0106 China Daily-咖啡连锁市场的竞争加剧——时文阅读语法填空专项练习（3篇，含解析）-2025届高三英语二轮复习专项

Competition in coffee chain market intensifies
咖啡连锁市场的竞争加剧
In the highly competitive coffee chain market, Starbucks China has (1) ______ (expand) its focus from its traditional “third place” philosophy — regarding its stores as a comfortable space between work and home — towards digital innovation and targeted marketing.
Starbucks' recent appointment of Yang Zhen as chief growth officer (2) ______ (signal) a strategic change. Yang, an experienced digital marketing leader from Alibaba and Jidu Auto, has been asked to make use of digital tools, creative campaigns and product innovation to attract younger consumers and (3) ______ (revitalize) growth.
The new direction was shown in Starbucks' recent viral marketing campaign, “I Opened Starbucks in Ancient Times”, which combined storytelling with cultural appeal, an attempt to reconnect the brand with Gen Z audiences. It's said that Yang was (4) ______ (behind) the production of this short video.
Meanwhile, Starbucks' renewed focus on digital marketing highlights the growing importance of customer engagement outside of physical stores.
The strategy reflects broader changes in China's consumer behavior. Digital experiences — such as app-based promotions and viral campaigns — play an increasingly (5) ______ (crucial) role in building brand loyalty, and mark a shift from Starbucks' historical reliance on physical store experiences as its primary brand differentiator.
Starbucks opened over 45 new stores in Shanghai last year and upgraded more than 32, (6) ______ (operate) over 1,100 stores in the city, thus becoming the city with the largest number of Starbucks stores.
Nowadays, the coffee chain market is getting more and more competitive.
To stand out, companies need to constantly innovate and improve their services.
Good marketing strategies can (7) ______ (help) attract more customers and increase market share.
Moreover, creating unique brand cultures is also important to win the hearts of consumers.
However, ensuring product quality at the same time is equally essential.
Only by balancing all these aspects can a coffee chain achieve long-term (8) ______ (success).
It's hoped that Starbucks and other coffee chains will continue to explore better ways to meet the changing needs of consumers and contribute to the (9) ______ (vibrant) development of the coffee market.
And through continuous efforts, we can enjoy a more diverse and high-quality coffee culture in our daily lives, which will bring more enjoyment to our (10) ______ (life).
答案：
expanded（考查动词时态，“has + 过去分词” 构成现在完成时，此处用过去分词形式，考查现在完成时的用法）
signals（考查动词时态，此处描述一般现在的情况，主语是 “appointment” 为单数，用一般现在时第三人称单数形式，考查一般现在时主谓一致）
revitalize（考查动词原形，“and” 连接并列的动词不定式，此处与 “to attract” 并列，“to” 后接动词原形，考查并列结构中动词形式的一致性及动词不定式的用法）
behind（考查固定搭配，“be behind...” 表示 “是…… 的幕后推动者；支持……”，考查固定搭配的用法）
crucial（考查形容词，“play a...role” 中需用形容词修饰名词 “role”，“crucial” 表示 “关键的”，考查形容词修饰名词的用法）
operating（考查非谓语动词，“opened”“upgraded” 与 “operating” 是伴随的动作关系，用现在分词作伴随状语，考查非谓语动词作伴随状语的用法）
help（考查动词原形，“can” 是情态动词，后接动词原形，考查情态动词后动词的形式）
success（考查词性转换，“achieve” 后接名词作宾语，“success” 表示 “成功”，考查词性转换）
vibrant（考查词性转换，“development” 是名词，需用形容词修饰，“vibrant” 表示 “充满活力的”，考查词性转换）
lives（考查名词单复数，“our” 后接名词复数，“life” 的复数形式是 “lives”，表示 “生活”，考查名词复数在句中的运用）
Nationwide, the coffee chain has (1) ______ (penetrate) around 1,000 county-level markets. At the beginning of 2025, Starbucks opened a store at Jianshe village near the Dongqian Lake in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, which is a famous tourism destination that urban residents often visit on holidays and weekends.
