By Mark Gregory Business Reporter

Some branches of Woolworths stores have closed down

Background: 英国家喻户晓的老牌零售商 Woolworths 濒临倒闭。这家有着99年历史的企业很可能会关闭其下的几百家连锁超市，其上万名员工将会面临失业危机。

Questions: 请在听下面录音的时候试着回答这些问题。这是一个用来帮助你提高听力技能的练习。

1. How long has Woolworths operated in the UK?

2. How much had the business been on sale for?

3. What competitors have damaged Woolworths' ability to operate?

4. Do many employees face redundancy?

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Woolworths is one of the best known names on the British High Street. It's been in business nearly a century 世纪.

Many of its 800 stores are likely to close following the company's decision to call in administrators 接管者 after an attempt to sell the business for a token 象征性的 £1 failed.

The company has huge debts 债务. The trigger 导火索 for the collapse has been Britain's slide towards recession 经济萧条, which has cut into consumer spending 消费者消费.

However, the business had been in trouble for years.

Known for low-priced general merchandise, Woolworths has struggled 挣扎 in face of competition 竞争 from supermarkets expanding beyond groceries and a new generation of internet retailers 网络零售商.

Many of the store group's 25,000 employees are likely to lose their jobs. Some profitable 可盈利的，可赚钱的 areas such as the DVD publishing business will survive.

century 世纪

administrators 接管者

token 象征性的

debts 债务

trigger 导火索

recession 经济萧条

consumer spending 消费者消费

struggled 挣扎

competition 竞争

internet retailers 网络零售商

profitable 可盈利的，可赚钱的

Answers

1. How long has Woolworths operated in the UK?
Nearly 100 years.

2. How much had the business been on sale for?
£1

3. What competitors have damaged Woolworths ability to operate?
Supermarkets and online stores have taken much of their market-share.

4. Do many employees face redundancy?
Yes, many of the 25,000 staff will lose their jobs.

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