Let’s Make a Trade
Barter used to mean swapping rice for a chicken,chicken for car repair.But with cash flow tight for many businesses in this economic climate,exchanging goods and services might be a trading method to consider as part of normal operations.“In times like these,cash is king,but barter is smarter," says Brian Hodgson,director of Hong Kong's Pacific Barter Company.Companies want to get rid of excess inventory and save cash.
Hodgson started his company in April 1997,just months before the crisis hit East Asia.“When we introduced the concept into the marketplace,people said:We don't want to barter,we have lots of money.Now with the slump,they are tlling us:‘We have warehouse full of things.Lest’s talk.'"With over 60 members,ranging from major international conglornerates to small and medium-sized local firms,Pacific Barter handles about $40000 in deals monthly out of Hong Kong an China.
Last month,Rudy Chan launched the Hong Kong operations of Australia-based Bartercard,the world's biggest trade exchange with 20000 members.Bartercard holders use“trade dollars" to purchase goods and services from other members.A security company for instance may buy $1000 worth of uniforms from a garment maker.The seller is credited with 1000 trade dollars by Bartercard,while the purchaser's account is debited the same amount.Straight swaps are not required.On joining,members are given a trade-dollar credit line.
Barter is a new business practice which was invented during the recent financial crisis.
A、正确
B、错误
【正确答案】：B
【名师解析】:题目中的陈述是“Barter is a new business practice which was invented during the recent financial crisis.”（易货交易是一种在最近的金融危机中发明的新的商业实践。）然而，根据文章内容，易货交易并不是在最近的金融危机中发明的。文章中提到，Brian Hodgson在1997年4月就成立了他的易货公司，这表明易货交易至少在1997年就已经存在，远早于文章中提到的金融危机。此外，文章中还提到了易货交易在经济紧张时期作为一种节省现金和处理过剩库存的交易方式，这表明它是一种历史悠久的交易方式，而不是新发明的。因此，题目的陈述是错误的，正确答案是选项B。
