EF p 81. 10 Small Ways to Lead an Anti-Capitalist Life. Mediation. Cloze

Write an article for the school website featuring a list of practical ways to promote conscious consumption. To gather ideas, you have engaged your social media followers by asking them to share examples of everyday actions that reflect non-capitalist or anti-consumerist lifestyles. From the responses, you have selected the 10 most compelling or unique ideas to highlight in your article. Ensure the piece is informative, engaging, and encourages readers to adopt more mindful consumption habits.

This is the list you have compiled to write the article: 

10 Small Ways to Lead an Anti-capitalist Life

1 Freecycle as much as possible 

2 Leave stuff outside for your neighbours 

3 Make your own clothes 

4 Forget the gym

5 Make your own spreadable butter

6 Stop buying cleaning products 

7 Go online, then visit the library 

8 Get an allotment 

9 Don’t drive 

10 Use your TV remote 

Sample answer:

10 Easy Steps to Live a Life Against Capitalism

When I asked for ideas about non-capitalist living, I received a deluge (1)_________ responses. Many people said that even small actions gave them a (2)___________ of purpose and control.

1. Give Away Unwanted Items

(3)___________ of being lumbered (4)____________ things you (5)__________ longer need, you can pass them (6)__________ through platforms (7)__________ Freecycle or Freegle. Everything (8)__________ furniture to knick-knacks can find a new home this way.

2. Share with Your Community

In some areas, people leave unwanted books, clothes, and even food in shared spaces (9)___________ others can take them. Within hours, these items become useful (10)_________ someone (11)____________, reducing waste and encouraging generosity.

3. Create Your (12)________ Clothing

Some people prefer making their own clothes (13)_________ than buying from big shops. This (14)________, they avoid supporting child labour, toxic chemicals, and animal cruelty in the fashion industry.

4. Exercise Outdoors

For those (15)___________ used to pay for gym memberships, the experience often felt artificial, with air laced (16)___________ sweat and loud music creating a materialistic atmosphere. Now, they choose to jog in the park, avoiding mirrors and the need to pump (17)___________ your ego.

5. Make Your Own Butter Spread

A small (18)__________ useful contribution is mixing butter with oil (19)___________ make it easier to spread. This reduces waste, avoids plastic packaging, and cuts (20)________ on palm oil, (21)_________ contributes to deforestation.

6. Use Simple Cleaning Products

After a watershed moment, some people replace store-bought cleaning products (22)___________ simple mixtures of vinegar and water or bicarbonate of soda. These natural options are cheaper and better for the environment.

7. Borrow Books Instead of Buying

Instead of always buying books, many people first search online, read reviews, and (23)__________ borrow them from the library. This saves money, reduces waste, and supports local libraries.

8. Grow Your Own Food

Gardening provides fresh vegetables, improves health, and builds a sense of community. Some gardeners even share extra produce from their allotments (24)________  neighbours, making their areas more self-sufficient.

9. Reduce Car Use

Some people choose (25)___________ to own a car. They rely (26)__________ bicycles and public transport, avoiding petrol use, air pollution, and traffic problems.

10. Mute TV Adverts

A simple but clever habit is turning (27)_________ the sound during adverts to avoid consumer pressure. (28)_________ constant advertising, people can make (29)_______ thoughtful spending choices.

These small but meaningful actions challenge consumer culture and promote a more mindful way of living. (30)__________ ones would you like to try?

KEY

1. of

2. sense

3. Instead

4. with

5. no

6. on

pass something  on (to somebody) ​to give something to somebody else, especially after receiving it or using it yourself.

E.g.

 Pass the book on to me when you've finished with it. 

I passed your message on to my mother. 

Much of the discount is pocketed by retailers instead of being passed on to customers.

7. like

8. from

9. where

10. to/ for

11. else

12. Own

13. rather

14. way

15. who

16. with

17. up

18. but

19. to

20. down

21. which

22. with

23. then

24. with

25. not

26. on

27. off

28. Without

29. more

30.  Which

Ready for C1 p 34. Fashion Trends. Article. Word Formation

TASK description:

A magazine is inviting readers to write an article about the fashion trends people follow. You decide to write an article commenting on why people follow fashion trends, and assessing if people use fashion as a form of self-expression or not.

