martes, 21 de noviembre de 2017

Black Friday

           
 The day after Thanksgiving is the start of the holiday shopping season. Thanksgiving is always on a Thursday, so the day after is a Friday. This day has come to be known as Black Friday. It has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005.
            Most stores offer great deals on Black Friday. They open their doors in the wee hours of the morning. They try to attract shoppers with big discounts. Some items like TVs are much cheaper than usual. Stores may even lose money on these items. They hope that shoppers will buy gifts for other people while they are in the store.
            Black Friday is a great time to get good deals. The problem is that there are not enough lowpriced items to go around. Each store may only have a few. These items are in high demand. People stand in long lines to get such great deals. They may line up hours before a store opens. They may be hoping to get a low price on a TV or laptop, but not everyone who wants one will get one. Some people leave disappointed.
            The situation has become tense and sometimes violent at some Black Friday events in previous years. Large, eager crowds have trampled workers. Fights have broken out over toys or people cutting in line. People have shot one another over parking spots. But most Black Friday events are safe and fun. Still, if you plan on going, expect large crowds and a bit of shoving.
            So where does the name "Black Friday" come from? It was first used in Philadelphia in the 1950s. The police called this day Black Friday because of the heavy traffic it drew. In the 1960s, stores tried to rename the day "Big Friday." It did not stick. The name "Black Friday" continued to spread across the country. It seems that it is here to stay.
            Now people all over the country take part in the event known as Black Friday. It is even spreading to other parts of the world. Stores have held Black Friday events in the U.K., Australia, and Brazil since 2012. In Costa Rica Black Friday is known as "Viernes Negro." And in Mexico, stores offer an annual weekend of discounts. They call it "El Buen Fin," which means "the good weekend" in Spanish. I guess the language of savings is universal.

Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and                 write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
a) Black Friday is the day when most people go to the shops.
b) Black Friday deals are limited in some shops.
c) The closest to the opening time you go, the less people you may find.
d) The police called this day Black Friday due to the violence that sometimes happened.
e) Black Friday has always had the same name


Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words     and definitions given.

a) bargain (par.2)
b) request (par.3)
c) anxious (par.4)
d) to expand (par.5)
e) to participate (par.6)


Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text and write down the sentence

1. One of the downsides of Black Friday is that…
a) stores never run out of high demand items quickly.
b) nobody really saves any money on Black Friday.
c) sometimes violence occurs on Black Friday.

2. Stores set prices so low on some items because…
a) they want people to enjoy the holidays.
b) people will purchase more items while being in the store.
c) they are trying to get rid of old items from last year.

3. People try to get good deals by…
a) getting up very early.
b) talking to shop workers before the store opens.
c) breaking toys at the stores.

4. Stores try to attract people on Black Friday by…
a) cutting up lines.
b) lowering prices.
c) offering plenty of reduced items.


 Question 4: [4 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:
­
“We buy more than we need” Do you agree?

KEY

Question 1: [2,5 POINTS] Indicate whether the following statements are true or false and                 write down which part of the text justifies your answer.
      
       a) TRUE “It has been the busiest shopping day of the year since 2005”
       b) TRUE “The problem is that there are not enough lowpriced items to go around
       c) FALSE “People stand in long lines to get such great deals. They may line up hours before a store opens
       d) FALSE “The police called this day Black Friday because of the heavy traffic it drew
       e) FALSE “. In the 1960s, stores tried to rename the day "Big Friday. It did not stick
      
Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words     and definitions given.
      


a)       deal(s)
b)       demand
c)        eager
d)      (to) spread
e)      (to) take part


Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text.


  1. c) sometimes violence occurs on Black Friday
  2. b) people will purchase more items while being in the store
  3. a) getting up very early
  4. b) lowering prices

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