测试中可能遇到的词汇和知识：
notched有凹口的[ntt]
pamper纵容['p?mp]
pooch杂种狗[put]
like-for-like同比
veterinary兽医的['vtrnri]
flea跳蚤[fli]
hygiene卫生学，保健法['hadin]
PetsatHomeboostedbygroomingservices（445words）
ByAliyaRam
PetsatHomenotchedupstronggrowthinitsthirdquarterasBritonsgavetheirpoochesapamperingintherun-uptoChristmas.
TheUK'slargestpetstorechainsaidonWednesdaythatthird-quarterrevenuesclimbed7.1percentto￡195.1minthethreemonthstoDecember31.Like-for-likesalesrose2.2percent,fuelledbyan8.5percentjumpinservicessales,includingabigcontributionfromveterinaryandgrooming.
Thiscompareswithlike-for-likegrowthof4.1percentforthegroupand26percentintheservicesunitinthethirdquarterofthepreviousyear.
AccordingtothepetsupplieschainthenumberofdogsgroomedintheweekbeforeChristmasincreased18percentontheyearbeforeto12,000.Merchandisesales,includingpetnutrition,rose1.7percentduringthethirdquarter,comparedwith3.4percentlasttime.
“Wearepleasedwiththeimprovedtradingmomentuminourmerchandisebusiness,alongsidecontinuedstrengthinourvetandgroomingservices,”saidchiefexecutiveNickWood.“WearealsodelightedwithouracquisitionofoneoftheUK'sleadingspecialisthospitals,AndersonMoores[aveterinaryspecialist].”
AccordingtoMrWoodtheslowdowninthepaceofgrowthduringitssecondyearasalistedcompanywasduetotoughcomparativesfrom2014-15,whenwarmandwetweatherresultedinhighsalesoffleatreatments.
“Lastyear'sgrowthwasaboveourexpectationsbecausehealthandhygienewasverystrong,”hesaid.“Thisyearwe'vehadadragtoourperformancefromhealthandhygiene…butunderlyingthat,youhaveaverystrong[offer]withaveryfastandaccretivebusinesstackedontop.”
Generalmerchandisesales,includinghealthandhygieneproducts,accountforaslightlylargerproportionofthecompany'srevenuemixoverthewinter.Buttotalsalesfromthefast-growingservicesbusinessincreasedmorethaninthepreviousyear,jumping27.4percentto￡17.8m,comparedwitha26percentriselasttime,asBritonsgroomedtheirpetsreadyforChristmas.
“Merchandiselike-for-likegrowthhaspickedupfromthefirsthalf,withthehealthandhygienecategoryrecovering,”saidretailanalystsatLiberum.“Thisshouldhelpreassurethattherecentweaknesswasatrading‘blip'ratherthananythingelse.”
Thechainaddedthatitwasontracktoopen20-25PetsatHomestores,fiveBarkers-brandedoutlet,upto55vetpracticesand55-60groomingsalonsthisyear.
PetsatHomehaslostmorethanafifthofitsmarketvaluesinceOctober,whenitreportedweakerthanexpectedsales.
OnWednesdayshareswere4percenthigherat242.6pinearlyafternoontrade.
1.PetsatHomeisthelargestpetstorechaininwhichcountry
A.America
B.Britain
C.Canada
D.France
答案(1)
2.Whenthenumberofdogsgroomedaccordingtothepetsupplies
A.theweekafterChristmas
B.theweekbeforeEaster
C.summervacation
D.theweekbeforeChristmas
答案(2)
3.Whatresultedinhighsalesoffleatreatments
A.warmandwetweather
B.floodrouting
C.petowners'thoughtlessness
D.volcaniceruption
答案(3)
4.Whichonewillbeopenedmorein2016
A.PetsatHomestores
B.groomingsalons
C.Barkers-brandedoutlet
D.vetpractices
答案(4)
***
(1)答案：B.Britain
解释：PetsatHome（宠物在家）是英国最大的宠物连锁店。
(2)答案：D.theweekbeforeChristmas
解释：人们把宠物视为家庭成员，愿意为其消费。除常规用品之外，英国人还会给宠物购买圣诞礼物。