如今中國的年輕一代正通過網(wǎng)絡(luò)方式探索著更酷的二手市場。
測試中可能遇到的詞匯和知識:
hand-chopping mafia 剁手黨(mafia 黑手黨;秘密政黨)
slang 俚語;行話[sl??]
urge to 慫恿;激勵
flea market 跳蚤市場;廉價市場
hipsters 趕時髦的人(adj. 低及臀部的)[h?pst?]
inferior 差的;自卑的[?n'f??r??]
hook 鉤??;引上鉤[h?k] hi-fi|
high fidelity 高保真度的音響設(shè)備
authenticity 確實(shí)性;可靠性[??θen't?s?t?]
閱讀馬上開始,建議您計(jì)算一下閱讀整篇文章所用的時間,對照下方的參考值就可以評估出您的英文閱讀水平。
4分49秒 母語為英語者的朗讀速度 140
2分49秒 母語為英語的中學(xué)生的閱讀速度 250
1分43秒 母語為英語的大學(xué)生的閱讀速度 350
0分57秒 母語為英語的速讀高手 1000
China’s young consumers discover second-hand shopping online(573words)
By Gloria Cheung
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Jane Zhang describes herself as part of China’s “hand-chopping mafia” — a local slang referring to shopaholics who feel the urge to sever their hands in order to stop compulsive online shopping. But recently, the 26-year-old from Tianjin has discovered a remedy for her addiction: second-hand ecommerce. “After seeing a dress I like on Taobao, I will search for the same item on Xianyu. Usually I can find a near-new one with a cheaper price,” she says.
Both sites are owned by Alibaba, the Chinese ecommerce group. Taobao is China’s largest online marketplace, while Xianyu is a digital flea market, a concept new to many Chinese shoppers. Unlike the UK where hipsters crowd into second-hand clothes shops such as those in London’s Brick Lane, in China one man’s trash is rarely regarded as another man’s treasure.
Second-hand goods are traditionally thought of as inferior in Chinese culture, although such perceptions are changing among younger, open-minded consumers in major cities.
“My mother was shocked when I told her I have sold Rmb210,000 ($31,900) worth of used goods online. She cannot imagine buying someone’s unwanted stuff,” says Shen Jiangan, a 39-year-old civil servant in Hangzhou. He uses Xianyu to trade home appliances and electronic devices. Alibaba says office workers and students under 30 are Xianyu's main users. Its transaction volume has expanded 15.6 times since 2014, with 170m items sold. Alibaba this year said that a further $15m would be invested in the platform.
Similar ventures are popping up across China. Zhuan Zhuan, developed by New York-listed 58.com, has acquired 3m users in less than a year. Kong Kong Hu, a second-hand fashion app aimed at women in their twenties, said it had raised $18m last year.
Lu Zhenwang, chief executive of Wanqing Consultancy in Shanghai, which focuses on ecommerce in China, says that Chinese millennials are changing their shopping habits. “They like to buy new things but they get bored easily, so they are constantly getting rid of old products and look for something fresh.”
Chen Weiye is the 34-year-old chief executive of Xianyu. He spent six years as product manager at Taobao and admits to a moment of doubt when the venture started. “Prestige — or the so-called “face” — is a very important factor to the Chinese consumption choices,” he explains.
To encourage users and to build trust, Xianyu came up with the concept of “fish ponds” — thousands of communities based on interest and location. Users talk to one another about hobbies and interests while making purchases.
Mr Shen says Xianyu hooked him because it offers a community that shares his love of expensive hi-fi systems. “I like to use different types of audio equipment, but it is unrealistic to buy a new set all the time.”
Ms Zhang leads a group called Thrifty Bride. Its members are eager to share pictures of their weddings and honeymoons in her “fish pond”.
“Used bridal accessories and wedding-related products sell,” she says, but notes that members still have reservations about used wedding gowns.
Kong Kong Hu has also built communities to boost transactions. Much like browsing Instagram, users are invited to “l(fā)ike” and “comment” on fashion items, and follow one another instead of being rushed to the checkout.
Despite the speed of growth of digital flea markets, however, Mr Lu says “there are still many problems”. Fake goods, for example, are a challenge. “There has to be a better authenticity platform to verify the products.”
請根據(jù)你所讀到的文章內(nèi)容,完成以下自測題目:
1. what's the meaning of “hand-chopping mafia” as mentioned?
A. shopaholics
B. party members
C. netizens
D. beautiful women
2. What is China’s largest online marketplace?
A. Alibaba
B. Xianyu
C. Taobao
D. Jingdong
3. Who are Xianyu's main users as Alibaba said?
A. students under 25
B. office workers above 30
C. housewives in major cities
D. people under 30
4. What is the resemblance between Kong Kong Hu and Xianyu as mentioned?
A. fake goods
B. built communities
C. share pictures
D. add friends
[1] 答案 A. shopaholics
解釋:shopaholic是購物狂的意思。
[2] 答案 C. Taobao
解釋:淘寶和咸魚都為阿里巴巴集團(tuán)所有,淘寶是中國最大的線上購物平臺。
[3] 答案 D. people under 30
解釋:阿里巴巴表示30歲以下的學(xué)生和白領(lǐng)是咸魚的主要用戶。
[4] 答案 B. built communities
解釋:文章提到這些網(wǎng)站為了促進(jìn)成交都建立了討論社區(qū)。