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The Fashion of Economics时尚经济
by Rebecca A. Fratzke
As the world's economy changes, fashion trends reflect whether it's getting better or worse.
随著世界经济产生变化，时尚潮流反映出经济是否变好或变坏。 |
For years, people have been watching how the hemlines of women's skirts and dresses rise and fall. This is not because they are interested in fashion or an attractive pair of legs. It actually has to do with a country's economic standing. _(1)_ This means the shorter the skirt, the better the economy.
This belief, known as the hemline theory, was taken seriously for many years beginning in the 1920s. One reason it held true was that when times were good, fabric producers charged more for their materials, causing designers to cut costs by raising hems. _(2)_
However, times have changed. With so many different styles of dresses and skirts available, it is next to impossible
to rely on the hemline theory anymore. _(3)_ It just means there's a
new theory that rings true, and it's called the basics theory. _(4)_
When times are good, people spend more money and take more risks with their wardrobe. If a new fashion trend becomes popular and sticks, it shows that people are in a good position to dish out some extra money on a daring new outfit. _(5)_
(A) Another reason was that during that time, when real silk stockings were worn, women wanted to show off when they could afford them and cover up when they couldn't.
(B) Many news organizations have reported that people can tell whether the economy is doing well or not by the length of women's hemlines.
(C) Although the theories have changed, miniskirts still seem to indicate that the economy is sitting pretty, as are the women wearing them.
(D) Yet, this does not mean fashion and economics are no longer connected.
(E) Now, when times are rough, people are generally only willing to buy basic pieces to replace the worn out ones in their wardrobe.
- 第一题空格应选 (B)
理由:
a. 空格前一句提及裙摆的长短和国家的经济地位有关连，关键词组 a country's
economic standing （某国的经济地位）和选项中的 (B) 项 whether the economy is doing well
or not 产生关键字连系，而空格後一句也提及 the economy（经济）一字。
b. 根据上述，(B) 项应为正选。
大补丸:
a. report vt. 报告（後接 that 子句）
The doctor reported that the patient had fully recovered from the illness.
医生报告那名病患已经完全自该疾病中恢复过来了。
b. length n. 长度
The river is two hundred kilometers in length
= The river is two hundred kilometers long.
这条河长达两公里。 - 第二题空格应选 (A)
理由:
a. 空格前一句有 One reason (why) it held true was that...（为什麽这个理论是有道理的有一个理由就是，就是……），其主词为 One reason。选项 (A) 中，主词也有 Another reason（另一个理由），两关键词形成连系，且两句结构一致，形成 One reason was that.... Another reason was that... 的结构。
b. 根据上述，(A) 项应为正选。
大补丸:
a. silk stockings n. 丝袜
b. show off(...)炫耀（……）
Jeff likes to show off, which is why nobody likes him.
杰夫很爱现，这就是为什麽没人喜欢他的原因。
c. afford vt. 负担得起
can / cannot afford to V负担得起从事……
Lisa got a promotion last month, so now she can afford to buy a new car.
丽莎上个月获得升迁，所以她现在买得起新车。
d. cover up sth遮盖住某物
Lucy covered up her acne with makeup.
露西用妆遮盖粉刺。 - 第三题空格应选 (D)
理由:
a. 空格後一句 It just means (that) there's a new
theory that...（这只是意味著有个新理论……），选项 (D) 中 Yet, this does not mean
(that)...（然而，这不意味……），此两句皆有 mean 这一个关键字，使两句产生关联。
b. 根据上述，(D) 项应为正选。 - 第四题空格应选 (E)
理由:
a. 空格後的句子有 When times are good,...（当时局好的时候，……），选项 (E) 中有 when times are rough,...（当时局不好的时候，……），形成对比。
b. 根据上述，(E) 项应为正选。
大补丸:
a. rough a. 艰困的（= tough）
Mike has had a really rough time recently.
迈可最近日子一直过得很不顺。
b. be willing to V愿意从事……
I know the job may be difficult, but I'm willing to give it a try.
我知道这工作也许很困难，但我愿意尝试。
c. replace vt. 取代
It's not a good idea to skip meals and replace them with snacks.
