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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
International Allure1 本土品牌的外国情结
by Kevin Lustig
When you go to almost any store, the products that compete for your money come from a great variety of international sources. One way people choose just one product out of a number of options is to look for things from a certain place, like wine from France or microchips from Taiwan. _(1)_
Companies have known this secret for a long time and commonly use it to their advantage. Of course, companies can't move to a new country every time they want to sell a new product. _(2)_ In a process called foreign branding, companies name and advertise products to seem as if they are from a particular location abroad. This technique is often used even when the product has little or nothing to do with the country it is being connected to. One notable3 example of this is Häagen-Dazs, a European-sounding name for an American brand of ice cream. _(3)_
Usually, a little bit of a foreign language in a name or advertising4 is all it takes. _(4)_ Seemingly5 French vichyssoise soup was actually invented in New York City. English names are on products all over Taiwan. _(5)_ However, with tough competition among so many goods, a little touch of international charm6 can count for a lot.
(A) It may seem strange that a foreign name on a Taiwanese product is enough to lure2 customers who may already be aware that the product comes from right here.
(B) The name was chosen to seem Scandinavian, but it actually has no meaning in any language.
(C) Just by being from a particular place in the world, the things we all purchase have a certain reputation that can make all the difference.
(D) Matsui TVs, for example, are made in the UK, but sound like quality Japanese electronics7.
(E) So, they bring the foreign country to them.
原来如此
1.第一题空格应选 (C)
理由:
a.空格前提到,人们挑选产品的方法是看商品的产地,像是法国产的红酒或台湾制的微芯片,推测空格内应该要说明人们这么做的理由为何。
b.选项 (C) 提到,由于产品的制造地,我们购买的产品有了某种让其与众不同的名声。其中,空格前的things from a certain country(从某个国家来的商品)和选项 (C) 的 being from a particular part of the world(从世界上某个地方来的)形成关键词,承接前后两句,故选 (C)。
大补丸:
a. purchase vt. & n. 购买
make a purchase of... 购买……
b. reputation n. 名声,声誉
have a reputation for... 有……的名声
c. make the/a difference 使有差别,使有所不同
例: You can make a difference in a child's life by giving him words of encouragement.
(多鼓励孩子就能使他的人生大为不同。)
2.第二题空格应选 (E)
理由:
a.空格前说企业主不可能在每次推销新产品时,就搬到新的国家去。因此,空格内应进一步说明这些企业用何种方式推销产品。
b.选项 (E) 提到,因此他们把外国带进他们公司,符合上述推论。填入后,上下文连贯,可知为正选。
3.第三题空格应选 (B)
理由:
a.空格前提到最显著的例子是 Häagen-Dazs,一个听起来像欧洲名称的美国冰淇淋品牌,推测空格后应该说明这个名称的特性或其代表的意义。
b.选项 (B) 提到,这个名称因听起来很富北欧风情而雀屏中选,但事实上却不具任何意义。其中,前一句的 European-sounding(听起来像欧洲的)和选项 (B) 中的 Scandinavian(北欧的)形成关键词,故选之。
大补丸:
Scandinavian a. 斯堪地纳维亚的,北欧的
Scandinavia n. 斯堪地纳维亚,北欧
4.第四题空格应选 (D)
理由:
a.空格前说,只要在名称上或广告中加进一点外国语言即可奏效。空格后则提到听起来像法文的 vichyssoise 汤实际上是在纽约市研发出来的,由此可知,空格内也应是使用外语命名的例子。
b.选项 (D) 提到 Matsui 电视虽是英国制品,听起来却像是高质量的日本电器,符合上述推论,可知为正选。
大补丸:
a. for example/instance 例如,举例来说
例: Kenny's a miser8. For example, he never pays the bill, not even when he's on a date.
(肯尼是个吝啬鬼;举例来说,他从不付帐,即使约会时也不例外。)
b. quality a. 优质的 & n. 品质
例: This is a quality car. It will never break down.
(这是一部性能很好的车子,绝对不会故障。)
c. electronics n. 电子产品;电子学
5.第五题空格应选 (A)
理由:
a.空格前提到,以英文命名的产品遍及全台湾,推测空格中应该继续说明这样的现象对台湾的消费者有何影响或作用。
b.选项 (A) 说到,奇怪的是,就算知道来自本地,这些台湾产品只要有外国名称就足以吸引消费者,符合上述推论,前一句的 all over Taiwan(遍布全台湾)和选项中的 Taiwanese product(台湾产品)形成关键,可知为正选。
大补丸:
a. lure vt. & n. 引诱,诱惑
lure sb into V-ing 引诱∕诱惑某人做……
例: The secret agent lured9 the guard into leaving his post by calling for help.
