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1、高考英语《流行话题语境识词4500》Unit100 TheWal-MartYouDon'tKnow素材Unit100 TheWal-MartYouDon'tKnow Wal-Martisnotjusttheworld'slargestretailer.It'sworld'slargestcompany--biggerthanExxonMobil,GeneralMotors,andGeneralElectric.Thescaleishardtoabsorb.Wal-Martsellsinthreemonthswhatnumber-tworeta
2、ilerHomeDepotsellsinayear. Wal-Martwieldsitspowerforjustonepurpose:tobringthelowestpossiblepricestoitscustomers.AtWal-Mart,thatgoalisneverreached.Theretailerhasaclearpolicyforsuppliers:Onbasicproductsthatdon'tchange,thepriceWal-Martwillpay,andwillchargeshoppers,mustdropyeara
3、fteryear.ButwhatalmostnooneoutsidetheworldofWal-Martandnoneofits21,000suppliersknowisthehighcostofthoselowprices.Wal-Marthasthepowertosqueezeprofit-killingconcessionsfromvendors.Tosurviveinthefaceofitspricingdemands,makersofeverythingfrombrastobicyclestobluejeanshavehadtolayo
4、ffemployeesandcloseUSplantsinfavorofoutsourcingproductsfromoverseas. Indeed,therealstoryofWal-Mart,thestorythatnevergetstold,isthestoryofthepressurethebiggestretailerrelentlesslyappliestoitssuppliersinthenameofbringingus"everydaylowprices".It'sthestoryofwhatthatpressuredoest
5、othecompaniesWal-Martdoesbusinesswith,toUSmanufacturing,andtotheeconomyasawhole. Thegiantretailer'slowpricesoftencomewithahighcost.Wal-Mart'srelentlesspressurecancrushthecompaniesitdoesbusinesswithandforcethemtosendjobsoverseas.Areweshoppingourwaystraighttotheunemploymentlin
6、e?Ofcourse,UScompanieshavebeenmovingjobsoffshorefordecades,longbeforeWal-Martwasaretailingpower.ButthereisnoquestionthatthechainishelpingacceleratethelossofAmericanjobstolow-wagecountriessuchasChina.OnewaytothinkofWal-Martisasavastpipelinethatgivesnon-UScompaniesdirectaccesst
7、otheAmericanmarket. Peopleask,"HowcanitbebadforthingstocomeintotheUScheaply?HowcanitbebadtohaveabargainatWal-Mart?"Sure,it'sheldinflationdown,andit'sgreattohavebargains.Butyoucan'tbuyanythingifyou'renotemployed.Weareshoppingourselvesoutofjobs. ThereisnoquestionthatWal-Mart'
8、srelentlessdrivetosqueezeoutcostshasbenefitedconsumers.Thegiantretai
