【已刪除】Passage 3
Our current phase of overconsumption began about 30 years ago, when Americans began committing close to half of their
annual expenditures to nonnecessities. It was the beginning of a gradual decline in the cost of consumer goods, the growth of
everyday credit-card use and the rise of big-box stores and discount retailers that pushed their way into communities nationwide,
forcing down prices and profits for those competing around them.
In the past decade, the cost of cell phones, toys, computers and televisions has plunged, thanks in part to overseas
manufacturing. The rise of “fast fashion”—popularized by the growth of clothing outlets like Gap, Forever 21 and American
Eagle selling $10 T-shirts and $30 jeans—is now driven by low-cost imports H&M and Uniqlo. Today the average U.S. household
has about 248 pieces of clothing and 29 pairs of shoes. It purchases, on average, 64 garments and seven pairs of shoes annually, at
a total cost of $1,141 a year, or $16 per item.
【題組】46. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT the reason for Americans’ overconsumption?
(A) Americans frequently use credit-cards for everyday shopping.
(B) The price of consumer goods has been going down.
(C) More and more discount retailers set up in communities.
(D) All clothing outlets are selling low-cost garments.