Academic reading Text A Wal-Mart's foreign expansion Less successful cases in developed countries: Para Two major reasons for the failure The well-established local rivals had nicely matched their offerings to local shopping habits and consumer preferences Consumers in South Korea and germany seemed to have a preference for higher quality merchandise and were not as attracted to wal- Mart's discount strategy
Academic reading Text A Wal-Mart’s foreign expansion Less successful cases in developed countries: Para. 3 Two major reasons for the failure: • The well-established local rivals had nicely matched their offerings to local shopping habits and consumer preferences • Consumers in South Korea and Germany seemed to have a preference for higher quality merchandise and were not as attracted to WalMart’s discount strategy
Academic reading Preparation - Words and Sentences 1, Para 2.L5 Wal-Mart adjusted its strategy to meet the local conditions, hiring local managers who understood Mexican culture, letting those managers control merchandising strategy building smaller stores that people could walk to, and offering more fresh produce Main clause: Wal-Mart adjusted its strategy to meet the local conditions ° Modifiers: gerund(动名词)- hiring local managers who understood Mexican culture, letting those managers control merchandising strategy building smaller stores that people could walk to, and offering more fresh produce the way how Wal-Mart made adjustment
Academic reading Preparation – Words and Sentences 1. Para 2, L 5 • Wal-Mart adjusted its strategy to meet the local conditions, hiring local managers who understood Mexican culture, letting those managers control merchandising strategy, building smaller stores that people could walk to, and offering more fresh produce. • Main clause: Wal-Mart adjusted its strategy to meet the local conditions • Modifiers: gerund (动名词) – hiring local managers who understood Mexican culture, letting those managers control merchandising strategy, building smaller stores that people could walk to, and offering more fresh produce – the way how Wal-Mart made adjustment
Words and sentences 2, Para.3.L2 In all three countries it found itself going head to head against well-established local rivals who had nicely matched their offerings to local shopping habits and consumer preferences go head to head: ( idiom)deal with sb. in a very direct and determined way Paraphrase In all three countries Wal-Mart found that it was directly confronted with well-established competitors in the local markets The local stores had provided goods that properly met local people's shopping habits and preferences
Words and Sentences 2. Para. 3, L2 • In all three countries it found itself going head to head against well-established local rivals who had nicely matched their offerings to local shopping habits and consumer preferences. • go head to head: (idiom) deal with sb. in a very direct and determined way • Paraphrase: • In all three countries Wal-Mart found that it was directly confronted with well-established competitors in the local markets. • The local stores had provided goods that properly met local people’s shopping habits and preferences
Words and sentences 3. Para. 4,L3 What Wal-Mart discovered however, was that the Chinese were bargain hunters and open to the low price strategy and wide selection offered at Wal-Mart stores open to: be willing to accept Paraphrase: However, Wal-Mart found that Chinese customers are attracted to low-priced goods, and they are willing to accept the low price strategy and diverse categories offered at Wal-Mart stores
Words and Sentences 3. Para. 4, L3 • What Wal-Mart discovered, however, was that the Chinese were bargain hunters, and open to the low price strategy and wide selection offered at Wal-Mart stores. • open to: be willing to accept • Paraphrase: However, Wal-Mart found that Chinese customers are attracted to low-priced goods, and they are willing to accept the low price strategy and diverse categories offered at Wal-Mart stores