英语听力精选进阶版 6233

A Degree in Luxury is Being Launched攻读奢侈品牌的学位刚刚推出

In a so-called age of austerity you might not expect a university to be offering a degree in luxury.

However, this autumn the International University of Monaco is launching a master's degree in luxury retail¹ management.

The degree is a far cry from the student stereotype² of debt and dingy³ flats, and will follow a syllabus⁴ looking at designer products, private jets and yachts.

The course has been developed in collaboration⁵ with designer brands such as Gucci and Ralph Lauren. The 35 students will learn about how to sell lavish⁶ goods and run luxury boutiques.

Despite Europe's current financial troubles, the university says the course has been developed in response to a demand for staff who specialise in the luxury market.

A spokeswoman for the university says, "Gone are the days when it was easy to sell luxury goods based on the allure⁷ of the brand alone." The university also says that the course will teach students how to offer people an exceptional shopping experience "in which consumers develop long-lasting and emotional ties with the brand".

However, before you start applying to live the high life it is important to point out that students will be learning about, rather than enjoying, the world of opulent brands.

The degree is in a country associated with wealth and extravagance, but the International University of Monaco is not the first to offer a degree in luxury retail.

High-end London department store Harrods, known for its designer products, announced earlier this year that it would be offering an undergraduate degree in retailing⁸ for its own staff. The famous London store believes it will reap the rewards from a university training programme.

So that is one Harrods product that tourists won't be able to take home - a university degree.

Glossary 词汇表

so-called 所谓的 

age of austerity 简朴的年代 

far cry 相差甚远 

stereotype 模式化的形象 

dingy 肮脏的 

syllabus 教学大纲 

yachts 游艇 

in collaboration with 与…合作 

brands 品牌 

lavish 奢侈的，昂贵的 

run 经营 

specialise 专攻 

gone are the days …日子一去不返 

allure 诱惑力，吸引力 

emotional ties 感情上的纽带 

live the high life 过着奢侈豪华的生活 

opulent 豪华的 

extravagance 奢侈，挥霍 

high-end 高档 

reap the rewards 收获成果

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

2 stereotype   

n.固定的形象，陈规，老套，旧框框

参考例句：

• He's my stereotype of a schoolteacher.他是我心目中的典型教师。
• There's always been a stereotype about successful businessmen.人们对于成功商人一直都有一种固定印象。

3 dingy   

adj.昏暗的，肮脏的

参考例句：

• It was a street of dingy houses huddled together. 这是一条挤满了破旧房子的街巷。
• The dingy cottage was converted into a neat tasteful residence.那间脏黑的小屋已变成一个整洁雅致的住宅。

4 syllabus   

n.教学大纲，课程大纲

参考例句：

• Have you got next year's syllabus?你拿到明年的教学大纲了吗？
• We must try to diversify the syllabus to attract more students.我们应该使教学大纲内容多样化，可以多吸引学生。

5 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

6 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

7 allure   

n.诱惑力，魅力；vt.诱惑，引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• The window displays allure customers to buy goods.橱窗陈列品吸引顾客购买货物。
• The book has a certain allure for which it is hard to find a reason.这本书有一种难以解释的魅力。

8 retailing   

n.零售业v.零售(retail的现在分词)

参考例句：

• career opportunities in retailing 零售业的职业机会
• He is fond of retailing the news. 他喜欢传播消息。 来自《简明英汉词典》