The Reading / Listening - Level 5

A consumer group in the UK has reported that many Internet sites are full of fake reviews. The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) believes there are millions of reviews on sites for hotels, restaurants, online stores, etc. that are there to trick shoppers. At least 25 million Britons read reviews on websites such as Amazon and TripAdvisor before booking holidays or shopping online. Writing fake reviews for companies is now big business. Many companies write fake reviews to market themselves. Others offer money, free samples or upgrades in exchange for five-star reviews.

Online reviews are very important to businesses. Estimates are that in Britain alone, $36 billion a year of consumer spending could be influenced by online reviews. The CMA said: "Millions of people look at online reviews and endorsements before making decisions such as where to stay on holiday." It added: "We have found that consumers who use online reviews…find them valuable, but we have also heard about some practices that may be unlawful." Illegal activity includes rival companies posting negative remarks about each other. Bosses could face prison for doing this.

Try the same news story at these levels:

    Level 4 or  Level 6

Sources
  • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/shopping-and-consumer-news/11685060/Shoppers-duped-by-millions-of-fake-online-reviews.html
  • https://uk.news.yahoo.com/paid-online-reviews-probed-230216331.html#zsuRkqJ
  • http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3130647/Probe-fake-online-reviews-Watchdog-acts-fears-thousands-duped.html


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

The Activities

MATCHING

PARAGRAPH ONE:

1.

A consumer

a.

of fake reviews

2.

sites are full

b.

business

3.

millions of reviews on sites

c.

shoppers

4.

there to trick

d.

shopping online

5.

At least

e.

group

6.

booking holidays or

f.

for five-star reviews

7.

big

g.

for hotels

8.

in exchange

h.

25 million Britons



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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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PARAGRAPH TWO:

1.

Online reviews are very

a.

where to stay on holiday

2.

in Britain

b.

spending

3.

consumer

c.

companies

4.

could be influenced

d.

prison for doing this

5.

decisions such as

e.

important to businesses

6.

rival

f.

remarks about each other

7.

posting negative

g.

alone

8.

Bosses could face

h.

by online reviews

LISTEN AND FILL IN THE GAPS

A consumer group in the UK (1) ___________________ many Internet sites are full of fake reviews. The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) (2) ___________________ millions of reviews on sites for hotels, restaurants, online stores, etc. that (3) ___________________ shoppers. At least 25 million Britons read reviews on websites such as Amazon and TripAdvisor before booking holidays or shopping online. (4) ___________________ for companies is (5) ___________________. Many companies write fake reviews to market themselves. Others offer money, free samples or upgrades in (6) ___________________ reviews.

Online reviews (7) ___________________ to businesses. Estimates are that in Britain alone, $36 billion a year of consumer spending (8) ___________________ by online reviews. The CMA said: "Millions of people look at online reviews and endorsements before making decisions (9) ___________________ stay on holiday." It added: "We have found that consumers who use online reviews…(10) ___________________, but we have also heard about some practices that (11) ___________________." Illegal activity includes rival companies posting negative remarks about each other. Bosses (12) ___________________ doing this.

ONLINE REVIEWS SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about online reviews 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.

 

 

 

 

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 online reviews for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner's paper.

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Answers

(Please check your answers against the article above.

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