略过正餐不吃用点心取代并不是个好主意。
d. worn-out a. 穿破的
wear sth out使某物磨损
I wore out two pairs of shoes last year.
我去年穿破了两双鞋。
e. wardrobe n. 衣橱 - 第五题空格应选 (C)
理由:
a. 由於选项中仅剩 (C)，故为正选。
大补丸:
a. indicate vt. 指出（後接 that 子句）
The report indicated that the press was partly to blame for the woman's death.
这则报导指出，新闻界要负起这名女子死亡的部分责任。
b. be sitting pretty景况很好
With profits at a record high, the company is certainly sitting pretty right now.
随著利润达到创纪录水平，该公司现在景况肯定不错。
- belief n. 信念，看法
It's my belief that wiping out masses of people with nuclear weapons is immoral.
我认为用核子武器消灭人群是不道德的。 - take sth seriously严肃看待某事
take sth lightly轻松看待某事
I was just joking, so please don't take my words seriously.
我只是开玩笑，因此请不要把我的话当真。
This is not a problem we should take lightly.
这不是一个我们可以轻松以对的问题。 - charge vt. 收费
If you order NT$3,000 worth of products, we won't charge you for the delivery.
如果您订购价值 3 千元新台币的产品，我们就不会收运费。 - be next to impossible几乎是不可能的
= be almost impossible
It is next to impossible to learn to speak a foreign language without any practice.
不做任何练习就要会说外语几乎是不可能的事。 - take risks / a risk冒险
You have no right to take risks with other people's lives.
你无权拿他人的生命来冒险。 - be in a position to V有立场从事……
I'm afraid I'm not in a position to express my views freely.
恐怕我没有立场自在地表达我的看法。 - dish sth out大量发出某物
The promoters dished out leaflets to passers-by.
那些推广者将传单大量发给过路人。
- hemline n. 裙摆
- attractive a. 有吸引力的
- economic standing经济地位
- fabric n. 布料，织料
- available a. 可买得到的
- daring a. 大胆的
- outfit n. 整套衣服
- 比较 ring true 和 hold true
true 表『真实的』，本文当中使用到 ring true 及 hold true 两个搭配用语。ring true 表『听起来有道理』；hold true 表『成立，有道理』。
His excuse just doesn't ring true to me.
他的藉口对我来说听起来没什麽道理。
These findings do not hold true for women from rural communities.
这些发现结果对农村社会的妇女而言并不成立。 - have (something) to do with...和……有关
have nothing to do with...和……无关
That has nothing to do with what we're discussing.
那和我们在讨论的无关。
时尚经济
随著世界经济产生变化，时尚潮流反映出经济是否变好或变坏。
多年来，人们一直在注意妇女裙子和洋装裙摆的起落。这并不是因为他们对时尚或一双吸引人的腿感兴趣。这实际上与国家的经济地位有关。许多新闻机构报导，大家可以从妇女裙摆长度判断目前经济景况是好还是坏。意思就是，裙子越短，经济越好。
这种看法被称为『裙摆理论』，在 1920 年代初期开始受到重视且行之多年。该理论之所以有道理其中一个原因就是，当时局好时，布料商会收较多材料费，促使设计师提高裙摆高度来削减成本。另一个原因是因为当时女性穿的是真正的丝袜，她们会想要在能买得起丝袜时多加炫耀，买不起时就把腿遮起来。
然而，时代已经改变。现在能买到那麽多不同风格的洋装和裙子，我们要倚赖裙摆理论几乎是不可能的了。然而，这并不意味时尚和经济不再有关联。这只是意味著有一种新理论听起来也很有道理，这个理论被称为『基本需求理论』。现在时局很艰困时，大家一般只愿意购买基本款式的衣物来取代衣柜里破旧的衣物。景况好的时候，大家会多花钱冒更大的风险添购衣柜里的衣物。如果新时尚风潮变得受欢迎且持续下去，这显示大家景况还不错，能额外多花一些钱购买风格大胆的整套新衣物。虽然这些理论已经改变，迷你裙似乎仍然表明著经济景况不错，那些穿迷你裙的女士坐著时也很漂亮。
答案∶1. (B)2. (A)3. (D)4. (E)5. (C)
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