15年川外翻硕英语真题

科目代码：211

四川外国语大学

2015年攻读硕士学位研究生入学考试试题科目名称：翻译硕士英语

答题要求：所有答案必须写在答题纸上，否则不给分。全卷100分，3小时完成。

WordDerivation(10%)

Directions:Fillintheblanksinthefollowingsentenceswiththeappropriatewordsderivedfromthewordsgiveninparenthesesattheendofthesentences.

The amongtheallieswasnosecrettotheenemy.(harmony)

Thesituationtherewas .Somethingmustbedonepromptly.(tolerate)

Thisismadeof material.(resistheat)

Shewasavery socialscientist.Sheprovedthatapartfromself-love,therewereotherbasichumaninstincts.(observe)

Youcanlivelongestandbestandmost byattainingandpreservingthehappinessoflearning.(reward)

YouthinkI’mjoking?No!I’mindead .(earn)

Manytimeshedemonstratedhis toothercops.(fear)

Inmodernsociety,workersareindangerofbeing .Theybecomeextensionofthemachine.(human)

,mostofthesestudentsstudyingoverseaswillcomebackeventuallyinsteadofsettlingdowntherepermanently.(presume)

Nobodyknowsforsurehowmuchthesefreeofficialbanquetshavecostthepeople,butitmusthavereachedon figure.(astronomy)

MultipleChoice(20%)

Directions:ForeachsentencebelowtherearefourchoicesA,B,CandD.ChoosetheanswerthatBESTcompletesthesentence.ThenwritethecorrectletterontheAnswerSheet.

Theemotionalstrainofattendinghisdyingmother allhisstrength.

(A)sapped (B)depleted (C)enervated (D)enfeebled

Thesocialworkerclaimedthatitwasimpossiblefortheoldmantoliveonhispension.

(A)inadequate (B)insufficient (C)meager (D)skimpy

Themysticfoundithard,ifnotimpossible,to hisphilosophicposition.

(A)state (B)verbalize (C)communicate (D)deliver

Literarymagazinesgive$200 forcriticalarticlesfrompeoplewhowanttomakea

nameforthemselvesinthisfield.

(A)emolument (B)remuneration (C)stipend (D)honorariums

Hedisplayed ignoranceinhandlingwhatwasanonlyroutinepersonnelproblem.

(A)opprobrious (B)deplorable (C)culpable (D)regrettable

Europeans theindigenousIndianpopulationtheymetwith.

(A)supplanted (B)displaced (C)rectified (D)renovated

Disappointmentfollowedhishopesof afterthecostlyoperation.

(A)rejuvenescence (B)renascence (C)rejuvenation (D)recrudescence

Heattemptsto thetruthbyappealingtodishonest,ignorantandirresponsiblebigotry.

(A)vitiate (B)adulterate (C)contaminate (D)pervert

Thetypical professorwasraptinsolvinganequationwhilecrossingagainstaredlight.

(A)inattentive (B)abstracted (C)absent-minded (D)oblivious

Anewlyindependentcolonywasplungedinto bywarringfactionsandalackofcentralleadership.

(A)riot (B)anarchy (C)disorder (D)disturbance

parentsarerelyingevenmoreheavilyontutorsandcramschoolstohelptheirchildrensucceed.

(A)Nervous (B)Anxious (C)Fretful (D)Farsighted

G.BShawwonderedhowparentscouldwaituntiltheirangercooledinorderto theirchildrenincoldblood.

(A)flog (B)spank (C)thrash (D)scourge

A smilethatinthenextminuteturnedintoanembarrassedblush.

(A)winsome (B)blithe (C)cherry (D)sunny

Thejudge’srulingthatpoliticalbeliefsoftheaccusedwere tothequestionofhisguilt.

(A)extrinsic (B)superfluous (C)inessential (D)immaterial

Acorruptpublicofficialwas bycolleaguesafraidofinquiresintotheirownaffairs.

(A)palliated (B)glossedover (C)whitewashed (D)extenuated

“Theonlywaytogetridofatemptationistoyieldtoit,”wroteOscarWilde,acomposerofbrilliant .

