第二篇
Shopping at Second-hand Clothing Stores
When 33-year-old Pete Barth was in college, shopping at second-hand clothing stores was just something he did - "like changing the tires on his car." He looked at his budget and decided he could save a lot of money by shopping for clothes at thrift shops.
"Even new clothes are fairly disposable (可丢掉的) and wear out after a couple of years," Barth said. "In thrift shops, you can find some great stuff whose quality is better than new clothes."
Since then, Barth, who works at a Goodwill thrift shop in the US state of Florida, has found that there are all kinds of reasons for shopping for second-hand clothing. Some people, like him, shop to save money. Some shop for a crazy-looking shirt. And some shop as a means of conserving energy and helping the environment.
Pat Akins, an accountant at a Florida Salvation Army (SA) (救世军) thrift shop, said that, for her, shopping at thrift shops is a way to help the environment.
"When my daughter was little, we looked at it as recycling," Akins said. "Also, why pay 30 dollars for a new coat when you can get another one for a lot less?"
Akins said that the SA has shops all over the US - "some as big as department stores." All of the clothes are donated (捐赠), and when they have a surplus (盈余), they'll have "stuff a bag" specials, where customers can fill a grocery sack With clothes for only 5 or 10 dollars.
Julia Slocum, 22, points out, however, that the huge amount of second-hand clothing in the US is the result of American wastefulness.
I’d say that second-hand stores are the result of our wasteful, materialistic culture," said Slocum, who works for a pro-conservation organization, the Center for a New American Dream. "Thrift shops prevent that waste from going to landfills (垃圾填埋场); they give clothing a second life, provide cheaper clothing for those who can't afford new ones and generate (生成) income for charities. They also provide a way for the wealthy and middle classes to shed (摆脱) some of the guilt for their level of consumption."
36 Which statement about Barth is NOT true?
A He is 33 years old now.
B He works at a Goodwill thrift shop.
C He works at a Salvation Army thrift shop.
D He was a college student many years ago
37 When Barth was a college student, he often shopped at thrift shops
A to save money.
B to save energy.
C to help the environment.
D to make friends with poor people.
38 What does Akins do?
A She is a soldier.
B She is an accountant
C She is a saleswoman.
D She is a road sweeper.
39 Thrift shops can do everything EXCEPT
A give clothing a second life.
B generate income for charities.
C provide cheaper clothes for the poor
D stop rich people from wasting money
40 The word "thrift "in paragraph 1 could be best replaced by
A charity.
B one dollar.
C first class.
D two dollars.
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