less, live more!Advertising is everywhere. It’s on race cars and subway trains, on T-shirts and billboards. Every day, you see hundreds of ads, and each advertiser wants you to buy their product. But do we really need all these products? A group in Canada says “No.” In 1991, they started an event called Buy Nothing Day, to protest against consumerism and waste. Every year, on the last Friday in November, no one should spend any money for 24 hours. The event has spread to over 15 countries around the world, including Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom.In the United States, Buy Nothing Day takes place on the Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday. This is usually the busiest day of the year in department stores and shopping malls. Traditionally, it’s the first day of the Christmas shopping season, when Americans buy gifts for family and close friends.However, this “season” has grown longer every year. Now some stores put up their Christmas window displays in the middle of October, and Americans are pressured to buy gifts for every one of their relatives, for all of their coworkers, and for everyone they do business with. Many people feel that they are forgetting the real significance of the holidays, because companies just want them to spend more money.Of course, Buy Nothing Day supporters don’t want to change just one day. They want the change to continue all year. But if we take a break from shopping on one day, we can start thinking about wh at we really need in life. Michael Smith, British organizer of Buy Nothing Day, says: “Our message is clear: Shop less, live more!”Audio Track 4-5-10/Audio Track 4-5-11Ad or no ad?Is advertising really necessary? Billions of dollars are spent on it every year, so it must be important. After all, it’s a busy world. You have to advertise, sell products, and make money!Not every company thinks that way. The NO-AD company (“no-ad” stands for “not advertised”) avoids big advertising campaigns. The company was started in 1960 and is successful today. Their products are still affordable because the company saves money on advertising. They also use their savings to support a drug and alcohol awareness program to educate high school students.NO-AD sells by wor d of mouth. “Word-of-mouth advertising” happens when a person tells another person about a good experience with a product or service. That second person then tells another friend, family member, or colleague. And so a chain of information is created.Typic ally, advertisers talk about how good their product is. Although they say things like, “Studies show that our product is the best,” or “Everyone loves this product,” it can sound insincere or unconvincing. It’s much more believable to hear about a product from someone who did not make it. Our friends’ opinions are very important to us, so we often listen to their advice about aproduct.Word-of-mouth advertising has other advantages, too. It’s cost-effective (after all, it’s free) and a company doesn’t have to create a complex business plan to do it. Here is some advice for small business about word-of-mouth advertising:• Be prepared to talk about your company at any time. You never know who you will meet. Always carry business cards.• Only say positive things about your company. Don’t say negative things about your company.• Help other companies by referring people to them. The more you help others, the more good fortune will come back to you.Speaking & CommunicationAudio Track 4-5-12Noun: He gave me a beautiful present.Verb: Tomorrow I will present my ideas to the board of directors.Audio Track 4-5-131. a. I buy my produce at the market.b. We produce stereos and CD players.2. a. No one buys records anymore.b. I like to record my voice and listen to it.3. a. I can’t deliver it without an address.b. You need to address the envelope.Audio Track 4-5-14Host: So, welcome to our show. Why don’t you tell our listeners who you are and what you do. Woman: My name is Beverly Smith. I’m the CEO for TalkBack Communications.Host: Can you tell us about your company?Woman: Certainly. Our company was founded in 1995. We’re based in New York City. We have about 10,000 employees worldwide.Host: What does your company do?Woman: We do business in a large number of fields, such as telecommunications and computers. Our main area of business is new cell phone technology.Host: I hear your company is doing quite well.Woman: Well, we made over five million dollars profit last year. Experts say our company willgrow by up to 10% next year.Audio Track 4-5-15Conversation 1A: What’s the name of your company?B: It’s called Moonlights.A: Can you tell us about your company?B: Certainly. Our company was founded in 1999. We’re based in Seattle. We have over 5,000 employees.A: What does your company do?B: Moonlights produces and sells bottled coffee drinks. We also purchase coffee from farmers and sell it in our stores. Moonlights has over 3,000 stores worldwide.A: I hear your company is growing.B: Well, we made approximately 100 million dollars in profit last year. Experts say our company will grow by up to 10 percent next year.Conversation 2A: What’s the name of your company?B: It’s called Wasedosoft.A: Can you tell us about your company?B: Certainly. O ur company was founded in 2001. We’re based in Tokyo. We have over 12,000 employees.A: What does your company do?B: Wasedosoft produces millions of computer games and ships them to many countries. We also purchase computer games from freelancers and sell them in our stores. Wasedosoft has over 4,000 stores worldwide.A: I hear your company is growing.B: Well, we made approximately 1.5 billion dollars in profit last year. Experts say our company will grow by up to 15 percent next year.Audio Track 4-5-16History of Yahoo!This company was originally started as a hobby by two students in 1994. In the beginning it was called “Jerry and David’s Guide to the World Wide Web.” Their product was placed on two computers. The computers were named after two sumo wrestlers. The company grew quickly. Many stories were broadcast about it in the 1990s.Yahoo! TodayThis company’s Internet destination is visited by millions of people worldwide. It is used to find information. Free e-mail services are offered, too. Most of its profit is provided by advertising. Its main offices are found in California.Video CourseVideo Track 4-5-1Catherine: I’m a lawyer and the company I work for, we help people in the city … um … get assistance in a lot of different ways. We help them get housing, food, shelter …Gian: My company is a management consulting firm. We do education for executives. I make brochures that I send out to many executives throughout the United States. We invite those people to come to our trainings.Kevin: My friends and I founded a smoothie business back in college. We advertise by word of mouth and we also hand out flyers to students on campus.Malinda: The company that I work for employs about thirty people. We do a lot of things so that other people will know the kinds of work that we do. We talk to reporters to try to get articles in the newspaper, and we take lots of photographs.Calum: For my … um … classes I had to study a company. And I chose a company that produces advertisements. The adverts are usually quite complex, but they also have to be easy to remember. David: My friend’s dad’s business is a janitorial service. And businesses call him and he has people come in and clean the building, after hours. The business is successful because he’s a very hard worker.Video Track 4-5-2Gian: My company is a management consulting firm. We do education for executives. I make brochures that I send out to many executives throughout the United States. We invite those people to come to our trainings.Kevin: My friends and I founded a smoothie business back in college. We advertise by word of mouth and we also hand out flyers to students on campus.David: My friend’s dad’s business is a janitorial service. And businesses call him and he has people come in and clea n the building, after hours. The business is successful because he’s a very hard worker.Video Track 4-5-3Takeshi: By the way Mike, thanks a lot for helping me out with this. I can’t believe Tara got sick! And on the day of my first real commercial shoot. Can you believe it?Mike: Don’t worry about it. It’s going to be great … especially since you have a “lovely assistant” like me.Takeshi: Right … there, that should do it. Got your signs?Mike: Check!Takeshi: Ready Mr. Howard? (Mr. Howard nods ) And ro lling … OK … “Furniture Showroom” commercial — take one.Mr. Howard: Hello there! My name is John Howard, president of Furniture Showroom, and I’m here to tell you why we’re one of the most successful furniture stores around. The keys to our success are excellent quality, great design, and affordable prices. And who are these