Black Friday does not offer the bargains it claims, consumer experts warned. Almost all of the “deals” promoted around the event last year were actually on offer for the same price or cheaper in the six months either before or after. Remarkably, just one in 20 was actually the cheapest price on that date. Consumer group Which? has told shoppers to be wary of what they describe as the “Great Black Friday Swindle” after analyzing dozens of offers from Amazon, John Lewis and Currys PC World.

Imported from the US, Black Friday always falls on the last Friday of November. This is because the sales are scheduled to follow the American holiday of Thanksgiving which takes place the day before. In Britain, the event has been a disaster for many retailers particularly those with a high street presence because they feel they have to slash prices, or they will risk missing out on the first flush of festive spending. Before Black Friday crossed the Atlantic, shops held off advertising discounts until the last minute before Christmas. However, the November sales event now leads to a huge spending splurge over the weekend only to be followed by empty stores and streets through December.

Now research by Which? suggests the Black Friday sales themselves are not all they seem. Which? tracked the prices of 83 products on sale on Black Friday in 2018 for a year, from six months before the day until six months after. Researchers found just four deals — 5 percent were cheaper on Black Friday than at other times. Six in ten of the products on offer were cheaper or the same price on at least one day in the six months before the event. And Which? found that three in four products were cheaper or the same price in the six months afterwards, when compared with the deals offered in two weeks around Black Friday.

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1.What was the truth of bargains on Black Friday in 2018?

A 5 % of the deals were at the lowest price on Black Friday.

B 95 % of the deals were at the lowest price on Black Friday.

C 95% of the deals were at the same price before or after the sales.

D 5 % of the deals were at the higher price before or after the sales.

解析：选A。细节理解题。根据第一段Almost all of the “deals” promoted around the event last year were actually on offer for the same price or cheaper in the six months either before or after. Remarkably, just one in 20 was actually the cheapest price on that date.可知，去年“黑五”期间，几乎所有促销优惠商品的价格其实与前后6个月内的价格相同，甚至更贵。值得注意的是，实际上只有二十分之一（即5%）的商品价格在“黑五”期间是最便宜的，故选A。

2.The underlined word “slash” means “_______” in paragraph 2.

A decline

B reduce

C deposit

D increase

解析：选B。词义猜测题。根据下文or they will risk missing out on the first flush of festive spending.可知，在英国，这一活动对许多零售商来说是一场灾难，尤其是那些在商业街开店的零售商，因为他们觉得必须“降价”，否则就可能错过节日消费的第一波热潮，故选B。

3.What does paragraph 2 imply?

A Black Friday is an international shopping festival.

B Many employees have a day off on Black Friday.

C Black Friday is the best time of the year to get good deals in the US.

D Consumers may do some serious Christmas shopping on Black Friday.

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据第二段最后一句However, the November sales event now leads to a huge spending splurge over the weekend only to be followed by empty stores and streets through December.可知，11月的促销活动使人们消费热情高涨，而整个12月消费市场都很疲软，暗含消费者在11月就在为过圣诞节而作购物准备，故选D。

4.The author introduces the last paragraph by _______.

A following time order

B following importance order

C giving examples

D making comparison and contrast

解析：选D。推理判断题。根据第三段可知，作者通过对大量数据的对比和比较来行文，故选D。