Those of us who shop online may look over customer reviews to get a better sense of products we can’t judge for ourselves at a physical store. We may check out online recommendations before booking a haircut or visiting a new restaurant. But what happens if some of those reviews can’t be trusted?

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced that it was suggesting new measures to crack down on (严厉打击) fake (虚假的) reviews and other practices used to mislead consumers. The commission published a suggested rule that would prohibit companies from writing or selling fake reviews, buying positive reviews, silencing negative reviews and more.

“Our suggested rule on fake reviews shows that we’re using all possible means to attack misleading advertising in the digital age,” Samuel Levine, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a statement.

Research shows most people heavily rely on online reviews, but humans are also bad at telling which consumer reviews hold water and which are nonsense.

That’s potentially worrisome given that nearly one in every three reviews is fake, according to one study.

In arguing for the suggested rule, the FTC cited what action it had taken against companies that controlled reviews of their products.

In 2022, for example, the commission forced the online retailer Fashion Nova, LLC to pay $4.2 million to settle allegations (指控) that it prevented negative reviews from being posted on its website – the first FTC action involving a company’s effort to hide negative reviews. For its part, Fashion Nova said in a statement to The New York Times that the FTC’s allegations were “inaccurate” and that it only settled the charges to avoid “the distraction (分心) and legal fees”.

Comments on the suggested rule have to be received within 60 days of its publication in the Federal Register, after which the FTC will decide whether to issue a revised final version.

【小题1】What is the main purpose of the FTC’s suggested rule?

A．To improve the quality of products and services.

B．To ensure true reviews are presented to customers.

C．To ban negative reviews from online platforms.

D．To protect the interests of physical stores.

【小题2】What does the underlined phrase “hold water” in paragraph 4 most probably mean?

A．Be trustworthy.	B．Be one-sided.
C．Be official.	D．Be misleading.

【小题3】Why was Fashion Nova forced to pay $4.2 million in a settlement in 2022?

A．To remove negative reviews of its products.

B．To post customer reviews on its website.

C．To resolve its allegations of dishonest advertising.

D．To prevent it from facing further criticism and legal fees.

【小题4】What can be inferred about the suggested rule?

A．It is well-received.

B．It is still under review.

C．It has proven to be effective.

D．It has faced disagreement.