Test Your Personal Best

Test 5

Student’s name:_________________________________________
Reading
Read the following article on shopping. For questions 1 – 6, decide which option A, B, C or D best
answers each question.

Keep calm and go on shopping!

C redit or debit, you name it.

No matter how, people
love buying and shops
make sure you have an easy way
to do so without much fuss going
around it. According to a 2012
study, there are 883.5 million
Visa cards in circulation
worldwide and a similar figure of
721.4 of Master cards, and this is
only for credit cards. The number
of debit cards in the US has just
risen from 8.3 billion in 2000 to
47 billion. Yet, there is no
evidence of this changing
anytime soon, or is there?
flowers. All 2015 figures report that more than $500
Major selling events worldwide keep fostering our million dollars are simply spent on chocolate for
consumerist society. Following Thanksgiving in the White Day.
US, Black Friday is perhaps one of the wildest sales
days ever. People insanely queuing in shops all night Right after Christmas, Britons celebrate Boxing Day
long are common sights in American streets the spending an estimate of £7,28 million a minute
night before Black Friday. But scariest of all are the according to a 2016 report. Bargain hunters would
hordes as soon as shops doors are opened. Based queue up outside shopping centres willing to shop
on 2016 statistics, an average shopper spends till they drop. With its origins as a secular holiday,
almost $1000 dollars on Black Friday and the Boxing day is a bank holiday for England, Wales and
country gross sale raises up to $655 billion dollars Northern Ireland since 1871. This commercial
just on one day sales nation-wide. celebration has ever since then spread to other
countries which were originally part of the British
If you are familiar with Japanese traditions, you may Empire such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
have possibly heard of Barentain Dei, or Valentine’s Funny thing is that stores just limit the number of
Day. This is a time when a Japanese woman goods at very low prices which generally leads to
presents her beloved boyfriend or husband with customers not finding what they really look for or
chocolates, gifts and dinner all prepared by her. This simply buying goods at prices with insignificant
consumerist tradition had its origins in the late 50’s discounts.
and today it represents about $500 million dollars
of the annual sales for the Chocolate & Cocoa Should these figures about massive spending
Association of Japan. Add to this the millions in sales worldwide on certain days surprise us? Probably
for gifts. But this is not just it. A month later, not, if we consider latest statistics! According to a
Japanese celebrate White Day when men are 2013 World Bank report the number of people living
supposed to return the favour of love to their under $1.25 dollars a day has decreased
girlfriends or wives. This tradition is only about 30 dramatically in the last three decades. However,
years old and was created by Japanese there are still 1.2 billion people living in extreme
confectionary companies. Ever since its creation, it poverty; but isn’t our wasteful spending just a mere
has boosted marshmallow sales but most reflection of the vain consumerist personality we
importantly white chocolate, jewellery, lingerie and have been indulged to develop over the past years?
1. From the first paragraph, we can infer that
a. Master is more popular than Visa.
b. people are using credit cards more than in the past.
c. there are multiple options for people to spend their money.
d. buying habits won’t change in the future.

2. What does the underlined word “hordes” in paragraph 2 mean?

a. Avalanches
b. Multitudes
c. Massive sales
d. Shouting

3. What does the underlined “it” in paragraph 3 refer to?

a. The White Day Tradition.
b. The White Day creation.
c. The increase in sales.
d. The amount of money spent.

4. According to the text, why do people queue up the night before Boxing Day?
a. To enter the shop faster.
b. To buy the only few products with discounts.
c. Because of the long-lasting tradition.
d. To buy until exhaustion.

5. The author wrote the article to

a. inform about celebrations in the world.
b. show how credit cards have eased shopping.
c. advise on consumeristic habits.
d. promote reflection on people’s spending habits.
Language

Part 1

Complete the sentences with the word which best fits each gap. Use only one word in each space.
There is an example.

Example: Can I speak to you face to face about this issue?

1. Tamara won’t pay you back _____ she cashes her pay check.

2. _____ I get another job, I will have to find a flatmate to pay the rent.

3. Parker just bought the motorbike because it was good _____ for the money.

4. I can’t stand having many $1 _____ in my wallet.

5. Jo is saving _____ to buy a new apartment in 2 years’ time.

Part 2

Read the sentences below and decide which answer (a, b or c) best fits each gap. There is an
example.

Example: Chris C his work laptop home.

a. rarely carry b. is rarely carrying c. rarely carries

1. Jess had no choice but to _____ some money from Tom to pay her debts.

a. lend b. borrow c. ask

2. Sam has a £400000 _____ on her house,

a. mortgage b. loan c. credit

3. I’m out of cash, do you have some _____ to tip the waiter?

a. credit cards b. savings c. notes

4. Darragh ought to pay _____ the money he asked for or he’ll be in trouble.

a. out b. back c. for

5. I really wish I were as _____ as Fiona!

a. broke b. in debt c. wealthy

Part 3

Use the word given in capitals to form a new word that fits in the gap. There is an example.

Example: Derek has improved his communication skills. COMMUNICATE

1. Donna is looking for __________ in town. ACCOMMODATE

2. Luke has spent all his __________ on the wedding ring. SAVE

3. The shop is closed at the__________. WEEK

4. Even the __________ people might be unhappy at times. WEALTH

5. I can be a shopaholic when __________ are significant. COUNT

Part 4

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, including the
word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the
word given. There is an example.

Example: How does Mel do to reply so many posts each day?

DOES
Do you know how Mel does to reply so many posts each day?

1. Dick will only be able to phone you when he gets home.

CALL
You will not ____________________________________ he gets home.

2. There’s a possibility that Sheila visits us immediately after her conference finishes tomorrow.
VISIT
Shelia ___________________________________ as her conference finishes early tomorrow.

3. Plants need water and sunlight in order to grow.

NOT
Plants ___________________________________ get water and sunlight.

4. It’s in Jeff’s plans to drop by next Friday.

TO
Jeff ___________________________________ tomorrow.

5. Hurry up or there’s a big chance for all iPhone X to be gone by the time you arrive at the shop.
BE
All iPhone X ________________________________ you arrive at the shop if you don’t hurry.
Listening
You are going to listen to a radio programme interviewing shoppers in London. For questions 1-6, fill in
the gaps with a word or short phrase. (0) has been done for you as an example.

0. Prices are believed to be cheaper at the average British high-street.

1. Amelia prefers shopping in big chain stores because of ___________ and______________.

2. She has just bought a pair of ______________ and a top.

3. She’ll wear them at a ________________

4. Ethan buys expensive _____________ in large department stores.

5. Lily defines herself as a __________________

6. She saved more than 300 pounds in the __________ she bought.

Writing

Your English friend sent you an email. Write back answering her questions.

[email protected]

Going there!

So, is Mother’s Day a big thing in your country too? When do

people spend the most in your country? What’s the most
celebrated tradition there? Tell me all about it!
Cheers,
Ash

Write your email in 120-160 words