Задание

Match the texts A–G to the headings 1–8. There is one extra heading

Установите соответствие между текстами A–G и заголовками 1–8 . Занесите свои ответы в таблицу. Используйте каждую цифру только один раз. В задании один заголовок лишний.

Saving money while shopping

A problem of shopping

Eco shopping

The history of shopping

The way to cope with stress

Travelling and shopping

The advantages and drawbacks

Buying is the main aim

A. In ancient Greece, food was bought at the market. At the annual market fairs in the Middle Ages, it was possible to buy goods for silver and gold coins. The Renaissance (14th–16th centuries) marked the development of a consumer culture, along with which modern markets appeared. In the 17th century, fashion developed rapidly, and shops with display windows began to appear, and in the 19th century department stores appeared. In the 20th century, mail-order catalogs and TV shops gained popularity. By the end of the century, online shopping developed, later transforming into mobile online shopping.

B. Some people face the problem of constantly buying goods for the sake of the buying process itself. In this case, the purchased goods may be completely unnecessary for the buyer. This psychological addiction to shopping is called shopaholism. Psychologists can help identify the causes of this addiction, as well as help find a hobby or activity that can bring joy and pleasure, instead of going shopping. Also, an effective way can be changing the information field around you, for example, blocking ads or refusing to watch TV shows.

C. Shopping tours are a popular type of tourism. People who choose such tours often want to buy some new things, or get a recommendation from a stylist who accompanies people on the tour. The purchases are often made with big discounts on these tours. In this case, people can afford to buy some trendy items by famous brands that they do not buy in other cases. Many people also claim they enjoy the opportunity to combine visiting different countries, shopping, and interacting with people with similar hobbies.

D. Many people are wondering how they can save money while shopping. One of the most effective ways is to create a shopping list and follow it closely. It is also recommended to refrain from going shopping without the intention to buy something. It is known that discounts and special offers are mere marketing tricks. They do not always allow people to save money, but, on the contrary, often make people spend more money than they originally planned, since it seems to them that they buy cheaper goods.

E. Consumerism is the ideology of the consumption of goods. It is believed that under the influence of consumerism, people buy a lot of goods in order to build their own image, but not because they really need these things. In modern society, consumerism is often criticised. They say that goods cease to be significant themselves, but become only a symbol of belonging to a certain social group. Consumerism critics argue that purchases become the meaning of life, which can prevent a person from getting truly happy.

F. Buying environmentally-friendly goods can be not only beneficial for nature and human health, but also profitable. For example, many products in eco shops are cheaper than in supermarkets because sellers do not add the cost of packaging to the price of the products. You can also get a discount in such stores if you come with your own containers. Selling bulk goods reduces the use of disposable packaging and helps reduce waste. Also in eco shops, you can buy cosmetic products that are not tested on animals.

G. Nowadays, shopping therapy is often regarded as a way to improve a person's emotional state. It is believed that going shopping can help cope with stress. Some psychologists argue that shopping has no long-term therapeutic effect and can only help distract from the problem. However, this method of dealing with stress still takes place, since doing the shopping people can forget about the problem for a short time and have their mood improved.

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The maximum score is 4 points for 7 correct answers.

6 correct answers — 3 points.

5 correct answers — 2 points.

4 correct answers — 1 point.

3 or fewer correct answers — 0 points.

The score for the task: out of 4.