Sample answer

Following Fashion- Why Do We Do It?

Is fashion important to you? For most people it is, at least to some extent. From those who wear (1)________ (TREND) ripped jeans and loose-fitting T-shirts to those who wear smart (2)___________ (TAILOR) suits and expensive designer outfits, each individual can have their own style. But why are people following fashion? And what impact can this have on their self-expression?

(3)___________ (ARGUE), one factor that influences what people wear is the need to impress others. People who dress well and keep up with the latest styles seem to be more noticed than those who are not concerned about their (4)____________ (APPEAR). For this reason, people wear fashionable clothing and assume an identity which makes them feel they impress. Yet, by copying general looks, people actually suppress their (5)_____________ (ORIGIN), leading to a conscious or subconscious (6)________________ (SUPPRESS) of their individuality.

At the same time fashion is perceived by some as a tool for success and one that denotes wealth or prestige. For instance, people (7)__________ (INTENTION) try to elevate their status by wearing famous brands or expensive clothes which are admired by others. These clothes are not actually giving a personal statement of the (8)___________ (WEAR) as they are just the means to promote a specific image of power and control. In this case, fashion does not express personal individuality but could perhaps be said to give a false (9)____________ (IMPRESS) of appearance for a specific purpose.

That being said, following fashion may not have anything to do with copying current trends but with using them as an inspiration to create outfits expressing individuality. An example of this is reforming fashionable pieces and making small (10)______________ (PERSONAL) changes. Adding glam here and there, rolling up a pair of trousers or even wearing two different shoes can be considered a form of self-expression demonstrating originality.

Having considered all this, to my way of thinking fashion can be used as a means of communication and a way to communicate your self-image to people around you. As a famous (11)___________ (DESIGN) once said, "Fashion is instant language." 

KEY

1. trendy

 

 

 

2. tailored

 

 

 

3. Arguably

 

 

 

4. appearance

 

 

 

5. originality

 

 

 

6. suppression

 

 

7. intentionally

 

 

 

8. wearer 

 

 

9. impression

 

 

10. personalised 

 

 

11. designer

Open World p 53. Dialogues Related to Money. Sentence Completion. Listening

1. The customer would like to open a _________/ ____________ with his partner, who _______ elsewhere.

2. The teller needs to see some proof of __________ for both of them.

3. The customer would like to know how __________/ ___________ works.

4. The customer will need a _________/ _________ to make payments by bank transfer. 

5. The teller says that it will be easy to manage their ____________ online.

6. A ____________ / ___________ is always the same amount, in contrast, a _________ / ________ can be changed by the recipient. 

7. So that the customer can get a ____________, the shop assistant needs to see the ____________. 

8. The customer cannot have the money back because the boots were in the sale. However, she can get a

___________ / _________ instead. 

9. Dominique needs to borrow some money off Pete because she is _________ / ________ . 

10. Pete cannot ___________ her out because he is _________ / ________ / _______ himself at the moment, __________ / ____________ the course fees being due next month.

11. Pete is pretty much living _______________ until the end of the semester.  

12. Dominique ____________ / ____________ the money she had put aside for the tuition fees.

13. Dominique has ____________ / _________ her credit card, so she can’t use it to get her out of jail.

14. Pete suggests extending her _________. 

15. Pete tells Dominique that she'd better __________ / _______ / _________ reality.

16. According to Pete, it's about time Dominique paid her ________ / _________ because she has ________ / _______ the whole family long enough. 

 

 

KEY

1. joint account

 

 

banks 

2. identity

 

 

3. online banking 

4. card reader

 

 

 

5. payees

payee: a person that money is paid to

 

 

 

 

6. standing order

standing order: an instruction that you give to your bank to pay somebody a fixed amount of money from your account on the same day each week/month, etc.     

E.g.

to set up a standing order    

to pay by standing order

 

direct debit

direct debit: an instruction to your bank to allow somebody else to take an amount of money from your account on a particular date, especially to pay bills.

E.g.
We pay all our bills by direct debit.

