Passage One
短文一
Barbie dolls have a particular look to them.
芭比娃娃长得很特别。
They're thin, tall, long-legged and virtually unlike any real human being.
它们又高又瘦,腿很长,实际上和真实的人类相差甚远。
Although over the years Barbie has had more than 180 different careers—including football coach, sign language teacher, ambassador, president and astronaut—her body shape hasn't changed much.
尽管多年来芭比娃娃有了超过180种不同职业,包括足球教练、手语教师、大使、总统和宇航员,但是娃娃的形态并未变化多少。
Last year Mattel, the company that makes Barbie dolls, added some Barbies to its line that have different skin tones and hair textures.
芭比娃娃制造公司美泰去年新增一些款式,拥有不同的肤色和发质。
There are now Barbies with one of seven skin tones, 22 eye colours and 24 hair styles to choose from.
现在的芭比娃娃有七种肤色、二十二种眼睛颜色和二十四种发型供选择。
Last year Mattel also gave Barbie a flat foot, rather than forcing her to be "in heels" all the time like the original Barbie is.
去年美泰还给芭比娃娃新设了平脚底,新芭比不像原先的芭比那样只能一直穿高跟鞋。
Now they are introducing new Barbies with three slightly different body shapes while the original, tall and thin Barbies will continue to be sold.
现在美泰正推销拥有三种体型略微不同的新芭比娃娃,同时也继续售卖又高又瘦的老式芭比。
In a statement on its website, the company says it wants Barbies to look more like real people, and to give girls everywhere infinitely more ways to spark their imagination and play out their stories.
美泰在官网的声明中提出,公司希望芭比娃娃看起来更像真人,为女孩们提供更多可能,激发她们的想象力,玩出她们自己的故事。
Although many people say the new Barbies are a step in the right direction, some people say they don't go far enough.
尽管很多人认为新芭比走对了方向,但仍有一些人认为这还不够。
They say that the new body shapes could be even more different from the original, tall, thin Barbies.
他们认为新体型可以和又高又瘦的老型号设计得更为不同。
Sales of Barbie dolls have been falling "every year since 2012," according to CBC News.
根据CBC新闻,芭比娃娃的销售额"自2012年起每年"都在下跌。
The toys aren't in stores yet but they will be sold online at the Barbie website, starting this week, for $9.99.
新芭比商店里还没有,但从这周起将在芭比官网售卖,定价9.99美元。
Questions 9 to 11 are based on the passage you have just heard.
请根据你刚刚听到的对话回答问题9至问题11。
9. What do we know about the original Barbie dolls?
问题9:有关老版的芭比娃娃我们知道些什么?
10. Why do some people feel unsatisfied with the new Barbie dolls?
问题10:为什么有些人对新芭比娃娃不大满意?
11. Where will the new Barbie dolls be sold first?
问题11:新版芭比娃娃会先在哪儿售卖?