From hitting the mall with your girl friends on a Saturday afternoon, to holiday spending on gifts that go under the tree, shopping could be called one of America's favorite pastimes. For most people, it means some new clothes for work or a small trinket for a friend. For others, however, shopping is much more than an enjoyable pastime, and in some cases, it is a real and destructive addiction that can turn into a financial disaster. Compulsive shopping and spending are defined as inappropriate, excessive, and out of control. Like other addictions, it basically has something to do with impulsiveness and lack of control over one's impulses. In America, shopping is embedded in our culture; so often, the impulsiveness comes out as excessive shopping. Sometimes this is referred to as "shopholism". Shopping addiction can damage a person's life, family, and finances. "No one knows what causes addictive behaviors, like shopping, alcoholism, drug abuse, and gambling", says a professor of applied health science. Some of the new evidence suggests that some people, maybe 10%-15%, may have a genetic predisposition to an addictive behavior, coupled with an environment in which the particular behavior is triggered, but no one really knows why." Individuals will get some kind of high from an addictive behavior like shopping. What are the telltale signs that shopping has crossed the line and become and addiction? What should a concerned family member or friend look out for when they think shopping has become a problem? The behaviors can signal a serious problem: *Shopping or spending money as a result of feeling angry, depressed, anxious, or lonely *Having arguments with others about one's shopping habits *Feeling lost without credit cards -- actually going into withdrawal without them *Buying items on credit, rather than with cash *Describing a rush or a feeling of euphoria with spending *Feeling guilty, ashamed, or embarrassed after a spending spree *Thinking obsessively about money *Spending a lot time juggling accounts... The most important way to get rid of the addiction is _ . A) use credit card instead of checkbooks B) change one's behavior as well as seek professional advice C) find somebody else to shopfor you D) go to a doctor for a standard treatment
B
In New York, Ma witnessed the Alibaba Group opening on the New York stock exchange with the largest initial public offering (IPO,) in American history. "Alibaba, the world's largest Internet commerce company makes China equal to the US in the rapidly increasing global competition for technological innovation and economic transformation " commented the South China Morning Post. It has also made Ma China's richest man with a fortune of around $25 billion (153 billion yuan), reported Reuters. It's reported that Ma's rags-to-riches journey is just as spectacular as his Internet empire. Ma failed the national college entrance exams twice before he was finally in Hangzhou Normal University on his third attempt and failed in finding a suitable job several times. Aslo, Mr Ma is a big believer in perseverance, which was proved in his English study experience. However, it was his vision and goals that launched his career. During a short trip to the US as an interpreter in 1995, Ma first experienced the Internet. He believed in the Internet's business potential when few other Chinese people did. He started Alibaba in his Hangzhou apartment, with 17 friends and $60,000 of funds. At the time, when e-commerce was unheard of in China, _ he once said, according to The Guardian. His unusual ideas earned him the nickname "Crazy Jack Ma" . Indeed, Ma is different. Although he is very thin and about 160cm tall, "Ma is yet animated and forceful, said The Guardian. "He is funny, creative, and a compelling speaker. Ma told Time magazine that he was "old for the Internet". He started to slow down and looked around. According to The Wall Street Journal, Ma "plans to open a tai chi club with the actor Jet Li, build an entrepreneur university in Hangzhou and continue to work on several environmental projects." What's the personality of Ma Yun according to the passage? A) Funny and competitive. B) Determined and creative. C) Rich and different. D) Attractive and believable.
B
Q: Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport If You've Lost Personal Belongings *On Board --Contact the airline's representatives *At the Airport --Contact: --Sheremetyevo Police Department ......+7(495)578-22-55 --Unclaimed luggage storage room in Terminal C ......+7(495)578-23-26 --Unclaimed luggage storage room in Terminal D ......+7(499)500-65-52(domestic flights) ......+7(495)753-86-41(international flights) When collecting Lost and Found items, you shall have an identification document, a boarding pass or a ticket, and also indicate the place where the items were lost and prove they are yours. If Your Luggage Is Lost or Damaged Before leaving the arrival area, please turn to the Lost and Found counter to file a report. The written claim shall be submitted to the airline company not later than seven days from the time when the luggage was to be collected. If your luggage is not found within twenty-one days of the time when the claim was filed, you have the right to claim damages in the amount of not more than 600 rubles per kilogram. Amount refunded for the hand luggage lost through the fault of an airline is not more than 11, 000 rubles regardless of its weight. Amount refunded for damaged luggage is calculated based on the same tariffs . Keep your flight documents (a ticket, boarding pass, luggage tag, and delayed luggage report filed at the airport) until the end of the procedure for searching for your luggage. Current information on luggage-tracing results ......+7(495)578-76-65 Lost and Found service of Aeroflot Russian Airlines ......+7(495)544-33-25(from 9:00- 20:00) +7(495)753-86-41(24 hours) For further information please contact the airline. Which number will you probably dial to see whether your lost luggage has been found? A) 7(495)578-76-65 B) 7(495)544-33-25 C) 7(499)500-65-52 D) 7(495)753-86-41
A: A
(Question)
It's not Christmas Day yet. But wherever I go on the streets, I see shops selling Christmas trees and all kinds of beautiful decorations, waiters wearing Christmas hats; I hear children singing Christmas songs on broadcast; I get messages of Christmas's best wishes from friends. I just got quite confused again, since when have Chinese begun celebrating Christmas Day? What do these people celebrate it for, the birth of Chris? But we all know that most of Chinese are not Christians, they don't even know the origin of Christmas Day, and they celebrate it for no reason. I don't celebrate Christmas Day or any other western holidays since I'm not a Christian and nor am I a westerner. I don't know what Christmas really means. Anyway I can't get reasonable answers from my friends. Some of them think they would like to just take this chance to enjoy themselves regardless of the meaning of the festival. Some of them think I'm an old-fashioned girl, a _ who doesn't appreciate the spirit of Chinese cultural tolerance and understanding of other cultures. Well, if it is about cultural tolerance, why don't we ever celebrate the month of Muharram, or festivals of colours in India, or Fiestas Patrias in Mexico? I really appreciate cultural exchanges and communications with all nations, but I don't think this is what it's about. People are celebrating more and more western festivals while ignoring our traditional ones. Is it part of globalization ? Do people in other non-western countries also celebrate Christmas? According to the writer, many Chinese people celebrate Christmas _ . A) for no reason B) for the birth of Chris C) because most of them are Christians D) because they don't like Chinese festivals
(Answer)
A