As winter approached, retailers (零售商) ordered clothes for cold weather, arranged their stores for cold weather and then just started hoping for cold weather. Winter is here, but the cold weather by and large is not. Nationally, last month was one of the warmest Decembers on record, and so far January temperatures are above average. The relatively warm weather is erasing a lot of demand for winter hats, coats, and gloves—and making some retailers sweat the bottom line. On Saturday, the outdoors store REI took the unusual step of making artificial snow in a Manhattan park, hoping to encourage people to buy snowshoes and winter jackets. Home Depot has cut down on items like salt for de-icing, and many of its stores have replaced snow removal equipment with storage products in storefront displays. Even drugstores are being affected because flu (流感)infections are down. Though some winter resorts received a small amount of snow over the weekend, and Seattle is having a snowstorm, those pockets of cold have not provided much of arelief for retailers, who are running out of time to sell their winter inventory . Kevin Scott, senior vice president for merchandising services at Home Depot, said there has been an upside to the warmer weather—outdoor paint, outdoor lights and windows are selling well—but "we'll take a little more snow, I think, as anybody would." Scott Jaeger, an analyst with the Leisure Trends Group, a market research firm, said that while overall sales in 2011 had riseneight percent, sales of outdoor gear in December felltwo percent from the previous December. "This year they can get outside and enjoy things without having to buy the thick coat," he said of shoppers. "They didn't need hats. They didn't have to update the wardrobe or update the skis, because they were not necessarily going skiing." On Saturday, REI spread artificial snow over a Manhattan park so passers-by could try cross-country skiing. Luckily, Saturday was one of the few days this winter that reached freezing in the city. "We plan for a solid winter," said Tim Spangler, senior vice president for retail at REI. "We often joke that planners in our business are paid to be wrong: you either bought too little, because the winter overperforms, or you bought too much, because it's warm ."1. The problem those retailers face derives from __________.A) the worsening environmentB) the insufficient stocks of itemsC) the relatively high temperature D) the change of people's outdoor activities2. The outdoors store REI made artificial snow in the park to ________.A) encourage people to enjoy a warm winterB) stimulate customers to buy its commodities C) display the splendid effects of its productsD) express its anger to the changeable weather3. The word "inventory" (Para. 5) is closest in meaning to _______.A) stock B) wreckC) creationD) promotion4. What does Tim Spangler mean by saying "you either bought too little, because the winter overperforms, or you bought too much, because it's warm" (last paragraph)?A) His business is winter is always a mess.B) Cold weather counts little in his winter business.C) People's shopping habits tend to change in winter.D) Winter weather has a great impact on his business. 5. What is the message the author intends to convey?A) Warm winter brings a dim prospect for retailers. B) Artificial snow facilitates the sale of outdoor equipment.C) People dislike participating in outdoor activities in winter.D) Salespersons can never take advantage of weather for promotion.

As winter approached, retailers (零售商) ordered clothes for cold weather, arranged their stores for cold weather and then just started hoping for cold weather. Winter is here, but the cold weather by and large is not. Nationally, last month was one of the warmest Decembers on record, and so far January temperatures are above average. The relatively warm weather is erasing a lot of demand for winter hats, coats, and gloves—and making some retailers sweat the bottom line. On Saturday, the outdoors store REI took the unusual step of making artificial snow in a Manhattan park, hoping to encourage people to buy snowshoes and winter jackets. Home Depot has cut down on items like salt for de-icing, and many of its stores have replaced snow removal equipment with storage products in storefront displays. Even drugstores are being affected because flu (流感)infections are down. Though some winter resorts received a small amount of snow over the weekend, and Seattle is having a snowstorm, those pockets of cold have not provided much of arelief for retailers, who are running out of time to sell their winter inventory  . Kevin Scott, senior vice president for merchandising services at Home Depot, said there has been an upside to the warmer weather—outdoor paint, outdoor lights and windows are selling well—but "we\'ll take a little more snow, I think, as anybody would." Scott Jaeger, an analyst with the Leisure Trends Group, a market research firm, said that while overall sales in 2011 had riseneight percent, sales of outdoor gear in December felltwo percent from the previous December. "This year they can get outside and enjoy things without having to buy the thick coat," he said of shoppers. "They didn\'t need hats. They didn\'t have to update the wardrobe or update the skis, because they were not necessarily going skiing." On Saturday, REI spread artificial snow over a Manhattan park so passers-by could try cross-country skiing. Luckily, Saturday was one of the few days this winter that reached freezing in the city. "We plan for a solid winter," said Tim Spangler, senior vice president for retail at REI. "We often joke that planners in our business are paid to be wrong: you either bought too little, because the winter overperforms, or you bought too much, because it\'s warm  ."1. The problem those retailers face derives from __________.A) the worsening environmentB) the insufficient stocks of itemsC) the relatively high temperature D) the change of people\'s outdoor activities2. The outdoors store REI made artificial snow in the park to ________.A) encourage people to enjoy a warm winterB) stimulate customers to buy its commodities C) display the splendid effects of its productsD) express its anger to the changeable weather3. The word "inventory" (Para. 5) is closest in meaning to _______.A) stock B) wreckC) creationD) promotion4. What does Tim Spangler mean by saying "you either bought too little, because the winter overperforms, or you bought too much, because it\'s warm" (last paragraph)?A) His business is winter is always a mess.B) Cold weather counts little in his winter business.C) People\'s shopping habits tend to change in winter.D) Winter weather has a great impact on his business. 5. What is the message the author intends to convey?A) Warm winter brings a dim prospect for retailers. B) Artificial snow facilitates the sale of outdoor equipment.C) People dislike participating in outdoor activities in winter.D) Salespersons can never take advantage of weather for promotion.