 

7. refund

 

 

receipt 

8.  credit note 

credit note: a letter that a shop gives you when you have returned something and that allows you to have goods of the same value in exchange.

E.g.
If damaged items have to be returned, the manufacturer may issue a credit note.

 

9. flat broke

flat broke: not having any money at all. 

E.g. I'm flat broke.

10. bail/ bale

bail/ bale somebody out (of something)  ​to rescue somebody from a difficult situation.

E.g.

The government had to bail the company out of financial difficulty

barely getting by

 

 

 

what with

 

 

11.  hand-to-mouth

 

 

12. dipped into

dip into: to take an amount from money that you have saved.

E.g.
We took out a loan for the car because we didn't want to dip into our savings.

 

 

13. maxed out

max out: to reach, or make something reach, the limit at which nothing more is possible.

E.g.

The car maxed out at 150 mph.     

I maxed out all my credit cards (= reached the spending limit on each one). 

14. overdraft

the amount of money that you owe to a bank when you have spent more money than is in your bank account; an arrangement that allows you to do this.

E.g.

She had run up an overdraft of £3 000.     

to pay off/clear an overdraft     

The savings account has no overdraft facility.

 

 

15. face up to

face up to: to accept and deal with something that is difficult or unpleasant. Sp. enfrentar, confrontar.

E.g.

She had to face up to the fact that she would never walk again.     

You have to face up to your responsibilities. 

 

 

16. own way

pay your way
​to pay for everything yourself without having to rely on anyone else’s money. 

E.g.

Sofia worked to pay her way through college

sponged off

 

sponge (off/on somebody) /spʌndʒ/ (informal, disapproving) to get money, food, etc. regularly from other people without doing anything for them or offering to pay.

E.g.

He spent his life sponging off his relatives.

SCRIPT

 

Track 024

Conversation 1

Customer: Hi I’m interested in opening a joint account with my partner. Could you tell us what we need to do?

Teller: Sure. Are either of you already customers?

Customer: Yes, I have my current account with you but my partner banks elsewhere.

Teller: That’s fine. We just need to see some proof of identity for both of you. Either a passport or driving licence with a photo on. You’ll need to deposit at least £20 initially.

Customer: No problem. And can you explain a little bit about how your online banking works?

Teller: Yes, it’s really easy. We will send you each a card reader along with your debit cards within five working days. You’ll need your card reader to make payments by bank transfer.

And it’s easy to manage your payees online. Once you have set up a payee, you won’t need to do so again for future transactions.

Customer: But what about security?

Teller: You’ll have a password and you’ll set up security questions with secret answers to protect your account. Once you’re in your account, you can set up, cancel or change standing orders and direct debits.

Customer: Sorry, what’s the difference between a standing order and a direct debit? I thought they were the same?

Teller: Well, they’re very similar. A standing order is always the same amount, whereas a direct debit can be changed by the recipient.

So, for example, electricity bills will be different every month, so would be paid by direct debit, whereas something like a club membership will be the same every time.

Customer: Oh, I see. So, shall we fill in the forms now …

Conversation 2

Customer: Hi. I bought these boots online and they don’t fit very well.

I was planning to exchange them, but I’ve just had a look and the next size up is not available. Could I get a refund, please?

Shop assistant: Can I see your receipt please?

Unfortunately, we can’t give a refund on these items because they were in the sale. We can give you a credit note instead.

Customer: Sorry, what’s a credit note?

Shop assistant: It means you can replace the boots with anything in the shop up to the amount you paid for them, which was, er … £36.50.

Customer: What if I can’t find anything I want?

Shop assistant: The credit note is valid for up to six months from today.

Customer: Oh, that sounds OK then. I’ll have a look around and if I can’t find anything, I’ll come back in a few weeks.

Conversation 3

Dominique: Pete, I need to borrow some money off you. I am flat broke.

Pete: Sorry, Dominique, but this time I cannot bail you out.

I’m barely getting by myself at the moment, what with the course fees being due next month.

I can just about afford to pay those but then I am pretty much living hand-to-mouth until the end of the semester.

Dominique: Then I’m in even deeper trouble. I dipped into the money I put aside for the tuition fees, just to get by, and now I don’t know where I’m going to find the money.

