UNIT 4 Everyday economics 阅读理解 A （2025·广西模拟）Seasonality is a big part of business. For some industries， seasonal patterns are a defining feature. Agriculture is one obvious example； tourism another. Western toymakers notch up a huge proportion of their annual sales during Christmas. Construction is harder during cold weather， when that industry employs fewer people. Firms less obviously tied to the seasons can still be deeply affected by them， as a recent review by Ian Hohm of the University of British Columbia makes clear. An analysis of social-media posts on the Internet found that dieting-related posts peak in the spring， as the season of body dysmorphia （变形） approaches. Even when overall demand doesn’t vary greatly between the seasons， preferences change. Beef-eaters buy roasts in the slow-cooking winter season and plump for steaks during the summer months. Starbucks is among those firms that make seasonality a marketing event. The pumpkin-spiced latte is a reliable sign that autumn is on its way， along with falling leaves. Seasonality also leaves a less obvious imprint （印记） inside organisations. This week， with so many bosses stuck on a mountain for the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos， productive employees can get on with some work and lazy ones can relax. School holidays offer an obvious form of seasonality， when employees without children are upset that they are covering for colleagues on holiday， and colleagues on holiday are upset that they have children. Pay decisions are seasonal events， too. The time when employees find out their salary rises and bonuses sets off disappointment and happiness in all workplaces. In some， they are more like tsunamis. The actual date on which bonuses are paid matters too — once the money is safely put in the bank， people are more likely to move jobs. There are other forms of corporate seasonality. While there isn’t much research on the impact of seasonality within firms， it’s certain that they have their own annual rhythms. 1.Why do people focus on dieting in spring posts according to the analysis？（ ） A.They want to take time to get refreshed in spring. B.They fear the summer heat will ruin their health. C.They fear summer will reveal their body shapes. D.They suffer a lack of proper food during winter. 2.What does the underlined phrase “plump for” in Paragraph 3 mean？（ ） A.Throw away. B.Decide on. C.Rule out. D.Turn up. 3.What troubles childless employees during school holidays？ （ ） A.Being unable to relax in the absence of the boss. B.Staying in step with the change of the seasons. C.Accompanying the children of their colleagues. D.Sharing the work of the employees with children. 4.What can be a suitable title for the text？ （ ） A.Companies Have Their Own Seasonal Rhythms B.School Holidays Have an Effect on Companies C.Corporate Seasonality Has a Vast Social Effect D.Employees Must Watch Beyond the Se ... ...
