Question

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the St. Louis Outlet Mall is expanding its restrictions on unaccompanied teenagers. In 2006, a parental-escort (陪同)policy was established: on Fridays and Saturdays starting at 6 p.m., anyone under 17 that isn’t accompanied by a guardian who is at least 21 years old will be kicked out of the mall. It was around this time that other malls around the U.S. likewise banned unaccompanied teens during certain evening hours.

Starting from this Friday, the St. Louis Outlet Mall is pushing its parental-escort rule back to 3 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Similarly, the Mall of America expanded its parental-escort policy during the recent holiday shopping season. Normally, the policy bans kids under 16 without guardians(監(jiān)護人) from 4 p.m. until closing time just on Fridays and Saturdays. But because of a fight in the mall involving dozens of young people that took place on Dec. 18, 2012---- a weekday, the policy was broadened to include peak 2013 holiday shopping hours, including Thanksgiving Day and all of the Christmas week.

Teen disturbances in other malls may cause more shopping centers to introduce or expand parental-escort policies. The Indianapolis Star noted that two incidents in 2013 in area shopping centers raised the possibility that Indianapolis malls might need to consider banning unaccompanied teenagers.

Obviously, such bans are aimed at stopping violence and other outbursts involving teenagers. More importantly, from a purely business perspective, these bans aim to attract shoppers who might otherwise be hesitant to go to the mall because of concerns about violence and outbursts involving teenagers. The restrictions allow mall security officers to systematically kick out a group of people that are considered to be loud, thuggish and bad for business overall. But they attract much criticism from online communities. Some argue that teens have the right to shop without a guardian. “Not all teens are disrespectful and troublemakers,” Pamela Chapman wrote. “In fact, it’s been my experience that most are good kids.”

Again, the biggest influence on stricter mall policies for teens seems to be that they’re just plain good for business. Malls reported strong sales growth after they first carried out the policies six years ago. “We’ve had some success with the parental-escort policy, and families like shopping out here together,” the manager of the St. Louis Outlet Mall told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch . If there’s one rule in retail, it’s this---- if a small initiative proves successful in boosting sales, then it’s all but guaranteed that a larger initiative will follow.

1.What made malls restrict unaccompanied teenagers?

A. Teenagers’ disturbances.

B. Teenagers’ safety.

C. Limited holiday shopping hours.

D. Teenagers’ potential purchasing power.

2.What might be Pamela Chapman’s attitude towards the parental-escort policy?

A. Unconcerned. B. Skeptical.

C. Opposed. D. Positive.

3.The manager of the St. Louis Outlet Mall seemed to believe the parental-escort policy ______.

A. was temporary B. helped increase sales

C. was unfair to teenagers D. discouraged some families

4.What is the passage mainly about?

A. Violent incidents happening in St. Louis.

B. Malls’ bans on unaccompanied teens.

C. Security measures at American malls.

D. Parents’ duty to protect teenagers.

Answer 1