BBC随身英语:Supermarket surveys 超市物价调查

Supermarket surveys 超市物价调查

This method of calculating inflation began in 1947. Back then, post-war consumers were tucking into foods such as wild rabbit with turnip, and boiled sweets sold like hotcakes. But nowadays, these unfashionable foods are no longer our cup of tea, so they are not included in a typical basket of shopping any more.

Instead, Brits are going bananas for exotic fruits such as pineapple and continental soft cheese. Takeaway food is also on the menu, with chicken and chips proving extremely popular.

Nearly 700 different bread and butter items are compared year after year to help work out how much dough we're spending. Certain staples such as eggs, tea, bread and milk have remained in the basket since it began, whereas others come and go as our tastes change.

However, it's not only groceries which are included in the shopping-basket. The annual survey also gives us a flavour of popular household goods and services. Recently items such as tablet computers and smart phones have appeared, reflecting the general public's appetite for technology, as well as big-ticket items like cars and furniture.

The contents of a typical British basket change every year to reflect the public's spending habits, and the total bill for the items is calculated. And although tastes may change over time, one thing remains the same – if the price at the till goes up, it's always hard to stomach!

Quiz 测验 What is the British government trying to calculate?

The government is trying to calculate the rate of inflation.

True, false or not given: Wild rabbit is a popular food with today”s consumers.

False: Foods such as wild rabbit were popular in the past, but have now become unfashionable.

Why are some items removed from the shopping basket?

Items are removed when they are no longer popular.

Which noun in the article is an informal way of saying 'money' or 'cash'?

The word 'dough' is an informal way of referring to money.

Look at the article. Can you find an expression which means 'difficult to accept'?

If something is 'hard to stomach' it means it is difficult to accept.

Glossary 词汇表 food for thought引人深思的事情 to cook up虚构 to tuck into大吃 to sell like hotcakes热销 my cup of tea合我的口味 to go bananas for something对某事发狂 takeaway外卖的 on the menu列在菜单上的 bread and butter基本生活品 dough钱 staple主食 taste口味 flavour味道 appetite for something对…有需求的 hard to stomach难以接受的