1、大学英语四级-94 及答案解析(总分：100.00，做题时间：90 分钟)一、Reading Comprehensio(总题数：3，分数：100.00)Which Attributes of a Food Product are Most Important to ConsumersA. The Australian state of Victoria is investing in a program to identify new opportunities for its food and agriculture industries. As part of this initiativ
2、e the government conducted extensive research to identify which attributes of a food product are most important to consumers. As income levels rise and education levels improve, consumers around the world are becoming interested in more than just the price and quality of the food they eat. Indeed, s
3、ome consumers are now willing to pay extra money for food with a special nutritional or health benefit. In addition, some consumers are also choosing food based on how it was produced, including the environmental and ethical impact of production. Victoria“s Department of Primary Industries designed
4、and researched a report that analyzes preferences for food products with “trust“ attributes, specifically food safety, clean food, green food, animal welfare and ethical food production. The report also determines the relative importance of the five nominated “trust“ attributes and evaluates their i
5、mportance in relation to non-trust attributes, such as price and quality. B. “Consumers are becoming increasingly insightful when making purchasing decisions, and Victoria“s ability to demonstrate the trustworthiness of food products will be vital to maintain consumer confidence in priority export m
6、arkets,“ the report says. Between February and June 2004, the DPI interviewed 280 food industry shareholders, including retailers, wholesalers, foodservice managers, importers, distributors, and representatives of government, industry bodies and non-government organizations, in 21 of Victoria“s majo
7、r food markets, including France, Japan, the UK and the US. C. The research found, perhaps unsurprisingly, that price, quality and food safety were the most important factors for consumers, with each factor ranked as the most important by 18-22% of respondents. In fourth place, 8% of respondents fel
8、t taste flavor was the most important attribute of a food product for consumers, while 6% thought freshness was most important, and 3% thought the appearance packaging was most important. Health nutrition, brand image, and clean chemical free were each considered most important by just 1-2% of inter
9、viewees. D. Of the five specified “trust“ factorsfood safety, clean food, green food, animal welfare and ethical food productionfood safety was ranked as being of high or very high importance to their organization by 95% of respondents. It is not just consumers that food safety is important to, as o
10、ne Japanese wholesaler observed “It has taken a long time to build our reputation for reliability with our customers and just one accident would cause us to lose everything, especially if consumers are harmed.“ E. Clean food was ranked second in importance among the specified trust factors, with 90%
11、 of respondents rating clean food as being of high or very high importance to their organization. However, just 63% of respondents said clean food was of high or very high importance to consumers. The survey also found that there was regional variation in the definition of clean foodsome respondents
12、 thought it should include Halal production methods, while others thought clean food should also be free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). F. Ethics was ranked fairly high in importance to organizations, but was considered less important to consumers. While 82% of respondents rated ethics as
13、 being of high or very high importance to their organization, just 31% considered ethics to be of high or very high importance to consumers. Another finding was that ethics included many of the other trust factors, as a German government representative pointed out “This issue covers a little of ever
14、ything. It depends on the producer and on the way people, animals and the environment are treated. It depends on personal values.“ The researchers found that the importance of ethics varied according to what aspect was mentioned. The proving of claims made on product labels was considered to be of h
15、igher importance than issues such as workers“ rights, corporate responsibility and local sourcing, because it is an issue that has impact on the consumer directly. G. Green food was ranked relatively low in importance, with just 50% of respondents rating it as being of high or very high importance t