I can’t ask Mum and Dad for anything as they have already given us both more than they can afford. And I have maxed out my credit card, so I can’t use that to get me out of jail.

Pete: Have you spoken to the bank about extending your overdraft?

Dominique: No, not yet. I am reluctant to get into more debt.

Pete: I don’t think you have a choice here – it’s that or be expelled from the course.

If you are worried about the debt, perhaps you should consider a part-time job, you know, in a bar or restaurant somewhere.

They’re advertising for someone to work Saturdays in that clothes shop in town, the one next to our favourite coffee shop.

Dominique: But that would mean losing my Saturdays.

Pete: I know, but you have to face up to reality.

Sooner or later you are going to have to pay your own way. You have sponged off me and Mum and Dad long enough.  

Vocabulary

These goods are on sale = for sale = these goods are available for purchase.
These goods are in the sale = these goods are included in the cut-price offer.

Open World p 50. Events and Services Related to Money. Listening. Sentence Selection

 

1. A gaming tournament held in Michigan is near the speaker's home.

2. Children are allowed to drive go-karts in their hospital rooms.

3. According to the speaker, the sooner children learn about economics, the better. 

4. Car boot sales have lost popularity with the advent of reselling apps and websites.

5. Not only did the organisers of a free business seminar make money from it but they also managed to make themselves known.

6. Loyalty cards is a gimmick companies use to collect useful data about shopping habits

 

 

KEY

 

 

1. F  (that’s right up my street anyway)

(right) up your street (also (right) up your alley)

(informal) very suitable for you because it is something that you know a lot about or are very interested in. 

E.g. A teaching job would be right up her alley.

 

 

2. F (These are robust gaming systems with the latest software that can be wheeled into a patient’s room) (https://youtu.be/qm_n8-BLo2w) 

3. F (To my mind, kids should be kids. They have plenty of time to learn about all that when they’re older.)

 

 

4. F (Or so I thought.)

 

 

5. T (Over the day, the organisers definitely weren’t out of pocket, and had certainly achieved their aim of getting themselves into the public eye.) 

 

 

6. T (The information they gain through the use of loyalty cards affords them major strategic and financial advantages.)

 

SCRIPT

Track 023
Speaker 1: Have you ever heard of Gamers for Giving? It’s a gaming tournament held in Michigan, which founder Zach Wigal describes as a ‘celebration of gaming culture’.

Well, that’s right up my street anyway, but to make it 100 times more worthwhile, the proceeds of around half a million dollars go to Gamers Outreach, who place ‘Gaming Go-Karts’ in Children’s hospitals.

These are robust gaming systems with the latest software that can be wheeled into a patient’s room to give access to what Wigal calls ‘recreation therapy’.

Volunteers act as digital activity managers, distributing games, solving technical issues and even playing with the kids. Sounds like the perfect excuse to have some fun!

Speaker 2: Apparently, these days there’s a drive to start ‘money management’ skills earlier and earlier.

I don’t think we ever thought about money management when I was a kid, apart from which sweets to buy with our pocket money, but this organisation called Coalition for Personal Economic Literacy has set up so-called ‘standards in economic education’ for children from kindergarten upwards.

According to them, a fourth grader should be able to understand how basic pay and tax deductions work. By the age of 12, they are supposed to understand about government benefits and earned versus unearned income.

To my mind, kids should be kids. They have plenty of time to learn about all that when they’re older.

Speaker 3: It seems unlikely in these days of digital reselling that people still get up early on a Saturday morning to go to a muddy field or car park to rummage through stuff other people are throwing out. Or so I thought.

They do say ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’ and this seems to apply perfectly to car boot sales. There’s something in the atmosphere which sets them apart from other shopping experiences.

There’s always the remote but thrilling chance that you might find the bargain of a lifetime.

I love the amateur entrepreneurship and good-natured haggling at these events. It’s fascinating to see what other people are selling – and buying.

Speaker 4: Recently I attended a free business seminar. While I was registering for it I was asking myself how on earth the organisers could put on such an event without charging for admission.

I mean, surely they’d have to rent the venue and pay the speakers? What was the point?

