IELTS FOUNDATION 2

UNIT 5
CONSUMERISM
A. VOCABULARY
Exercise 1. Look at the words in the table. Which words can you add to them to make new
words? Use the words in the box.
bag foot manager online department convenience keeper
trolley assistant mens basket sports

shop…. shopping…

-wear …store

Exercise 2. Complete the descriptions. Use the words in the box.

DIY store bakery bookshop butcher's chemist's greengrocer's

newsagent's travel agency

1. You can buy meat in a _____________

2. You can buy bread and cakes in a _____________
3. You buy books in a _____________
4. You buy newspapers and magazines in a _____________
5. You book a holiday in a _____________
6. You buy fruit and vegetables in a _____________
7. You buy things to help you build and fix things around the house in a _____________
8. You get medicines in a ____________

Exercise 3. Choose the correct words to complete the story.

The department store in my town was having a discount /sale/sell last week – everything was 25%
cheaper than usual. So I went to find some bargains/discount/sell. I love buying things that are
cheaper than they should be.

In the footwear and bags department, I found a lovely bag, with a 40% discount/off/sale. It had a
two-year fitting room/guarantee/receipt, so I could get my money back if it broke. Then I went to
the womenswear department and found some nice trousers on discounts/refund/special offer.

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They were 50% of the normal price. I wanted to go to the fitting room/queue/till to try them on, but
there was a long bargain/queue/sale – there were about ten other people waiting – and I didn’t want
to wait. So I went to the cash machine/fitting room/till and paid for everything.

When I got home, I tried the trousers on. They were the right size, but they didn’t fit/pass/suit me at
all – they looked terrible on me. So I decided to take them back and ask for a receipt/refund/return.
But I couldn’t find my footwear/receipt/shopping bag, so the shop assistant said he couldn’t give me
my money back. Next time, I’ll be more careful when I shop at the sales.

Exercise 4. Complete the phrases. Use the words in the box.

book eat go meet spend take try watch

1. _____________ up with friends.

2. _____________ bowling.
3. _____________ out some money from a cash machine.
4. _____________ a film.
5. _____________ fast food.
6. _____________ on some clothes to see if they fit you.
7. _____________ a holiday.
8. _____________ money.

B. GRAMMAR
Exercise 1. Read the conversations.
Then choose the correct reason for Speaker B using will + infinitive or going to + infinitive
each time. The first one has been done for you.

1. A: Hmm, it’s a lovely jumper, but I can’t buy it today. I haven’t got enough money.
B: That’s OK. I’ll lend you the money. How much do you need?

o We often use will to make a decision while we’re speaking, or to ask another person for a
decision.
o We often use will to make a prediction (= a guess about the future) based on our own
opinions.
o We often use will to make a promise to another person.
o We often use will to offer help to another person, or to ask for help.

2. A: These trainers are quite expensive. Are you sure you need them?
B: Yes, Mum. Don’t worry – I’ll wear them every day. Trust me!

o We often use will to make a decision while we’re speaking, or to ask another person for a
decision.
o We often use will to make a prediction (= a guess about the future) based on our own
opinions.
o We often use will to make a promise to another person.
o We often use will to offer help to another person, or to ask for help.

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3. A: I’m sorry, but we don’t accept credit cards at this till.

B: Really? OK, I’ll pay by cash.

o We often use will to make a decision while we’re speaking, or to ask another person for a
decision.
o We often use will to make a prediction (= a guess about the future) based on our own
opinions.
o We often use will to make a promise to another person.
o We often use will to offer help to another person, or to ask for help.

4. A: This phone looks great, and it’s really cheap.

B: Yes, a bit too cheap. I’m worried that it’ll stop working after a few weeks.

o We often use will to make a decision while we’re speaking, or to ask another person for a
decision.
o We often use will to make a prediction (= a guess about the future) based on our own
opinions.
o We often use will to make a promise to another person.
o We often use will to offer help to another person, or to ask for help.

5. A: Have you booked your holiday yet?

B: Yes, we’ve just been to the travel agency and bought our tickets. We’re going to go to
Thailand.

o We often use going to to make a prediction based on what we know or can see.
o We often use going to to talk about plans and decisions that we made earlier.

6. A: Can we go home soon? I’m bored.

B: I want to try on this blouse, but there’s a long queue for the fitting rooms. It’s going to be at
least half an hour before we can go home.

o We often use going to to make a prediction based on what we know or can see.
o We often use going to to talk about plans and decisions that we made earlier.

