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China's Big Spenders
China's Big Spenders
China's Big Spenders
They’re very picky about designer labels. They don’t spend money on DIY or lingerie. And they never, ever buy cheese.
Why are Chinese consumers such complicated creatures?
A. Read the first two paragraphs of the text and write True or False next to the following statements.
Account for all your answers by quoting from the text.
2. The gap is huge on what concerns the past decade of Chinese purchasing habits.
4. On the other hand, in nations, like for instance, the USA, there have been few economic losses.
B. Complete the sentences according to the text, without changing their original meaning.
2. The existing gap between the very poor and the very rich makes the latter want to call attention
__________________________.
3. Some Chinese people are willing to live a frugal life as long as they are able to spare enough for
__________________________ merchandise.
C. Answer the following questions using your own words as far as possible.
1. According to what you have read, why has Arthur Krober used the expression “China’s consumers
represent an archipelago of wealth amid a sea of rural poverty” and not “China’s consumers represent a sea
of wealth amid an archipelago of rural poverty”?
2. Explain the third paragraph of the text using your own words.
3. Give two reasons why Chinese consumers are going to be crucial for both multinational companies and
overseas tourist destinations?
D. Write who or what the following words or expressions in bold refer to in the text.
1. this
2. your
3. their
4. a near-impossible task
5. of which
II - B
Comment on the following statement in no more than 60 words. “We no longer live life. We consume it”.
III – C
Rephrase the following sentences so that they correspond to its original meaning.
1. “I’m saving up to buy this spectacular car you can see on the car dealer’s shop window.”
2. I bought more than I can afford and now I don’t have enough money to last the rest of the month.
If I …
Seldom ….
50,000 …
My …
In spite of …
8. He doesn’t like ostentatious cars and he doesn’t like very frugal cars, either.
He neither …
10. If you don’t put aside material things, they will one day totally engulf your spirit.
Unless …
IV – D
Choose either option A or B and write a well-structured text using about 120 words.
A. Your opinion on the environmental implications of unsustainable production and consumption patterns.