Evaluation Test N 5 Name_________________________

V-I Date__________________________
I. Read the text and do the after text activities:
Shop till you stop
For an estimated 6% of Americans with compulsive buying tendencies, this is a tough time of
the year as attractive bargains egg people on to spend.
"The whole culture conspires against us in the holiday season," says April Lane Benson,
a Manhattan psychologist. Besides tempting sales and the urge to shop for oneself, she says,
"the holidays bring up a lot of unfulfilled longing for some people - and that's one reason why
they shop, as a salve for disappointment."
While the stereotypical compulsive shopper is traditionally a woman in her 30s, experts
say the ease and speed of Internet shopping is luring more men and more young people. Over
Black Friday weekend, men outspent women $484 to $317, on average, according to the
National Retail Federation. They also spent an average of $200 online - twice as much as the
average woman.
In a 2005 survey of 195 U.K. teenagers, who grew up with the Internet, 44% showed
signs of compulsive shopping habits, according to research published in the British Journal of
Psychology. "The Internet is dangerous for compulsive buyers," says psychiatrist Elias
Aboujaoude. Transactions move so quickly that it is hard to pause to reassess the buying urge,
he says.
But when does "retail therapy" cross the line into compulsive shopping? Experts say
purchasing turns pathological when people continue to do it even though it causes financial
problems, disrupts work, family or social life or involves deceit, such as hiding bills and
packages. Feeling out of control is another tip-off.
Compulsive buying disorder is generally considered an impulse-control problem, like
gambling or sex addiction. Some sufferers describe feeling their hearts race, cheeks flush and
abandoning all sense of caution when they're stalking favorite items. "Usually, the idea is, 'I
see it, I like it, I want it, I'll buy it - and damn the consequences,'" says Donald W. Black, a
professor of psychiatry at the University of Iowa. But the thrill fades fast and is often followed
by remorse, and then more shopping to feel better again.
Many compulsive shoppers also suffer from depression, anxiety or eating disorders, and
about half of them are also hoarders. Compulsive shoppers themselves often have a sense of
what drives them. Some suffer from low self-esteem and think the perfect dress or accessory
will help overcome it.
Arzu Yonak says she shopped out of boredom growing up in rural Ohio. The habit got
out of hand when she had an internship in New York - and her father's credit cards - at age 20.
"I remember having five shopping bags in one hand and the phone in the other, saying 'Mom,
I can't stop!'"
Write TRUE OR FALSE next to the following statements. Justify your choice for the False ones.
1) The holidays are a tricky time for shopaholics since they are tempted by the low prices.
2) Some experts think people shop to relieve their frustrations.
3) Compulsive shopping, in fact , is not a disease when it gets out of control.
4) It is just as difficult to control as other types of obsessive behaviour.
5) Some people are totally reckless when it comes to buying the things they love.
6) Shopping doesnt help them to deal with their lack of confidence.
B. Answer the following questions in your own words as far as possible.
1) Is online shopping a safe alternative for compulsive buyers? Justify.
2) In what way does obsessive shopping affect peoples lives?
3) How do shopaholics try to cheat others about their spending?
4) Why do you think was it difficult for Arzu to control her spending habits?
C. Explain the following in your own words.
1) ...men outspent women (3rd )
2) ...the thrill fades fast and is often followed by remorse (6 th )
D. Match the words from the text with their meaning on the right.
1) compulsive (1st ) a) warning/sign
2) egg on (1st ) b) desire/wish
3) tempting (2nd ) c) to attract
4) urge (2nd ) d) obsessive
5) luring (3rd ) e) to triumph over
6) disrupts (5th ) f) to encourage
7) tip-off (5th ) g) to interfere with
th
8) overcome (7 ) h) appealing
E. What do the underlined words refer to in the text?

1) this (1st ) 2) she (2nd )

3) they (3rd ) 4) who (4th )
5) it (5th ) 6) their (6th )
7) them (7th ) 8) it (7th )

Find ANTONYMS for these words in the text.