keys for? Why for you —our customers! And that’s why I’m here today to show you some of our premier pieces. Like this sleek and stylish lounge chair. All our loungers are covered in 100% genuine leather, and built with solid steel-frame construction. Take a look at that — talk about well-made. Or take a look at this Super Sleeper Sofa… why it’s one of the most comfortable sofas you’ll ever lay your head on! It’s true! See for yourself! (Mike lies down on sofa ) You know, folks, Furniture Showroom is not one of those flyby- night operations —“here today, gone tomorrow.” Our company was founded in 1982 with only three hard-working employees: my wife, my son, and me. Here at Furniture Showroom, we really pride ourselves in giving you the best product at the right price! So come on down to Furniture Showroom and take a look at our … (interrupted by Mike’s snore)Tara: Hey, what happened to that TV commercial? The one I couldn’t do because I was sick? Takeshi: You mean the one where Mike fell asleep on my first paying client? I just sent in the tape last week. Who … who knows what’ll happen.Mike: Look, I said I was sorry. Plus that couch was really comfortable …Takeshi: (phone rings) Hello? This is. Oh, hello, Mr. Howard! Yeah … uh-huh … OK … great! Thank you!Tara: Well?Takeshi: They loved it. They just booked me for another five commercials! Mr. Howard said that the big guy who fell asleep on the couch was the best part!Mike: Well, you k now what this calls for, don’t you?Takeshi: Yeah … an apology.Mike: No, an encore! (jumps on sofa )Video Track 4-5-4Takeshi: By the way Mike, thanks a lot for helping me out with this. I can’t believe Tara got sick! And on the day of my first real commercial shoot. Can you believe it?Mike: Don’t worry about it. It’s going to be great … especially since you have a “lovely assistant” like me.Takeshi: Right … there, that should do it. Got your signs?Mike: Check!Takeshi: Ready Mr. Howard? (Mr. Howard nods ) And rolling … OK … “Furniture Showroom” commercial — take one.Mr. Howard: Hello there! My name is John Howard, president of Furniture Showroom, and I’m here to tell you why we’re one of the most successful furniture stores around. The keys to our success are excellent quality, great design, and affordable prices. And who are these keys for? Why for you —our customers! And that’s why I’m here today to show you some of our premier pieces. Like this sleek and stylish lounge chair. All our loungers are covered in 100% genuineleather, and built with solid steel-frame construction. Take a look at that — talk about well-made. Or take a look at this Super Sleeper Sofa… why it’s one of the most comfortable sofas you’ll ever lay your head on! It’s true! See for yourself! (Mike lies down on sofa ) You know, folks, Furniture Showroom is not one of those flyby- night operations —“here today, gone tomorrow.” Our company was founded in 1982 with only three hard-working employees: my wife, my son, and me. Here at Furniture Showroom, we really pride ourselves in giving you the best product at the right price! So come on down to Furniture Showroom and take a look at our … (interrupted by Mike’s snore)Video Track 4-5-5Tara: Hey, what happened to that TV commercial? The one I couldn’t do because I was sick? Takeshi: You mean the one where Mike fell asleep on my first paying client? I just sent in the tape last week. Who … who knows what’ll happen.Mike: Look, I said I was sorry. Plus that couch was really comfortabl e …Takeshi: (phone rings ) Hello? This is. Oh, hello, Mr. Howard! Yeah … uh-huh … OK … great! Thank you!Tara: Well?Takeshi: They loved it. They just booked me for another five commercials! Mr. Howard said that the big guy who fell asleep on the couch was the best part!Mike: Well, you know what this calls for, don’t you?Takeshi: Yeah … an apology.Mike: No, an encore! (jumps on sofa )Audio Track 4-5-17Mike was helping Takeshi shoot a TV commercial for a store called Furniture Showroom. The president of Furniture Showroom, Mr. Howard, was starring in the commercial. First Mr. Howard talked about the company, which was founded in 1982. Then Mike helped show off the furniture while Mr. Howard described it and elaborated on how well each piece was made. However, while Mr. Howard was describing one of the sofas, Mike lay down on it and fell asleep!Later, Tara asked Takeshi about the TV commercial that she had failed to help him with. While Takeshi was telling Tara about the commercial, the phone rang and it was Mr. Howard! Mr. Howard said that his company loved the commercial, so they had decided to hire Takeshi to make five more commercials!。
雅思英语作文 advertising 有人说广告鼓励我们购买我们真正不需要的东西
Some people say that advertising encourages us to buy things that we really do not need. Others say that advertisements tell us about new products that may improve our lives.Which viewpoint do you agree with?Model Answer 1:The purpose of advertising is to tell the consumer about any new product or service or any new promotion on the existing product and service. We need it so we can make good decisions when we go shopping. Advertising tells us when new and improved products become available and lets us know which oneshave the best price. Through advertisements, we learn about new products. For example, many grocery stores now sell prepackaged lunches. These are very convenient for busy parents. They can give these lunches to their children to take to school. Busy parents don’t have time to look at every item on the store shelf, so without advertisements, they might not know about such a convenient new product. Even products we are familiar with may be improved, and advertising lets us know about this. Most people use cell phones, but new types of cell phone service become available all the time. There are different plans that give you morehours to talk on the phone, you can send text messages and photos, and next week probably some even newer type of service will be available. By watching advertisements on TV it is easy to find out about new improvements to all kinds of products. Advertisements keep us informed about prices. Prices change all the time, but everyone can look at the ads in the newspaper and see what the latest prices are. Advertisements also inform us about sales. In fact, some people buy the newspaper only in order to check the prices and plan their weekly shopping. Advertisements improve our lives by keeping us informed about the latest productsdevelopments and the best prices. Advertisements serve a useful purpose.(This model answer has been prepared by the site developer. However, please note that this is just one example out of many possible answers.)Alternative Answer 2:I think that everyone can divide all advertising products and services into useless ones and useful ones. It is like looking through an information desk when you pay attention to those messages that interest you. Take me for example.I do not like jewellery. It does not mean I do not have it at all, I have a couple of inexpensive rings as gifts from my parents. I just think people pay too much attention to this stuff. I believe it is the result of mass advertising. Every day when I am watching TV, listening to the radio or reading the paper I notice many ads about getting an expensive ring, chain, necklace or earrings. From my point of view, these kinds of advertising contaminate people's minds. In this case, you are encouraged to buy things you do not really need. They make you believe you need such products in order to succeed or be happy.From the other side, I think that advertisements of the new detergents with up-to-date formulas to help you maintain your cloth in perfect conditions, the new cars with some extra futures that make your travelling more comfortable and sports goods that make your life healthier may help you to improve your life.Recently my husband and I saw an ad on the Internet about a very interesting and inexpensive vacation to Japan for a week. Is not it awesome? We like travelling. So now we are planning to find out more about it and, maybe, make reservations. I believe that, withoutadvertisements, we would be unaware about plenty of opportunities that may make our life happier, easier and less stressful.My point is that every person has his own scale of values. So if he is vegetarian he will consider an ad about meat products useless for him.Sample Answer 3:In a literal sense, Advertising is an art of showcasing a product to its future consumers. When a company or a person advertise a product he is conveying how the product would benefit the consumer with its unique and bestfeatures. Since the Inception of consumer markets merchants have been using Advertising and marketing to sell their product and increase their reach to maximum consumers. I am in absolute discord with the statement that Advertising insists people to buy things they do not