Are people suffering form gadget (小器具) overload? Are they exhausted by the consumer equivalent of the brain fatigue — information overload — that is caused by constant updates of devices and online media?

Underwriters Laboratories issued a report last week that found 48% of consumers “feel high-tech manufacturers bring new products to market faster than people need them.”

There are two possible explanations. The first, obvious one is that the pace of innovation (創新) is too fast for consumers. The second, less obvious one is that, innovation is too slow. That is the new offerings companies are pushing out the door every six months or so are me-too products or ones with just a couple of new features. Marketing schedules, not product innovation, are driving the corporate (公司的) train. Manufacturers in American valued “spend to market” more than in other countries, the report found.

Sara Greenstein, Underwriters Laboratories’ chief strategy officer, offered her interpretation of the survey results, “Innovation is too fast only if corners are cut.”

For the high-tech sector, there are a few other interesting finding. Consumers are less concerned about safety in high-tech products than categories like fresh and processed food. But their top safety concerns are emissions and wireless radio waves. Many people, it seems, are uneasy living in a thickening cloud of radio waves from mobile phone towers and the gadgets they communicate with.

A finding that was a bit surprising is that to consumers, the inner parts of high-tech devices do apparently matter. Some 55% of consumers, according to the report, said they are “more” concerned about high-tech components come from than where the product was assembled.”

The report doesn’t really say how that information would affect consumer buying decisions. It could be complicated. Manufacturing companies on average rely on more than 35 contract suppliers around the world to create a single product. That number would be higher for a smartphone or laptop.

But maybe some sort of supply-chain labeling showing where parts come from in a product? “We’re working on it,” Ms. Greenstein said.

62. What is the finding in Underwriters Laboratories’ report about many consumers?

[A] They are exhausted by the information overload.

[B] They are tired of the constant updating of devices.

[C] They feel products are updated faster than needed.

[D] They have difficulty following high-tech innovations.

63. What does the author mean by “me-too products”?

[A] Products with on substantial difference. [B] Products tailored to individual users.

[C] Products everyone is eager to possess. [D] Products companies compete a make.

64. What do American businesses give priority to when marketing their products?

[A] The constant updating of their technology.

[B] The speed of putting them on the market.

[C] The quality of their new products.

[D] The pace of product innovation.

65. What is the consumers’ chief concern about high-tech products?

[A] User-friendliness. [B] Product quality.

[C] Place of assembly. [D] Radio emissions.

66. Why does the author suggest supply-chain labeling?

[A] It guarantees the safe shipping of products.

[B] It promotes the competitiveness of the supplier.

[C] Consumers care about where components are made.

[D] Consumers tend to buy products they are familiar with.

【答案】62-66 CABBC