Safe--- save(v.)------
Repulsive----- slowly-----
Indifferent------ Carelessness---
F. Read this text on consumerism and complete it with the words below:
buying unnecessary bored purchase behavior ads
shoppers need

A recent survey has found that one in 20 American adults (1)______________ things they may
not even want or never (2)_______________ or use. In todays world of consumerism, where we
are constantly bombarded by (3),_______________ men are just as likely as women to suffer
from compulsive (4)_________________. Gone seem to be the days when women dragged their
(5) ______________________men around shopping centers. The new research from Stanford
University has revealed that men are now just as avid and compulsive (6)________________ as
their female counterparts. Researcher Dr Lorrin Koram said that the numbers of men who
indulge in (7)_________________ shopping sprees has rocketed: "That's the biggest surprise -
men engage in this (8)________ almost as commonly as women," he said.
Rephrase the following sentences beginning as shown.
1 Advertising has made people passive consumers.
People ____________________________________________________________________________________.
2 - In spite of being terribly expensive, this bag is badly stitched.
Although _____________________________________________________________________________________.
3 Peter paid $600 for his smartphone. John paid $200 because it was last years model.
Peters smartphone was _________________________________________________________________________.
4- A successful advert anticipates consumers wishes.
Consumers wishes _____________________________________________________________________________.
5 - The average woman might see 400 to 600 advertisements every week.
Four hundred __________________________________________________________________________________.
6 - The new shopping center was very attractive, but it lacked a sense of identity.
Although the new shopping center didnt __________________________________________________________
7 - Shopkeepers keep certain items in places where they can easily be seen.
Certain items____________________________________________________________________________________
8 - Commercials are always interrupting my favourite TV program.
My favourite __________________________________________________________________________________.
9- This brand isnt of very good quality, but everybody says its cool.
In spite of ______________________________________________________________________________________
10. A nutritionist asked a teenager whether he had had some decent meals that day.

A nutritionist asked a teenager,

____________________________________________________________
Choose a little / little / a few / few:

6. Julie gave us _______ apples from her garden. Shall we share them?
7. She has _______ self-confidence. She has a lot of trouble talking to new
people.
8. There are _______ women politicians in the UK. Many people think there
should be more.
9. Its a great pity, but hospital has _______ medicine. They cant help many
people.
10. Ive got _______ cakes to give away. Would you like one?

16. Theres _______ spaghetti left in the cupboard. Shall we eat it tonight?
17. There are _______ programmes on television that I want to watch. I prefer to
download a film or read a book.
18. He has _______ free time. He hardly ever even manages to call his mother!
19. Unfortunately, I have _______ problems at the moment.
20. Are you thirsty? Theres _______ juice left in this bottle, if youd like it.

Connect these sentences using the conjunction in parenthesis.

1. Michael got his Christmas presents. Sarah got hers too. (both...and)
2. I cant find my towel. I cant find my sunglasses. (neither ...nor)
3. We can rent an apartment. We can stay in a motel. (either...or)
4. Jim never reads newspapers. He doesnt read magazines. (neither...nor)

Complete the following sentences, using neither ... nor or either ...or.

Im too opinionated. People are_______ for me ________ against me.

2. No, its 8:25. _________ your watch is fast ________ mine is slow.
3. The accused is _________ guilty ________ not guilty.
4. Nobody is ___________ completely bad___________ perfectly good.

Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

I wish I (1) (listen) to

my teachers when I was young. They
often told me I should study harder.
If only I (2) (study)
harder I (3) (pass)
more exams. If I (4) _
(pass) more exams when I was
sixteen I (5) _
(not leave) school. Of course, if I
(6) (stay) on at
school, I (7) (go) to
university. In the end, I only passed
two exams Maths and English, and I
couldnt even get a good job.
FILL IN THE BLANKS WITH THE CORRECT FORMS OF THE VERBS IN BRACKETS

6. I wish you ______ (bring) me a glass of water.I am very thirsty.

7. Karen wishes her father ______ (not go) to Russia on business.She misses him.
8. It was a very hot and sunny.I wish I ______ (take) my sunglasses and sunlotion with me.
9. You look overweight.I wish you ______ (attend) a gym this summer.
10. My father wishes he ______ (not forget) to take the camera with him.The view was wonderful.

16. My mother wishes I ______ (take) her to the hospital for her operation this weekend.
17. Timothy wishes she ______ (not eat) too many strawberries.She has got a terrible
stomachache.
18. Pam wishes she ______ (have) an mp3 player. She could listen to music now.
19. I wish I ______ (know) more about cooking.I have to prepare something special for my
guests.
20. We wish we ______ (win) the match next Sunday. We will be this year's champion then.
21. The students wish they ______ (study) more. They all got bad marks from the maths exam.