I attended the event with that question in mind and I soon had it answered.

There were lots of paid extras on offer, such as virtual reality experiences and consultations with experts. There was even a photo booth that let you share pictures of yourself on social media.

Over the day, the organisers definitely weren’t out of pocket, and had certainly achieved their aim of getting themselves into the public eye.

Speaker 5: I have so many loyalty cards for different stores it’s getting out of hand. To be honest, I can’t keep track of them and don’t even know how they all work.

So, I was interested to read an article about how research has shown that the savings for the customer are barely worth the effort of getting these cards.

For example, you would have to shop in a particular supermarket every week for two years to get a free weekly shop.

The ones that actually benefit from these schemes are the companies that operate them. The information they gain through the use of loyalty cards affords them major strategic and financial advantages.

Given all this, I don’t think I’ll bother with them anymore.

Vocabulary:

drive: an effort to achieve something, especially an effort by an organization for a particular purpose.

E.g.

a recruitment drive for new members  

an economy drive (=effort to reduce spending)

drive to do something  a nationwide drive to crack down on crime

rummage: /ˈrʌmɪdʒ/ + adv./ prep. to move things around carelessly while searching for something. Sp. buscar revolviéndolo todo.

E.g.
She was rummaging around in her bag for her keys.
I rummaged through the contents of the box until I found the book I wanted.

 

put on: produce or present a play, a show, etc.

E.g. The local drama club is putting on ‘Macbeth’. 

keep/lose track of somebody/something      ​to have/not have information about what is happening or where somebody/something is. Sp. mantenerse al tanto,  llevar la cuenta.

E.g.

Bank statements help you keep track of where your money is going.         

I lost all track of time (= forgot what time it was).

Open World p 49. Cryptocurrencies. Listening

1.  Bruno asks Alice if she can give him a _____________ of what cryptocurrencies are.

2. Cryptocurrencies are __________________ digital currencies without a central bank.

3. Bitcoin is controlled by the users cutting out the ___________/ __________. 

4.  When paying for something, you will receive a Bitcoin address. You then have to add the ____________ to the network. 

5. The blockchain is a type of electronic _____________, or record book. 

6. Bitcoin cannot be ______________ or hacked. 

7. Another big disadvantage of Bitcoin is its _____________. 

8. Cryptocurrencies could _____________ the world of finance in the same way that email and social media have changed how we communicate.

KEY

1. breakdown

breakdown: a list of all the separate parts of something. Sp. desglose. E.g.  First, let's look at a breakdown of the costs.     Please provide us with a breakdown of expenditure by department. 

2. decentralised

 

 

3. middle man

 

 

 

4. transaction

 

 

 

5. ledger

ledger: a book or electronic document in which a bank, a business, etc. records the money it has paid and received. Sp. libro de contabilidad

E.g.
to enter figures in the purchase/sales ledger

 

6. counterfeited 

counterfeited: made to look exactly like something else, in order to deceive people. Sp. Falsificado



7. volatility

 

 

8. revolutionise

Script:

Track 022

Bruno: I’ve been trying to get my head around Bitcoin and crypto-currency but I find it all so confusing. Could you give me a breakdown of what they are and how they work, in simple terms?

Alice: I’ll do my best.

Bruno: OK, so let’s start with the obvious question – what is it exactly?

Alice: Well, Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, a form of electronic cash.

Bruno: Well, I know that much.

Alice: Good. So you are aware then that cryptocurrencies are decentralised digital currencies without a central bank or single administrator that can be sent from user to user on the peer-to-peer bitcoin network without the need for intermediaries.

Bruno: You’ve lost me there.

Alice: OK, let me rephrase that. Basically they’re internet-based currencies but outside of the control of banks and international currencies.

Bruno: OK, right. Is that good?

Alice: Well, yes, in theory. The idea is that Bitcoin is controlled by the users and that it cuts out the middle man.

Bruno: I’m sorry. What do you mean by ‘cuts out the middle man’? I don’t know that term.

Alice: In this context it means that you are not paying fees to banks or other financial services when you buy and sell or transfer money.

Bruno: Right. I like the sound of that. So how does it work? What I mean is: how can I get it?

