【正确答案】Topic: Luxury Shopping
Conversation
A: In my opinion, men buy luxury because they want to get themselves involved into the elite group, gain respect from others and then they can get pride or vanity from the luxurious goods.
B: It's true. Those men who wear expensive clothes and take a GUCCI bag will be regarded as successful men. They need symbolic goods that mark socio-economic status differences to show their achievements.
A: The wealthy people are always classified as the elite group, who has higher social status. The Chinese notion of "mianzi" is deeply rooted in people's minds. They believe in the ostentation which can show their social status and wealth. What about your opinions?
B: I agree with you on the first reason you choose that they want to be involved in the elite group. And I think men buy luxury also because they want to send expensive gifts for potential associates or girlfriends and some of them pursue the quality or style.
A: Yes, some of them have the penchant for famous designers' ware. Especially for young people, they pursue the quality or style of those luxury brands.
B: Young people like to follow the trend. And the luxury brands always lead the fashion all through the world. So they may spend much money to keep up with modern fashion. Gift-giving is another purpose of men's luxury shopping. Strong group ties are reproduced through the rituals of gifts, and luxury goods are seen as the symbols to communicate esteem for the recipient.
A: And luxury gifts can also bring honour for the giver. Rich people especially businessmen need the pomp.
B: Most of rich people have large fortune accumulated through years of efforts. Some of them have deep understandings and rich experience of Chinese tradition and culture which make them modest. Their life style tends to be more low-profiled.
A&B: It's the end of the conversation.