阅读理解。
Until recently, women in advertisements wore one of three things-an apron, an attractive dress or a frown.
Although that is now changing, many women still feel angry about offending advertisements. "This ad degrades
women." they protested (抗议). Why does this sort of advertising exist? How can advertisers and ad agencies
still produce, sometimes, after months of research, advertising that offends the consumer?
The ASA, the body which deals with complaints about print media, is carrying out research into how women
feel about the way they are pictured in advertisements. Its conclusions are likely 10 be what the advertising
industry already knows: although women are often annoyed by the ads, few feel strongly enough to complain.
Women are not the only victims of poor and boring stereotypes (老套)-in many TV commercials men are
seen either as useless, childish fools who are unable to perform the simplest household tasks, or as inconsiderate
fellows, always on the lookout for an escape to the pub. But it is women who seem to suffer more from the
industry's inability to put people into an authentic present-day situation. Yet according to Emma Bennett, director
of a London advertising agency, women are not aggressive or extremely angry about those stereotypes and
sexist (歧视妇女的) advertising. "They just find it annoying or tiresome."
She says that it is not advertising's use of the housewife role that bothers women, but the way in which it is
handled. "The most important thing is the advertisement's tone of voice. Women hate being insincerely praised
or given desperately down-to-earth common-sense advice."
In the end, the responsibility for good advertising must be shared between the advertiser, the advertising
agency and the consumer. Advertising does not set trends but it reflects them. It is up to the consumer to tell
advertisers where they fail, and the process of change will remain slow until people on the receiving end take
the business seriously and make their feelings known.
1. Despite recent changes in attitudes, some advertisements still fail to _____.
A. change women's opinions of themselves
B. show any understanding of consumers' feelings
C. persuade the public to buy certain products
D. meet the needs of the advertising industry
2. According to the writer, the commonest fault of present-day advertising is to _____.
A. condemn the role of tile housewife
B. ignore protests about advertisements
C. present a misleading image of women
D. picture the activities of men wrongly
3. Emma Bennett suggests that advertisement ought to _____.
A. give further emphasis to practical advice
B. change their style rather than their content
C. use male images instead of female ones
D. sing higher praise for women than before
4. We can learn from the passage that advertising industry should _____.
A. take its job more eagerly
B. do more pioneering work
C. take notice of the public opinion
D. concentrate on the products advertised