Alice: Well, you can start by installing a wallet on your computer.

Bruno: A wallet? I’m afraid I don’t follow.

Alice: Well, put simply, it’s a piece of software on your computer that allows you to send, receive or transfer Bitcoin. It’s literally an electronic wallet where you keep your Bitcoin.

Bruno: OK. So how do people buy and sell with Bitcoin?

Alice: To pay for something, you log into your wallet. You receive a Bitcoin address, sometimes in the form of a QR code and you enter how much Bitcoin you want to send. You then add the transaction to the network.

Bruno: I am sorry, I didn’t quite get that last part. You said something about QR codes, right?

Alice: Yes, what I mean by that is those funny square codes that look a bit like barcodes. A lot of businesses use them these days.

Bruno: Oh yes, I know what you mean. OK, I get that part. But I do have another question. If Bitcoin is decentralised like you say, who administers it and verifies these transactions?

Alice: All transactions are tracked on the blockchain, which, to put it in a nutshell, is a type of electronic ledger, or record book.

Each transaction is verified by volunteers, often called ‘miners’. I won’t go into details but Bitcoin miners can also earn Bitcoin by doing this work.

Bruno: OK. And one last question. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies?

Alice: Well, apart from the ones I have already mentioned, it is very secure and resistant to online fraud because of its cryptography, and it cannot be counterfeited or hacked.

Having said that, it is a target for online scammers, so like anything involving money online, you do need to be careful.

The other big disadvantage at the moment is its volatility. You have probably seen on the news that the real world monetary value of Bitcoin has gone up and done a lot over the last few years.

Bruno: So what you are saying is it’s a bit like the stock market and if you invest in Bitcoin, you could lose money.

Alice: Exactly. Like everything in life, there is an element of risk involved, but many experts think it and other cryptocurrencies could revolutionise the world of finance in the same way that email and social media have changed how we communicate.

Bruno: Thanks, Alice. I’ll certainly look into it more now.

Open World p 44

Do Ex 1

Do Ex 2

Script


Track 019

Did you know that the word salary derives from the Latin word for salt, salarium?

It may be one of the cheapest and most readily available items on your shopping list today, but salt has had a tremendous importance in economies across the world throughout history.

Due to legal restrictions in its production, it was precious enough to be welcomed as payment for wages as well as in trade.

I had always wondered why we say someone is ‘not worth his salt’ when we mean he is not good enough. So is that linked to salt being used to pay workers?

Another thing I learnt is that salt is still used as currency today among the nomads of the Danakil plains in Ethiopia.



Do Ex 4

Script


Track 020

The benefits of using seashells as currency were many: they are small, light, durable and easy to transport.

Perhaps the key advantage was that they have very specific shapes and distinctive textures, making forgery a challenge.

Apparently, China was the first to use them as currency, which surprised me as the cowrie shells came from places like the Maldives and other parts of the Indian and Pacific oceans.

I need to do some more research on how they managed to transport them so far.

One really fascinating fact is that the Chinese language still reflects this aspect of China’s history as words related to money contain the symbol for a cowrie shell!


Vocabulary:


cowrie: /ˈkaʊri/ a small shiny shell that was used as money in the past in parts of Africa and Asia.

Open World p 44. Forms of Currency. Sentence Selection. Listening

1. The idiom "not for all the tea in China" means not even for a great reward. ______

2. Tea was used as currency because the state controlled its production.  _____

3. Only the tea of highest quality could be used as currency. ______

4. The extras would help make a very appetising cup of tea. ______ 

5. The mobile phone airtime is commonly used as a form of currency. _______

6. Pre-paid mobile phone minutes allow people to get round legal restrictions. ______

7. The pre-paid mobile phone minutes can be exchanged for goods and services. _____

 

KEY

1. T

 

 

2. T

3. F (The bricks were of various sizes and qualities)

 

 

 

4. F (I don’t think they would have made a very appetising cuppa!)

 

 

 

5. F (In fact, it would be interesting to see how widespread this actually is.)

 

 

 

6. T  (It occurs because regulations affecting banks mean that account holders are not permitted to transfer money via their phones.)

