[单项选择]On Mar. 14, when Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced its first foray into Japan, the Bentonville (Ark.) retailing giant placed a big bet that it could succeed where countless other foreign companies have failed. In the past five years, a number of famous Western brands have been forced to close up shop after failing to catch on in Japan, one of the world’s largest--but most variable--consumer markets.
May Wal-Mart make a go of it where others have stumbled One good sign is that the mass marketer is not rushing in blindly. It has taken an initial 6.1% stake in ailing food-and-clothing chain Seiyu Ltd. , which it can raise to a controlling 33.4% by yearend and to 66.7% by 2007. That gives Wal-Mart time to revise its strategy--or run for the exits.
The question is whether Wal-Mart can apply the lessons it has learned in other parts of Asia to Japan. This, after all, is a nation of notoriously finicky consumers--who have become even more so since Japan slipped into a decade-lon
A. "enjoy wide popularity."
B. "exert great effort."
C. "achieve great success."
D. "is at stake."

Shopping at Second-hand Clothing Stores
When 33-year-old Pete Barth was in college, shopping at Second-hand clothing stores was just something he did — "like changing the tires on his car. "He looked at his budget and decided he could save a lot of money by shopping for clothes at thrift shops.
"Even new clothes are fairly disposable(可丢失的)and wear out after a couple of years," Barth said. "In thrift shops, you can find some great stuff whose quality is better than new clothes".
Since then, Barth, who works at a Goodwill thrift shop in the US state of Florida, has found that there are all kinds of reasons for shopping for second-hand clothing. Some people, like him, shop to save money. Some shop for a crazy-looking shirt. And some shop as a means of conserving energy and helping the environment.
Pat Akins, an accountant at a Florida Salvation Army(SA)(救世军)thrift shop, said that, for her, shopping at thrift
A. He is 33 years old now.
B. He works at a Goodwill thrift shop.
C. He works at a Salvation Army thrift shop. D. He was a college student many years ago.

On Mar. 14, when Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced its first foray into Japan, the Bentonville (Ark.) retailing giant placed a big bet that it could succeed where countless other foreign companies have failed. In the past five years, a number of famous Western brands have been forced to close up shop after failing to Catch on in Japan, one of the world’s largest—but most variable—consumer markets.
May Wal-Mart make a go of it where others have stumbled One good sign is that the mass marketer is not rushing in blindly. It has taken an initial 6.1% stake in ailing food-and-clothing chain Seiyu Ltd., which it can raise to a controlling 33.4% by yearend and to 66.7% by 2007. That gives Wal-Mart time to revise its strategy—or run for the exits.
The question is whether Wal-Mart can apply the lessons it has learned in other parts of Asia to Japan. This, after all, is a nation of notoriously finicky consumers—who have become even more so
A. revolutionize Japanese retailing.
B. tap consumer markets in Japan.
C. combine and become bigger.
D. withdraw from markets in Japan.