III. Reading Comprehension: Choose the most appropriate answer. (30 points, 2 points each) Passage A: Questions 36-40
        Is it healthy to equate personal happiness with the purchase of consumer goods? Consumerismis the advocacy of shopping and purchasing as a way to human fulfillment and satisfaction, not tomention a driving force in maintaining a healthy economy. Recently, however, many people havebegun to criticize this kind of social and economic order as unfair to most people and detrimental tothe environment. These people have embraced ideas that can be termed "anti-consumerism", whichis the rejection of a society in which buying things is considered the key to happiness.        Anti-consumerists argue that consumerism is harmful to people because corporations becomeextremely wealthy, which allows them to become more powerful than voted in governments thatprotect and maintain their citizens' rights and interests. They also point out that corporations usemoney to gain political influence, which gives them a huge advantage in terms of drafting laws thatare favorable to corporate interests rather than human rights. This may pervert legitimate politicalprocesses and lead to corruption.        Bernard Stiegler, a French philosopher, argues that consumerism destroys social bonds aspeople come to value objects more than they do human relationships. He also argues thatadvertising creates desire and helps to make buying an addiction, which eventually leads to misery.This pattern of consumption and the destruction of human relationships can lead to criminalbehavior, he argues, especially in places where consumer goods are difficult to obtain.        Some anti-consumerists have chosen various ways to reject (or at least reduce theirparticipation in) consumerist activities. One such way is through "simple living", where peopleconsciously attempt to reduce and limit the number of their possessions. They may also choose topurchase only goods that they need for living rather than things they want. Such adherents usuallyforego luxury and indulgence in order to live simply. Another form of rejecting consumerism isthrough careful consumption of goods. This usually means purchasing locally-made products soldin small shops rather than buying brand name goods in chain stores, for instance. Not only does thisform of consumption help to support small companies but it also reduces the amount ofenvironmental damage that occurs from mass manufacturing and the shipping of goods around theworld.        Consumerism has indeed become a dominant way of life for many people in the world,especially since the dawn of mass production and consumption in the 20th century. However, fewpeople would argue that consumer lifestyles have led to greater happiness as shown by statistics incountries where buying things is considered a normal part of everyday life. For example, Japan isconsidered one of the most consumerist societies in the world but it also experiences a shockinglyhigh number of suicides per year (an average of around 30,000 suicides per year). The Philippines,a country where many people live in poverty, has consistently been ranked as one of the happiestcountries in the world, according to several happiness surveys. Does purchasing power meanhappiness? Many would beg to differ.
【題組】36. According to the article, what is anti-consumerism?
(A) a society that equates personal happiness with the purchase of consumer goods
(B) refusing to accept a society where buying things is thought the way to happiness
(C) the acceptance of a society in which buying things is considered the key to happiness
(D) extremely weal thy corporations which make people happy by offering a selection ofgoods