Writing Item. Alexander Vásquez

Writing.

Level: EFL IPC Intermediate students

The following article deals with a piece of research conducted in the USA and England in order to understand some of the consumer habits British and American people have when spending their money.

Part I. Read the article and answer the following questions. 1 point each : 4 points

According to the information given in the text, what is a British couple with a stable high income likely to do if prices are expected to rise?



2) According to an economist, what are people with rising incomes likely to do?



3) What can we conclude about saving and spending patterns in the USA?



4) What would a customer do if the prices of toys are expected to rise right before Christmas?

Part II. Find a word in the text that means: 0.5 each= 2 points

a) “provided as a result of work or effort” ____________________
b) “likely to produce, or helping to happen” ___________________
c) “to hurry, to rush” ___________________

d) “reasons to do something” ___________________

Consumer Psychology

A scientist who does research in economic psychology and who wants to predict the way in which consumers will spend their money must study consumer behavior. He must obtain data both on the resources of consumers and on the motives that tend encourage or discourage money spending.

If an economist were asked which of three groups borrow most – people with rising incomes, stable incomes, or declining incomes – he would probably answer: those with declining incomes. Actually, in the years 1947-1950, the answer was people with rising incomes. People with declining incomes were next and people with stable incomes borrowed the least. If people who have money expect prices to go up, the economist would say that they will hasten to buy. If they expect prices to go down, they will postpone buying. Contrary to the economist’s assumption, research surveys have shown that this not always true, as the expectations of price increases may not stimulate buying. A rise in prices may be resented and buyer’s resistance may be evoked.

Traditional assumption about earning and spending should be investigated carefully, and factors of time and place should be considered. The investigations mentioned above were carried out in America. Research conducted at the same time in Britain, however, yielded results that were more in agreement with traditional assumptions about saving and spending patterns. The condition most conductive to spending appears to be price stability. If prices have stable and people have become accustomed to consider them “right” and expect them to remain stable, they are likely to buy.
Thus, it appears that the common business policy of maintaining stable prices with occasionally sales or discounts is based on a correct understanding of consumer psychology.



Part III. After reading the above text. Write in one sentence the main idea of this article. 2 points

_________________________________________________________

Listening.

Level: EFL students (False beginners)

Testing Microskills

VIDEO UNITS 1 - 2

1.- (01:41 – 02:43) In a Hotel 1 (Match the nationalities given in the box below with the name of the hotel guests) 0.5= 2 pts

Brazilian Italian Egyptian French Polish Japanese

Pietro Rossi: ___________________________

Sumiko Ito: ___________________________
Carlos Da Silva: ___________________________

Cristina Nova: ___________________________

2.- (05:00 – 05:28) Listen for detail. (Watch the video extract and correct the script below.) 0.5 c/u= 2 pts

A. CLARE: I’d like this, please. How much is it?
ASSISTANT: _________pounds, please. .


B. KRYSTYNA: I’d like this, please. How much is it?
ASSISTANT: _________ pounds.

C. JOHN: I’d like this, please. How much is it?
ASSISTANT: _________pounds, please.

3.- (06:54 – 06:25) Listen for detail and write the question the presenter asks. 1 pt c/u= 3 pts

a) ___________________________________________?
b) ___________________________________________?
c) ___________________________________________?

4.- (06:49 – 07:21) Talking Heads. (Six people answer questions. Watch the video and complete the sentences.)
0.50 c/u= 4 pts
a) My address is __________ Audley Road, Ealing West__________.
b) My address is __________ Yatch Club Road, Box B__________ St. Paul, Minnesota.
c) My telephone number is 0795__________45_______
d) My telephone number is __________348__________.

5.- (8:46 – 09:10) Watch for detail. (Write a check mark for the following jobs the people mention) 0.5 c/u= 3 pts

waiter ____ teacher _____ writer ____ receptionist ____ director ____

tour guide ____ doctor ____ housewife _____ manager ____ professor ____

architect ____ chef ____

6.- (12:10 – 12:55) Watch for detail. Listen and correct the script in the dialogue. There are six wrong pieces of information 0.50 c/u= 3pts

Rita: Now Mr. Brady surname, Brady-----B-r-a-d-y?
Mr. Brady: Yes.
Rita: Your middle name is James
Mr. Brady: Yes.
Rita: Are you married or single?
Mr. Brady: Married.
Rita: and you’re from England.
Mr. Brady: Yes…
Rita: What’s your direction in London?
Mr. Brady: The Birch Hotel, M… Street, M-A-I-S-O-U-L-E, London I 1.
Rita: What’s your telephone number?
Mr. Brady: 352 45 26


(13:11-14:30) Listen to the following interview and check the personal information Amanda asks Susan (0.5 c/u= 3 pts)

surname ____ sex ____ marital status _____ nationality ______ phone number ____

passport number ______ age _____ first name ____ job _____ address _____

language _____ zip code _____