need. In my view, Advertising is a key tool in the market mechanism and can benefit customers and ultimately merchants in several ways like spreading awareness, increasing competition, discourage monopoly and help the overall economy.Advertising has helped and is continuing to help spread the right information and makes a consumer cognizant of what is available in the market. It helps drive the competition upwards benefitting the end customer by getting varied options to choose. For example, when 'Colgate' came in the market as the first toothpaste, consumers did not have any other option other than Colgate until other companies like 'Close-up' started advertising their product. This resulted in a boost in the competition which ultimately slashed the prices of the product. Thus, Advertising plays a very important role in engaging the end customer such that the buyergets the best worth of what he is spending. While a consumer is the end target and beneficiary of any product produced by a merchant, a consumer is also the best judge of the decisions he takes in terms of what he wants to buy. In my opinion, it is inappropriate to blame the advertising for an increased consumer spending. To curb the unnecessary spending both people and government have to work collectively. People need to be wary of their spending and pay heed to their finances by managing them smartly. A government can play its part in authorising and monitoring the right contents to be published to the public. Hence,right and smart advertising can help a nation and its population in great ways by exploiting the benefits of advertising.To draw the conclusion, barring a few disadvantages Advertising can be used as a tool to enhance the growth of an economy by increasing the spending, bringing the right products to the consumer, boosting the competition. Even Government can use smart adverts to make people aware of managing their finances and increase financial literacy. All in all, I would recommend healthier advertising tobenefit the consumer, merchant and ultimately the world economy.Sample Answer 4:I agree with the viewpoint that “advertising anchorages us to buy things that we really do not need.” Another word for advertisement is ‘a tool of marketing strategy’. To introduce their product or services or to promote their product or services this advertisement will highly useful.If we have never seen an advertisement of a product and first time see that product in the market, we never want to buy. That is, we do notlike to just try. If we have already seen that product in the advertisement, we may want to buy it and see how it works. That is by seeing an advertisement over and over again, we indirectly become familiar with that product before we buy and use it. To make us familiar with the products, the product owners make sure we watch their advertisements again and again.In the advertisement, they show only the advantages of the product. That is an advantage for the marketers, but a disadvantage for the customers. While the marketing people encourage us to buy the things, we need toidentify its disadvantages only after experiencing the product or services.Some products are really essential for our life while some are not at all essential. Sometimes we purchase products that are optional for us. We may experience a new detergent powder since it was telecasted several times. This is the insisting part of advertisements on customers’ mind.Each customer is different. All are not same. Same product will not convince all the public. Some products target children, kinder joy, chocolates, toys, cartoon products and etc. Eventhough parents know that a product is not good for their children, but they are insisted in buying the product by the children. Children get attracted to a product after they see the advertisement on television. Finally, I would conclude, that advertising encourages us to buy things that we really do not need.Sample Answer 5:Promotion of new products is appealing to customers. People watch them in electronic media and in newspapers and feel that it will be useful for their needs. On the other hand, we often waste our money and time after observingfascinating advertisement. In my opinion, it is useful for market trends. The advertisement has multidimensional impacts on economics and society, its benefits overweight disadvantages.Most of the people do not like the monotonous life. They keep on changing their surroundings and personality. The requirement of humans changes with their ages. The advertisement is the method to introduce new products to people. Every person is busy in his day to day routine and they do not have enough time to wonder in shops and malls. Moreover through different media, one can see his favourite models in agood mood for describing the advantages of products.Few media heads do not keep an eye over the validity of the information given in the description of promotion. Young people like their heroes like mentors and follow their footprints. In third world countries, health hazard products like cigarette are being advertised. As a result, man will buy the things which he does not need currently. These new purchase will be made at the cost of many other useful objects which he may be requiring actually.In conclusion, advertisements are very useful for boosting the economy and it helps people to seek accurate products. A government should maintain the standard of promoting the products and injurious things must be banned on media.。
英文作文买东西的理由
英文作文买东西的理由英文：There are many reasons why I buy things, and one of the main reasons is that I need them. For example, I recently bought a new pair of running shoes because my old ones were worn out. I need running shoes to exercise, so it was a necessary purchase. Another reason I buy things is for convenience. For instance, I often buy pre-cut fruits and vegetables because it saves me time in the kitchen. I knowit's more expensive than buying whole fruits and vegetables, but the convenience is worth it to me. Additionally, I buy things for enjoyment. Sometimes I'll treat myself to a new book or a nice meal at a restaurant because it brings me happiness. It's important to indulge in things that bringjoy to our lives.中文：购买东西的理由有很多，其中一个主要的原因是我需要它们。
例如，最近我买了一双新的跑鞋，因为我的旧鞋已经磨损了。
我需要跑鞋来锻炼，所以这是一个必要的购买。
仁爱英语八年级下册Unit6Topic1基础小测
一、词汇闯关田野________ ['prɒpə]_______山峰________交通工具________ 航空公司________价格________ 总的________ 搭档________ 卧铺列车________ 付费________旅馆________ [rɪ'frɪdʒəreɪtə]________ 标准________单一的________ [kən'dɪʃ(ə)n]________舒服的________二、短语闯关.春游________ 进行________做决定________ 需要做某事________ 对…做决定________出发________ 计划做某事________ 硬卧________软卧________为…付钱________标房________ 野餐________ 拍照________举办英语角________三、句子闯关1.为了春游，我们将去泰山玩三天。
_______________________________________________________________ 2.坐火车从北京到上海通常花费16小时。
_______________________________________________________________3.我们将决定一个合适的秋游方式。
_______________________________________________________________4.坐飞机去北京要花¥1500。
_______________________________________________________________ 5.我们有(这样的)房间，带有一个浴室，电视，冰箱，和空调。
_______________________________________________________________ 四、短文闯关李威康正在电话上定一些从北京火车站到泰山火车站的票。
新视野视听说4听力原文
Unit 2Track 4-2-OL-5In today’s report, we look at a new technology called pervasive computing. Pervasive computing means putting tiny computers into everyday electronic appliances, such as toasters and microwaves. With pervasive computing, appliances can communicate with their users – and with other appliances!Some companies now sell pervasive computing products like a “smart” toaster. It remembers your favourite kind of toast: light or dark. Companies are designing a “smart” coffee maker and a “smart” clock. The coffee maker can measure the water and coffee. It can even put milk in your breakfast coffee and make black coffee in the afternoon. The clock will check the time on other clocks in your house, and give information about other appliances. For example, it can tell you, “Your coffee maker needs more water.”And that’s only the beginning. One company is now advertising“Save time –phone your washing machine!” engineers are making a “smart” house. In this house, the lights, heater, and air conditioner change automatically when family members come home. This makes the home comfortable, and it saves a lot of energy. Pervasive computing could change many parts of our daily lives.But do people really want pervasive computing? Do they really need technology everywhere? One company asked people about their opinions on “smart” appliances. There were surprises. A “smart” refrigerator can buy more food on the internet, but people didn’t want it, because it might make mistakes.