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On Friday, China’s e-commerce king Alibaba (BABA) held its annual Singles’ Day shopping event, posting record sales of $17.8 billion worth of gross merchandise volume (GMV) and soaring past last year’s results of $14.3 billion. This figure was easily beaten in Chinese Yuan at 3:30 pm.

Back in the 1990s, Singles’ Day was first celebrated by young, single Chinese people as a pushback against Valentine’s Day. Now, it has become one of the country’s biggest shopping events. Alibaba began the “holiday” in 2009, promoting discounts at certain retailers on its various digital platforms; the company uses Singles’ Day as a way to boost its revenues in the typically slow sales period before the Lunar New Year season.

This year, Alibaba said that deals are offered by athletic giants Nike Inc. NKE and Adidas ADDYY, iPhone maker Apple Inc. AAPL, industrial automation company Siemens AG-ADR SIEGY and fast fashion retailer Uniqlo. Many international brands have jumped on the holiday over recent years. According to survey, 14,000 brands took part in 2016 Singles’ Day, making up roughly 30% of total GMV just half-way into the shopping event. Big Chinese brands like appliance manufacturers Haier and Midea and smartphone maker Meizu also reported strong profits in the event.

Popular celebrities made appearances at the four-hour “countdown event” in Shenzhen this year, including actress Scarlett Johansson, David Beckham and his wife, fashion designer Victoria Beckham, Kobe Bryant, and live music from OneRepublic. Even Alibaba CEO Jack Ma showed up and performed a magic trick on stage.

For some perspective on how big of a sale Singles’ Day is, 2015’s Black Friday, the annual day-after-Thanksgiving sale here in the US, only reached $4.5 billion in GMV; Cyber Monday, the annual Monday-after-Thanksgiving e-commerce sale event, only saw a record $3 billion last year, or pocket change compared to what Singles’ Day brings in.

1.What is GMV of Alibaba at 3:30 pm on November 11?

A $17.8 billion.

B $16.8 billion.

C $14.3 billion.

D $13. 4 billion.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据文章第一段最后一句This figure was easily beaten in Chinese Yuan at 3:30 pm.可以得知去年的$14.3 billion这一纪录在今年的下午三点半的时候被打破了，据此可以得知到下午三点半的时候天猫的成交额为$14.3 billion，故选C。

2.What is the purpose of Alibaba beginning the “holiday”?

A To make it as a pushback against Valentine’s Day.

B To celebrate the coming Lunar New Year season.

C To build up more retailers on its digital platforms.

D To increase its sales during the very difficult times.

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据文章第二段第三句the company uses Singles’ Day as a way to boost its revenues in the typically slow sales period before the Lunar New Year season可以得知最初创立这个购物狂欢节的时候是想在销售淡季来促进销售，故选D。

3.What is the characteristic of the Singles’ Day shopping event?

A Only single Chinese people like shopping here.

B All the big Chinese brands showed interest in it.

C Many famous international brands took part in it.

D The company only chose the brands from the USA.

解析：选C。细节理解题。根据第三段第三句Many international brands have jumped on the holiday over recent years.可以得知很多国际品牌都参与了购物狂欢节，故选C。

4.Who tried to be a magician during the four-hour “countdown event”?

A Jack Ma.

B Scarlett Johansson.

C Victoria Beckham.

D Kobe Bryant.

解析：选A。细节理解题。根据第四段最后一句Even Alibaba CEO Jack Ma showed up and performed a magic trick on stage.可以得知Jack Ma表演了魔术，故选A。

5.What’s the main idea of the last paragraph?

A The success of Alibaba.

B The scale of Black Friday.

C The advantage of e-commerce.

D The danger of Cyber Monday.

解析：选A。主旨大意题。文章最后一段通过阿里巴巴双十一购物狂欢节与外国的Black Friday和Cyber Monday对比，更加突出了该公司的成功，故选A。