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2017 מועד דצמבר - 49 - פרק שנ י- אנגלית
Text II (Questions 18-22)
(1) "They don't make things like they used to!" This comment is often made by people
who remember a time when many products lasted a lifetime. Indeed, it was once the
norm that household appliances, clothing, and other items remained in good condition
for decades.
(5) Today, unfortunately, most manufacturers follow a policy of planned obsolescence.
In order to keep customers coming back, they deliberately produce toys that break
easily, home appliances that cannot be repaired, and light fixtures that are sealed so that
burnt-out light bulbs cannot be changed. They discontinue replacement parts after just a
few years and update computer software so that older versions can no longer be used.
(10) Manufacturers also promote obsolescence indirectly by means of manipulative
advertising. By aggressively marketing new clothing styles, models of cars, and
electronics with innovative but unnecessary features, manufacturers induce in
consumers a perceived need to acquire items they already own.
To a large degree, Western society has become a throw-away culture. As a result,
(15) people waste time and money and may become caught up in a constant, restless pursuit
of new things. The environment suffers, too: more trash goes into dump sites and more
pollution is created by the production and transport of goods.
However, a countermovement is growing. More and more people favor vintage
goods – second-hand items that have stood the test of time. Some websites offer high-
(20) quality merchandise with long-term guarantees, and others provide instructions for
repairing appliances. Such initiatives may eventually succeed in rendering planned
obsolescence obsolete.
Questions
18. Which of the following might be said by a manufacturer who follows a policy of
planned obsolescence?
(1) "If cars last for twenty years, people will not need to buy new ones."
(2) "We can make more money selling replacement parts than new products."
(3) "People will not buy household appliances that constantly need repairs."
(4) "If we produce high-quality toys, customers will keep coming back."
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