“Pervasive computing is as important as a telephone,” says Rebecca Blair, president of InnoTech Corporation. But some of these products are not useful, or even practical. Companies should learn more about the technology that people really want. Track 4-2-OL-7Local girl rescuedShe may have a broken leg, but she can’t be happier. Morgan Bailey, 11, is happy to be alive.Tuesday was like any other day for Morgan. She was at school. It was fourth period, and she was the first student to arrive in the gymnasium for her physical education class.Suddenly there was a loud noise.“There was a sharp cracking noise and then a loud boom. After that, I don’t remember anything,” said Morgan.The roof of the gymnasium had collapsed under the heavy snow. Morgan was trapped undern eath. She couldn’t escape.“I woke up and there was a big piece of wood on my leg. I couldn’t move it. I was starting to get cold.”Fortunately, help was nearby. A new program using “rescue robots” was tried for the first time.“We were nervous about using the robot,” said Derrick Sneed, the man in charge of the program. “But in the end, the robot gave us reliable information. It went extremely well.”The rescue robot was able to go into the gym and locate Morgan’s exact position.“We send in robots first because it may not be safe for humans,” said Mr. Sneed. “Human beings are not as useful as robots in some situations. A gas leak, for example, could kill you or me but wouldn’t hurt a robot.”Although it didn’t happen in Morgan’s case, some resc ue robots can bring fresh air or water to people who are trapped.Rescue robots go into rough, dangerous places. They work in life or death situations. They have to be durable.Doctors say that Morgan is doing well. She should be going home in two or three days. What is the first thing she wants to do after she gets out of the hospital?“I want to meet my hero,” laughs Morgan. “That little robot that saved my life!”Unit 3Track 4-3-OL -51. A bank robbery in Virginia, USA, was stopped when the robber and the bankteller couldn’t reach an agreement. The robber pushed a holdup note under the window, but the teller looked at it, said,” I can’t read this,” and gave it back.The robber pushed the note through a second time. The teller crumpled the note up and threw it at the robber. He picked it up and walked out of the bank.2. A professional ice hockey player will miss the rest of this season’s gamesbecause he injured himself. National Hockey League goalie Jean-Louis Blanchard went on the injured list after he fell and seriously hurt his back. He was walking out of a restaurant in Ottawa, Canada, when he slipped on some ice.3.The first international camel beauty contest was held last week in Alxa, inwestern China. More than 100 dressed-up camels entered the contest. The judges examined them for shiny hair, tall humps, and beautiful costumes.Unlike human beauty contests, though, there were no interviews with the contestants.4.Police in Sheffield, England, arrested a 41-year-old man for stealing five cars.Graham Owens went to car dealers and said he wanted to buy a car, and borrowed a car to test-drive. Each time, he drove the car around, then cleaned it inside and washed it outside---before leaving it at the side of the road, and walking home.Track 4-3-OL-71.Nutty newsLulu is a kangaroo. For 10 years she has lived with the Richards family. Lulu was adopted by the family after they found her next to her dead mother.Mr. Ken Richards is a farmer. He was working on his farm when a heavy tree branch suddenly fell on top of him.Lulu stood next to Mr. Richards’ body. She started barking and didn’t leave Mr. Richards’ side.I’ve never heard Lulu bark like that---she sounded like a dog. She barked and barked and she didn’t stop, “said Celeste, Mr. Richards’ daughter.After 15 minutes, the Richards family went to investigate. They found Ken on the ground and he was unconscious.“Lulu is a hero, “said Celeste. “She saved my father.”Mr. Middleton, an expert veterinarian, said that Lulu’s story is rare. “I have never seen a kangaroo act like that. Maybe lulu helped Ken Richards because the Richards family is the only family she has ever known.”Lulu has always followed Ken around the farm. She’s a loyal, friendly, and very intelligent kangaroo. After Ken leaves the hospital, he is planning to go everywhere with Lulu.2.Nutty newsApproximately 175,000 people live in the Republic of Vanuatu, an island chain east of Australia. It is a popular tourist destination because there’s a lot to do there: you can visit waterfalls, go horseback riding, take an aerial tour, or visit a traditional Ni-Vanuatu village. Vanuatu is most famous for its scuba diving and snorkeling.In an effort to draw attention to these popular water sports, Vanuatu has created a world’s “first”: the government has opened an underwater post office.You have to be a certified scuba driver to work there. The office is three meters below the surface in an area on the outskirts of Port Vila, the capital city. So far, the post office has hired four workers. They will work in a room surrounded by the beauty of Vanuatu’s underwater world. Customers will buy waterproof postcards on land and then drive down to the post office to receivea special waterproof stamp.3-OL-51. cool2. sold out3. realizes4. music reviewer5. apartment building6. get them concert tickets7. goes over8. invites him to go with her9. a date with 10. mind Takeshi going without himUnit 4Track4-4-OL-5A.Listen to the passage about an unusual job. Fill in the blank with information fromthe passage.You’ve never met Melissa Hayes, and you don’t know her name, but you know her voice. Mellissa record information messages for the telephone company.When you hear the number you called has been changed…--that’s Mellissa!“Yes, it’s true,” she say. “I’m the voice talent for Nation Telephone.” At least 50000 people hear her voice every day. “I try to sound warm and friendly, even when I’m saying, I’m sorry, that number is incorrect. Please try again.”Melissa works only three days a week, but she has to practice a lot. “My voice has to sound the same at the end of eight hours.” She’s very careful about her voice. “I don’t drink lots of water with honey. I can’t g to horror movies because I always scream, and I might hurt my voice!”How did she get her job? “A friend told me about it. I listened to all the telephone company messages on my phone, and then I recorded a cassette of those messages. After I sent it to the company, I called them every day for a month!”She’s done this work for three years now, and she loves it. “It’s fun! And I’m helping people by using my voice.” Plus, people are always surprised when they hear about Melissa’s job. They say, “You’re a real person? I thought it was a computer!”Unit 5Track 4-5-OL-2A. You will listen to a passage about Microsoft Corporation. Then write down as much information as possible about Microsoft.Microsoft CorporationMicrosoft Corporation is a multinational computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of software products for computing devices. Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, its best selling flagship products are the Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office suite. Microsoft ships products to Europe, Asia, and Latin America. It managesbranch offices in more than 60 countries. It has nearly 90,000 employees in 105 countries by 2008.Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975. In the mid-1980s, it rose to dominate the home computer operating system market with MS-DOS. Since 1985, Microsoft has released an upgrading line of Windows operating systems featuring a friendly user interface. The latest one, Windows Vista, was released in January 2007 and has sold 140 million copies to date.As one commentator notes, Microsoft’s original mission was “a computer on every desk and in every home, running Microsoft software,” and now it is a goal near fulfillment. Microsoft also makes profits in other markets such as computer hardware products and home entertainment products.Track 4-5-OL-4A.You will listen to a passage which protests against advertising and shopping.Then fill in the blanks with words from the passage.A different kind of holiday: shop less, live more!Advertising is ev erywhere. It’s on race cars and subway trains, on T-shirts and billboards. Every day, you see hundreds of ads, and each advertiser wants you to buy their product. But do we really need all these products?A group in Canada says “No.” In 1991, they stared an event called Buy Nothing Day, to protest against consumerism and waste. Every year, on the last Friday in November, no one should spend any money for 24 hours. The event has spread to over 15 countries around the world, including Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom.In the United States, Buy Nothing Day takes place on the Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday. This is usually the busiest day of the year in department stores and shopping malls. Traditionally, it’s the first day of the Christmas