Desperate
Retailers including Argos and Robert Dyas have already launched
"Christmas sales" with heavily discounted items designed to
woo shoppers into buying gifts well ahead of the festive season.
Shopping
experts said the move was "very uncharacteristic" as
retailers usually wait until Black Friday to reduce items. The
move is thought to be a response to the current financial climate and
partly influenced by the widely anticipated decision by the Bank of
England last week to raise interest rates. Higher interest rates
could cause more financial stain for borrowers with mortgages, loans
or credit cards.
The
past three years saw virtually no increase in the volume of reduced
price goods through October, but 2017 has seen the volume of products
on sale increase by around 43 per cent from the start to the end of
October, which is very uncharacteristic. There has been a lot of
wider economic activity that has affected retailers this year and we
are seeing a lot of pricing activity as a result.
Brexit
uncertainty continues, there was a big jump in inflation in August,
record lows of unemployment in August meant more spending across the
board and shop owners have just had the announcement of the interest
rate increase. Add to that the normal desire to be first out of
the gates around Black Friday and I think all of these things have
got retailers doing all they can to ensure spending continues,
discounting being an obvious method.
Robert
Dyas is currently running a half price Christmas sale on items
including popular coffee machines, toys and kitchenware.
Meanwhile Argos has launched a "3 for 2" offer on toys
including Lego, Chad Valley, VTech, My Little Pony, Barbie and Nerf.
The sale is both in store and online, and ends on Tuesday, November
7.
Experts
are also predicting that Black Friday deals on this year's most
sought-after items will come earlier than usual this year. Retailers
are keener than ever to be the first to launch deals this year,
resulting in a "Black Friday week" of deals which is
expected to start seven days before Black Friday, which is the last
Friday of November.
Adapted from The Telegraph
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. Experts attribute these sales to the lack of confidence in economy.
b. Many people in debt might not afford to buy Christmas presents later in the year.
c. This measure of starting the sales early in October began four years ago.
d. There are quite a few reasons for shop owners' hurry to start the sales.
e. You must shop online if you want to benefit from the sales.
Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.
a. reduced (par.1) b. earlier than (par.1) c. increase (par.2)
d. articles, items (par.3) e. at present (par.5)
Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text and write down the sentence.
1.The advance in the Christmas sales is uncharacteristic because
a. the usual date to start is black Friday.
b. people never buy any gifts until Christmas.
c. shop owners have never had so much economic activity before.
2. The best way to ensure spending is
a. to open every day of the week.
b. to cut down prices.
c. to sell very good quality items.
3. During these anticipated sales people can buy
a. only toys and clothes.
b. only kitchen utensils.
c. all sorts of things.
4. People go to the sales
a. because it is the best time to shop in a comfortable way.
b. because they urgently need some items.
c. and often buy things they don't really need.
Question 4: [4 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:
What makes people do so much shopping these days?
KEY
Question 1.
a. True.” The move is thought to be a response to the current financial climate and partly influenced by the widely anticipated decision by the Bank of England last week to raise interest rates.”
b. True. “ Higher interest rates could cause more financial stain for borrowers with mortgages, loans or credit cards.”
c. False.” The past three years saw virtually no increase in the volume of reduced price goods through October.”
d. True. “ Brexit uncertainty continues, there was a big jump in inflation in August, record lows of unemployment in August meant more spending across the board and shop owners have just had the announcement of the interest rate increase. Add to that the normal desire to be first out of the gates around Black Friday.”
e. False.” The sale is both in store and online, and ends on Tuesday, November 7.”
Question 2
a. discounted b. ahead of c. raise d. goods e. currently
Question 3
1.a 2. b 3. c 4. c
a. Experts attribute these sales to the lack of confidence in economy.
b. Many people in debt might not afford to buy Christmas presents later in the year.
c. This measure of starting the sales early in October began four years ago.
d. There are quite a few reasons for shop owners' hurry to start the sales.
e. You must shop online if you want to benefit from the sales.
Question 2: [1,5 POINTS] Find words or phrases in the text that correspond to the words and definitions given.
a. reduced (par.1) b. earlier than (par.1) c. increase (par.2)
d. articles, items (par.3) e. at present (par.5)
Question 3: [2 POINTS] Choose the most suitable answer (a, b or c) according to the text and write down the sentence.
1.The advance in the Christmas sales is uncharacteristic because
a. the usual date to start is black Friday.
b. people never buy any gifts until Christmas.
c. shop owners have never had so much economic activity before.
2. The best way to ensure spending is
a. to open every day of the week.
b. to cut down prices.
c. to sell very good quality items.
3. During these anticipated sales people can buy
a. only toys and clothes.
b. only kitchen utensils.
c. all sorts of things.
4. People go to the sales
a. because it is the best time to shop in a comfortable way.
b. because they urgently need some items.
c. and often buy things they don't really need.
Question 4: [4 POINTS] Write a short essay (about 120-150 words) on the following topic:
What makes people do so much shopping these days?
KEY
Question 1.
a. True.” The move is thought to be a response to the current financial climate and partly influenced by the widely anticipated decision by the Bank of England last week to raise interest rates.”
b. True. “ Higher interest rates could cause more financial stain for borrowers with mortgages, loans or credit cards.”
c. False.” The past three years saw virtually no increase in the volume of reduced price goods through October.”
d. True. “ Brexit uncertainty continues, there was a big jump in inflation in August, record lows of unemployment in August meant more spending across the board and shop owners have just had the announcement of the interest rate increase. Add to that the normal desire to be first out of the gates around Black Friday.”
e. False.” The sale is both in store and online, and ends on Tuesday, November 7.”
Question 2
a. discounted b. ahead of c. raise d. goods e. currently
Question 3
1.a 2. b 3. c 4. c
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