Americans are buying more products and services than ever before through the Int

Americans are buying more products and services thanever before through the Internet, and the popularity of online sales is likelyto spread to other countries. Online sales now represent as much as one-tenthof all retail(零售) sales in the United States，which has led traditional stores to seek new ways tokeep their customers loyal.

Lynne Shaner used the Internet to buy everything sheneeded for her wedding and holiday gifts for her husband. Other than food, 90percent of her purchases(购买的东西) were made on her home computer. “I findthat, by being able to go online and opt for the things that I need toselect and have them delivered to me right at my doorstep, I’m free from allthe driving, all the crowds, all the noise, and I usually get a betterselection.”

There are a lot of people like her. Experts sayAmerican online shopping hit records in both November and December. Fifty-sevenpercent of Americans have bought something electronically. Store owners worrythat this growing amount of online sales will hurt their business. CornellUniversity marketing professor Ed McLaughlin says, “They should be worried.Anything that can move online will be sold online. And it's just a matter oftime. However, traditional stores can keep their customers by selling goodslike clothing, which buyers may want to see and try on before purchasing. Thestores could also offer things that are difficult to ship. ”

Bill Martin, whose business helps stores learn abouttheir customers, says, “Traditional stores offer a social experience that somepeople enjoy. There is still a lot of emotion in the buying decision that takesplace, and you can't always get that on-line. It's a rather cold process.Traditional stores can provide goods for buyers more quickly than onlinestores. And some retailers are using websites to persuade people to visit theirstores. ”

While online shopping worries some business owners,the only worry for delivery services like FedEx and UPS is keeping up with thenumber of packages. UPS Manager Dana Kline says her company is very busy atthis time of year. UPS is so busy that it has filled 55,000 temporary workerpositions during the holiday season.

1.According to Lynne Shaner, shopping online ________.

A. helps choose things she needs most

B. will replace traditional shopping soon

C. offer many benefits to customers

D. seldom provides a better selection

2.What does the underlined phrase “opt for” in thesecond paragraph mean?

A.choose           B.sell           C.design         D. purchase

3.Professor Ed McLaughlin thinks that _________.

A. online shopping has little effect on traditionalstores

B. it is time for store owners to be anxious abouttheir business

C. traditional stores can do nothing to stopchallenges from online shopping

D. traditional stores should sell more things that aredifficult to ship

4.What can we know from the fourth paragraph?

A. Online sales fail to offer customers sense ofemotion.

B. Customers enjoy social experience when shoppingonline.

C. Traditional stores can help customers decide whatto buy.

D. Customers can buy goods more quickly after visitingwebsites.

5.From the passage we can infer _______.

A. UPS has filled more worker positions than FedEx

B. business owners are concerned about deliveryservices

C. FedEx is keeping up with UPS on the number ofpackages

D. delivery services are facing more and more pressurefrom online sales

试题答案

【答案】

1.C

2.A

3.B

4.A

5.D

【解析】

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