shopp ing season, when Americans buy gifts for family and close friends.However, this “season” has grown longer every year. Now some stores put up their Christmas window displays in the middle of October, and Americans are pressured to buy gifts for every one of their relatives, for all of their coworkers, and for everyone they do business with. Many people feel that they are forgetting the real significance of the holidays, because companies just want them to spend more money.Of course, Buy Nothing Day support ers don’t want to change just one day. They want the change to continue all year. But if we take a break from shopping on one day, we can start thinking about what we really need in life. Michael Smith, British organizer of Buy Nothing Day, says: “Our mess age is clear: Shop less, live more!”Track-4-5-OL-6B.Listen to the talk about advertising, “Ad or no ad?” Complete the statements.Ad or no ad?Is advertising really necessary? Billions of dollars are spent on it every year, so it must be important. After a ll, it’s a busy world. You have to advertise, sell products, and make money!Not every company thinks that way. The NO-AD company (“no-ad” stands for “not advertised”) avoids big advertising campaigns. The company was started in 1960 and is successful today. Their products are still affordable because the company saves money on advertising. They also use their savings to support a drug and alcohol awareness program to educate high school students.NO-AD sells by word of mouth. “Word-of-mouth advertising” ha ppens when a person tells another person about a good experience with a product or service. Thatsecond person then tells another friend, family member, or colleague. And so a chain of information is created.Typically, advertisers talk about how good their product is. Although they say things like, “Students show that our product is the best,” or “Everyone loves this product,” it can sound insincere or unconvincing. It’s much more believable to hear about a product from someone who did not make it. Our fri ends’ opinions are very important to us, so we often listen to their advice about a product.Word-of-mouth advertising has other advantages, too. It’s cost-effective (after all, it’s free) and a company doesn’t have to create a complex business plan to do it. Here is some advice for small business about word-of-mouth advertising:●Be prepared to talk about your company at any time. You never know whoyou will meet. Always carry business cards.●Only say positive things about your company. Don’t say negative t hingsabout your company.●Help other companies by referring people to them. The more you helpothers, the more good fortune will come back to you.Track-4-5-OL-8Listen to the story summary. Fill in the blanks with what you hear.Mike is helping Takeshi shoot a TV commercial for a store called Furniture Showroom. The president of Furniture Showroom, Mr. Howard, is starring in the commercial. First Mr. Howard talks about the company, which was founded in 1982. Then Mike helps show off the furniture while Mr. Howard describes it and tells how each piece is made very well. However, while Mr. Howard is describing one of the sofas, Mike lies down on it and falls asleep!Later, Takeshi is telling Tara about the commercial when the phone rings and it’s Mr. Howard! Mr. Howard says that his company loves the commercial, so they have decided to hire Takeshi to make five more commercials!Unit 6Track 4-6-OL-5B. You will hear a passage about Mary Larson’s old life and new life. Then answer the questions.Vacation every day: The peaceful life Mary Larson has wished forMary Larson was 43 when she got divorced. It was a new life for her, and she started considering what was really important in her life. She was working 60 hours a week as a banker to pay for a big house, expensive furniture, a new car, and all the other “important’ things in life. But she had no time for what she really enjoyed: going out on her old houseboat.One day, she realized she could live on the boat, and forget about the mortgage payments. She sold her house and all her furniture. For the last six years, she and her dog Buddy have lived on the boat, which is only a fraction of the size of her old house. Her “home” is a marina on the river, and the rent costs only $200 a month, including water and electricity.Inside the boat is one room, about 5 meters by 4 meters. It’s divided in two parts by a curtain. One part is Mary’s bedroom; the other is the living room and kitchen.There’s also a small bathroom with a shower. “I used to spend every weekend cleaning and maintaining my house. Now, it takes me two or three hours a month,” Mary says.“My friends think I’m crazy,” she says. “But I wake up in the morning and hear ducks and birds. I can go fishing from my living room.” Now, she works only part time. She uses all the extra hours for writing stories, bicycling, volunteering, and visiting friends. On weekends, she goes along the river on her boat, exploring new places.“Would I go back to my old life? Never,” she says, “It’s so peaceful here. It’s like being on vacation every day.”Track 4-6-OL-7B. Listen to the passage, “Money from unexpected sources.” Then ask and answer the following questions with a partner.Money from unexpected sourcesThe San people live in southern Africa. Scientists say that they may have been living there for as long as 40,000 years, hunting animals and gathering plants. Until recently, the once mighty San were broke and unemployed. They had lost their land and were no longer engaged in traditional activities, such as hunting. The few young San people with jobs were working as farm laborers. They were not learning about their ancient culture and language.That may all change. The San have struck it rich. They recently signed an agreement with a large drug company. The San have traditional knowledge about plants. The drug company is especially interested in a particular cactus and how the San use it.The San used to go on hunting trips. While away from home, they chewed on the cactus to suppress their appetite--- they no longer felt hungry afterwards. Using the San’s knowledge, the drug company plans to make a new drug from this plant. For people around the world who eat too much and have weight problems, this new drug could really help them by suppressing their appetites.The San have a positive plan for this new wealth. Their first step will be to get jobs for their people. Their next priority will be education. Through education, they hope to save their culture and language for future generations.When you think of a monk, you might think of a quiet man living in an isolated place. The “free monks” of Greece do live in a monastery, but they are anything but quiet. In fact, they sing. They have been recording their songs and selling many records in Greece.Young music listeners love to listen to the “free monks.” Their songs are recorded in different styles (digital keyboard and rock, for example), and the themes are not only religious. The brothers also sing abut problems like drugs and globalization.The monks haven’t made a fo rtune from their record sales. But they have made a profit. They use the money to pay for summer camps for teenagers. At the camps, the teens can play soccer and go horseback riding. The monks also donate money to other social programs that help people.Unit 7Track 4-7-OL-6You will hear John and Susan talking respectively about the problem area, where their neighborhood didn’t score a point (4 Communication B &C) and also about suggestions as to how to fix the problem. Then fill in the blanks with the problem areas they are talking about.John:one of the areas where our neighborhood didn’t score a point is that we don’t know our neighbors well. This is one of the biggest problems. When we know our neighbors, we’ll pay more attention to our neighborhood. To improve neighborhood safety, I think we should establish block clubs and help organize community events and public safety programs such as neighborhood watch. Neighbors from a street or block can form a club to get to know each other and work together against problems such as vandalism, gang graffiti, and burglaries. We can also agree to look out for all the houses on our street and call the police for help immediately if we see a problem. We can put signs in our windows to show that we are participating in this kind of program.Susan: Police patrols in our neighborhood are not very frequent. Most of our neighbors made complaints about this to the police department. They should bring community policing into the neighborhoods. Now the police often patrol in cars so they don’t know the people of the neighborhood very well. If they patrol on foot or on bicycle, we can say hello to them when we see them patrolling. That’ll make us feel safer. At the same time, the neighborhood residents and community