1 . Those of us who shop online may scan customer reviews to get a better sense of products we can't judge for ourselves at a physical store. We may check out online testimonials before booking a haircut or visiting a new restaurant. But what happens if some of those reviews can't be trusted?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced that it was proposing new measures to crack down on fake reviews and other practices used to mislead consumers. The commission published a proposed rule that would prohibit companies from writing or selling fake reviews, buying positive reviews, suppressing negative reviews and more.
“Our proposed rule on fake reviews shows that we're using all available means to attack deceptive advertising in the digital age,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement.
Research shows people overwhelmingly consult online reviews, but humans are also bad at telling which consumer reviews hold water and which are nonsense.
That's potentially worrisome given that nearly one in every three reviews is fake, according to one estimate.
In arguing for the proposal, the FTC cited enforcement actions it had taken against companies that manipulated reviews of their products.In 2022, for example, the commission forced the online retailer Fashion Nova to pay $4.2 million to settle allegations (指控) that it blocked negative reviews from being posted on its website — the first FTC action involving a company's effort to hide negative reviews. For its part, Fashion Nova said in a statement to The New York Times that the FTC's allegations were “inaccurate” and that it only settled the charges to avoid “the distraction and legal fees”.
Comments on the proposed rule have to be received within 60 days of its publication in the Federal Register, after which the FTC will decide whether to issue a revised final version.
1. What is the main purpose of the FTC's proposed rule?| A．To improve the quality of products and services. |
| B．To protect the interests of physical stores. |
| C．To ban negative reviews from online platforms. |
| D．To ensure true reviews are presented to customers. |
| A．Be credible. | B．Be prejudiced. | C．Be official. | D．Be misleading. |
| A．To delete negative reviews of its products. |
| B．To post customer reviews on its website. |
| C．To resolve allegations of deceptive advertising. |
| D．To prevent it from facing further criticism and legal fees. |
| A．It is well-received. | B．It is still under review. |
| C．It has proven to be effective. | D．It has encountered opposition. |
Okay. I’ll admit it. I can be a complainer. After all, there’s so much in my life that annoys me: my school work, my brother’s dirty shoes, the neighbor’s loud music, rainy days, traffic jams…
Complaining is what I have developed since childhood. My family doesn’t seem to mind. Mom always tries to excuse my behavior as something that I would outgrow, but I do remember some eye-rolling and long-drawn sighs from friends and families when I would voice my negative opinions. In fact, I can clearly recall the exact moment when I first realized my complaining habit deeply hurt people around.
I had a generally pleasant high school life with my usually mild-mannered deskmate Lucy in Senior 2. Sure, there was still plenty to complain about, but she never seemed to mind. Or so I thought. Then, on a hot summer afternoon, we sat in our classroom - no wind, no air conditioning, the sweat messing my hair. Impatiently, I whispered something about the situation under my breath. Probably for the tenth time. Also, I reminded her once again to remove her arms from my table and take her books away, she put up her hand, turned to me and shouted, “Stop! Stop your complaining. It’s driving me crazy.” Her eyes widened. Turning away, she didn’t speak to me for the rest of the day.
Perhaps I’d gone too far, I thought. Maybe I really did complain too much. I took a breath and sat down to think about solutions. I could hide myself in the washing room and scream. No. Other students would probably hear me. Turn to teachers or my family? They probably wouldn’t mind as well. Then it hit me.
I’d been in the habit of keeping a journal. Journaling kept me sort of honest with myself, and I liked it for that reason. Perhaps, I thought, a complaint journal might be the answer I was seeking.
注意:
1. 续写词数应为150 左右；
2. 请在答题卡的相应位置作答。
That night, I sat down in front my desk and gave it a try.
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I made up my mind to apologize to Lucy the next day.
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