Exercise 2. Read the conversations and correct Speaker B’s answers by using the correct form
of will + infinitive. Use contractions where possible (e.g. he’ll). The first one has been done for
you.

1. A: Look what I’ve found. A lovely shirt for you. Do you want to see if it fits you?
B: OK, I try I'll try it on.

2. A: The lift’s broken.

B: OK, I take the stairs.

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3. A: Wow, I can’t believe I’ve bought so much today!

B: How do you get home with all those bags?

4. A: Can I tell you a secret? My ‘expensive’ dress was actually really cheap. I only paid £10 for it.
B: Wow! Don’t worry. I don’t tell anyone.
5. A: I ordered some books online yesterday, but they haven’t arrived yet.
B: Don’t worry. They probably arrive next week.
6. A: You should take those shoes back if they don’t fit and ask for a refund.
B: I know, but I’m a bit nervous. Do you come with me?
7. A: Can you wait here? I just need to go to a few shops.
B: OK. Are you long?
8. A: I don’t want to go to the shopping centre tomorrow. It’s always really crowded.
B: Don’t worry. It isn’t be crowded tomorrow morning.

Exercise 3. Put the words in the correct order to complete the sentences and questions.

1 Be quite it’ll expensive I think .

 I think it’ll be quite expensive.

2 film you the think you’ll Do enjoy? .

 Do you think you’ll enjoy the film?

3 think stay we’ll long I don’t .

 I don’t think we’ll stay long.

4 do think How it’ll cost much you ?

 How much do you think it’ll cost you?

5 I trolley a need I’ll think .

 I think I’ll need a trolley.

6 I pay think to don’t need you’ll .

 I don’t think you’ll need to pay.

7 we’ll you go do think again When ?

 When do you think we’ll go shopping again?

8 you many people be think there’ll Do?

 Do you think there’ll be many people?

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Exercise 4. Complete the conversation with the correct forms of the words in brackets.
Use going to + infinitive in all your answers. Use contractions where possible (e.g. isn’t)

A: Hurry up! You need to decide. The ____________________ in a minute. (shop / close) Which
laptop _________________________ ? (you / buy)
B: _______________________________ one here. (I / not / buy)
A: Why not? Your old laptop’s broken and you’ve got a business trip next week.
______________________________ one when you’re away. (you / need)
B: I know, but _______________________________ a new laptop online instead. (I / get)
A: Well, don’t forget your flight’s on Monday morning, so that doesn’t leave you a lot of time.
B: Don’t worry. ________________________________ it tonight. (I / order) It won’t take more
than three days to arrive.
A: _________________________________ pretty stupid at your business meeting next week if you
don’t get your new laptop by then. (you / feel)
B: Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.

Exercise 5. Read the information. Then choose the best answers to complete the sentences.

 We often use will to make a decision while we’re speaking, or to ask another
person for a decision.
 We often use will to make a prediction (= a guess about the future) based on our
own opinions.
 We often use will to offer help to another person, or to ask for help.
 We often use going to talk about plans and decisions. Often the plan/ decision
has already been made.
 We often use going to to make a prediction based on what we know or can see.

1. This laptop comes with a five-year guarantee. That means that if it stops working in the next
five years, you’re going to/you’ll get your money back.
2. I’ve just bought some new running shoes because I’m going to/I’ll start running every day
from tomorrow.
3. Oh no! We’ve spent too long in the shops. We’re going to/We’ll miss the last bus home. Look
– it’s leaving now.
4. We aren’t going to/won’t buy anything. We didn’t bring any money. We only came here to
do some window-shopping.
5. A: What are you going to have for lunch?
B: I’m going to/I’ll have a burger. I haven’t had one for ages.
6. A: We’ve just bought our wedding rings.
B: Really? When are you going to/will you get married?
7. A: I can’t carry all these bags. Are you going to /Will you help me, please?
B: Yes, of course.

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Exercise 6. Do the advantages of online shopping outweigh the disadvantages? Choose the best
words to complete the student’s answer.

In my view, the main advantage/disadvantage/positive aspects of online shopping is that it is

convenient – you can buy things in your own home, at any time of day or night. Another
benefit/drawback/negative aspects is that online stores are often cheaper than traditional shops. All
things considered/Moreover/Overall , they usually have a wider range of sizes and colours.