(A)mottos (B)aphorisms (C)apothegms (D)epigrams

Themanager aclerkwhoseclumsinesswasresponsibleforthecompletebreakdownofoperationsinhisdepartment.

(A)rebuked (B)admonished (C)reprimanded (D)reproached

They themountingevidenceofdiscrepanciesinthereportasjustifyinganewinvestigation.

(A)beckoned (B)invoked (C)subpoenaed (D)conjured

AccordingtotheAmericanAcademyofOrthopedicSurgeons,only25%ofthosewho

sufferhipeverfullyrecover;asmanyas20%willdiewithin12months.Evenwhenpatientsdorecover,nearlyhalfwillneedacaneorawalkertogetaround.

(A)frankincense(B)fragments (C)fractures (D)fraction

Asteadyflowoftheweaponsspreaditsgenialinfluencethroughoutthefrontier,andtherespectwhichthePathantribesmenentertainedforChristiancivilizationwasvastlyenhanced.

(A)covetous (B)coveted (C)coveting (D)covet

ReadingComprehension(40%)ReadingPassage1

Questions31-35arebasedonthefollowingreadingpassage.

Directions:

Readthefollowingpassage.Answerthequestionsbelowitbychoosing[A],[B],[C],or[D].

ChrisHrapkoisn'tafraidoftoughconversations.Asthefounderofanonprofitsocial-serviceagency,shebattlesbureaucraciesonbehalfofthehomelessandtheworkingpoor.ButthereisoneconversationHrapkoavoided.Whenher92-year--oldmotherfellandbrokeherhipearlierthisyear,Hrapkoknewitwouldaffectherindependentmother'slivingarrangementsandhealth.ButHrapko,51,wascluelessabouthermom'swishes."Wetalkedaboutalotofthings,"shesays,"butwenevertalkedaboutafutureinwhichmymomfacedaproblemthatcouldleaveherdisabled, bedriddenoronlifesupport.”

ArecentsurveybyAARPfoundthatnearly70percentofadultchildrenhavenottalkedtotheirparentsaboutissuesrelatedtoaging.Somechildrenavoidthismostintimateofconversationsbecausetheybelievetheirparentsdon'twanttotalk.Othersthinktheyknowwhattheirparentswant.Andsomesimplydon'twanttofacetheveryrealtruththatifyouareluckyenoughtohaveparentswholivewellintotheirsenioryears,chancesaregoodthatdisease,injury,frailty,evenloneliness,willaffectaparent'swell-being.

Whileit'sclearthathavingaconversationwithagingparentsisimportant,thereisnoblueprintonhowtodoitwell.Whatworksforonefamilymaynotworkforyours.Thekeyistobeflexible,saysMaryAnneEhlert,founderofChicago-basedProtectedTomorrows,anadvocacyfirmforfamilieswithspecialneeds.Shehasfoundthatoneofthebestwaystogettheconversationalballrollingistotalkaboutyourparents'andwhattheywoulddoiffacedwithasituationinwhichpeopletheylovedcouldnolongercareforthemselves.“Askyourparentsforadvice;seektheirwisdominhelpingyouhelpthem,”Ehlertsays.

It'salsoimportantforadultstobehonestaboutwhattheyarepreparedtodofortheirparents.Asparentsageandbecomefrail,manywillneedhelpwithpersonalhygiene.It’sthesekindsofissuesthatcanmakethemostdevotedchildbalk.“Beforeyouagreetobeacaregiver,makesureyouunderstandwhatyoumaybeinfor,"saysMonikaWhite,president-electoftheNationalAssociationofProfessionalGeriatricCareManagers.“Adultchildrenneedto

acknowledgetheirownlimitationsandthenbepreparedtomakesometypeofarrangementforthethingstheysimplycan'tdo.”

Realizethatthereisnosuchthingasoneconversationaboutaging.“Nooneresolvesthefutureinoneafternoonoftalk,”sayspsychologistBrianCarpenterofWashingtonUniversityinSt.Louis.“It'saprocess.”Onestrategyistoscheduletimetotalkaboutaspecificsubject,suchaswillsorlivingarrangements.

