小小企業家
——職業生涯第一課

浙江 周晨曲

吆喝聲、歡笑聲、討價還價聲此起彼伏，一派熱鬧景象呈現在眼前。這是發生了什么？原來是小小企業家職業體驗活動開始啦！

主題語境：課外生活 篇幅：360詞 建議用時：7分鐘

1Earlier this March, 44 entrepreneurs gathered on a Saturday to sell their goods.What set these ambitious creators apart?All of them were between the ages of 5 and 14.For three hours,the entrepreneurs stood at the booths they had created to sell their products.They talked with customers about their handmade creations, which ranged from bookmarks to hair clips and jars.They even made a few sales.

2The first Little Startup Market took place at the Brea Community Center in California.The idea came from two local moms,Jayne Nekota and Tracy Woo.“We wanted to give kids the opportunity to think outside the box and learn the ins and outs of creating and running a business,”Woo said.Nekota and Woo spent seven months preparing for the event.In the weeks leading up to the market, the young entrepreneurs learned how to design and develop products that other kid consumers would appreciate and want to buy.

3Carrie Chase talked to her children,Carson and Max,about profitable and nonprofitable product ideas,how much a product would cost them to make,and how much to charge customers in order to make a profit.The children learned important skills,including how to communicate with customers and to thank them for shopping.

4Nekota and Woo hope that the market will encourage children's curiosity and drive.Woo said that she was proud to see the kids showing passion when they talked about their products and projects.Emily, 7, made colorful bracelets (手鐲) from plastic beads.Her favorite part of the experience was watching new friends having fun picking out bracelets she made.

5Even the parents took something away from the market.They observed their children learning new skills in a fun and rewarding way.“My favorite aspect of the market was seeing my daughter working hard and being excited as she prepared for the market,”said Catherine Eum,Emily's mother.

6The first-ever Little Startup Market was a success,with more than 600 visitors.Nekota and Woo are planning a second event.Meanwhile, they hope that the young entrepreneurs will get inspiration from their first sales experience in sales.

Reading Check

Detail 1.What made the 44 entrepreneurs special?

A.Their achievements.

B.Their ages.

C.Their communication skills.

D.Their booths.

Detail 2.What can be learned about the Little Startup Market from the text?

A.It has been held twice.

B.It first took place at a school in California.

C.It was put forward by two local mothers.

D.It helped children earn much money.

Inference 3.How did the Little Startup Market influence children?

A.Children could learn some important skills.

B.Children could manage their money better.

C.Children became more thankful to their parents.

D.Children became more interested in buying handicrafts.

Inference 4.What's the attitude of the parents to the market?

A.Unclear.B.Neutral.

C.Negative.D.Supportive.

Language Study

Ⅰ.日積月累

entrepreneurn.企業家

ambitiousadj.有抱負的

appreciatev.欣賞；感激

curiosityn.好奇心

driven.沖勁；干勁

profitableadj.有利潤的

observev.觀察

set...apart 使……與眾不同

range from...to...（在一定的范圍內）變化；變動

think outside the box 創造性思考；打破常規

the ins and outs(of sth)（尤指復雜的或難的）全部細節；詳情

Ⅱ.翻譯句子

1.Her elegant style sets her apart from other journalists.

___________________________________________________

2.Courses range from cookery to computing.

___________________________________________________

3.We need to think outside the box.

___________________________________________________

4.He quickly learned the ins and outs of the job.