 

 

 

7. T  (can also be even bartered for goods and services.)

 

Script

Track 021

Speaker 1: I’ve heard the expression ‘not for all the tea in China’ used to say there is no price high enough, but I didn’t realise it related to the time when tea was actually a form of currency.

From the 9th century onwards, the Chinese Emperor had a monopoly on tea, making it hard for ordinary people to get hold of and easier for his empire to oversee.

Tea bricks were produced in the Chinese province of Sichuan and transported in caravans of yaks and camels.

The bricks were of various sizes and qualities, the poorest quality ones containing extras like twigs, soot and wood shavings.

It’s not clear if these went on to be drunk but I don’t think they would have made a very appetising cuppa!

Speaker 2: This form of currency actually relates to the present day rather than to a period of history.

In many parts of Africa, pre-paid mobile phone minutes have been serving as de facto currency. In fact, it would be interesting to see how widespread this actually is.

It occurs because regulations affecting banks mean that account holders are not permitted to transfer money via their phones.

As up to 99.5% of connections are pre-paid in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda, users’ credit can be used for digital purchases such as games and song downloads.

The airtime can also be exchanged for cash with phone dealers or even bartered for goods and services.

 

get hold of: obtain.

E.g.

Can you tell me where I can get hold of a watch like yours?

You need to get hold of a copy of his birth certificate.

 

oversee: supervise.

E.g. 

United Nations observers oversaw the elections.

 

yak: an animal of the cow family, with long horns and long hair, that lives in central Asia.

 

twig: small branch.

 

soot: black powder that is produced when wood, coal, etc. is burnt. Sp. hollín.

E.g.

The fireplace was blackened with soot.

 

wood shavings: thin curly wood shavings used for packing or stuffing.

 

de facto: /ˌdeɪ ˈfæktəʊ/ 

existing in fact, although perhaps not intended, legal, or accepted. Sp. de hecho.

E.g. 

The city is rapidly becoming the de facto centre of the financial world. 

He's her de facto husband though they're not actually married. 

English is de facto the common language of much of the world today.
The general took de facto control of the country.

 

airtime: 

1) the amount of broadcasting time that a person, a subject, or an advertisement has on television or radio: 

E.g. 

advertising/radio/television airtime

2) the amount of time that is paid for when you are using a mobile phone.

E.g.

This deal gives you 180 minutes free airtime a month. 

barter: the system of exchanging goods, property, services, etc. for other goods, etc. without using money

E.g.

The islanders use a system of barter instead of money.

 

Speakout Advanced p 75. Shopping and Consumerism. Extra Speaking

Speakout Advanced p 75. Shopping. Extra Speaking

A Have a conversation as natural as possible with a partner about the topic. Use the pictures above and the questions below to help you.

1. Is the society we live in too consumer oriented? Do you follow the latest fads or do you have your own sense of style?
2. People spend a lot during the sales.  Is this justified? Do you believe in the sales? Do you think some people buy things on impulse?
3. How do advertisers manage to strike a chord with the consumers? Does advertising play an important role when we decide to purchase commodities?  Is the best advertising the one that spreads by word of mouth? How do you achieve this? Do you think advertisers should be paid generously? Who do you think should?
4. What do you think of shopping online / in second hand shops/ at auction? Why do you think vintage clothes shops have become so popular nowadays?
5. What product/service sales are currently soaring? What have we seen a proliferation of? As a result, what business would you invest heavily in? Do you think the consumers will tire of this product/service? 
6. What product/service sales have currently lost their appeal and consequently stagnated? What would give rise to a sales jump?

B MONOLOGUE
 

Student A

1. Are we fashion victims?  Why?  Why not? What kind of trends/products get out of date too soon and why? How do trends take off?
2. “He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have” (Socrates).  Discuss.
3. Do you think that the fact that the economy is at a low ebb has brought about a shift in our shopping habits?

Student B

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of flea markets?

2. Do you look at prices when you go shopping?  When did you last ask for a quote? In what situations do people or organizations usually pay in advance? And in arrears? And in instalments?  And in full? And on expenses? Have you ever bought anything on hire purchase? And on credit?
3. "Women enjoy buying things, men don't." Do you agree with this statement? Do you think women spend freely and men are frugal and save hard?