Accordingtothefirstparagraph,ChrisHrapko .[A]avoidedtalkingabouttheissueofagingwithhermother

realizedthathermotherwantedtotalktoheraboutthefuturelife[C]believedthathermotherdidn'twanttotalktoherabouttheagingissue[D]knewthattheinjurywouldcausehermotherlonelierthanbefore

Manyadultchildrenhavenottalkedtotheirparentsaboutagingnotbecause .[A]somechildrenthinkthattheirparentsdon'twanttotalk

somechildrenbelievethattheyknowtheirparentswell

somechildrenarenotluckyenoughtohaveparentswholivewellintotheirsenioryears[D]somechildrenshuntherealitythattheirparentsneedhelp

Wecanlearnfromparagraph3that .

ChrisHrapkoneedstoseekadvicesfromtheexpertandfollowthemstepbystep

Talkingaboutyourparents'personalvaluesmaymaketheconversationdisputable

Itisunadvisabletotalkaboutyourparents'futurelifewhereyoucannottakecareofthem

talkingwithyourparentsabouttheiragingbutfindanappropriateway

Theunderlinedword“balk”(Para.4)mostprobablymean .

lazy

stop

joy

disappoint

Whichofthefollowingistrueofthetext?

ChrisHrapko'smotherrefusedtotalkaboutthefutureproblemwithherdaughter.

MaryAnneEhlertadvisedpeopletocommunicatewiththeirparentsontheirownway.

MonikaWhitethoughtthatifpeoplecannotmeettheirparents'need,theycannotbeagoodcaregiver..

BrianCarpentersuggestedthatpeopleshouldspendmoretimeincommunicatingwiththeirparents.

ReadingPassage2

Questions36-40arebasedonthefollowingreadingpassage.

Directions:

Readthefollowingpassage.Answerthequestionsbelowitbychoosing[A],[B],[C],or[D].

Lessthanfiveyearsago.ScottishOperawastrappedinafinancialquagmirefromwhichfewthoughtitcouldrecover.Today,however,thenationalcompanysealsitscomebackbyannouncingitsmostwide-reachingprogramtodate.InaninterviewwithTheTimes,AlexReedjik,generaldirectorofScottishOpera,explainedthataseriesofcollaborationswithothercompanieswouldenableittomaximizeitsoutputwithoutcompromisingitsbudget.Headmittedthatthepartnershipswereborneoffinancialnecessity,butarguedtheywouldallowthecompanytoreachgreateraudiencesthaneverbefore.“Collaborationsarethewayforward,”hesaid.“Wehaveoftendoneco-productionsinthepastbuttheyaremoreimportanttousnowtoenableustoachieveallofourhopes.Theproblemisthatsetsareveryexpensive.Ifyoucansharethosecostswithanotherorganizationandnotimpactonartisticintegrity,thatisapositive,welcomeandnecessarything.”

Highlightsofthe2009-10seasonwillincludeanewco-productionwithNewZealandOperaofRossini'sTheItalianGirlinAlgiers,andajointventurewithOperaNorthTheAdventuresofMr.Broucek,byLeosJánacek,featuringa40-strongchoirsingingHussitehymns,alongwithbagpipesandanorgan.AnunashamedlyItalianateseasonthisAutumnbeginswitharevivalofGilesHavergal'spopular1994productionofTheElixirofLove.TherewillalsobearevivaloftheTony-awardwinningdirectorStewartLaing'sproductionofPuccini'sLaBohème.

Theturnaroundinthecompany'sfortunesisstriking.In2005.theyearbeforeMr.Reedjikjoinedtheorganization,ScottishOperawasforcedtomakehalfofitsstaff,includingtheentirechorus,redundantandabandonitsmain-scaleproductionsforaseasonafteraccumulatingdebtsofaround￡4.5million.Thecompany'scoregrant,whichatthattimecamefromtheScottishArtsCouncil(itisnowfundeddirectlybythegovernment)hadnotrisenforseveralyears.However,ithadalsohaemorrhagedfundsbystagingthehugelyexpensiveRingCycle,andaccordingtosomecritics,hadbeenoverspendingonprops,withrumorsofcastmemberswearing￡300designershoes.

