Test IX

Read the text carefully then do the activities

The great majority of people are daily bombarded by advertisements: When they watch TV, when
they listen to the radio or read a newspaper. Consequently, they dont think for themselves. For
example, theyll buy a new pair of jeans when they already have half a dozen of them. Advertising
relies on creating a new need, satisfying this need and then destroying that satisfaction. Whatever
you buy makes you unsatisfied because advertising keeps on creating for you a need for something
else of the same kind. It creates a frustration that induces you to buy something you dont really
need but which, for sometime at least, makes you appear younger, more beautiful, more
courageous, more adventurous etc... Advertising does tempt you. Who hasnt met people driving
speedy, racing-cars to go to the local supermarket? This being written, advertisers do not persuade
you to give your money to buy a car. The advertiser will persuade you to buy their car and not the
other manufacturers one.
In fact, advertising is a huge commercial manipulation that reduces peoples freedom: You are
being manipulated therefore you have no freedom of choice!

Freely adapted from New Prospects

Read the text then do the activities:
Part One: Reading:
A) Comprehension/Interpretation
I) Choose the correct answer according to the text.
1) The general idea of the text is:
a) The power of advertising
b) The positive aspects of advertising
b) The history of advertising
2) The writer is:
a) narrating a story
c) expressing an opinion
d) describing an advertisement
3) The consumer is made:
a) always frustrated
b) always satisfied
c) always creative
4) The advertiser manipulates
a) TV
b) potential customers
c) advertisers

2) Put the following ideas in order according to their occurrence in the text:
a) Advertising creates new needs
b) People are being manipulated by advertising
c) People dont think for themselves
d) Advertising makes you feel frustrated.

3) Complete the following table. Write the relevant questions or answers.

An example is given.
Questions
Answers
a) What are the communication means used by 1) The communication means are: TV, radio,
advertisers?
newspapers
b) .......................................
2) Frustration induces consumers to buy new
things
c) ........................................
3) No, the consumer doesnt.
d) How does the advertizer make the consumer 4)
feel?

The text is: a) argumentative

b) narrative

B) Text Exploration:
1) Find in the text words closest in meaning to:
a) sort
b) pushes
c) handsome

c) descriptive

d) enormous

2) Use the adequate suffix to form nouns with the following verbs:
Suffixes: __ing, __ment, __ance, __ion.
Verbs
To bomb
To advertise
To listen
To buy
To rely
To satisfy
To create
To persuade

Nouns
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?

3) Combine the pairs using the appropriate connector:

As long as / Which
a) Advertising techniques are improving. The number of manipulated consumers is increasing.
b) My friend bought a new car. It was advertised on TV.

4) Re-write the second sentence so that it means the same as the first one.
a) Advertisers are improving their manipulation techniques to make people buy their new
products.

b) .......................................... so that ....................................................

a) The freedom of choice persists when consumers refuse to be manipulated by advertisers.
b) If ...................................................

5) Underline the silent letter in the following words:

listen - already - creating - something - appear - beautiful

6) Complete the following dialogue:

Daisy: .............................
Brian: People are right to criticise advertising
Daisy ...............................
Brian: Because it is a great manipulation
Daisy: ..............................
Brian: Yes, its a sort of propaganda.
Daisy: ...............................
Brian: Youre right. Theres a difference.
Daisy: .................................
Brian: The difference is that propaganda is political while advertising commercial

Part Two: Writing

Choose one of the following topics:
Topic one: You are working with an advertising agency.
You are asked to make an advert which will make people buy a new kind of product (a
computer, a mobile phone, a car ...)
Topic two: Are you for or against advertising?
Write a composition of about 80 words stating your opinion.