Besides the penetration into lower-tier markets, digital engagement has become a key point in Starbucks' efforts to regain (2) ______ (relevance) and deal with the decline in sales.
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, Starbucks China reported a 7 percent year-on-year revenue decrease, with comparable store sales dropping 14 percent. While the company launched an “affordable coffee” series to compete with low-cost rivals like Luckin Coffee, its main strategy now (3) ______ (revolve) around building stronger digital connections with consumers.
In contrast to Starbucks' digital shift, Ora Coffee, a newly launched sub-brand of Peet's Coffee, is taking a different route — focusing on affordability and operational efficiency to attract mid-to-low end consumers.
Ora Coffee made a quiet debut in Beijing with a small-store model that emphasizes takeouts and simple design. With prices starting at 9.9 yuan ($1.35) for an Americano and combination (4) ______ (deal) like coffee and baked goods from 18.9 yuan, Ora directly aims at the rapidly growing affordable coffee market. The move reflects a broader trend as high-end players adjust to China's changing consumer demand for value-driven options.
Unlike Peet's (5) ______ (tradition) high-end positioning, Ora Coffee tries to balance quality and affordability. By introducing local drinks such as tea-coffee mixtures and fruit-infused coffees, Ora aims to make itself different not just in price but also when dealing with diverse consumer (6) ______ (taste).
In the coffee market, different brands are using various strategies to win customers.
Good brand positioning can (7) ______ (help) a brand stand out.
Moreover, meeting consumers' needs for both price and quality is crucial for success.
However, continuous innovation in products and services is also of great (8) ______ (importance).
Only by constantly improving can a coffee brand keep its competitiveness and achieve sustainable (9) ______ (develop).
It's expected that more coffee brands will emerge and bring more choices to consumers, making the coffee market more prosperous and contributing to a more colorful (10) ______ (life) culture.
答案：
penetrated（考查动词时态，“has + 过去分词” 构成现在完成时，此处用过去分词形式，考查现在完成时的用法）
relevance（考查词性转换，“regain” 后接名词作宾语，“relevant” 的名词形式是 “relevance”，表示 “相关性；重要性”，考查词性转换）
revolves（考查动词时态，此处描述一般现在的情况，主语 “strategy” 为单数，用一般现在时第三人称单数形式，考查一般现在时主谓一致）
deals（考查名词单复数，“combination deals” 表示 “组合套餐”，常用复数形式，考查名词复数在固定短语中的用法）
traditional（考查词性转换，此处修饰名词 “positioning”，需用形容词，“tradition” 的形容词形式是 “traditional”，表示 “传统的”，考查词性转换）
tastes（考查名词单复数，“diverse” 后接可数名词复数，“taste” 表示 “口味” 时常用复数形式，考查名词复数的用法）
help（考查动词原形，“can” 是情态动词，后接动词原形，考查情态动词后动词的形式）
importance（考查词性转换，“of great importance” 相当于 “very important”，考查固定短语中名词的用法）
development（考查词性转换，“achieve” 后接名词作宾语，“develop” 的名词形式是 “development”，表示 “发展”，考查词性转换）
coffee（考查名词作定语，此处修饰 “culture”，用名词 “coffee” 表示 “咖啡文化”，考查名词作定语的用法）
Affordable brands like Luckin Coffee and Cotti Coffee (1) ______ (dominate) through economies of scale, running over 20,000 and 7,400 stores respectively.
Their aggressive pricing strategies, often with prices as low as 9.9 yuan per cup, have changed consumer expectations and made established players (2) ______ (respond).
According to Mintel Group, a research institute, in the freshly brewed coffee market in China, brands have adopted new strategies to keep their competitiveness. In 2024, the coffee market was expected to reach 16.9 billion yuan and market concentration was rising as chain brands speeded up their expansion (3) ______ (through) franchise systems.
Cross-category players, such as fast-food and street drink brands, are doing well, while foreign chain brands are slowing down the pace of opening stores, said Bernie Gao, research analyst of food & drink and food-service of Mintel China.
The number of coffee shops nationwide was predicted to reach 161,800 by the end of 2024, showing a year-on-year increase of 12.6 percent, though growth slowed (4) ______ (significantly) compared to the previous year.