A￡7millionrescuepackageputtogetherbythethenLabor-ledScottishExecutivesavedthecompanyfromgoingdarkonapermanentbasis,buttheeasewithwhichitalmostwentunderforcedarethinkofpriorities.Whilethecompanycontinuestostageseveralmajorproductionseachseason,ithasalsointroducedsmallertouringworks-theacclaimedFive:15series-whichpairsleadingwriterswithcomposerstocreate15-minutechamberpiecesthatcouldbedevelopedintolongerproductions.Theaim,saysMr.Reedjik,istoputonasmuchoperainScotlandaspossiblewithoutbreakingthebank.Sofarthestrategyseemstobeworking,withaudiencesaveragingataround95,000peopleinthepastthreeyears,ariseofalmost50percentcomparedwith2004-05,theseasonbeforethecompanywentdark.“Whatwearetryingtodonowislivewithinourmeansandraiseasmuchaspossiblefromphilanthropicmeans,”saidMr.Reedjik.“Weseemedtohavedroppedoutofthenewsfordumbstuff-nowwe'reinthenewsforourinterestingwork.”

Thistextisprobablyabridgedfrom .

astory

aspeech

anargumentation

aninterview

Thephrase“compromisingitsbudget”(Line5,Para.l)probablymeans .

agreeingontheprinciples

increasingthefinancialexpanses

reachingthefinancialstandards

promisingahigherincome

ItcanbeinferredfromthelastsentenceinParagraph1that .

thequalityofartisticperformancesmaybeworsenedforlackofnecessaryfunding

sharingthecostofsetscanhelptheScottishOperaoutoffinancialdifficulty

theseriesofcollaborationswithothercompanieshavemaximizedtheScottishOpera'soutput

it'simportantforaudiencetoholdapositiveviewonsuchco-productions

Thefactthat“theease...forcedarethinkofpriorities”(Line2-3,Para.4)suggeststhat

.

thecompanymakesgreateffortsinadvocatingitsmajorproductions

thecompanyhiresonlytheprestigiouswritersandcomposerstocreateworks

thecompanytriesitshandinproducingshortertouringworks

thecompanyseeksformorefundingfromthelocalpoliticalparty

Thebesttitleforthisarticleis .

CollaborationHelpsReviveScottishOpera

ARethinkofPrioritiesinProductions

Turnaroundinthe Fortunes

PersistenceofArtisticIntegrity

ReadingPassage3

Questions41-45arebasedonthefollowingreadingpassage.

Directions:

Readthefollowingpassage.Answerthequestionsbelowitbychoosing[A],[B],[C],or[D].

Americansnolongerexpectpublicfigures,whetherinspeechorinwriting,tocommandtheEnglishlanguagewithskillandgift.Nordotheyaspiretosuchcommandthemselves.Inhislatestbook,DoingOurOwnThing:TheDegradationofLanguageandMusicandWhyweshould,Like,Cure,JohnMcwhorter,alinguistandcontroversialistofmixedliberalandconservativeviews,seethetriumphof1960scounter-cultureasresponsibleforthedeclineofformalEnglish.

Blamingthepermissive1960sisnothingnew,butthisisnotyetanothercriticismagainstthedeclineineducation.Mr.Mcwhorter'anacademicspecialtyislanguagehistoryandchange,

andheseesthegradualdisappearanceof“whom”,forexample,tobenaturalandnomoreregrettablethanthelossthecase-endingsofOldEnglish.

Butthecultoftheauthenticandthepersonal,“doingourownthing,”hasspeltthedeathofformalspeech,writing,poetryandmusic.Whileeventhemodestlyeducatedsoughtanelevatedtonewhentheyputpentopaperbeforethe1960'seventhemostwellregardedwritingsincethenhassoughttocapturespokenEnglishonthepage.Equally,inpoetry,thehighlypersonal,performativegenreistheonlyformthatcouldclaimrealliveliness.InbothoralandwrittenEnglish,talkingistriumphingoverspeaking,spontaneityovercraft.

