Use of English

Advertising Effects

Advertising is so common in modern life that many people hardly notice it, yet its effects can be surprisingly powerful. Companies spend huge sums trying to persuade us to buy products we may not even need. Some adverts aim to create a strong emotional response, so that consumers begin to (0) ASSOCIATE a product with success, beauty or happiness. One of the main reasons advertising is effective is that it can (1) .......... our attention very quickly. Bright colours, memorable slogans and repeated messages all help a brand stay in our minds. Over time, this can (2) .......... to changes in the way people think and behave. For example, people may start to judge certain products by image rather than quality. Advertising can also have a social (3) .........., especially on young people, who are often more influenced by trends. If a product is presented as fashionable, teenagers may feel under (4) .......... to own it. In addition, online advertising is now designed to (5) .......... to personal interests, which makes it even harder to ignore. Although advertising can provide useful information, consumers should still be aware (6) .......... its influence. It is easy to be taken (7) .......... by clever marketing, unless we stop and think carefully. In the end, the best defence is to make informed choices rather than act (8) .......... impulse.