2011年职称英语考试理工类C级模拟(10)

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(用后即丢掉的)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.1ike 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 an 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 fi1l a grocery sack with clothes for only

5 or l0 dollars

Julia Slocum，22,points out，however ,that the huge amount of second-hand clothing

in the US is the result of American wastefulness

“l，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 s second life，provide cheaper clothing for those who can’t afford to buy

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”.