The US government has started a website, Admongo, to
help children think critically about the advertising aimed at them. It claims
to provide visitors with an “education” through games and other entertainment.
A cartoon man dressed in old time pilot clothing
greets visitors to Admongo. "Call me Haiz", he says upon arrival in a
rocket ship that opens up with a crazy world inside it. Spacey dance music
plays in the background as Haiz tells visitors that they need to learn about
advertising.
Its inventors say eight to twelve years old is the age
kids develop their critical thinking abilities. Kids of that age are also a big
market for advertisers.
The idea behind Admongo is to teach children three
things: To identify the advertiser. To know what the advertiser is really
saying. And to know what the advertisement is trying to get the child to do.
Children learn these things through a video game. They
create their own game character. They can choose different skin colors, hair
styles, eye and mouth shapes. Then they begin a trip through ad-land, where
there are ads on buses and billboards. The players have to find all the
marketing in the neighborhood before they can move on to the next level.
The Admongo game takes players inside a home, to the
advertising studio and everywhere else ads can be found. It is a complete
exploration of the world of marketing.
One such area is food marketing. The Federal Trade
Comission (FTC) says it is a big business. The FTC estimates that food, drink
and fast-food restaurants spent more than one and a half billion dollars on
advertising to young people in 2010.
The FTC says children are important for three reasons.
They buy products. They influence parents and caregivers to buy. And they are
the future adult buyers of the products.
A recent study says most advertising aimed at children
is for foods of the lowest nutritional value. First Lady Michelle Obama has
said she would like to see advertisers marketing healthy foods for children.
1.The best title of the text may be ________.
A.The guide of
Admongo B.An education
website for children
C.A popular
online video game D.An
advertising website
2.The government started the website to _________.
A.attract the
biggest market of buyers.
B.sell the
products of its company.
C.help children
know about advertising.
D.advertise the
video game for children.
3. Players in the website game can_________.
A.choose hair
styles for their character. B.travel to a
supermarket.
C.eat in a
fast-food restaurant. D.play video
games during the trip.
4.According to Michelle Obama, lots of food advertised
for children are _____.
A.healthy B.of high
nutrition C.yummy D.of low
quality