【Unlocking Word Meanings】
今日の単語・フレーズ
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.
1. exclusively /ɪkˈsklu sɪv li/ (adv.) – without including others
Example: The new line of shoes is marketed exclusively to teenagers.
2. counter /ˈkaʊn tər/ (v.) – to oppose or respond to something
Example: We need to counter our competitor’s marketing strategy.
3. point /pɔɪnt/ (n.) – the idea behind something
Example: There is no point in buying things you don’t need.
4. duration /dʊˈreɪ ʃən/ (n.) – the length of time in which something happens
Example: The duration of a television commercial is usually less than a minute.
5. accuse /əˈkyuz/ (v.) – to find fault or to blame someone
Example: The cashier was accused of stealing money from the grocery store.
【Article】
ニュース記事
Read the text below.
Walmart has challenged Amazon by scheduling an online sale on the same day as Amazon’s Prime Day sale.
To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Amazon held an online sale on July 15, which it claimed to be bigger than its Black Friday sale. This sale, however, is available exclusively to Amazon’s Prime members. Prime members are customers who pay a $99 annual fee. Paying this fee allows the members to enjoy a free two-day shipping fee and access to music and video streaming.
Walmart countered Amazon’s event by running its own online sale on the same day, offering various discounts. In contrast to Amazon’s offer, Walmart announced on Twitter that its online sale can be enjoyed by everyone. Walmart also said in a blog post that it does not see the point of paying a premium just to avail of the products on sale.
In its online sale, Walmart marked items such as electronics, home products, baby products, and toys at a lower price. This sale ran for 90 days, which is the usual duration of Walmart sales. Walmart also lowered the minimum order it requires for free shipping from $50 to $35 for a period of 30 days.
In response to Walmart’s comments on Amazon Prime, Amazon Prime vice president Greg Greeley [GREE-lee] said that customers who are not Prime members may still shop during the Prime Day sale. They can do so by signing up for the free 30-day Prime membership trial.
Amazon has also accused Walmart of pricing its physical store items higher than its online products. Greeley mentioned that this kind of practice does not make sense; instead, it only makes online shopping more appealing.
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【Viewpoint Discussion】
ディスカッションテーマ
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
· Would you pay for a premium membership if it will get you discounts on a store’s products? Why or why not?
· How can the competition between two companies affect consumers? Explain.
Discussion B
· What factors do you consider when buying products like clothes and electronics? Explain.
· Do you think a cheaper product is also a better product? Justify your answer.
