The jack-o-lanterns are still on the stoop, but already we’re seeing prices for holiday ornaments slashed in half at J. C. Penne

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问题     The jack-o-lanterns are still on the stoop, but already we’re seeing prices for holiday ornaments slashed in half at J. C. Penney and pricey toys at Wal-Mart marked down to $10 a pop. Home Depot skipped Halloween altogether, piling up Christmas trees by early October.
    【F1】Retailers always engage in some Christmas calculus to get you to loosen your wallet during the holiday season, but this year it feels a little more desperate. Stores are starting their promotions earlier in the hopes of luring in customers quickly to spend money—before they’re tapped out or the markdowns get any steeper. Black Friday, the Friday after Thanksgiving, is the traditional kick-off of the holiday shopping frenzy, and it will still be the biggest sales generator of the season. But don’t sweat it if you can’t shop that day.
    【F2】One reason for the earlier discounts; a shorter window to shop. Black Friday falls on November 28th this year, the latest date possible. That means five fewer shopping days between Thanksgiving and Christmas than last year.
    The key for retailers will be managing inventory smartly.【F3】The economy has been braking for months, so many stores have already adjusted inventories accordingly. Still, no one predicted a Wall Street implosion right before Santa Claus’ arrival.
    【F4】So far, Sears, which has been struggling, is leading the promotional pack, announcing 450 door busters, or specially priced items, from 5 a. m. to 11 a. m. on Black Friday. Although Wal-Mart already marked down 10 toys to $10, from butterfly-winged Barbie Mariposa to Fur Real Newborn Animals, its full Black Friday prices won’t be announced until November 24. One difference this year is that online retailers are getting in on the Black Friday action. Most stores will let shoppers get Black Friday deals online instead of fighting the crowds. Retailers could well be fighting over less. Almost 60% of consumers expect to reduce their spending this Christmas according to Deloitte’s annual holiday survey, with 11% reporting that they’re still paying off holiday debt from last year. Shoppers indicated they would purchase a lot fewer gifts this year—21.5 presents on average compared with 23.1 last year. Almost seven in 10 said they intend to change their shopping behavior because of the economy; 81% say they plan to buy more sale items.
    While analysts say there is no must-have item this Christmas season, they expect discount chains like Wal-Mart to lead the pack. Consumer electronics could be a bright spot especially since prices for items such as plasma screen TVs and GPS navigation systems have declined dramatically.【F5】And with consumers indicating they’re planning on staying home more often— eating in or taking "staycations" instead of vacations—a brand new TV or DVD player might be a good way to indulge while still saving money.
    One thing will not change, even with an economic slowdown; people will continue to buy gifts. What’s undecided is how many and how much. Says Martin, "You have to do a lot to take away Christmas from the American consumer. "
【F5】

选项

答案当顾客一方面指出他们打算更多地待在家里——吃东西或在家度假,而不是外出度假时——另一方面,一台崭新的电视机或DVD机可能是打发时间的好方法,而且还省钱。

解析 该句先是一个比较复杂的with短语成分,然后才引出主句,主句之后还包含一个承前省略了主语和部分谓语的状语从句,句式相对比较复杂。断句并不难,可以把with短语、主句和状语从句各译成一个单句。本句难点在于with短语的翻译,其后成分较多,结构也较为复杂,多个动词叠加,在这种情况下,比较简单有效的翻译方式是:按照原文结构逐句翻译,逐个动词短语翻译,从而把多个动作译出。此外,with短语和主句之间用破折号连在一起,可以用“一方面”和“另一方面”将两句话连在一起,既显得顺畅,又很好地表达出了原文中对比的含义。
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