Vocabulary

fad: something that people are interested in for only a short period of time. Craze.E.g. the latest/ current fad. A fad for physical fitness. Rap music proved to be more than just a passing fad.

Impulse: /ˈɪmpʌls/ a sudden strong wish or need to do something, without stopping to think about the results. E.g. He had a sudden impulse to stand up and sing. I resisted the impulse to laugh. Her first impulse was to run away. The door was open and on (an) impulse she went inside. He tends to act on impulse. 

strike/touch a chord (with somebody) to say or do something that makes people feel sympathy or enthusiasm. E.g. The speaker had obviously struck a chord with his audience.

by word of mouth because people tell each other and not because they read about it. E.g. The news spread by word of mouth.

pay generously/ handsomely

auction /ˈɔːkʃn/ a public event at which things are sold to the person who offers the most money for them. E.g. an auction of paintings. The house is up for auction(= will be sold at an auction ). A classic Rolls-Royce fetched (= was sold for) £25000 at auction. An Internet auction site.
 
soar: if the value, amount or level of something soars, it rises very quickly. E.g. Unemployment has soared to 18%. 

proliferation: /prəˌlɪfəˈreɪʃn/ the sudden increase in the number or amount of something; a large number of a particular thing. E.g. attempts to prevent cancer cell proliferation. A proliferation of personal computers. 

invest foolishly/ heavily/ wisely

tire of something/somebody: to become bored with something/ somebody or begin to enjoy it/ them less. E.g. They soon tired of the beach and went for a walk. She was sure that he would soon tire of her. There are plenty of restaurants for those who tire of shopping.

stagnated stopped growing. To stop developing or making progress. E.g. Profits have stagnated. I feel I'm stagnating in this job. Businesses must adapt to change or stagnate.

give rise to something: (formal) to cause something to happen or exist. E.g. The novel's success gave rise to a number of sequels.

jump (in something) a sudden increase in amount, price or value. E.g. a 20 per cent jump in pre-tax profits. Unusually large price jumps  

out of date: old-fashioned or without the most recent information and therefore no longer useful. E.g These figures are very out of date. Suddenly she felt old and out of date. An out-of-date map. Out-of-date technology.  

The ebb: /eb/ the period of time when the sea flows away from the land. E.g. the ebb tide.
at a low ebb: in a poor state; worse than usual. E.g. Morale among teachers is at a low ebb.

bring something about: to make something happen. Cause. E.g. What brought about the change in his attitude? 

shift (in something) a change in position or direction. E.g. a dramatic shift in public opinion. A shift of emphasis.

quote (also quotation or estimate) a statement of how much money a particular piece of work will cost. E.g. Their quote for the job was way too high. You need to get a written quotation before they start work. We'll give you a free quotation for replacing your windows. We got estimates from three firms and accepted the lowest.

In arrears: /əˈrɪəz/ if money or a person is paid in arrears for work, the money is paid after the work has been done. E.g. if you pay in arrears, you settle the bill when the work is finished.

Instalment: /ɪnˈstɔːlmənt/ one of a number of payments that are made regularly over a period of time until something has been paid for. Sp. Plazo, cuota. E.g. we paid for the car by/ in instalments.

in full: to the full amount due. E.g. their relocation costs would be paid in full.

expenses [plural] money that you spend while you are working and which your employer will pay back to you later. E.g. You can claim back your travelling/ travel expenses. To take a client out for a meal on expenses. An all-expenses-paid trip 

Hire purchase: /ˈpɜːtʃəs/ A system by which one pays for a thing in regular instalments while having the use of it. The article only belongs to the person who is buying it when all the payments have been made. Sp. Comprar algo a plazos. E.g. a hire purchase agreement. We're buying a new cooker on hire purchase.

Credit: an arrangement that you make, with a shop/store for example, to pay later for something you buy. E.g. we bought the dishwasher on credit.

spend freely/ extravagantly/ wisely

Frugal: /ˈfruːɡl / using only as much money or food as is necessary. Sp. Austero. E.g. a frugal existence/ life. He has always been hard-working and frugal. 

save carefully/ hard