When something becomes fashionable very quickly , we say that it’s a “craze”. The latest craze is sometimes a style of clothes or a hairstyle. Sometimes it is a game or a TV programme.
In the 20
th century a lot of crazes started in the USA and then became popular in the USA andthen became popular in other parts of the world. American youth culture has spread through tourism , TV , films, magazines and music videos.
One of the biggest crazes was the hula hoop（呼啦圈）. Hula hoops are not popular now, but in the1950s they were a
sensation. An American company called Wham-O started to make plastic（塑料的）hoops toys, and in the USA the company sold 100 million hoops in a year.
Frisbees（飛盤）were another Wham-O product（產品）. Some people say that the idea
started in the factory of the Frisbee Baking Company in Connecticut. Workers there threw metal pans to each other during their breaks. Two businessmen made a plastic type of the flying pans, and sold their products to Wham-O. They became a big business.
So businesses usually help to produce a craze. Yoyos were another example. In the Philippines, where its name means “comeback”, the yoyo was a popular toy in the 1920s. But it didn’t become a global (世界性的) craze until an American called Donald Duncan bought the idea and sold it to the world. Around 100 million people bought yoyos in 1962 and 1963.
Most crazes come and go, but sometimes they survive. When the big skateboard started in California in 1965, many parents and governments said that the boards were dangerous, and they were not allowed in some areas. But the boards became popular again and they are still an important part of youth culture today.
小題1:What is a “craze” ?
A. A special culture in the western country.
B. Something that is liked by the young.
C. Something that first spreads in the USA.
D. Something that becomes very popular over a short period (時期) of time.
小題2:What does the underlined word “sensation” mean ?
| A．昂貴的物品 |
| B．值得珍藏的物品 |
| C．轟動一時的物品 |
| D．曇花一現的物品 |
小題3:What fact does the passage provide ?
| A．All crazes in the world come and go quickly. |
| B．Skateboards are not allowed in most areas of America. |
| C．In the last century the USA introduced many new crazes. |
| D．Crazes have nothing to do with culture. |
小題4: Which of the following can be chosen as the best title of the passage ?
| A．Something about Crazes |
| B．Wham-O products |
| C．A successful Company |
| D．American Youth Culture |
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