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 * MP3

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    the handout

* Text jumble 1

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* Consonants

* Vowels

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* Gap-fill

Internet damaging 20,000 U.K. stores (3rd September, 2013)

The Internet has changed how we shop. More and more of us shop online instead of in "bricks and mortar" stores. In the United Kingdom, this is having terrible consequences for the traditional high-street store. A business leader has released a report containing worrying statistics on the future of U.K. retailing. CEO Bill Grimsey warns that 47 per cent of chain stores (20,000 shops) are "horribly stressed financially". He predicts a quarter of these will be gone within three years. Mr Grimsey also said the move away from traditional shopping has led to "ugly" town centres.


 
 

Mr Grimsey gave reasons for the decline of Britain's downtown areas. Over 40,000 shops are empty - 11 per cent of all retail space. Stores have not risen to meet challenges from the Internet. He said stores are stuck in the past and are not looking at the future. They need innovative ideas to bring customers back. He said companies were too "nostalgic". Another reason is that multinational companies are taking money away from local areas. He said it was difficult to keep local money within the local economy if "we are listening too much to big firms".

 


 
 
 

 
 

 
 

Sources:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/10278443/Half-of-high-street-retailers-in-danger-of-closing-down.html http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/news/article-2407852/Warning-20-000-high-street-shops-brink-collapse.html#ixzz2dchKcX2v http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/editorial-time-to-rethink-the-high-street-8792880.html

Try Level 4 (one level lower) or Level 6 (one level higher)

MATCHING


 
 
 

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

changed

a.

issued

2.

consequences

b.

troubling

3.

traditional

c.

unattractive

4.

released

d.

long-established

5.

worrying

e.

transformed

6.

predicts

f.

inside

7.

within

g.

effects

8.

ugly

h.

forecasts

PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

reasons

a.

neighbourhood

2.

decline

b.

sentimental

3.

empty

c.

degeneration

4.

risen

d.

vacant

5.

innovative

e.

causes

6.

nostalgic

f.

companies

7.

local

g.

responded

8.

firms

h.

fresh

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

The Internet has (1) ___________________. More and more of us shop online instead of in "bricks and mortar" stores. In the United Kingdom, this is having (2) ___________________ for the traditional high-street store. A business leader has released a report containing (3) ___________________ (4) ___________________. CEO Bill Grimsey warns that 47 per cent of chain stores (20,000 shops) (5) ___________________ financially". He predicts a quarter of these will be gone within three years. Mr Grimsey also said the move away from traditional shopping (6) ___________________ town centres.

Mr Grimsey gave reasons (7) ___________________ Britain's downtown areas. Over 40,000 shops are empty - 11 per cent of all retail space. Stores have (8) ___________________ challenges from the Internet. He said stores are (9) ___________________ are not looking at the future. They need innovative ideas to (10) ___________________. He said companies were too "nostalgic". Another reason is that (11) ___________________ are taking money away from local areas. He said it was difficult to keep local money (12) ___________________ if "we are listening too much to big firms".

SHOPS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about shops in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.

When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

 

STUDENT 1

_____________

STUDENT 2

_____________

STUDENT 3

_____________

Q.1.

 

 

 

 

Q.2.

 

 

 

 

Q.3.

 

 

 

 

Q.4.

 

 

 

 

Q.5.

 

 

 

 

  • Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found out. Change partners often.
  • Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

WRITE QUESTIONS & ASK YOUR PARTNER(S)

Student A: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Student B: Do not show these to your speaking partner(s).

a)

________________________________________________________

b)

________________________________________________________

c)

________________________________________________________

d)

________________________________________________________

e)

________________________________________________________

f)

________________________________________________________

g)

________________________________________________________

h)

________________________________________________________

FREE WRITING

Write about Internet shopping for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

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