Illustratedwithanentertainingarrayofexamplesfrombothhighandlowculture,thetrendthatMr.Mcwhorterdocumentsisunmistakable.Butitislessclear,totakethequestionofhissubtitle,whyweshould,like,care.Asalinguist,heacknowledgesthatallvarietiesofhumanlanguage,includingnon-standardoneslikeBlackEnglish,canbepowerfullyexpressive

-thereexistsnolanguageordialectintheworldthatcannotconveycomplexideas,Heisnotarguing,asmanydo,thatwecannolongerthinkstraightbecausewedonottalkproper.

Russianshaveadeeplovefortheirownlanguageandcarrychunksofmemorizedpoetryintheirheads,whileItalianpoliticianstendtoelaboratespeechthatwouldseemold-fashionedtomostEnglish-speakers.Mr.Mcwhorteracknowledgesthatformallanguageisnotstrictlynecessary,andproposesnoradicaleducationalreforms-heisreallygrievingoverthelossofsomethingbeautifulmorethanuseful.WenowtakeourEnglish“onpaperplatesinsteadofchina”.Ashame,perhaps,butprobablyaninevitableone.

AccordingtoMcwhorter,thedeclineofformalEnglish .

isinevitableinradicaleducationreforms

isbutalltoonaturalinlanguagedevelopment

hascausedthecontroversyoverthecounter-culture

broughtaboutchangesinpublicattitudesinthe1960s

Theword“talking”(Line6,Para.3)denotes .

modesty

personality

liveliness

informality

TowhichofthefollowingstatementswouldMcWhortermostlikelyagree?

Logicalthinkingisnotnecessarilyrelatedtothewaywetalk.

BlackEnglishcanhemoreexpressivethanstandardEnglish.

Non-standardvarietiesofhumanlanguagearejustasentertaining.

Ofallthevarieties,standardEnglishcanbestconveycomplexideas.

ThedescriptionofRussians'loveofmemorizingpoetryshowstheauthor's .

interestintheirlanguage

appreciationoftheirefforts

admirationfortheirmemory

contemptfortheirold-fashionedness

Accordingtothelastparagraph,“paperplates”isto“china”as .

“temporary”isto“permanent”

“radical”isto“conservative”

“functional”isto“artistic”

“humble”isto“noble”

ReadingPassage4

Questions46-50arebasedonthefollowingreadingpassage.

Directions:

Readthefollowingpassage.Answerthequestionsbelowitbychoosing[A],[B],[C],or[D].

Thephenomenonofstresshasbeenwidelydiscussedandreferredtoasoneofthecentralproblemsofourage.Globalizationandtheimprovedtechnologyitbringsonlyseemstomakethisproblemworse,creatingmoreoptionswhileatthesametimemakingourlivesmorecomplex.Closelyboundupwithstressistheproblemof“timefamine”.InBritain,forexample,thecombinationofthelongestworkinghoursinEuropeandthehighestproportionofworkingwomeninEuropemeanspeoplehavelessandlesstimetothemselves.Addtothistheriseinthenumberofsingle-personhouseholdsandtheworkethicpromotedbysuccessivegovernmentssincetheearlyeightiesanditbecomeseasytoseewhytimeisnowatapremiumforsomanyofus.

OneresponsetothishascomefromtheUSA,sooftentheforerunnerinwhatisfashionable,intheformoflifestylemanagement.Thisinvolveshiringacompanytorepairthehouse,dotheshoppingandahostofothertimeconsumingtasks.Someanalystsinsistthatthemanagementofpeople'stimecouldbebigbusinessinthenext10years.IntheUSAlifestylemanagementcompanieshavebeenaroundforawhilebutnowitseemsthattheBritisharekeentousethemtoo.

Whatmostpotentialcustomerswantisqualitytime.Thismeanstakingawaythedaytodayhasslesconnectedwithrunningourlives.Whereasinthepasttherealwaysseemedtobetimeforarrangingprivatelivesandkeepingupwitheverydaydemandsofhouse,health,childrenorholidays,nowadaystheworkobsessedpopulation,tiedtotheoffice,donotappeartobeabletocopewithsuchinconveniences.Inotherwords,peoplerequireaseparatePersonalAssistantfortheirlifestyle!

