第26至30題為題組       The spread of COVID-19 has been significantly affecting the cosmetic industry chain.    26    many beauty businesses are struggling to keep sales during the COVID-19 outbreak, online sales of nail care products have shown double-digit growth. Figures from NPD Group, one of the largest market research companies in the world that monitors consumer purchase data,     27    that online UK sales of premium nail products jumped by 12% in the week when the public were asked to stay home. The following week, after non-essential businesses were required to close, saw a further rise.
      The “Lipstick Effect” is a long-standing theory that consumers, when faced with difficult economic conditions, will    28    buying big-ticket items but treat themselves to smaller luxuries such as expensive lipsticks. For example, in 2017, lipstick sales increased as financial    29    grew.
      The increase in online sales of nail products indicates that nail care could be the “Covid-19 Lipstick Effect.” Consumers are increasingly turning to self-care and home-based beauty treatments like at-home manicures to improve wellbeing and    30    their mood. An application of nail polish is quick, simple, and provides an instant result.
【題組】26.
(A) Since
(B) Unless
(C) For
(D) While