agencies should cooperate with the police to prevent crimes; then we’ll build a safe neighborhood. Track 4-7-OL-8Listen to the rest of the passage, “The shrinking family.” Match the people on the left with their opinions on the right.The shrinking familyElisa Sanchez is a mother in Monterrey, Mexico. She and her husband are both high school teachers in their thirties.They have tow children. They don’t plan to have any more. “I was one of six children.” Says Elisa. “My husband comes from a family of seven. P eople used to have more children in the sixties and seventies. Now it’s different.’Elisa’s husband thinks the lower birthrate is a positive change. “With a smaller population, there will be less competition. That means there will be more job opportunities for young people.”Gina Moretti works hard as a TV news announcer in Milan, Italy. “My mother thinks I work too hard. Every time I visit her she asks me the same question: when are you getting married?”Gina is 32 and her mother is worried abut Gina’s abi lity to get married and raise a family in the future. The Italian government is worried, too. In 1958, one million babies were born in Italy. In 1998, it was half that number. The average mother in Italy has her first child at the age of 30. After 30, expe rts note, there isn’t a lot of time for women to have many children. The population is aging rapidly. Some wonder; Has population control in Italy been too successful?。
黑布林英语阅读《小妇人》 - 中英伴读
Little Women小妇人Page6About the Author关于作者Louisa May Alcott was born in Germantown,Pennsylvania in 1832.She was the second of four daughters.Her father was a teacher and he gave her lessons at home.路易莎·梅·奥尔科特于1832年出生于宾夕法尼亚州的日耳曼敦。
她是四个女儿中的老二。
她的父亲是一名教师，他在家给她上课。
The Alcott family often moved house when Louisa was growing up,but Alcott's happiest years were in the small town of Concord,Massachusetts.Little Women is set in the Alcott family home there.路易莎成长过程中，奥尔科特一家经常搬家，但奥尔科特最快乐的时光是在马萨诸塞州的小镇康科德度过的。
《小妇人》的故事发生在奥尔科特一家的家中。
Alcott started work when she was still young because the family wasn't rich.She did many jobs including teaching and dressmaking,but she wanted to be a writer.Her first published work was a poem in1852.This was the beginning of her writing career.奥尔科特很小的时候就开始工作，因为家里并不富裕。
她做过很多工作，包括教学和服装制作，但她想成为一名作家。
非理性消费英语作文120字
非理性消费英语作文120字全文共6篇示例，供读者参考篇1Irrational Spending - Why We Buy Things We Don't NeedHey guys! I'm here to talk about something that drives my parents crazy - buying stuff we don't actually need. I see it all the time with my friends and even catch myself doing it sometimes. We just can't resist those shiny new toys, video games, or clothes even when we already have plenty at home.I think there are a few reasons we get trapped into irrational spending habits even from a young age. First, we are constantly being bombarded with advertisements on TV, online, at the mall, you name it. Those sneaky marketers know just how to make the latest toy or gadget look like the coolest thing ever. They use bright colors, celebrity endorsements, and make it seem like you'll be the most popular kid around if you get it. Their tricks work on me sometimes even though I know they just want my money!Another big factor is keeping up with our friends. You know the feeling - Timmy gets the latest hot toy for his birthday andwon't stop talking about how awesome it is. Suddenly you feel left out and sad that you don't have one too. Even if you didn't care about that toy at all before, now you can't stop thinking about it. You just have to get one or you'll look like a loser. The pressure is too much!Peer pressure is bad enough, but I also think kids sometimes spend money irrationally because we lack patience. We see something new and cool and we want it RIGHT NOW. The idea of saving up our money over time is just too hard. Delayed gratification feels impossible when you're a kid and the newest video game is calling your name. You just have to have it immediately before all your friends beat the next level without you!My parents are always lecturing me about being a smart consumer and not wasting money on junk I'll stop playing with after a week. As annoying as it is, I know they're right. All those little purchases do add up quickly and you could save that money for something way more important down the road. Plus, a lot of that cheap plastic junk just ends up collecting dust or breaking pretty fast anyway.It's hard though, you know? When you're a kid it's so tempting to spend every last dollar as soon as you get it.Learning to manage your money and prioritize needs over wants is a skill that takes practice. Maybe some of you older kids out there can share some tips?At the end of the day, I don't think any of us really intend to waste our money on stuff we don't truly need. Those big corporations out there are just real good at convincing us that we can't live without their new product. Breaking the cycle of irrational spending isn't easy, but being aware of those tricks and working on our self-control can go a long way. We just have to pause and ask ourselves "Do I really NEED this or am I just getting caught up in the hype?"If we can master that simple question, we'll avoid a whole lot of buyer's remorse and wasted cash down the road. Just think of all the awesome things we could save up for instead! Rather than 10 cheap toys you play with once, you could get that nice new bike you've been wanting. Or a new gaming console. Or save it for something big like your first car! The possibilities are endless when you spend more rationally.So that's my two cents, guys. I'll admit I struggle with this just like anyone else, but I'm working on it by being more aware of advertising tricks and thinking critically about each purchase. Who's with me in breaking the cycle of irresponsible spending?Raise your hand if you want to be a smart shopper! Money management may not sound like a glamorous skill, but it will pay off huge for us in the long run as we get older. Every dollar counts! Thanks for listening to me ramble, and Happy Saving!篇2Irrational Spending: A Kid's PerspectiveHey there! You know how we kids always want the latest toys, video games, and candy even though we don't really need them? Well, that's what grown-ups call "irrational consumption." It's when people buy stuff they don't actually need, just because they feel like it at the moment.I see irrational spending all the time, especially with my friends. Like when the new "Zap-Blaster 5000" came out, pretty much every kid in my class just had to have it, even though we already had tons of other toys. And then a month later, nobody was really playing with the Zap-Blasters anymore! Such a waste of money, if you ask me.My friend Tyler is probably the worst with irrational spending. His parents buy him every new video game and gadget that comes out, even though he still hasn't finished playing half the games he already owns. Last week, he got abrand new tablet just because the one he has is "soooooo last year." Ridiculous!I try not to be like that. I mean, I definitely ask my parents for stuff I don't really need sometimes. But at least I know I'm being irrational about it! Like when I threw a fit because I reeeeally wanted those new Lightning Storm sneakers, even though the ones I had were still perfectly good. My mom just looked at me like, "Really, kiddo? You know those shoes won't make you run any faster."She's right though. A lot of irrational spending is driven by advertising and peer pressure. The companies try to convince us that we absolutely NEED their new products to be happy and cool. And then when our friends get the hot new thing, we feel left out if we don't get it too. It's a vicious cycle!I've seen my parents fall for it sometimes as well. Like when my dad just HAD to get that fancy new gas grill, even though our old one worked just fine. Or when my mom insisted on getting the most expensive premium cable package because it had all those extra channels that "look so cool!" Now they hardly watch half of those channels.The worst is when stores try to trick you into irrational spending with selling tricks. Like making things seemlike aamazing deal if you buy them right now. Or having a big "SALE" sign somewhere, even when nothing is actually on sale. They know kids (and grown-ups) have a hard time resisting that stuff.You know who is really good at avoiding irrational consumption? My grandma. She's always saying "We have enough stuff already! Why do we need to buy more?" Whenever a comercial comes on for some new product, she just turns it off and says "Don't need it! They're just trying to waste your money."I try to be more like her. Before I ask my parents for something, I ask myself - do I really NEED this? Will I still want it in a month? Or am I just getting caught up in the hype and wanting it for an irrational reason? If it's the second one, I try to talk myself out of it.It's not always easy though, especially with how many new games, shows, clothes and other stuff is always being advertised at us kids. I slip up sometimes and waste my money on stuff I don't need. But I'm working on it!The way I see it, irrational spending isn't going to make me happier in the long run. Sure, getting the latest trendy toy gives me a little thrill at first. But soon, the newness wears off and I'm already wanting something else. It's kind of like junk food - itmight taste good at first, but it doesn't really satisfy you. And then you're stuck with a bunch of stuff you don't need and less money for stuff you actually want or need.I'd much rather save up my allowance for something really special - like that awesome camping gear I've had my eye on. That way, I don't blow all my cash on little irrational buys and then not have enough for the big things I really care about. It's definitely a work in progress, but I'm trying to be smarter about how I spend!Anyway, those are my thoughts on irrational consumption as a kid. We may be little, but we're not immune to those advertising tricks and spending frenzies. It's supereasy to get caught up wanting every new thing. But if we can learn to stop, think, and avoid irrational purchases, we'll be so much better off! Who's with me?