Advertisers often use special words or phrases. These words or phrases are often misleading. These words are called "weasel words". Advertisers are free to use them as long as they stick to the rules. The government decides what these rules are. Examples of weasel words are "helps", "virtual", "new and improved", and "like".
"Helps " People often think "help" means stop. Advertisers use it so that they can say things that aren't necessarily true. Legally, help means to aid or assist. For example, a product can "help" cure indigestion. In fact, the product doesn't cure indigestion. Can you think of some ads that use "help"?
"Virtually" To advisers, "virtually" means "not really" or "not in fact". If you see an ad that says this cold medicine relieves virtually all symptoms, the ad could really mean it doesn't relieve any symptoms. Can you think of some ads that use "virtually"?
"New and Improved" A product can only be considered new for six months. Any small change in a product will make it new. Often, this change does not make a product better. Yet, the change often makes it more expensive. New is often used with "improved". Can you think of some "Like" can mean "not in fact". Some products claim they work "like magic". Like often takes the audience's attention off the product. Think of "like magic." If things are like magic, they are not magic. Can you think of some ads that use "like" or "like magic"?
25. Advertisers are fond of using "weasel words" .
A. so that they might mislead consumers B. so that they are able to show their wisdom
C. because the government allows them to D. because they have the freedom of speech
26. By using the word "help", advertisers intend to .
A. mean what they say B. show they are honest
C. tell the consumer the truth D. trick consumers into trusting their products
27. The author seems to believe that an "improved" product is often .
A. better B. newer C. dearer D. less expensive
答案 25. A 26. D 27. C