16、o their organization, and just 19% rating it as being of high or very high importance to consumers. Many respondents cited low consumer awareness and lack of consumer interest, and some said they believed consumers were unwilling to pay a higher price for green food products, reflecting the overall
17、finding that higher importance is attached to factors that has impact directly on consumers. H. “Consumers claim to want the choice, but the category has been disappointing, leading to oversupply and price pressures for high cost producers. Price always seems to focus the Dutch minds,“ said one glob
18、al retailer based in the Netherlands. There was also some variation in opinions about what exactly constitutes green food, with several respondents seeing it as synonymous with organic production. Of issues associated with green food, organic production was seen as the most important to consumers, w
19、hile impact on the environment, ecosystem health, bio-diversity and environmental management practices were rated relatively low in importance. I. Animal welfare was another low-rated trust factor, with 43% of respondents rating it as being of high or very high importance to organizations, and just
20、15% considering it to be of high or very high importance to consumers. Again, respondents pointed to low consumer awareness, lack of consumer interest and an unwillingness to pay an extra cost for “animal friendly“ products. Many respondents also said there was a gap between what consumers say and w
21、hat they do when it comes to purchasing behavior related to animal welfare issues. “This is a complex issueit is of low importance to consumers in terms of translation into action, but high in terms of a discussion topic. A gap exists between theory and practice,“ said a representative of a non-gove
22、rnment organization in India. J. However, the importance of animal welfare could be raised if there was a direct impact that can be seen on the consumer, for example where handling or feeding administrations affect product quality or food safety, as an airline catering supplier in Singapore illustra
23、ted “Animal welfare is important only in that it contributes to the quality of the product. The way the animal is treated and fed is crucial to the quality of the end product.“ K. Overall, respondents identified that consumers are more concerned about factors that affect them directly, such as food
24、safety. Although consumers are considered to be generally less concerned about issues such as animal welfare and environmental management practices, these issues are not insignificant as they assume much greater importance when they have the potential to affect food quality or when public concern is
25、 heightened by specific interest groups or media reports. According to Bob Cameron, Victoria“s minister for agriculture, the government“s aim in carrying out such research was to develop new approaches to improve Victoria“s access to international markets. It will be interesting to see how this info
26、rmation is used, and how it influences future product development.（分数：30.00）(1).Concerning the definition of clean food, the survey found it was varied among different regions.（分数：3.00）(2).As it was indicated by the respondents, green food was ranked relatively low in importance because of low consu
27、mer awareness and lack of consumer interests.（分数：3.00）(3).Of issues associated with green food, consumers took organic production as the most important.（分数：3.00）(4).The Australian state of Victoria is putting money in a program for the purpose of finding out new opportunities for its food and agricu
28、lture industries.（分数：3.00）(5).Animal welfare was a low-rated trust factor partly because consumers were reluctant to pay extra money for “animal friendly“ products.（分数：3.00）(6).Among all the ethical issues of food, the proving of claims on product labels was considered to be of higher importance tha
29、n other issues such as workers“ rights.（分数：3.00）(7).Not only the consumers but wholesalers and organizations considered food safety as the most important to them.（分数：3.00）(8).When there was a direct impact that can be seen on the consumer, the importance of animal welfare be raised.（分数：3.00）(9).Acco
30、rding to the DPI“s research, price, quality and food safety were the most important factors for consumers.（分数：3.00）(10).Now some consumers are willing to pay extra money for food with a special nutritional or health benefit.（分数：3.00）The History of RhinestonesA. Rhinestones have a glittering past. Or
31、iginally rhinestones were referred to Czechoslovakian or Bohemian glass dating as far back as the 13th century in Bohemia and the Czech Republic. Both places have a history steeped in beautiful hand blown glass as well as molded and cut glass. By 1918 glass was no longer limited to functional items.
