Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered...

Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D on your answer sheet to indicate the option that best fits each of the numbered blanks from 26 to 30.

The original purpose of many cultural celebrations, which was to strengthen communal bonds and mark significant life events, now often competes with intense commercial pressures. Such pressure manifests in various forms; it involves the transformation of sacred rituals into retail opportunities, the expectation of extravagant gift-giving, a practice that is heavily promoted by advertisers, or (26) ________, all of which can obscure the original meaning of the event.

Consumers often find themselves caught in a cycle, believing they are upholding cherished traditions, a feeling that provides immense psychological comfort, (27) ________. The phenomenon is not accidental; it is a deliberate strategy designed to link emotional fulfillment directly to consumption, a tactic that proves remarkably effective year after year.

The pressure to participate in this cycle of consumption is often internalized as a social obligation. (28) ________. The holiday season, as a direct consequence, frequently becomes a source of significant financial stress and personal anxiety, a reality that stands in stark contrast to its purported goal of bringing joy and rest.

A counter-movement focused on minimalism and authentic connection is, consequently, gaining momentum. (29) ________. Reclaiming these traditions is a difficult process, one that requires a conscious effort to separate genuine meaning from commercial artifice. The success of such an endeavor is contingent in part (30) ________ that prioritizes personal connection over material wealth, and in part upon a collective will to create new, more meaningful rituals.

(Adapted from The Conversation)

Question 26:

A. the appealing commodification of cultural symbols by the mass-market
B. culturally symbolic commodities that appeal to the mass-market
C. the commodification of cultural symbols for mass-market appeal
D. that cultural symbols are commodified for mass-market appeal