In the UK, a group of campaigners(活动家)have declared the last Saturday in November as National Buy Nothing Day. “Our message is clear: shop less, live more!” says organizer Michael Smith. “The challenge is to try simple living for a day. Spend time with family and friends, rather than spending money on them. Anyone can take part, provided they spend a day without spending.”
On Buy Nothing Day, they take to the streets to tackle consumers(消费者). They dress as pigs to symbolize greed(贪婪). They offer to cut up credit cards and hand out shopping bags with the words “another useless thing I don’t need” written on the side. Some hold street parties to show shoppers that it is possible to have fun without spending money. Others go into shops and put notes saying “don’t buy me” inside clothes and shoes.
Some protestors(抗议者) are working against powerful forces. Many retailers(零售商) and manufacturers depend on Christmas sales for most of their profits. Around two thirds of GDP in the West is made up of consumer spending. If this drops, many people will lose their jobs. At least that will make it easier for them to buy nothing.
And there is also the risk that the campaigners will be seen as killjoys, who want to stop people enjoying themselves. “There’s a fun side to this,” says Michael Smith. “To some it’s a protest, but it’s also a street party. We’re not saying that people are bad because they go shopping, but we need get the message across for people to consume wisely. And after we’re finished, we’ll probably go for a drink.”
【小题1】Why do a group of people in the UK choose Saturday as National Buy Nothing Day?A．Because they have enough food at their homes.B．Because it is the season for shopping.C．Because they have run out of money at that time.D．Because it’s popular to live a simple life.【小题2】In order to persuade people to stop shopping, the campaigners .A．stop people going outB．have different ways to make itC．offer goods to people freelyD．play tricks on consumers【小题3】The underlined word “killjoys” in the last paragraph refers to people who .A．ruin the happiness and fun of othersB．get money from shopkeepersC．bring happiness to othersD．take no interest in shopping【小题4】The campaigners started National Buy Nothing Day for the purpose of .A．persuading people to kill time in a different wayB．persuading people to save moneyC．persuading people to have more parties D．persuading people to spend money wiselyB
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(答案→)B
解析：本文介绍了英国的National Buy Nothing Day，以及这些人所采取的多种行为以及各种具体的信息。
【小题1】B 推理题。根据文章第一行In the UK, a group of campaigners(活动家)have declared the last Saturday in November as National Buy Nothing Day.可知11月是每年的圣诞购物的季节，在这个时间里很多人都花很多钱购买所需要的物品。故B正确。
【小题2】B 细节题。根据文章第一段On Buy Nothing Day, they take to the streets to tackle consumers(消费者). They dress as pigs to symbolize greed(贪婪). They offer to cut up credit cards and hand out shopping bags with the words “another useless thing I don’t need” written on the side. Some hold street parties to show shoppers that it is possible to have fun without spending money. Others go into shops and put notes saying “don’t buy me” inside clothes and shoes.可知这些人采取了多种方法来宣传他们的思想，故B正确。
【小题3】A 推理题。根据最后一段第一句And there is also the risk that the campaigners will be seen as killjoys, who want to stop people enjoying themselves.可知他们阻止了别人enjoying themselves故A正确。
【小题4】D 推理题。根据第一段和最后一段We’re not saying that people are bad because they go shopping, but we need get the message across for people to consume wisely. 和“The challenge is to try simple living for a day. Spend time with family and friends, rather than spending money on them. Anyone can take part, provided they spend a day without spending.”说明这个活动是呼吁人们明智地花钱消费。故D正确。