Thejuryisout,however,astowhetherthisnewserviceisbeneficialornot.Beingconstantlypressedfortimeisundoubtedlystressfulandwhatcouldbebetterthanrelievingsuchpressuresbyoffloadingsomeofourmoremundanetasksonawillinghelper?Perhapsthiscanalsobeawaytoensurethatyougetqualityservice.ItisoftensaidthatalargepartofBritain'sservicesectoraimspurelyandsimplyatshorttermprofitinreturnforbadqualitygoodsandpoorservice.Ifyouputexpertsinchargeoffindingagoodplumberatareasonablerateyoucanatleastbeassuredthatyourleakingpipeswillbefixedproperly.

Thisraisesanimportantquestion,however.Isitreallygoodforustocreatemoretimetospendatworkwhenwearealreadyexhaustedfromworkinglonghours?Itmaybefarmoreimportanttotakecontrolofourprivatelivesourselvesandinsodoingrelievestressbygivingourselvesaproperescapefromthecaresofthework-place.Afterall,ifyoudonothavetimetolookafteryourownhomeandtoorganizeyourownlife,then,justmaybe,youhavegotyourprioritieswrong.Theremaybeonereasonwhy,intheend,thelifestylemanagementbusinesswillnottakeoffintheUKandthatistheinherentlyconservativenatureoftheBritish.Toreallyembracethisnewconceptwemightallneedtorethinkourlives!

Thewritersuggeststhatstress .

isthemostimportantproblemofmodemlife

iscausedbytechnologyandglobalization

canbemadeworsebecauseoftoomanychoices

canbelessifwehadmoretimetospendatwork

“timeisatapremium”(line8,paragraph1)probablymeansthat .

thelongerwework,thelessimportanttimeis

timehasbecomeharderandhardertofind

peoplehavemorefreetimeinAmericathaninBritain

savingtimeisafashionablelifestyletrend

Accordingtothetext,mostpotentialcustomers .

donothaveapersonalassistantintheiroffices

aretoolazytoorganizetheirprivatelives

haveproblemscopingwiththedemandsofdailyliving

enjoythewayofspendingmoretimeatwork

Whatistrueoflifestylemanagementcompaniesaccordingtotheauthor?

Theywilldefinitelybecomeimportantevenittakestimetoacceptthem.

Theyarenotinterestedinlong-termrelationshipswithcustomers.

Theybenefitthecustomersbygivingacheapwayofsavingtime.

Theyhaveexpertiseingettingtherightpeopletodojobsfortheirclients.

TheauthorprobablybelievesthattheBritish .

willaccepttheneedforlifestylemanagementcompanies

havetogivecarefulthoughttotheirwayoflife

shouldturntoexpertswhendealingwithspecificproblems

shouldbewelltrainedwithagoodworkethic

ReadingPassage5

Questions51-55arebasedonthefollowingreadingpassage.

Directions:

Inthefollowingpassage,somesentenceshavebeenremoved.Forquestions51-55,choosethemostsuitableonefromthelist[A][G]tofitintoeachofthenumberedblank.Therearetwo

extrachoicesthatdonotfitinanyofthegaps.

Shoppingusedtobenothingmorethanawayofobtainingfood,clothingandothernecessitiesoflife.Today,however,shoppingsymbolizesthematerialisticcultureofwesternsocietyanditspopularityasaleisureactivityreflectstheriseofconsumerism.51. .Havingmoremoneyhasmeantspendingpatternshavechanged.Whiletraditionalmodelsofeconomicbehaviorassumethatconsumersarerationalandweighupthecostsandbenefitsbeforemakingapurchase,anyonewhohaseverwalkedintoashopandleftfiveminuteslaterwithanewjacketand180lessintheirwalletknowsthatthistheorydoesnotalwaysholdtrue.

52. .Herresearchonconsumerbehavioridentifiedimpulsivebuyingasanattemptbyshopperstobolstertheirself-image,particularlyforthosewhosufferedfromso-calledcompulsivebuyingorshoppingaddiction,aconditionthataffects2to5percentofadultsintheWest.