篇3Irrational Spending: A Big Problem for Little KidsHi there! My name is Jamie and I'm a 4th grader. Today I want to talk to you about something that's a really big problem for kids my age - irrational spending and buying things we don't really need.It all starts when we see ads on TV, YouTube, or social media for the latest toys, games, clothes, and other cool stuff. The ads make these things look so awesome and fun that we just have to have them! The marketers know exactly what to say and do to make us beg our parents to buy their products.A lot of times, we don't even play with or use the things we spent all our money and drove our parents crazy over after a little while. They just end up getting thrown in the closet or under the bed to be forgotten about. But as soon as the next hot new thing comes out, we're right back to desperately wanting it.My friends and I are always comparing our stuff and wanting what the other person has. If Billy gets the newest video game system, I've got to get one too or I'll feel left out. Same goes for the latest shoes, backpacks, fidget toys - you name it. We're consumed by competition over material things.I've wasted my allowance and gift money so many times on junk I didn't really need, just because I got caught up in the hype and thought I'd be less cool than my friends if I didn't have it. Looking back, I realise how stupid that was and how I wish I had saved my money instead.Another time, I saw one of my favorite YouTubers promoting these overpriced gummy vitamin snacks. They made them lookso delicious and said they gave kids tons of energy and focus for school. I begged my parents for weeks to buy them, saying I'd do so much better on tests and assignments if I had them. Well, they tasted terrible and didn't do anything - what a waste of 30!The worst ones are games and apps that advertise they're free, but then constantly pester you to spend money on upgrades and power-ups once you're hooked. Before you know it, your parents' credit card has been charged hundreds of dollars because you just had to buy that powerful, but fake, armor set or whatever. So sneaky and unfair!My little sister always wants to buy cheap plastic toys from the grocery store checkout lane just because they look colorful and fun. Nine times out of ten, those things break or get lost in a week. But she'll cry so much if my mom doesn't buy them that we usually give in to keep the peace. Such a waste.Even kids' meals at restaurants and cute packing for snacks like granola bars make us think we absolutely must buy those instead of something cheaper or healthier. The marketing towards children is endless and quite evil if you ask me!I'm trying really hard now to be smarter about how I spend and not buy stuff just because it's popular or looks really fun in commercials. I ask myself if I really truly need it and will use it alot before I spend my money. I'm saving up my allowance for a new bike instead of blowing it all on cheap toys and junk food. Delaying gratification is hard but good practice.My parents are helping me learn about responsible personal finance too. We talk about the difference between wants and needs. We make a budget and they match what I'm able to save to help me develop healthy money habits. Youtube also has some great videos about avoiding irrational spending and the tricks advertisers use to target kids.It's still really tempting when I see ads for new video games, holidays at amazing waterparks, or the latest fashions. But I'm getting better at realizing that most of that stuff looks way more fun than it actually is in reality. I don't need those things to be happy or have a good life.I'm just a regular kid who likes playing outside, reading, hanging out with friends, and going on nature walks or hikes with my family. Those are the things that really matter and bring me joy - not a bunch of irrational purchases that I'll regret as soon as the novelty wears off. Hopefully I've learned that lesson already while I'm still young.What do you think? Do you ever beg your parents for stuff that you realize later was kind of dumb? We've got to be smarterthan the companies who just want to trick us into spending every last penny we have! Let's stop the irrational spending and be content with what we already have. Who's with me?篇4Irrational Spending: A Big Problem for Kids and Grown-upsDo you ever feel like you really, really need to have the latest video game or toy? Like you just can't be happy unless you get that new thing everyone is talking about? That's called irrational spending, and it's a big problem for kids and grown-ups alike.Irrational spending means buying stuff you don't actually need, just because you really want it in the moment. It's when your wants take over and you can't think straight about whether you truly need that item or not. Irrational spending can get people into serious money troubles if they're not careful.I know all about irrational spending because I used to be really bad about it myself. Whenever a new game, toy, or gadget would come out, I would beg my parents for it endlessly. I just had to have it, no matter how many other similar toys I already owned. I would throw massive tantrums if they said no. Looking back, I was being completely irrational!One year for my birthday, my parents decided to teach me a lesson about irrational spending. Instead of getting me the brand new video game system I desperately wanted, they gave me 100 in cash. They explained that with that money, I could buy the new game system if I still wanted it after thinking it over. Or, I could use the money for other things.At first, I was really mad that I didn't just get the game system. But after a few days of thinking about it, I realized there were a lot of other cool things I could spend that 100 on. I ended up using 60 of it to buy a used bike from a neighbor kid. The remaining 40 went into my savings account.From then on, I tried to be a lot more thoughtful about what I was asking my parents to spend money on. Instead of irrational tantrums, I would make a list of pros and cons for buying something. If the cons outweighed the pros, I knew it was smarter to save my money.Irrational spending doesn't just affect kids though.Grown-ups can struggle with it too when they see a shiny new car, expensive jewelry, or fancy gadget that they simply have to have right away. They might go into debt to buy those luxuries without really thinking it through rationally.The solution is the same for kids and grown-ups: take a step back and think before you spend. Make a realistic budget and stick to it. Ask yourself if you truly need this new thing, or if it's just an irrational want based on advertising or what your friends have. Explore more affordable options first.It's okay to treat yourself once in a while, as long as it's a rational decision that fits your budget. But making a habit of irrational spending can lead to money problems down the road. It's best to learn to recognize when you're being irrational and make smart choices instead!