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Bartering in the Modern Age 以物易物，0元好生活

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There is an old saying that goes “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” And, in this day and age, this proverb is especially true as people are increasingly looking to trade – and in some cases trade up – goods and services without spending money. A Canadian man, Kyle MacDonald, even achieved international fame by trading a red paper clip for a wooden pen, and eventually worked his way up to trading a role in a Hollywood film for a home. But, if you want to barter like a pro, first you have to learn how the game is played.

有句古老的俗话说「一人的垃圾是另一人的珍宝」。在现今这个世代里，这则谚语特别地符合事实，因为人们越来越会去寻求不花一毛钱交易物品和服务，有时甚至交换到更高价值的物品。一位名为凯尔．麦唐纳的加拿大人甚至因此打响国际知名度，因为他以一根红色回形针换取一只木制铅笔，最后步步前进以好莱坞电影的演出机会换取一间房子。不过如果你想成为专业的交换达人，首先你必须了解这个游戏怎么进行。

Today, thanks to swapping websites like Craigslist and U-Exchange, people from all over the world can easily trade things with one another. One woman in New York State needed some new floors and a paint job for her vacation home, but didn’t have the money to hire someone to do it. So, she offered free accommodation in the holiday house in exchange for doing the work, and the renovation got done without a cent changing hands.

现今，幸亏有像是Craigslist和U-Exchange等交换网站，世界各地的人们能够轻松地与他人交换物品。住在纽约州的一位女士需要替她的度假屋重铺地板及重新粉刷，但她没有雇用工人的预算。所以她提供工人们度假屋的免费住宿，而重新装潢的工作就在没有花一毛钱的情况下完成了。

Bartering is also becoming increasingly sophisticated in the Information Age. The Bartercard trading network allows business owners to interact with each other online and trade things in a secure, professional environment. Site members who do work for other members receive “trade pounds” instead of cash, and that credit can then be spent at any of the 75,000 participating businesses. It just goes to show that, even with the great emphasis we place on money, money isn’t everything.

以物易物在信息时代变得越来越复杂成熟。Bartercard交易网络让商家能在在线互动，提供一个安全专业的环境让他们交易。网站成员替其他的成员工作时会收到「交易金」，而不是现金，而此信用额可以在75,000间参与店家中的任何一家消费。这显示，就算我们再怎么强调钱的重要性，钱毕竟不是万能的。

−by Joe Henley

Vocabulary

单词发音

barter [ˋbɑrtɚ] v. 作物物交换，进行易货贸易

proverb [ˋprɑvɝb] n. 谚语，俗语

fame [fem] n. 声誉，名望

work one's way up 向上爬; 步步高升

swap [swɑp] v.【口】交换，交易

accommodation [ə͵kɑməˋdeʃən] n. 住处；膳宿

renovation [͵rɛnəˋveʃən] n. 更新；修理

interact [͵ɪntəˋrækt] v. 交流; 交往; 互动

secure [sɪˋkjʊr] adj. 安全的

credit [ˋkrɛdɪt] n. 信用额; 银行存款（账面余额）

More Information

单词发音

trade up 买或换取更高价的东西 to trade something in for something else of greater value or price

clip [klɪp] n. 回形针

change hands 易手; 归另一人所有

sophisticated [səˋfɪstɪ͵ketɪd] adj. 复杂的

Reading Questions

1. According to the article, which of the following is NOT an example of bartering?

A. Trading a pair of shoes for a pair of pants.

B. Paying full price for a new car at a car dealership.

C. Exchanging your old laptop computer for someone’s stereo system.

D. Giving someone a place to stay in exchange for maintenance work.

2. Which of the following is true of the Bartercard trading network?

A. It is an easy way for businesses to earn money.

B. It lets users exchange cash for goods and services.

C. It is a means for business owners to trade things.

D. It provides that money is the most important commodity.

3. What seems to be the author’s opinion of money?

A. It is the lowest priority for everyone.

B. It is the most important thing in the world.

C. It isn’t all we should be preoccupied with.

D. It is what everyone should be concerned about.

Bartering Business

Answer