Language in use

Reading

Ex 1. a )Read the title and the first paragraph of the article. Britain’s Young Consumers

What do you think British teenagers spend their money on?

Read to find out.

b)Read the teenagers' quotes (1-6) in the text and match each one to
the comments (A-F) below.

A. I have borrowed money, which I will pay back when I start working.

B. I'm such a keen fan that I spend my pocket money on buying tickets for all their matches.

C. It's not that I'm too lazy to work, I just don't have the time. I need to get good grades.

D. I want one that takes photos and has an MP3 player on it.

E. I don't mind earning my pocket money. I think it's only fair!

F. I've just bought some fantastic new jeans. I spent two weeks' wages on them. Shopping is my favourite hobby.

c) Who are you most like? Why?

Britain’s Young Consumers

There are over 9 million of them in Britain and they are the most powerful group of consumers. Who are they? Teenagers! A retailer's 'dream come true'. Each year they spend £6 billion.

Sweets and chocolates are still the number one best seller, but sales of mobile phone cards are catching up quickly, and they are expected to overtake sweets and chocolates very soon.

Modern technology is rapidly replacing traditional favourite pastimes such as board games and reading with video game consoles like PlayStation 2 and Xbox, which cost over £300. Quite a lot of teenagers have also joined clubs that involve extreme sports, such as I gliding and parachuting. This means that parents are digging deeper J into their pockets than ever before. They are handing out a massive I £3.3 billion to their teenagers every year, but is this enough? Obviously not, because this is only 60% of what they are spending!

Students are making ends meet by doing odd jobs, such as helping with the chores around the house, delivering newspapers, and working weekends as sales assistants in shops. Although they earn and receive the same amount of money, girls spend more than boys.

How about you? Do you get enough money? Are you a big spender or a saver? Here is what some students say:

1. 'I can neverresistbuying the latest fashions, and I eat out with my friends at least once a week. I guess I'm quite rich for a teenager! I earn £50 a week from my weekend job, and my parents give me an extra £20.'

(Patricia, 15, Swansea)

2. 'I am a first year university student and I have tosurvive on mystudent loan, which is £70 a week. It's not really enough. I had a credit card but I cut it up. I spend my money on snacks, bus fares, going to the gym and going out.'

(Hayley, 19, Middlesex)

3. 'I'm football crazy! I follow my team wherever they play.'' My parents give me £20 a week pocket money, and I earn " an extra £40 a week helping my dad in his shop.'

(Lee, 18, Manchester)

4. 'I get £15 a week and I spend it on computer games, CDs, comics, going out - anything really. I can't get a job at the moment because I'm studying for my exams.'

(Josh, 17, Enfield)

5. 'I earn £20 a week by doinghousehold chores for my parents. I'm mad about computer games and spend hours, playing with my friends. My parentscan't afford to splash out on expensive things for me, so I save the money Iearnfrom my Saturday job.'

(Robert, 16, Kent)

6. 'I get £10 a week. I enjoy going onshopping sprees and buying magazines. At the moment I'msaving upfor а mobile phone.'

(Andy, 18, Devon)

V. Evans Spotlight. Express Publishing, - 2010

Ex 2. a ) What do you think students in your country spend their money on? Choose from the list.

1) clothes and accessories • household bills • eating out

2) mobile phone cards • sweets and snacks • rent • bus fares • petrol • computer games • CDs/DVDs • going out (cinema, concerts, sporting events) • magazines/ books/comics • supermarket shopping

b) What do you spend your money on?

A: I spend most of my money on...

B: Me too. I also buy...

Ex 3. a) Fill in: waste, pay, cost, lend, borrow, save, earn. Check in your dictionaries.

1. How do you……………for things you buy: in cash, by cheque or by credit card? 2. Do you ever………..money to your friends? 3. Do you ever…..money from your friends? 4. Do you ………..up to buy something you want, e.g. a new bike? 5. Do you think teenager…………. their money on things they don't really need? 6. Which of the things you buy …………..a lot and which are reasonably priced? 7. Do you have a part-time job to ……………extra money?

b) Answer the questions (1-7) about yourself.

Ex 4. Translate the following statement: “The art is not making money, but in keeping it”.

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