A new retail phenomenon from Japan which allows customers to walk away with free products is to launch in Britain.
From tomorrow, visitors to Sample Trend’s central London store can try anything on its shelves, and all of the products can be taken home without charge. For a nominal annual membership fee of £60, users are free to enter the shop once a month and help themselves to no less than £250 worth of goods every year. The only ‘catch’ is that shoppers are asked to plete a simple questionnaire about each product they try.
Known as ‘try-vertising’, the concept allows manufacturers to test products and receive consumer feedback before launching onto the open market. It is already very popular in Japan and now looks set to transform the fortunes of the embattled（严阵以待的） UK retail industry. According to new figures, stores are facing a Christmas crisis with the weakest High Street trading for six months.
Michael Ghosh, the brainchild（创意者）behind Sample Trend, said: “The concept behind Sample Trend is unique in the UK. It allows shoppers the opportunity to walk away with a number of real, full-size products of their choosing without handing over a penny.”
The concept of in-store try-vertising is simple but effective. Businesses across all sectors, from cosmetic manufacturers to beverage（饮料） makers, place new products on the shelves at Sample Trend and wait for consumers to try them out.
Customers plete a short 10-point questionnaire about the product, and the feedback they provide is used to make any last-minute improvement before the product is brought officially to market. The Sample Trend store stocks everything from cosmetics, food and drink, and household goods.
Ghosh, the former advertising and sales director for Disney Europe, said such feedback may also build brand loyalty from the outset---a particularly appealing prospect for new businesses.
【小题1】What can we know about the Sample Trend?A．It has turned out to be a success in London.B．The goods in the shop are free for everyoneC．The customers can only go to it once a month.D．It sells everything people need.【小题2】The word “catch” (in para2) can be replaced by A．advantageB．disadvantageC．problemD．requirement【小题3】The customers need to fill a questionnaire to A．give suggestions for the productsB．remend the productsC．give feedback about the productsD．express their thanksC
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(答案→)C
解析：文章大意：日本的新式零售模式将进军英国，按照这一模式，顾客可以免费拿走商品。
【小题1】C细节理解题。根据第二段users are free to enter the shop once a month and help themselves to no less than £250 worth of goods every year.所以选择C。根据第一段是说这种零售方式将进军英国，所以并不能说已经成功，所以A不正确。B和D中的陈述太绝对化，与文章中的句子不对应。
【小题2】D 词义猜测题。 根据文章第二段的句子The only ‘catch’ is that shoppers are asked to plete a simple questionnaire about each product they try.得知“顾客唯一需要做的就是对试用的每样商品填写一份简单的调查问卷。”所以，catch是指requirement需求；要求 。可以确定答案用D。
【小题3】C 细节理解题。根据倒数第二段的句子Customers plete a short 10-point questionnaire about the product, and the feedback they provide is used to make any last-minute improvement before the product is brought officially to market. 可知，填写调查问卷的目的是想得到顾客对商品的意见反馈，即答案选C。