I Fill in the gaps in the article with the correct tense of the verbs

UK PROPERTY PRICES
REALITY TV AND ECONOMIC REALITY
Today, it seems half of the programmes on the UK television _______ (be) about houses.
It all _________ (start) in 2000, with the first reality TV show Big Brother house. But
now it seems most programmes _____ (be) about buying and selling homes. One reason
for all the interest is the high price of property. House prices in the UK (increase) by
about 75% in the last five years and by over 1000% in the last ten years.
Last year, a documentary series _____ (follow) Britons who _____ (sell_ their houses
and _______ (move) to the continent. Most _____ (decide) to move for better weather
and less stress. But there was also a small question of money. In most parts of Europe
property prices ________ (rise) at the moment, but not as fast as in the UK. The price of
a two bedroom flat in London for example, _____ (be) currently equivalent to 600.000enough to buy a property ten times bigger in most parts of Europe.
TV and reality are usually very different, of course, and some economics think process
______ (go) down in the near future. If house prices fall suddenly, the UK economy
______ (be) in serious trouble. But other economists think prices _____ (stay) high for a
number of reasons.
II Now answer the questions about the article
1.
2.
3.
4.

In the title, what word is the general name for houses and apartments?
In the UK, why have there been so many TV programmes about houses?
What is happening to the prices in Europe, compared with the UK?
What are economists forecast for the UK houses prices?

III Match the pairs to complete the definitions.

1. The percentage of people without a job is a rate of
2. The amount prices increase in general, each year, is
3. If you get a loan from a bank, you
4. Banks give loans. They
5. The percentage a bank charges on a loan is the
6. Money you have borrowed is called
7. A loan to buy a house or an apartment is called a
8. When the economy grows very fast, it is called a
9. When the economy slows down for a time, it is a
10. When prices fall down suddenly, it is called a
a) lend (money).
b) borrow (money).
c) inflation.

d) mortgage.
e) debt.
f)recession.
g) unemployment.
h) interest rate.
i) crash.
j) boom.
IV Read the comments about decisions making. Which do you agree and disagree with?
Say why.
1. I think its best to tell people what you really think of their suggestions and to be
direct.
2. If you do not agree with someones idea, it is important not to criticizes their
suggestion.
3. In companies, its best to make group decisions. Its important that all team
agrees.
4. In the end, one person has to make a decision, even if the others in the team do
not agree.