篇5Irrational Buying: Why Do We Do It?Hey there, friends! Have you ever seen your mom or dad buy something they didn't really need? Maybe it was a new gadget they just had to have, or a fancy piece of clothing they'll probably never wear. I know I've seen it happen, and it always makes me scratch my head in confusion.You see, irrational buying is when we buy things for reasons that don't make much sense. It's like our brains get all mixed up, and we can't think straight. Instead of buying things we actually need, we end up buying stuff we don't need at all!There are a few reasons why this happens. One reason is that we sometimes get caught up in the excitement of shopping. The bright lights, the cool displays, and the promise of something new and shiny can make us forget all about being sensible. Before we know it, we've bought a whole bunch of stuff we didn't really want or need.Another reason is that we sometimes buy things to make ourselves feel better. Maybe we're having a bad day, or we're feeling a little down. So we go out and buy something nice for ourselves, hoping it will cheer us up. But most of the time, that happy feeling doesn't last very long, and we're left with a bunch of stuff we didn't really need.Sometimes, we also buy things because we're trying to keep up with our friends or classmates. Maybe they all have the latest toy or gadget, and we feel left out. So we beg our parents to buy it for us, too. But then, a few weeks later, we've forgotten all about it, and it's just collecting dust in our room.Irrational buying can also happen because of clever marketing and advertising. Companies spend a lot of money trying to convince us that we need their products, even when we don't. They use bright colors, catchy slogans, and sometimeseven famous people to make their products look really cool and desirable.But here's the thing: irrational buying can be a real problem. It can waste a lot of money and resources, and it can lead to a lot of clutter and waste. Plus, it's not very good for the environment, either.So what can we do about it? Well, one thing we can do is learn to be more mindful of our buying habits. Before we buy something, we can ask ourselves if we really need it, or if we're just buying it because it looks cool or because everyone else has it.We can also try to focus on buying things that are useful and practical, rather than just things that are trendy or flashy. And we can learn to be more patient and wait until we really need something before we buy it.Another thing we can do is to try to be more aware of the marketing and advertising tricks that companies use to try to get us to buy their products. Once we know what they're doing, it's easier to resist the temptation to buy things we don't really need.Finally, we can try to be more grateful for the things we already have. Instead of always wanting more and more, we canlearn to appreciate the things we already have and take good care of them.So there you have it, friends. Irrational buying is a tricky thing, but if we're mindful and careful, we can avoid falling into that trap. Let's all try to be smart shoppers and only buy the things we really need. That way, we'll have more money to spend on the things that really matter, like ice cream and video games! (Just kidding... sort of!)篇6Irrational Spending: A Kid's PerspectiveHey there! My name is Tommy and I'm 10 years old. Today I want to talk to you about something that drives my parents crazy - irrational spending! You know, when people buy stuff they don't really need just because they feel like it in the moment. It's something I've definitely been guilty of in the past.One time, I just HAD to have this new video game that all my friends were talking about at school. I begged and begged my mom until she finally gave in and bought it for me. And you know what? After playing it for a couple weeks, I got pretty bored with it. There was nothing that special about it comparedto the other games I already had. It just seemed so exciting at first when everyone was hyping it up.Another example is when I'm at the grocery store checkout and they have those little toys and candies right there trying to tempt me. Even though I know I don't need any of that junk, sometimes I just can't resist. I'll see a cool looking key chain or pack of gum and I'm like "Ooh! Mom, can I pleeeease get that?" And she usually says no, because she knows I'll just end up losing that keychain in a week anyway. Moms are so smart!You know what else I'm really bad at? Wanting the next big thing as soon as it comes out, even if what I have works just fine. Like when the newest iPhone model gets released, I'm immediately envious of the kids who have parents that can afford to get it for them on launch day. My phone is only a year old and it still works great, but I just NEED that new one for some reason. Such a waste of money!Speaking of money, I feel like kids don't really understand how hard our parents work to be able to give us all the things we have. We're so used to just asking for a new toy or game and getting it, that we don't appreciate what it actually costs. And then when we outgrow that thing a few months later, we'realready begging for the next thing we "need." No wonder mom and dad seem stressed about money so much!I try to be better about controlling my irrational spending urges, but it's really hard, especially with how advertised everything is these days. There are commercials, YouTubers selling stuff, kids at school talking about the latest craze. It's enough to make any kid feel super left out if they don't have the same things.But I'm working on being more grateful for what I already have, saving my allowance for things I actually need, and not giving in to every impulse purchase that catches my eye. It's a work in progress for sure. Maybe I'll be a responsible adult someday who thinks through purchases instead of just buying any shiny thing I see!Well, that's my take on irrational spending from a kid's point of view. We sure can be pretty irrational sometimes, huh? I'm going to go play with some of the old toys I haven't used in awhile - who knows, maybe I'll rediscover how fun they are! Thanks for reading, catch you later!。
综英6课文翻译
Unit 1 Technology in ReverseLet me introduce you retarded technology. It’s the opposite of advanced technology. Advanced technology enables us to do useful new things or to do old things more efficiently. By contrast, retarded technology creates new and expensive ways of doing things that were once done simply and inexpensively. Worse, it encourages us to do things that don’t need doing at all. It has made waste respectable, elaborate alluring and even fun.1.让我给你介绍落后科技。
它是先进科技的对立面。
先进的科技让我们更有效地利用新事物或是旧事物。
相反，落后科技则会使那些本来简单快捷的做事方式变成新和浪费。
更糟糕的是，它会鼓励我们做那些不需要的事，使浪费变得可敬，值得做，诱人，甚至是有趣。
Just the other week, NEWSWEEK reported a boom in electronic books. The idea is to put books onto discs that you can plug into your customized book-displaying computer. Here's a swell idea of retarded technology. On the one hand, you can buy a $900 or $9,000 book-reading computer that you can feed with $20 discs of your favorite books. It's cumbersome. If you take it to the beach, it gets clogged with sand. You can't use it as a pillow. If it slips off the kitchen counter, it smashes.2.几个星期前，新闻周刊报道了电子书的一个爆炸新闻。
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班级：初三（六）姓名：李卓睿指导老师：张岩
Do We Really Need To Buy Them?
With the revolution of “E-Business”, shopping on the Internet is getting easier and easier.It not only bring us some advantages, but it also bring us some problems.It is a fact that we spend a lot of money in buying things now.
In today`s world, most of us buy too much and too often.As a matter of fact, there is really no need for us to buy half the stuff we purchase.In fact, according to a survey which was made by a Chinese consumer organization, three-quarters, or even nine-tenth of the things we bought were not used by us.The reason of buying so many things is that shopping has become an addiction for many people.Furthermore, shopping on the Internet doesn`t make people feel like they are shopping when they just simply use the mouse or touch the screen to spend money.And ads can also make us buy things we don`t really want. Companies like Alibaba or Jingdong are experts at making us buy stuff, especially before days like “Double Eleven”or “Double Twelve”in China.
In the recent years` “Double Eleven”,I have became a part of the record-breakers.I bought a pair of shoes and some clothes.In fact, people around me bought large number of things on that day.But after a few days,most of them realized that it was unnecessary to buy some of the things.It is really a waste of money and resources.We easily run out of money when we go shopping, but we can also run out of our planet`s resources, such as animals, forests, water and a lot more. So why don`t we stop doing this? There have already been some actions. “Buy Nothing Day”is an organization that was set up by a group of English people.It is the biggest 24-hour campaign against consumerism.People around the world will make a pact o take a break from shopping as a personal experiment or publicity statement on that day.
I would say only foolish people go shopping ta reduce their stress. Stop buying, start living! Let`s live a simple and happy life together!。