32、 Czechoslovakian glass began to make its appearance in dazzling and brilliant jewelry. This Czech glass became known as rhinestones. Rhinestones were manmade gems from highly refined glass. By using various metals the glass was colored to the desired shade. It was then pressed into molds. Each stone
33、 was then ground and polished by machine, resulting in a brilliant glass stone. Often the stones were foiled on the back which increased their brilliance. B. Today, the same refining process is still used. You will often hear rhinestones referred to as paste. Originally paste was referred to a glass
34、 stone that was made of ground glass which was molded and then melted, producing an opaque dense glass frosted stone. Paste had many air bubbles and swirl marks. The high lead content glass was then polished and faceted, and set on either copper or silver resulting in a brilliant stone. Today the te
35、rm “paste“ usually refers to rhinestones. In Europe rhinestones are often referred to as paste, strass, and diamante. C. Austria is another area with a history in rhinestone production. In 1891 Daniel Swarovski created a new glass cutting machine which quite literally revolutionized the jewelry busi
36、ness. This machine could cut faceted glass, producing finely finished product in a very short time. Prior to this invention it would take a very long time for each stone to be cut by hand and finished. Swarovski“s background in glass making, combined with his glass cutting machine soon found him pro
37、ducing rhinestones with a lead content of over 30%. The brilliance of these rhinestones was superior to anything seen on the market. Swarovski wasn“t content with his invention and the best rhinestones ever seen. His next invention was once again transforming to the jewelry industry. He created a va
38、cuum plating for the backs of the stones with silver and gold, reducing the need for hand labor. Still today Swarovski rhinestones are recognized as the highest quality in the industry. Over 80% of rhinestone jewelry manufactured in America use Swarovski rhinestones. D. Rhinestones have played an im
39、portant role in costume jewelry for hundreds of years. It is used to enhance and decorate the costumes, and sometimes rhinestones will provide the entire design. During the Victorian period common design patterns for jewelry included snakes, flowers, and hands most often adorned with rhinestones. Th
40、e 1890s were a time for extravagant jewelry heavily adorned with rhinestones. As time moved forward designs became simpler with figural shapes once again malting their fashion statement. However this time they were small and more elegant with small rhinestone decorations. E. During the Edwardian per
41、iod extravagance had made a comeback with diamonds and pearls being the focal point. Once again rhinestones were in heavy use, often used to imitate the real thing. During the 1920s fashions were rapidly changing. Dresses had gone from tight, fitted to a looser, more comfortable style. Two distinct
42、styles occurred during this erathe feminine style and the androgynous style (having both female and male characteristics). Jewelry from the 1920s drew on the art decoration period. The majority of rhinestone jewelry was made with clear rhinestones. F. As the 1920s moved jewelry once again became bol
43、der. Dramatic color was in style. Designer Coco Chanel was an integral figure in setting the stage for jewelry of this era. During the 1930s, during the Depression, labor-intensive fashion was no longer feasible. While the world was in chaos, jewelry represented an affordable comfort to many women.
44、Inexpensive costume jewelry could be used to revitalize an old outfit. The industry began to produce bright colored enamel pieces decorated with rhinestones. Dogs, birds, or cats with a rhinestone eye were common place. G. The jewelry during the 1940s once again became big and bold with rhinestones
45、being produced in every imaginable color, large stones set on large bold settings was the norm. By the 1950s there were two very distinct looks-elegant and sophisticated for the more mature woman, and casual and fun for the younger woman. The 1950s saw jewelry made completely from rhinestones. For t
46、he younger woman were flirty pieces, for the older woman sophisticated elegance. Whole sets of rhinestone jewelry became extremely popular. In 1953 the aurora borealis rhinestone was introduced to the market with its fabulous array of color. It was an instant hit! H. By 1960s women were wearing very
47、 functional clothing. By the late 1960s the hippie fashions were extremely popular with their roots tied to Mother Nature. Tie dyed shirts, long flowing skirts, frayed jeans were everywhere. This generation had no interest in rhinestone jewelry. By the mid 1970s the punk look had been born and the r
48、hinestone was revitalized. It was the disco movement brought the rhinestone back to center stage. The disco movement turned into the club movement during the 1980s and rhinestone jewelry continued to gain popularity. I. Since the 1970s rhinestones have remained main stream in the jewelry world. They
49、 continue to gain popularity and today there is a style to suit almost every one“s needs. There is rhinestone jewelry which is perfect for a bride, rhinestone jewelry for a prom girl, rhinestone jewelry for the young and fun crowd, the business woman, the sophisticated woman, and the mature woman. Beautiful pieces of rhinestone jewelry adorn almost every woman“s accessories. If trends are an indication of the rhinestones future, it appears to have a brilliant healthy life ahead of it. Pleasing for most women with a fashion sense who instantly recognize the value and beauty of rhinestones