In the current situation of cautious consumer spending and fierce competition among freshly brewed coffee brands, chain players — except those already having a “low-price product strategy” — have also introduced different price adjustments to deal with consumers' continued price sensitivity.
Mintel data show that the ideal price range for classic freshly brewed coffee products (milk coffee, black coffee and tea) is (5) ______ (between) 11 and 15 yuan per cup.
Gao said that in third-tier and lower-tier cities, a higher proportion of consumers prefer products in this price range than those in first and second-tier cities. So, creating affordable sub-brands enables companies to keep the premium image of their main brands while expanding in lower-tier markets.
“Although pricing is a key (6) ______ (battleground), a purely low-price strategy can't be sustained in the long run,” he said. “Brands must focus on communicating product value effectively and improving customer loyalty in this era of cautious consumption.”
Taste remains the top factor influencing consumers' choice of freshly brewed coffee, followed by aroma and functionality. The lower ranking of cost-effectiveness indicates that competitive pricing alone isn't enough to maintain consumer interest.
Moreover, refined operations and high-quality development are (7) ______ (essential) for brands to succeed in a slowing market.
Companies can improve their credibility by highlighting their supply chain reliability and consistent product quality. They can also strengthen the value of premium coffee through skilled baristas, attractive store environments and personalized services.
As the consumption gap among different-tier cities gets smaller and specialty products become more popular, brands should explore how to combine innovative product concepts into their strategies for lower-tier markets to meet the diverse needs of a wider audience, Gao added.
With consumer preferences changing and competition (8) ______ (intensifying), brands that can balance affordability, innovation and digital engagement well will be in a good position to thrive in China's dynamic coffee market.
Luckin Coffee has launched coffee bean products in cooperation with FreeNow, a plant-based beverage manufacturer in China, aiming to develop coffee products for business customers like coffee shops, hotels and tea drink shops.
It has introduced three coffee bean products. With its existing supply chain network, Luckin Coffee's specialty coffee beans are expected to quickly expand their market share and attract more trade customers, the company said.
Tea chains are also adapting to market pressure by talent (9) ______ (acquisition) and operational upgrades. For example, Chagee recently brought in Huang Hongfei, former CFO of McDonald's China, to improve its supply chain and digital systems.
Chagee's rapid expansion, with over 6,000 stores globally, and its plans for an IPO in the United States reflect its ambition to challenge market leaders like Starbucks China in total sales.
All in all, in this competitive coffee market, continuous innovation and good market strategies are (10) ______ (vital) for brands to survive and develop.
答案：
dominate（考查动词时态，此处描述一般现在的情况，主语 “brands” 为复数，用一般现在时原形，考查一般现在时主谓一致）
respond（考查固定搭配，“make sb. do sth.” 表示 “使某人做某事”，此处用动词原形，考查固定搭配中动词的形式）
through（考查介词，“through” 表示 “通过…… 方式”，此处符合语境，考查介词的用法）
significantly（考查词性转换，此处修饰动词 “slowed”，用副词形式，“significant” 的副词形式是 “significantly”，表示 “显著地”，考查词性转换及副词修饰动词的用法）
between（考查介词，“between...and...” 表示 “在…… 和…… 之间”，考查固定搭配中介词的用法）
battleground（考查名词，“a key battleground” 表示 “一个关键的战场”，根据语境及前面的 “a”，用名词单数形式，考查名词在句中的运用）
essential（考查形容词，“be essential for...” 表示 “对…… 是必不可少的”，此处用形容词原级，考查形容词在固定短语中的用法）
intensifying（考查非谓语动词，“with + 宾语 + 现在分词” 构成 with 复合结构，此处 “competition” 与 “intensify” 是主动关系，用现在分词，考查 with 复合结构中非谓语动词的用法）
acquisition（考查词性转换，“by” 后接名词，“acquire” 的名词形式是 “acquisition”，表示 “获得，获取”，考查词性转换）
vital（考查形容词，“be vital for...” 表示 “对…… 至关重要”，此处用形容词原级，考查形容词在固定短语中的用法）