UNIT 3 – READING TASKS

THE RISKS OF ONLINE REVIEWS

1. Complete the sentences in your own words

1 Many online shoppers use reviews to… be sure if it’s a good idea to buy the product or clothes
online or not.

2 Some companies pay review writers because … positive reviews can enhance their online
reputation and potentially attract more customers, boosting sales.

3 Certain hotels and guesthouses ask … to leave reviews to gather feedback on their experiences
and improve the overall quality of their services.

4 Some sellers on online-auction sites use … different strategies to attract better prices and offers.

2. Read the article again and choose the correct answers

1 Companies post fake reviews…

A to get influencers to promote them.

B to create more work opportunities.
C to attract more customers.

2 Fake reviews are…

A often difficult to identify.

B more common than genuine reviews.
C not frequently used approached to write.

3 Some influencers are approached to write reviews…

A for money-saving blogs

B using false names
C in exchange for money

4 One way to identify a fake review is…

A check the star rating for the product

B notice now many are posted over a few days.
C investigate the reviewer.
3. Find antonyms of the words and phrases in the text

1 small (paragraph 1) baset

2 revealing (paragraph 1) disguised

3 lots of (paragraph 2) limited

4 disappointed (paragraph 4) impressed

5 manual (paragraph 5) automated

6 dishonest (paragraph 5) reputable

4. Match the definitions with the blue phrases in the text

1 a general guide a rule of thumb

2refusetoacknowledge someone doesn’t give this offers to some the time of day

3 taken care of well by somebody in safe hands

4 look for somebody / something while you are doing other things

Keep an eye out

5 form an opinion based only on appearance

Judge a book by its cover

6 small part of a bigger problem the tip of the iceberg

5. Complete the questions with the CORRECT FORM of the idioms from the previous exercise.
Than answer the questions.

1 What particular brand makes you feel you are in safe hands when shopping? Why?
2 What basic rule of thumb do you follow when shopping online?
3 How do you keep an eye out for bargains online? What’s your best shopping experience?
4 Do you think that fake reviews are just the tip of the iceberg ? What else, if anything,
worries you when shopping online?
5 Have you ever and bought from a fake seller?
6 Would you ever ______________ a company ____________ even though you were
uncertain about their reliability?