However, there are also some important advantages/benefits/drawbacks to online shopping. For one
thing /Overall/Personally , you have to wait a few days, or even weeks, for your shopping to arrive.
However /In my view/What’s more , you can’t try on clothes before buying them.
Because/However/In addition, you sometimes need to pay extra for postage. Many online shops do
try to deal with/suffer/outweigh the disadvantages by offering free delivery for any clothes that you
want to return, for example.

For instance/Overall/So, I believe the benefits of online shopping deal with/outweigh/suffer the
disadvantages.

B. READING

Exercise 1. Read the information, then read the sentences from Paragraphs A–H. Match the
main ideas with the sentences from Paragraphs A–H.

The IELTS Reading matching headings task tests your understanding of the gist of a
paragraph – this means how well you understand the main idea or topic of the paragraph.
It is often possible to quickly get a general understanding of the main ideas and topic of a
text by reading only:
 The final sentence of the introduction (I.e. the first paragraph in the text)
 The first sentence of all the paragraphs in the main body (i.e. all the paragraphs
between the introduction and the conclusion)
 The final sentence of the conclusion (i.e. the last paragraph in the text).

Final sentence of Paragraph A: ‘… It was also necessary for landowners to know their family
background – so they could prove that a large castle or manor house really belonged to them, and
not to another person further along a branch of the family tree who wanted it for themselves.’

First sentence of Paragraph B: ‘An interest in knowing who your ancestors were and what they
did is, of course, something which is common in all cultures.’

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First sentence of Paragraph C: ‘While some people are still interested in family trees as a way of
making sure they can receive money or valuable items from a great-uncle or great-great
grandparent, others have different motivations.’

First sentence of Paragraph D: ‘Part of what makes family-tree research so fascinating is the sense
of uncovering a mystery as you find more clues – just like a detective would.’

First sentence of Paragraph E: ‘Before the age of the internet, if you wanted to find out about your
family history, you would have needed to travel to different locations.’

First sentence of Paragraph F: ‘Researching your family tree has now become an ever more
popular activity, partly for the reason that it has become much easier, faster and more convenient.’

First sentence of Paragraph G: ‘Despite the advances of modern technology, it can still be a
challenge to find your distant ancestors.’

Final sentence of Paragraph H: ‘… Rather than writing out the family tree in a book in the
traditional way, they record stories, images and voices using audio and video recordings for their
descendants to see one day.’

A description of how people feel about ancestry

A method of learning about ancestry
A method of storing information about ancestry
A reason why people enjoy researching their family history
A reason why people needed to know their ancestry in the past
Different reasons why people might be interested in ancestry
Problems in learning about ancestry
Reasons why more people are learning about ancestry now

Paragraph A
Paragraph B
Paragraph C
Paragraph D
Paragraph E
Paragraph F
Paragraph G
Paragraph H

E. SPEAKING

Exercise 1. Complete the conversation. Use the words in the box.

Anyway now right so well

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Examiner: ____________ , I’d like to change topics and talk to you about shopping. Do you like
going shopping?
Student: ____________ , most of the time I like shopping, apart from if the mall is very busy.
Examiner: _____________ , I see, so you mean you don’t like crowds?
Student: No, I don’t like crowds at all.____________ , it’s not normally a problem because I often
shop online.
Examiner: _____________ , would you say that you shop more online than in malls?
Student: Yes, definitely.

Exercise 2. Using linking words and phrases can help to improve fluency and coherence.
Put the examples in the box in the correct columns.
Another reason is … On the other hand The main reason is … In general
In most cases But Secondly First of all However Generally
In addition In the first place

Explaining your main idea Adding a similar idea

Adding an opposite idea Explaining something generally

Exercise 3. Complete the conversation. Use the words and phrases in the box.
another reason however in addition in most cases the main reason

Examiner: Why do you think that shopping on the internet has become so popular?

Student: Well, in my opinion, __________________ is that it’s so convenient. You don’t have to
leave your house to do it. _________________is that it’s often cheaper. ___________________ ,
there is a lot of choice online, so you can choose from a wider variety. ___________________ , I
still prefer to shop in a mall. I like to spend the afternoon with my friends looking at clothes.
__________________ , it’s better to shop for clothes in a mall because you can try them on before
you buy them

WRITING TASK 1

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You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.

The map shows the center of Paris. A company wants to open a new restaurant in the area. The
map shows two possible locations for the restaurant. 
Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons
where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.

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