Whatever your reasons are for buying a used TV, there are a few things that you should keep in mind.
Why is the used TV put up for sale? Does the owner put it up for sale because it broke down? Does he sell it because the picture is not good enough? Or does he do that just because he got bored of it and bought a new one for himself? These are questions that must be answered before you consider buying a used TV. If the owner is selling it because he found a defect (瑕疵) with the TV, even if the defect was mended, you should stay away from such television sets.
The price of a second-hand television set depends on a number of factors, such as the time gap between its buying and selling date, the presence or absence of special features, the model and brand of the TV. For example, a TV that has been used for a year and put up for sale will be more expensive than one which was used for more than five years and put up for sale. Narrow your choices down on the basis of your preferences, and then check if it is worth it.
Once you have decided on the model, brand, and pric
e of the TV, start testing different sets. Getting a clear picture on the screen is a basic necessity, and should not be compromised upon. If you are buying an LCD or an LED TV, check for factors like resolution (分辨率), color, video quality and so on, and make sure you like what you see. Some television sets have screens that develop a picture with spots all over it. It goes without saying that you should steer clear of such television sets.
The audio is as important as the video. Gone are the days when silent movies were popular. It wouldn’t be any fun to watch a basketball match without being able to listen to the loud applause of the audience, or watch a movie without being able to hear the dialogues.
Obviously, there is no point in buying a television set bigger than the wall you intend to hang it on. Also, if the room in which you intend to place the TV is big enough, then buying a television with low-level volumes, a smaller screen, and less clear pictures would kill the purpose of watching television and not let you enjoy it to the fullest. Also, keep in mind the size of your room. A TV with a big screen can be a problem for rooms that are small. Remember, there should be at least 6-10 feet of space between the TV and the spot from where you intend to watch it.
Are you planning on creating a home theater? Or is it going to be hung in the bedroom? Based on all these considerations, narrow your choices down and then decide which television set suits your requirements the best. A TV for the bedroom can have low-level sound, but the one you need for your home theater should have good-quality sound with surround sound effects.
Watching TV should be a treat for your eyes and senses. Don’t let unclear pictures or broken sounds ruin your experience.
1. By asking a series of questions in Paragraph 2, the writer mainly intends to indicate that .
A. the reasons why the seller sells the TV are very important
B. the real value of a second-hand television is questionable
C. a second-hand television is certainly worth purchasing
D. there are many reasons why people buy used televisions
2. What does the underlined part “steer clear of” in Paragraph 4 mean?
A. Keep out of. B. Look down upon.
C. Stay away from. D. Pay attention to.
3. A basketball match is mentioned in Paragraph 5 to tell buyers to pay attention to a second-hand television’s .
A. price B. picture
C. size D. sound
4. The size of a TV you buy depends on .
A. the price of the TV
B. where you want to put it
C. your preference
D. your budget for the TV
5. The purpose of the passage is to .
A. |tell readers how to buy a suitable second-hand television
B. encourage readers to buy second-hand televisions
C. show the writer’s experience in buying used televisions
D. list the reasons why people buy second-hand televisions