2. 外语
  3. Read carefully the following two excerpts on consumption, and then write your response in NO LESS THAN 300 WORDS, in which you s

Read carefully the following two excerpts on consumption, and then write your response in NO LESS THAN 300 WORDS, in which you s

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问题    Read carefully the following two excerpts on consumption, and then write your response in NO LESS THAN 300 WORDS, in which you should:
   1. summarize the main message of the two excerpts, and then
   2. comment on the role of consumption in human society, especially on whether consumption may lead to desirable or undesirable results.
   You can support yourself with information from the excerpts.
   Marks will be awarded for content relevance, content sufficiency, organization and language quality.
   Failure to follow the above instructions may result in a loss of marks.
   Write your response on ANSWER SHEET FOUR.
   Excerpt 1
                     Consequences of consumerism
   In Human Development Report 1998 Overview by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) , " World consumption has expanded at an unprecedented pace over the 20th century, with private and public consumption expenditures reaching $24 trillion in 1998, twice the level of 1975 and six times that of 1950. In 1900 real consumption expenditure was barely $1.5 trillion. "
   In September 2001, the BBC aired a documentary called " Shopology," where psychologists looked into the psychology of shopping and consumerism in countries like Britain, USA and Japan and asked if it was healthy for consumers. Of the many points they raised, they observed that:
   - Consumption now helps to define who we are:
   - We essentially "buy" a lifestyle:
   - Consumerism can increase stress for various reasons:
   - To deal with social and consumerism pressures and their effects, people may on occasion consume even more to feel better:
   - Rising consumer debt puts pressure on families.
   Two years later, the BBC aired another documentary called " Spend, Spend, Spend. " It looked at the issues of whether or not the increased wealth and consumerism had led to more content and satisfied individuals. The documentary observed that research evidence seemed to suggest that increased wealth did not necessarily lead to more satisfaction in Britain. When interviewed in the program, Professor Andrew Oswald of Warwick University said that the key reason for this was because as we get wealthier there is often a tendency to compare more with others, which contributes to more anxiety. The "keeping up with the Joneses" syndrome. The implications of this are profound. As Oswald suggested, it is "hard to make society happier as they get richer and richer because human beings look constantly over their shoulders. That’s the curse of human beings: making comparisons. "
   Excerpt 2
                  Consumption as a path to cultivation
   Consumption, for George Simmel, German sociologist and philosopher, lies at the heart of the process through which people become cultivated, that is, grow to become participating, reflective members of society. This is because consumption provides an excellent site for the interaction between subject and object, which Simmel believed to be the key to cultivation. Subjectivity, the uniquely human capacity for self-reflection , which allows for the self-conscious construction of action and identity, is not naturally endowed: it only develops through the creative tension provided by interaction with objects (including people) existing in the world. For Simmel, consumption provides a vital forum for this subject-object interaction. Through consumption, people come to understand, instill meaning in, and act upon objects encountered in the world. Consumption provides people with the opportunity to refine themselves through interaction with objects in the world. In addition, by confronting, adapting, and integrating various world-views directly or indirectly demonstrated in consumption objects, people not only realize their potential as unique human beings, they also become well-socialized members of a society.
选项
答案 On the Role of Consumption in Human Society There is no denying that we’re living in a world consumed with consumption. Some people, such as George Simmel, German sociologist and philosopher, believe that consumption provides an excellent forum for interaction between subject and object, thus pushing people to refine themselves through the interaction and to become well-socialized members of our society. But others point out that the rise of consumerism has had a detrimental impact on the whole society. It may result in the "keeping up with the Joneses" syndrome and bring continuous mental agony to people. It is admitted that to some extent, consumption is indeed a good way to promote personal and economic development, because consumers must work hard to afford their own expenditure. In the meantime, the growing demand leads to greater production and more employment, which will stimulate economic growth. However, as for me, the downside of consumerism is more dominant. Above all, consumerism destroys the peace of mind. Many people buy things on impulse, without considering their genuine needs, just to satisfy their shopping desires. A great number of well-off people flaunt their wealth by indulging in consumption, and quite a few middle-income people would rather be in debt in order to go with the tide. Secondly, people are engaged in an unceasing struggle to make money to pay for their high-consumption lifestyle so that they have little time to spend with their family and friends. This would ultimately lead to the loss of happiness and love. Thirdly, we can’t ignore the fact that unrestrained consumption has dreadful effects on the environment. There are a series of interrelated consequences such as the depletion of natural resources, pollution, etc. To conclude, high consumption may result in a shift in values from community, spirituality and integrity to competition, materialism and disconnection. Hence, it is a matter of reflection for everyone to figure out what constitutes our genuine needs and learn to be moderate in consumption.
解析    本题讨论的是消费对人类社会产生的影响。选段1提到BBC的两部纪录片指出购物和消费会对消费者产生各种不良的影响；选段2则引用德国社会学家和哲学家George Simmel的观点，认为消费为主体和客体(人和社会)之间的互动提供了一个很好的平台，促使人们通过互动来不断地完善自己，这对于人类的发展至关重要。本题的写作重点在于首先概括所给材料中的观点；然后就这一话题提出自己的观点并给予足够的论据支撑；最后总结全文，重申论点。
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