The business of wedding Every couple who goes to the altar believes that they will make that trip only once in their lives. They want the day to be perfect, and they are asking for much more than good weather. They want the most beautiful clothes, the freshest flowers. Moreover, her family who will foot the bill is not in any mood to economize.- }, H; y- u$ N$ M7 m+ g# g/ S& g, _
A quick look at any bride magazine will reveal that plenty of attractive goods and services compete for a share of the wedding budget. Besides the obvious choices of rings, dresses, flowers, and photographs, there are the less apparent expenses: a lavish cake, a rehearsal dinner, a reception, music for both the ceremony and the reception, tips, and even napkins and matchbooks printed with the couple's names and the wedding date.
* [* x( R6 e4 [3 h4 A As the arrangements are generally complicated, there are plenty of services that can ea hired to help with the planning and execution of the every aspect of the wedding: planning the photographs, selecting the wedding rings, choosing the flowers, picking the honeymoon spot, and so on. One magazine lists over 350such pamphlets published of course by businesses who have something to offer. Considering that weddings do more than 12billion dollars worth of business annually in the US alone, such activity isn't surprising.
7 a! j! m0 r7 ^ What is surprising is that no one company dominates the industry. It seems that when people plan for a day as special to them as a wedding, they resist standardization. They turn instead to the small local suppliers known to them or to their friends. Family members or friends often serve as photographers, caterers and musicians. This not only helps bring the wedding cost down, but makes it more personal.
3 ?$ M w5 h c/ K What about the couple that doesn't want to take in this billion-dollar industry? They can go to city hall and get married for less than the price of a hamburger.转自:考试网 - [Examw.Com]
7 Z |- H; i+ L& {/ } 练习：! w+ L( y4 r* r' `8 |" W0 r2 a
1. What does the expression "this billion-dollar industry" refer to ?
- i! F5 k" l; ~: Z+ | L A) The budgets of weddings.9 t w3 j2 _0 X, R7 M( [
B) The business of weddings.8 m) E9 L* f* l& Q
C) The planning and execution of weddings. s' }8 e/ M+ _9 d
D) The high wedding expense./ q x7 x& f( P& [
2. Which of the following is not mentioned?7 n0 u0 F' |& l
A) The wedding budget.' Z6 L- E* g/ ?7 r t' d+ \
B) The wedding breakfast.
, }, j4 s& ~: {; N. N C) The wedding date.' K1 s! G, y# Y, y" O
D) The wedding cost.- N* `: b; x* I- @' }
3. Not a single company can dominate the industry because
5 ] E7 A r, [+ l A) People resist standardization.% s$ x Q/ i/ O [3 Y# a
B) Parents want to reduce the wedding cost0 B o7 Z1 ~! k8 V3 z& f1 f
C) Many couples can't afford more than the price of a hamburger.
3 T' c+ E" C4 T9 k) V5 v9 N) y- l D) Family members are surprised at the complicated arrangements.
2 k; d: Z- n# r8 v 4. Which of the following can best replace the phrase "foot the bill"in the first paragraph?) K7 P+ q0 ~8 W+ X2 Q' |
A) play football F/ p/ X! |- o8 H) b7 ~' T
B) bring the bill
* L" k! e# K. `3 E- b9 S0 V C) approve the bill
' X) j' e; v' j2 [0 m p D) pay the bill
% F0 _/ w" ^% q J6 q) d 5. The writer's attitude towards the annual 12-billion-dollar business of wedding appears to be
3 T- J& a: n4 r/ [. H/ i1 q# M A. positive.# G6 _$ L3 m1 _- F- N4 C
B. negative.
; g8 L1 m# U) Q% G0 m C. indifferent.
, h0 \2 R2 ~4 @: D8 [) a D. objective.' N5 l! O8 J; T! A( x, X$ i) m
答案： B B A D D |
发表于 2012-8-15 23:46:35
