单选题
The American need to own things is partly the result
of mass advertising,{{U}} {{U}} 1 {{/U}} {{/U}}urges consumers
to discard last year' s car or clothing in{{U}} {{U}} 2
{{/U}} {{/U}}of the current models with the latest designs. Some people
are{{U}} {{U}} 3 {{/U}} {{/U}}that they must"{{U}} {{U}}
4 {{/U}} {{/U}}the Jones," that they must have whatever their neighbors
have. The old car or the old stereo set{{U}} {{U}} 5 {{/U}}
{{/U}}work perfectly, but a newer and bigger one might{{U}} {{U}} 6
{{/U}} {{/U}}the family' s esteem in the community. Possessions
become{{U}} {{U}} 7 {{/U}} {{/U}}of financial success;
they elevate{{U}} {{U}} 8 {{/U}} {{/U}}social status.
Advertisers also{{U}} {{U}} 9 {{/U}} {{/U}}to the
American desire to look youthful and be physically attractive. Commercials
attempt to sell many products—shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant
and soap, for example—{{U}} {{U}} 10 {{/U}}
{{/U}}implying that their particular{{U}} {{U}} 11 {{/U}}
{{/U}}will help its user be more appealing. But Americans also
make many{{U}} {{U}} 12 {{/U}} {{/U}}for practical reasons. They
buy{{U}} {{U}} 13 {{/U}} {{/U}}devices to do routine household
chores more quickly and easily. Every housewife wants a vacuum cleaner, an
electric mixer, a steam iron, an automatic clothes washer and dryer, and a
dishwasher.{{U}} {{U}} 14 {{/U}} {{/U}}every home-owning husband
would like a power lawn mower, as now -blower, and an electric drill.
Americans also buy things{{U}} {{U}} 15 {{/U}} {{/U}}they
like to do things. Equipment{{U}} {{U}} 16 {{/U}}
{{/U}}hobbies and books about "do-it-yourself' projects are very popular.
Americans want to know how to cook with a "continental" flair while
refinishing the bedroom furniture and{{U}} {{U}} 17 {{/U}}
{{/U}}a million dollars in the stock market. The American{{U}} {{U}}
18 {{/U}} {{/U}}of activity is part of a generally{{U}} {{U}}
19 {{/U}} {{/U}}outlook on life, a belief that the value of
knowledge is{{U}} {{U}} 20 {{/U}} {{/U}}to its
usefulness.