Question 8 is based on the conversation you have just heard.

W: I’ve worked in international trade all my life. My father did so too before me. So I guess you could say it runs in the family.

M: What products have you worked with?

W: All sorts, really. I’ve imported textiles, machinery, toys, solar panels, all kinds of things over the years. Trends and demand come and go. (5) [So, one needs to be very flexible to succeed in this industry.]

M: I see. What goods are you trading now?

W: I now import furniture from China into Italy and foods from Italy into China. (6) [I even use the same container. It’s a very efficient way of conducting trade.]

M: The same container? You mean you own a 40-foot cargo container?

W: Yeah, that’s right. (7)[ I have a warehouse in Genoa, Italy, and another in Shanghai.] I source mid-century modern furniture from different factories in China. It’s very good value for money. I collect it all in my warehouse and then dispatch it to my other warehouse in Italy. Over there I do the same, but with Italian foods instead of furniture, things like pasta, cheese, wine, chocolates. And I send all that to my warehouse in China in the same freight container I use for the furniture.

M: So, I presume you sell both lines of products wholesale in each respective country.

W: Of course. I possess a network of clients and partners in both countries. That’s the main benefit of having done this for so long. I’ve made great business contacts over time.

M: How many times do you ship?

W: I did 12 shipments last year, 18 this year, and I hope to grow to around 25 next year. That’s both ways, there and back again. Demand for authentic Italian food in China is growing rapidly. And similarly, sales of affordable yet stylish wooden furniture are also increasing in Italy. (8)[ Furniture is marginally more profitable, mostly because it enjoys lower customs duties. ]

8. What does the woman say makes furniture marginally more profitable? （女士说是什么使得家具贸易的利润稍微高一点？）

解析：C。录音最后女士提到，家具的利润稍微高点，主要是因为它的关税比较低，C项的Lower import duties是录音中lower customs duties的同义替换，因此选C。

错项排除：录音中说到，造型时尚的木质家具的销量在增加，但并未说这使得家具利润更高，A、B两项利用这一内容设置干扰，故均可排除。D项利用录音中出现的lower和ship进行细节拼凑，但录音中并没有提到运输成本，故排除。