英语听力精选进阶版 6394
时间：2019-02-21 作者：英语课 分类：英语听力精选进阶版
We expect companies selling products to make them as available as possible. But now some of them are bringing back rationing 1. As you might expect, it's all part of a plan to make us spend more, not less.
Once upon a time, goods were scarce 2, and hard to get for all but the extremely wealthy. But industrial mass production has changed all of that. Factories all over the world are pumping out bright and beautiful objects.
When everyone has to wait and save up for new things, owning them feels exciting and special. But when lovely things are available every day, they stop being a treat.
Another feature of consumer society is that we aim for social distinction through what we own. But if everyone has lots of stuff 3, how can we impress anyone with our purchases? All of this takes the fun out of shopping and means there's a limit to how much consumerism can grow.
This is deeply worrying to companies, and some of them have started to fight it, by creating artificial 4 scarcity 5. For example, in Singapore, a small cafe called Liberty 6 Coffee only opens on random 7 days. It sometimes stays closed for over a week at a time. Swedish rapper Adam Tensta has limited access to his latest track. Only one person at a time can access it, and fans must take their place in a digital queue.
This trend means we can again own something rare. But the risk for these companies is that in a world of so much stuff, if they make their products too hard to get, we'll just buy from someone else instead.
Quiz 测验
1. According to the article, what happens when we can have lovely things every day?
They stop being a treat.
2. Does industrial mass production make goods more or less scarce?
It makes them less scarce.
3. Which examples of artificial scarcity does the article give?
Swedish rapper Adam Tensta's music and Liberty Coffee in Singapore.
4. Why do fans of Adam Tensta have to queue to hear his music?
Because only one person can access the track at a time.
5. Which days does Liberty Coffee open?
It opens on random days.
Glossary 词汇表
products 产品
available 有货，可买到的
rationing 定量供应
scarce 稀少的
hard to get 难以获得的
industrial mass production 工业化的大批量生产
pumping out 批量推出
save up for 存钱以便（购买某物）
treat 款待
consumer society 消费者社会
social distinction 优等社会地位
stuff （泛指任何）物品，东西
impress 给人深刻印象
purchases 购买
takes the fun out of 失去了乐趣（意义）
artificial scarcity 人为的物品缺乏
random 任意的
limited access to 限制收听权
queue 队伍
trend 潮流
rare 稀罕的
- Wartime austerities included food rationing and shortage of fuel. 战时的艰苦包括食物配给和燃料短缺。
- Food rationing was abolished in that country long ago. 那个国家早就取消了粮食配给制。
- The food was scarce during the war.战争期间食物短缺。
- This kind of material is rather scarce.这种原料较缺。
- We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
- He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。
- The new dam will form a large artificial lake behind it.新筑的水坝将会在后面形成一个人工湖。
- We don't use any artificial flavourings in our products.我们的产品不使用任何人工调味剂。
- The scarcity of skilled workers is worrying the government.熟练工人的缺乏困扰着政府。
- The scarcity of fruit was caused by the drought.水果供不应求是由于干旱造成的。
- He stood for the cause of liberty and justice.他为自由和正义的事业而奋斗。
- You are at liberty to do as you please.你可以随意行事。