In 2019 shoppers in one European country began to 11 a large clothing chain after photographs of its factories appeared online. Sales fell by a fifth in three months. The company first said the pictures were unfair, then changed its story. Its 12 managers agreed to meet the workers' representatives, and after eight weeks of 13, a new agreement was signed. Analysts say the case shows how quickly a 14 can lose the trust it spent thirty years building. It also shows that ordinary customers now have far more 15 on big firms than they once believed.
A grocery store in Tainan has replaced paper price tags with small screens. Prices change three times a day. Fruit that is perfectly ripe in the morning is sold at a 16 by six o'clock, so that almost nothing is thrown away. The owner says the system was expensive, but the 17 in waste paid for it within a year. Customers are divided. Some enjoy hunting for bargains; others find the changing numbers stressful and say a shop should not feel so 18. The owner is now in 19 with two other stores that want to 20 the same system.
Questions 16–20
16
Apassion
Breceipt
Crequest
Dreduction
✔ 正確答案：(D) reduction
解析傍晚出售水果會給「折扣 reduction」。receipt 收據、request 要求皆不合；passion 是熱情，不能用 sold at a passion 表示賣價。
17
Aexpansion
Bexplosion
Creduction
Dentry
✔ 正確答案：(C) reduction
解析the ____ in waste 指浪費的「減少 reduction」。expansion 擴大、explosion 爆炸、entry 進入皆不合。
Sell your goods at the busiest market in the district
Small stall (2m) — NT$600 per day
Large stall (4m) — NT$1,000 per day
Corner stall (4m, two open sides) — NT$1,400 per day
Book four Saturdays in a row and pay for only three. Electricity is included; tables are not. Traders must keep a receipt book and clear their space by 7 p.m.
New traders: your first day is half price. Ask for the form at the market office before Thursday. Our Buy Local campaign runs until the end of August.
全文中譯
在本區最熱鬧的市集販售你的商品
小攤位（2公尺）—— 每日 600 元
大攤位（4公尺）—— 每日 1,000 元
角落攤位（4公尺，兩面開放）—— 每日 1,400 元
連續預訂四個週六只需付三天費用。含電費；不含桌子。攤商須備收據簿，並於晚間七點前清空攤位。
新攤商：第一天半價。請於週四前至市集辦公室索取表格。我們的「支持在地」宣傳活動進行到八月底。
Questions 21–24
21How much does a corner stall cost for one day?
ANT$700
BNT$600
CNT$1,000
DNT$1,400
✔ 正確答案：(D) NT$1,400
中譯角落攤位一天多少錢？
解析Corner stall — NT$1,400 per day。
22What does a trader get by booking four Saturdays?
AFree electricity
BOne day free
CA corner space
DA free table
✔ 正確答案：(B) One day free
中譯預訂四個週六可以得到什麼？
解析pay for only three，等於免費一天。
23What is NOT included in the price?
AElectricity
BTables
CThe space itself
DWeekend access
✔ 正確答案：(B) Tables
中譯價格中不包含什麼？
解析Electricity is included; tables are not。
24What should a new trader do before Thursday?
APay the full price
BBring a receipt book
CAsk for the form at the office
DClear the space by 7 p.m.
✔ 正確答案：(C) Ask for the form at the office
中譯新攤商在週四前應該做什麼？
解析Ask for the form at the market office before Thursday。
EMAIL
A Question About an Order
Dear Ms. Chen,
I ordered two lamps from your website on 3 May (order 22841). One arrived yesterday, but the box for the second was empty.
I have kept the wrapping and taken photographs. I do not need a refund — I would simply like you to send the missing lamp, as they are a pair and one alone is of little use to me.
Could you also tell me whether I should return the empty box? I do not want to throw away anything you may need.
解析I do not need a refund — I would simply like the missing lamp sent。
27Why does he want two lamps?
AHe runs a shop
BThey were on sale
COne is a gift
DThey are a pair
✔ 正確答案：(D) They are a pair
中譯他為什麼要兩盞燈？
解析they are a pair and one alone is of little use。
28What does Peter ask about the empty box?
AHow heavy it is
BWhy it was sealed
CWhere to buy another
DWhether he should return it
✔ 正確答案：(D) Whether he should return it
中譯關於空箱子彼得問了什麼？
解析whether I should return the empty box。
ARTICLE
Why Small Shops Are Coming Back
For twenty years the story was simple: large chains opened, small shops closed. In several cities that trend has now slowed, and in a few it has turned around.
One reason is delivery. When almost anything can arrive at your door in a day, the advantage of a huge shop full of goods becomes less important. What a street shop can offer instead is advice, repair and a face you recognize. Some now order straight from a small manufacturer rather than a national chain.
Rent still decides much of it. Where landlords have kept rents moderate, small shops survive; where rents have doubled, the shutters stay down whatever the shopkeepers do.