become smaller through globalization, Christmas has become more popular in many non-Western countries.
3.Why is Valentine's Day more popular in China now compared to it was decades ago?
Since love is one of the most fundamental emotions, it certainly deserves a holiday. In fact, love is an eternal theme in novels, dramas and poems. People need a holiday to express their emotions. When people exchange cards and gifts on Valentine's Day, they express their affection for others and feel happy. The holiday seems to be especially important to young men and women. Therefore, young Chinese people have good reason to celebrate Valentine's Day. As China is gradually integrating with the rest of the world, why can't we celebrate Valentine's Day? Unfortunately, the traditional Chinese Lover's Day, which falls on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, is largely neglected now, despite the interesting story of the meeting between the legendary Cowherd and Girl Weaver. Why hasn't the tradition been revived and made popular among young people?
4.It is sometimes claimed that many festivals have been created just to encourage people to spend money. Do you agree? It is true that business people are seeking every opportunity to
promote sales. So, for holidays, they try to sell cards, flowers and gifts. When people are happy preparing for a festival, they are willing to spend money, and businessmen have taken advantage of their generosity. So, in a sense, many holidays have been commercialized, though we have the right not to buy. But on the other hand, festivals endure mainly because they allow us to express our feelings. When Pilgrims wanted to express their gratitude to \Day. When people wanted to express their affection for their mothers and lovers, they introduced Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. Ancient Chinese had great respect for the elderly, and this might have given rise to the Double-Ninth Day. Unit 10：
1. What advantages and disadvantages does the stock market offer?
The stock market has its advantages. When a company is listed on the stock market, it can raise funds, which can be used to promote its development. When many promising companies offer their shares to the public, a huge amount of money can be collected, which will boost the growth of the national economy. With the development of the economy, the stock index will rise, and investors will benefit as well.
However, in a bear market most stocks depreciate (贬值) in value, and many investors lose money. Worse still, some companies make false financial reports to cheat the public. They claim to have made a profit though they have actually lost money. When shareholders lose money, they become angry or desperate. An unhealthy stock market is harmful to the country.
2. Do you find most of the stock investors have made gains or losses? Give reasons for their gains or losses.
It is claimed that, of every ten stockholders, one wins, two neither win nor lose, and seven lose. It does seem to me that most investors in the stock market lose money or even lose their shirts. In fact, those who make gains tend to talk a lot about their success, while those who make losses are likely to keep silent. So the actual proportion of losers may be larger than it appears to be. The state collects a tax on each trade, and the securities companies charge commissions. After the deduction of those fees, the total amount of the investment becomes smaller. Therefore, the number of winners cannot possible be greater than the number of losers. Also, some large companies and large stockholders can manipulate the stock market to a certain extent. If they win, chances for the numerous small shareholders to gain a profit become slim.
3. Do you think people should buy a stock when it is rising or falling? It is difficult to give a definite answer to this question. When a stock is rising, many stockholders believe the upward trend will continue, and therefore they buy it in the hope of reaping a profit. Sometimes, they can make money this way. But it is possible that the stock will suddenly plunge, and their money will be lost. On the other hand, some people prefer to buy a stock that has dropped a great deal, thinking that after it touches the bottom, it may rebound. When the stock rises so much that they can make a profit, they sell it. This is what people mean when they say, “buy low and sell high”. But it is easier said than done. More often than not, after you buy a stock that you believe to be cheap, it slumps again, and you lose your money. After all, the market is unpredictable, and you have to take chances.
4. Do you think most people today will put their money in banks, the stock market or real estate? Why?
It seems to me that most Chinese are traditional, and they like to put their money in the bank if not under the mattress. It is true that bank interest rates are low. However, deposits in banks are safe. You can be almost in the 1990s, many Chinese entered the stock market. But the subsequent bear market, which lasted a number of years, depressed many investors.
The real estate market was hot, or rather overheated, in the beginning years of the new century. Then the government published regulations to discourage speculative investment. So perhaps some funds will pull out of the real estate market and move to the banks and stock market. Generally speaking, I think most Chinese prefer to save their money in banks for guaranteed returns.