1. merchant /'mɜːtʃ(ə)nt/

n.商人；批发商

e.g. During the 16th century, merchants played a crucial role in the expansion of trade routes between Europe and Asia. These traders not only facilitated the exchange of goods but also contributed to the cultural exchanges between distant regions.

雅思阅读16-3-1：The ancient Romans built large merchant ships and warships whose size and technology were unequalled until the 16th century CE.

补充：facilitate v. 促进;使便利

unequalled adj.无敌的；无与伦比的

其他补充：merchant 因…而出名的人

如:doom merchant /merchant of doom: people who are always saying that bad things are going to happen. 乌鸦嘴

e.g. The economist was labeled a merchant of doom for his constant predictions of financial collapse. 

2. monopoly /mə'nɒp(ə)lɪ/

n. 垄断;专营服务

常见补充：gain /hold / acquire a monopoly on/over …

e.g. The company has acquired a virtual monopoly on the logging industry in this area.

e.g. Historically, monopolies have been seen in industries such as utilities and railways, where the high cost of infrastructure created significant barriers to entry for competitors. 

v. monopolize 垄断；独占

如写作话题讨论monopoly的缺点：

e.g. One of the primary drawbacks of allowing companies to monopolize industries is the impact on consumer prices.

e.g. Small businesses often struggle when larger corporations attempt to monopolize the industry.

3. barter /'bɑːtə/

v. 以物易物；交换货物

常见搭配：barter something for / with something

e.g. He bartered his stamp collection for her comics.

e.g. The farmers decided to barter their surplus crops for livestock from neighboring villages.

e.g. In some cultures, bartering is not just a transaction but a social interaction that builds relationships.

补充：transaction n.交易

livestock n. 牲畜;家畜

adj. 零售的；

retail chain 零售连锁店

雅思听力7-1-2：It actually opened as a retail chain selling camping equipment, and then 20 years ago, it bought a small number of campsites in the UK, and began offering camping holidays.

adv. 以零售方式

e.g. It's much cheaper to buy wholesale than retail.

补充：wholesale adv. 批发