阅读理解。
Advertisers tend to think big and perhaps this is why they're always coming in for criticism (批评). Their
critics (批评家) seem to hate them because they think this entirely unproductive industry should absorb
millions of pounds each year. Why don't they stop advertising and reduce the price of their goods?
The poor consumer (消费者)! He'd have to pay a great deal more if advertising didn't create mass markets
for products. It is precisely because of the heavy advertising that consumer goods are so cheap. But we get
the wrong idea if we think the only purpose of advertising is to sell goods. Another equally important function
is to inform. A great deal of the knowledge we have about household goods comes largely from the
advertisements we read. Advertisements introduce us to new products or remind us of the existence of ones
we already know about.
Lots of people pretend that they never read advertisements, but this claim (说法) may be seriously doubted.
It is hardly possible not to read advertisements these days. And what fun they often are, too! Just think what a
railway station or a newspaper would be like without advertisements. Would you enjoy gazing at a blank wall or
reading railway bylaws while waiting for a train? Would you like to read only closely printed columns of news
in your daily paper?
We must not forget, either, that advertising makes a positive contribution to our pockets. Newspapers,
commercial radio and television companies could not exist without this source of revenue (税收). The fact
that we pay so little for our daily paper, or can enjoy so many broadcast programmes is due entirely to the money
spent by advertisers. Just think what a newspaper would cost if we had to pay its full price!
1. What is the main idea of this passage?
A. The Advertising industry is an entirely unproductive industry.
B. Advertisements keep the consumers fully informed of the goods.
C. Advertisers perform a useful service to the public.
D. Advertisements make the goods more expensive.
2. The attitude of the author toward advertisers is ______.
A. appreciative.
B. optimistic.
C. negative.
D. dissatisfactory
3. Why do the critics criticize (批评) advertisers?
A. Because critics think advertisers make a lot of profit.
B. Because advertisement is a"waste of money".
C. Because customers are encouraged to buy more than necessary.
D. Because advertisements often misunderstand consumers.
4. Which of the following is Not True?
A. Advertisements can beautify the surroundings.
B. We can buy what we want thanks to advertisements.
C. Good quality products don't need to be advertised.
D. In terms of money, we benefit a lot from the advertisements.
