Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the correct answer to each of the questions from 44 to 50.
TV. The Internet. The mall. Everywhere we look, we see advertisements that urge us to buy, buy, buy. In today’s consumer society, we are under constant pressure to shop. Of course, most people only buy what they need and what they can afford. However, there are some people, called shopaholics, who cannot control their desire to spend money and buy things. This kind of addictive behavior can lead to overwhelming financial problems, family conflict, and deep unhappiness.
What are the symptoms of a shopaholic? People with this problem often spend hours and hours shopping on the Internet or the mall. Their closets are full of clothing and jewelry they have never worn, with the price tags still on them. Their home may be packed with shopping bags and boxes that overflow with things that they bought but never used: kitchen gadgets, books, electronics, DVDs, and dozens of other items. Many shopaholics are aware of this problem, but when they go to a store, they simply cannot resist the urge to buy. Some of them are ashamed of their weakness and try to hide it by storing their purchases in places like the attic, where others won’t see them.
Psychologists suggest there are several reasons for a shopping addiction. For some people, it is a way of relieving stress. For others, shopping is a way to fight loneliness or depression. For people with low self-esteem, shopping can be a way that they prove their self-worth. Sometimes the problem develops out of boredom. It becomes a replacement for other hobbies and interests and it helps pass the time. Although shopping can temporarily make people feel good, they often experience feelings of shame and guilt later.
When shopping habits get out of control, people need professional help. They can either see a counselor or join an organization such as Shopaholics Anonymous. Groups like this try to help people understand the reasons for their addiction and learn how to control the urge to shop. Their goal is to help people find ways to fulfill themselves that don’t lead to serious debt and troubled lives.
(Adapted from Strategic Reading 1 2nd Edition by Jack C. Richards and Samuela Eckstut- Didier)