Thethree-yearstudycomparedexcessivebuyerstoasimilargroupofordinaryconsumers.Excessiveshoppersweremorematerialisticandbelievedthatbuyinggoodswasapathwaytosuccess,happinessandidentity.“Excessivebuyingisacopingstrategytofillthegapsbetweenhowshoppersfeelaboutthemselvesandthepersontheywanttobe,”DrDittmarsaid.53.

.Herresearchalsorevealsthatcertaintypesofgoodsaremorelikelytobeboughtonimpulsethanothers.Thosemostfrequentlyreported-clothes,jewellery,ornaments-arecloselyrelatedtoself-imageandappearance.Thisfindingiscontrarytousualtheoriesaboutimpulseshopping,whichexplainitasashort-termgratificationwinningoutoverlonger-termconcernssuchasdebt.

.Inotherwords,shoppersweremorewillingtowaitfor“lowimpulse”goodssuchaskitchenware,thantheywereforclothesorother“highimpulse”items.However,itwasfoundthatsomeofthe60consumersaskedtomaintainashoppingdiaryforthestudyoftenregrettedtheirimpulsivepurchases.DrDittmarsaid,“Whenpeoplehadexplicitlyboughtforself-imagereasons,regretwasmorelikelytooccur.”

Butthisfindingwasambiguousbecauseshoppingaddictsweremoremotivatedbyself-imagethanordinaryshoppersandweremorelikelytoregrettheiractions.“It'snotquiteclearwhichwayroundthisrelationshipgoes,butthereisalinkbetweenbeingveryconcernedwithself-imagegoodsandregrettingimpulsebuying.”TheconclusionsdrawnbyDrDittmaraboutthetreatmentofcompulsiveshoppersarethatprescribinganti-depressantdrugsmightsolvetheproblembutonlyaslongassuffererscontinuetotakethem.Instead,theyneededtherapeutichelptoaddresstheunderlyingcausessuchaspoorself-image.

.“Innosensedothesepeopledirectlyforceanyonetobuyanything.Buttheyareverysophisticated,makingadvertisementsandshoppingenvironmentsveryseductiveandplayingontheideathatifyoubuyproductXyouwillbemuchmoreattractive.”

Dr.Dittmarsaidthattheideathatconsumers'impulsivenessdiffered,dependingonthetypeofgoods,wasalsosupportedbythefindingthatshopperswerelesswillingtodelay

gratificationforitemsboughtonimpulse.

Buttherearepitfalls,suchasdebtandaddictiontobuying.Addictsshopforshopping'ssakeratherthantobuywhattheyneed.

HelgaDittmar,seniorlecturerinpsychologyatSussexUniversity,hasfoundthatconsumergoodsarethematerialsymbolsofwhoapersonisandwhotheywouldliketobe.

Herresearchalsoraisesquestionsoverthemethodsusedtoattractshoppersandencouragethemtobuy.Althoughadvertisersandretailersincreasinglyappealtoconsumers'self-image,DrDittmarsaiditwasverydifficulttoarguethatthesefactorswereresponsibleforcompulsiveshopping.

Althoughtherewereotherwaysofdealingwithpoorself-image,suchasover-exercisingoralcoholism,shesaidthatshoppinghadbecomeoneofthemostimportantstrategies.Thiswasespeciallytrueforwomen,whowerethreetimesmorelikelytobecompulsiveshoppersthanmen,asshoppingwasasociallyapprovedactivity,andallowedthosewhodonotgoouttoworktogetoutofthehouse,Dr.Dittmarsaid.

Womenmakethemajorityofbuyingdecisions-estimatesanywherefrom60-80%andgrowing.Despitethesefacts,someindustrieshavecreatedfrustratingwallsandbarriersfailingtocatertothebuyingcharacteristicswomenarelookingfor.

Thishasbeenmadepossiblebythe75percentincreaseindisposableincomeinthepast20years.Thenumberofcreditcardsinusehasmorethanquadrupled,andtheamountofoutstandingconsumerdebthasalmosttripledinthesameperiod.

ReadingPassage6

Questions56-60arebasedonthefollowingreadingpassage.

Directions:

Inthefollowingpassage,somesentenceshavebeenremoved.Forquestions56-60,choosethemostsuitableonefromthelist[A][G]tofitintoeachofthenumberedblank.Thereare