ESCOLA SECUNDÁRIA DR.

GINESTAL MACHADO

ENGLISH WRITTEN TEST

11º Ano – Março/2020

I
READING COMPREHENSION
Read the following text:

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!'"
(abridged and adapted) http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204903804577080261756886728.html

A. Find words in the text that mean the following. (5x2=10 pontos)

1. obssessive
2. encourage
3. attracting
4. warning, sign
5. accumulators

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B. Say what the following words refer to in the text. (5x2=10 pontos)

a. she (l. 6) c. who (l. 12) e) some (l. 28)

b. they (l. 11) d. it (l. 17)

C. Find evidence in the text for the following statements. (5x2=10 pontos)

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 becomes a disease when it gets out of control and starts to ruin
people’s life.
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.

D. Explain the following expressions from the text in your own words. (2x5=10 pontos)

1) ...”men outspent women”… (l. 10¶)

2) ...”the thrill fades fast and is often followed by remorse”… (l. 24¶)

E. Answer the following questions in your own words as far as possible. (4x5=20
pontos)

1) Is online shopping a safe alternative for compulsive buyers? Justify.

2) In what way does obsessive shopping affect people’s 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?

II
GRAMMAR AND USE OF LANGUAGE

A. Fill in the gaps with the given words. (10x2=20 pontos)

 buying  unnecessary  bored  counterparts  purchase

 engage  behaviour  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 today’s 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 (7) _____. Researcher Dr Lorrin
Koram said that the numbers of men who indulge in (8) ______shopping sprees has
rocketed: "That's the biggest surprise – men (9)_____ in this (10) _____almost as
commonly as women," he said.

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B. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence. (5x8=40 pontos)

1. Some parents don’t allow their children to watch too much television.
Children…
2. I didn’t know she needed money, so I told her to pay her clothes.
If I…
3. Although rich teenagers own everything they want, they are not happy.
In spite of….
4. People have held extreme consumerism responsible for the increase in environmental
problems.
Extreme consumerism….
5. I really like that dress but I have to change my shopping habits.
I really like that dress….

III

(60 pontos)

A. Write a text expressing your opinion on the following statement (present at

least two arguments).
“It’s important that young people should learn to earn money early on in life rather than
being given pocket money. They need to start valuing other things life has to offer.”

Write between 150 and 180 words.

GOOD LUCK!

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 ESCOLA SECUNDÁRIA DR. GINESTAL MACHADO

LISTENING COMPREHENSION TEST

11º Ano – Março/2020

Name: _____________________________________ Class: _________ Nº _____

IV

You will hear an article on how teens spend their money.

A. Tick what the author of the text actually says. (8x1=8 pontos)

1) News about working teens is on TV every day. □

2) 35 per cent of teens save the money they make. □
3) 25 per cent are saving for university. □
4) Of those saving for university, only half save enough money. □
5) When teens can’t save enough for college, parents usually support them. □
6) For teens, shopping online is not very safe. □
7) It is not illegal for banks to share a person’s financial information with other affiliated
companies. □
8) The National Consumers League is against this policy. □
B. Match the two halves to complete the sentences about the text. (8x1,5=12 pontos)

1. If you go to a fast-food restaurant __

2. Part-time employment, summer jobs, neighbourhood jobs such as babysitting or raking leaves __
3. Only a small percentage __
4. Teenagers have some misconceptions about shopping online __
5. More than half of teenagers wrongly think that __
6. Adults knew a bit more than teens __
7. The National Consumers League has launched a new consumer education campaign __
8. The goal of the campaign is to help change misconceptions and provide teens __

a) businesses must go through a screening process to make sure they are suitable before they can
start a website.
b) are the main employment for 62 per cent of teens.
c) supported by the Bank of America.
d) even though they know more about the Internet than the previous generations.
e) you will find many teens working there.
f) with a financial education foundation.
g) have ATM and debit cards.
h) with 41 percent answering correctly to the question about the safest way to pay.