ConcernwithmoneyandthenmoremoneyinordertobuytheconveniencesandluxuriesofmodernlifehasbroughtgreatchangestothelivesofmostFrenchmen.MorepeopleareworkingharderthaneverbeforeinFrance.Inthecitiesthetraditionalleisurelymiddaymealisdisappearing.Officesshopsandfactoriesarediscoveringthegreatefficiencyofashortlunchhourincompanylunchrooms.Inalmostalllinesofworkemphasisnowfallsoneverincreasingoutput.Thusthe“typical”Frenchmanproducesmoreearnsmoreandbuysmoreconsumergoodsthanhiscounterpartofonlyagenerationago.Hegainsincreaturecomfortandeaseoflife.Whathelosestosomeextentishissenseofpersonaluniquenessorindividuality.
SomesaythatFrancehasbeenAmericanized.ThisisbecausetheUnitedStatesisaworldsymbolofthetechnologicalsocietyanditsconsumerproducts.ThesocalledAmericanizationofFrancehasitscritics.Theyfearthat“assemblylinelife”willleadtothedisappearanceofthepleasuresofthemoregracefulandleisurely(butlessproductive)oldFrenchstyle.Whatwillhappentheyasktotasteeleganceandthecultivationofthegoodthingsinlifetojoyinthesmellofafreshlypickedappleastrollbytheriverorjusthappyhoursofconversationinalocalcafé?
Sincethelate1950slifeinFrancehasindeedtakenonqualitiesofrushtensionandthepursuitofmaterialgain.Someofthestrongestcriticsofthenewwayoflifearetheyoungespeciallyuniversitystudents.TheyareconcernedwiththefutureandtheyfearthatFranceisthreatenedbythetriumphofthiscompetitivegoods-orientedculture.Occasionallytheyhavereactedagainstthetrendwithconsiderableviolence.
InspiteofthecriticshowevercountlessFrenchmenarecommittedtokeepingFranceintheforefrontofthemoderneconomicworld.Theyfindthatthepresentlifebringsmorerewardsconveniencesandpleasuresthanthatofthepast.TheybelievethatamodernindustrialFranceispreferabletotheold.
【小题1】WhichofthefollowingisafeatureoftheoldFrenchwayoflife?