1. I didnt phone Monica the day before yesterday.

I wish ____________________________________________________
2. My best friend doesnt visit me very often.
If only ____________________________________________________
3. His mother hopes her son will study in our home town.
She wishes _______________________________________________
4. James forgot about her birthday. Now he feels sorry for that.
James wishes _____________________________________________
5. We cant swim very well.
If only ____________________________________________________

DOPLNTE EVERY NEBO EACH

6. - of these advertisements has a different purpose.

7. - visitor wants to stay at this hotel.
8. - of you will have to do it twice.
9. On - floor there are two bathrooms.
10. He introduced me to - person present at that party.
11. - method has its advantages.

1. You should take this medicine - three hours.

2. They - sang songs together.
3. child gets a piece of cake.
4. Such things doesnt happen - day.
5. Please, read - question very carefully and dont forget to answer - question.
6. - of the houses has one bedroom.
1. I like going downtown for concerts, but ____ time I go there is a lot of traffic.
a) Each

b) Every
2. I love watching Seinfeld on television. I laugh ____ time I watch the show.
a) Each

b) Every

3. I have read a lot of different books. I feel ____ one of them expanded my mind in a different manner.
a) Each

b) Every

4. I love cats, but I realize I can not adopt ____ stray cat that needs a home.
a) Each

b) Every

5. _____ of the top three students will receive an automatic .A. as well as a unique prize.
a) Each

b) Every
. In no less than 200 words, do one of the following.
1) Bearing in mind the text and the role of advertising write an opinion essay explaining why
people are victims of consumerism and at what cost. What about you? Are you a victim as well?
Explain.
2) Use the ads below as examples and write about the techniques used by advertisers to
convince people to buy.

Key
A.
1) this is a tough time of the year as attractive bargains egg people on to spend.
2) that's one reason why they shop, as a salve for disappointment."
3) Experts say purchasing turns pathological when people continue to do it even though
it causes financial problems, disrupts work, family or social life
4) Compulsive buying disorder is generally considered an impulse-control problem, like
gambling or sex addiction.
5) abandoning all sense of caution when they're stalking favorite items.
6) Some suffer from low self-esteem and think the perfect dress or accessory will help
overcome it.
B.
1) No, it isnt. Everything goes so fast online making it difficult for people to stop and
think about/reconsider/re-evaluate their need/desire/impulse to buy things.
2) It affects their lives in many ways. Some people get into serious money problems. It
also destroys / disturbs work, family and their social life.
3) They try to deceive/trick them by hiding their bills and packages.
4) It was difficult for her to control it since she had access to her fathers credit cards.
They make shopping so much easier and faster. But this way we spend more money and
easily make a quick bad buying decision.
C
1) Men spent more money than women.
2) The (initial) excitement/joy/pleasure quickly passes/disappears and people feel
guilty/regret it.
D.
1d) 2f) 3h) 4b) 5c) 6g) 7a) 8e)
E.
1) the holiday season 2) April Lane Benson 3) men 4) 195 U.K.
teenagers
5) purchasing 6) some sufferers 7) compulsive shoppers
8) low self-esteem
F.
1) purchase 2) need 3) ads 4) buying 5) bored 6) shoppers 7) unnecessary 8)
behavior
G.
1) One of April Bensons patients, who was compulsively shopping on the Internet all
day, got fired.
2) Youve spent all the money I gave you, which is totally unacceptable.
3) We met a nice lady the other day whose son spends a lot of money on clothes.
4) Shopping centers where people love to shop now look like cathedrals.
5) Young people are constantly exposed to advertising messages which are designed to
make them believe they cant live without a certain product.
6) A young man who I saw getting arrested yesterday was accused of shop-lifting.
H.
1) have bought 2) was shopping 3) had already spent 4)
goes
5) arrived 6) stops/has stopped 7)have shopped/ have been shopping 8) is
trying
I.
2) Students could mention
- language features: adjectives, repetition, word puns, hyperboles/exaggerations,
neologism (new words), imperative, rhyme, short simple sentences
- humour
- appealing to basic needs
- exploiting peoples fears (making them self-conscious)
- slogan/jingle
- sexually charged images (visual effects)