(该情报员藉由大喊救命诱使警卫离开岗位。)
b. be aware + that 子句 了解∕知道……
be aware of... 了解∕知道……
例: Are you aware that the light is out in the bathroom?
(你知道浴室的灯不亮了吗?)
例: Are you aware of the dangers surrounding police work?
(你了解警察工作的危险性吗?)
精解字词词组
1. compete for... 竞争∕角逐……
例: More than 50 young girls compete for the title of top model.
(有五十多位年轻女孩角逐最佳模特儿的头衔。)
2. to one's advantage 对某人有利
例: Maybe we can turn the situation to our advantage.
(或许我们可以扭转劣势。)
3. every time + S + V 每当……
= each time + S + V
= whenever + S + V
注意:
在上列句构中,every/each time 虽为名词形态,却作副词连接词用,即等于 whenever,其所引导的副词子句修饰句中的主要子句,且此主要子句中,通常不用 always 一字。
例: Every time he comes to Taipei, Mr. Hanks goes to that famous restaurant.
(每次来台北,汉克斯先生都会去那家著名的餐厅。)
4. process n. 过程
in the process of... 在……(过程)中
例: We are in the process of moving.
(我们正在搬家中。)
5. be connected to... 与……有关∕联想在一起
例: Bullfighting is usually connected to Spain in people's minds.
(斗牛和西班牙常被人联想在一起。)
6. a touch of... 少量∕一点点……
例: If you add a touch of vanilla10 to your coffee, it will be even more delicious.
(如果你加一点香草到咖啡中,会更美味。)
7. count for a lot 有很大价值∕重要性
count for nothing 毫无价值∕重要性
例: In business, sentiments11 count for nothing.
(商场上不讲情分。)
单字小铺
1.allure n. 魅力,吸引力
2.option n. 选择
3.microchip n. 微芯片
4.commonly adv. 通常,一般
5.advertise vt. 登广告
6.location n. 地点
7.notable a. 显著的
8.seemingly adv. 似乎,表面上
9.competition n. 竞争
tough/stiff competition 激烈竞争
词组小铺
1.a great/wide variety of... 种类繁多的……
2.look for... 寻找……
3.have little/nothing/something to do with... 与……几乎没有∕没有∕有些关系
中文翻译&标准答案
几乎走进每家店,竞相让你挑腰包的产品来自世界各地。人们从众家产品中挑选其一的方法取决于商品的产地,像是法国产的红酒或台湾制的微芯片。光是来自世界某个角落,我们购买的产品就有了某种与众不同的名声。
企业早就深谙这个秘密,也经常利用此手法来获利。当然,企业主不可能在每次推销新产品时就搬到新的国家。因此,他们把外国带进自己公司。在一种称为外语命名的过程中,企业会为产品命名,制作广告,让它们看起来像是国外进口的。即使产品和所连结的国家关联性很小,或根本毫无关联,这个技俩也经常被使用。此种手法最著名的例子便是 Häagen-Dazs,一个听起来带有欧风的美国冰淇淋品牌。这个名称因听起来很有北欧风情而雀屏中选,但事实上,它在任何语言中都不具任何意义。
通常,只要在名称上或广告中加进一点外国语言即可奏效。例如,Matsui 电视虽是英国制品,听起来却像是高质量的日本电器。听起来像法文的 vichyssoise 汤实际上是在纽约市研发出来的。以英文命名的产品则遍及全台湾。而且奇怪的是,就算知道来自本地,这些台湾产品只要有着外国名称就足以吸引消费者去购买。然而,在这么多产品的激烈竞争下,一点点异国风味就可能小兵立大功。
标准答案: 1. (C) 2. (E) 3. (B) 4. (D) 5. (A)
1 allure | |
n.诱惑力,魅力;vt.诱惑,引诱,吸引 | |
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2 lure | |
n.吸引人的东西,诱惑物;vt.引诱,吸引 | |
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3 notable | |
adj.值得注意的,著名的;n.名人,要人 | |
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4 advertising | |
n.广告业;广告活动 a.广告的;广告业务的 | |
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5 seemingly | |
adv.从表面上看起来,似乎是 | |
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6 charm | |
vt.使着迷,使陶醉;n.招人喜欢之处,魅力 | |
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7 electronics | |
n.电子器件,电子学,电子技术 | |
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8 miser | |
n.守财奴,吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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9 lured | |
吸引,引诱(lure的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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10 vanilla | |
n.香子兰,香草 | |
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11 sentiments | |
(基于情感的)观点( sentiment的名词复数 ); (对怜悯、怀旧等的)柔情; (失之过度或不恰当的)伤感; 态度或意见 | |
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