Question

These were no ordinary panelists to the officials of clothing companies, food giants, media dot-coms and others attending the marketing conference. They were American teen-agers, articulating the consumer habits of a group projected to spend a staggering $155 billion this year.

So they applauded the answers of these Chicago-area high school students, laughed at every attempted joke and flooded them with questions for an hour. Where do you buy things? What books do you like? What's your favorite band? Do you prefer TV or the Internet?

What is the central idea of this passage?

Many people are interested in what teen-agers have to say.
Officials from clothing companies and others go to marketing conferences.
Companies want to learn about how teen-agers spend money.
Teen-agers spend billions of dollars a year.

Answer 1

The passage primarily conveys that companies are interested in learning about the spending habits and influences of teenagers, who are a significant consumer group influencing the market with considerable projected spending.

Step-by-step explanation:

The central idea of the passage is that companies are keen to understand the consumer habits of teenagers because they represent a significant economic force. The businesses that attended the marketing conference were aware that American teens—described as 'no ordinary panelists'—have substantial purchasing power and influence over the market, as evidenced by their projected spending of $155 billion. The student panel effectively represents this demographic, prompting the attendees to engage actively, seeking to learn what drives teen spending and preferences. With this knowledge, companies aim to target their marketing strategies effectively.

Answer 2

Market research based on questioning the customers = teenagers