Some say that France has been Americanized. This is because the United States is a world symbol of the technological society and its consumer products. The so-called Americanization of France has its critics. They fear that" assembly line life" will lead to the disappearance of the pleasures of the more graceful and leisurely (but less productive) old French style. What will happen, they ask, to taste, elegance, and the cultivation of the good things in life - to joy in the smell of a freshly picked apple, a stroll by the river, or just happy hours of conversation in a local cafe?
Since the late 1950' s life in France has indeed taken on qualities of rush, tension, and the pursuit of material gain. Some of the strongest critics of the strongest critics of the new way of life are the young, especially university students. They are concerned with the future, and they fear that France is threatened by the triumph of this competitive, goods- oriented culture. Occasionally, they have reacted against the trend with considerable violence.
In spite of the critics, however, countless Frenchmen are committed to keeping France in the forefront of the modem economic world. They find that the present life brings more rewards, conveniences, and pleasures than that of the past. They believe that a modem, industrial France is preferable to the old.
Which of the following is NOT related to the new French way of life?
A. Shorter lunch hour.
B. Greater output.
Creature comforts.
D. Leisurely cafe talk.