WRITING

I. Read the sample essay and answer the questions.

 These days, online shopping is an everyday activity for many people, it is a quick and convenient way to
purchase things and it is becoming more and more popular, but can it replace the real thing?
 Without a doubt, there are a number of advantages to shopping online. Firstly, you can buy everything you
want, anytime, without leaving the comfort of your house. This is especially convenient if you are in a hurry
or if you live in an isolated area. Secondly, the choice of goods available is extensive, as almost all the high
street shops have online stores. Also, many online retailers offer free delivery, saving you any extra costs.
Finally, you don’t have to carry any heavy bags or boxes home. Everything is delivered to your doorstep.
 On the other hand, there are a number of disadvantages to shopping online. To start with, people worry
about being exposed to hackers and become victims of identity theft fraud, ft is very easy for someone to steal
personal information. Secondly, you can’t examine, feel or try on items until they arrive at your house, and
sometimes they may be different from what you were expecting. Online shopping takes away a lot of the
pleasure people get from shopping.
 To sum up, there are both positive and negative aspects to online shopping. Although some people may not
feel safe giving out personal information over the Internet, online shopping is very easy and convenient, as it
offers a variety of choice any time of the day.
1. What are the advantages of online shopping and their supporting idea?
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2. What are the disadvantages of online shopping and their supporting idea?
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3. Is the writer for or against online shopping? Why?
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• Writing a paragraph about the advantages and disadvantages of a shopping place

II. Write a paragraph about the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping, using the cues given
below. Use the words showing the sequence: firstly, secondly, next, finally, to begin with, in addition,
furthermore.
Nowadays most prefer online shopping. Online shopping offers a lot of benefits.
1. buy items / their homes and workplace in comfort
2. in online shopping /customers / not have to stand in lines / pay / the goods. they /save time
3. there/big discounts / website/ to attract more customers. Therefore, / save money
4. the buyer / many options and many brands / choose
However, there are also some disadvantages of online shopping.
5. in online shopping / a product / go / through different places. The product /receive/ the wrong colour, the
wrong size.
6. not easy / the customer / exchange the product. the customer / complete several forms
7. There/a risk of hacking/ identity theft or credit card fraud
Nowadays we have to use online shopping in a good way, but we can also go to a supermarket or an open-air
market.
Online Shopping
Nowadays most prefer online shopping. Online shopping offers a lot of benefits.
1. Firstly, __________________________________________________________________________.
2. Secondly, in online shopping, customers _______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________.
3. Next, there _______________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________.
4. Finally, the buyer __________________________________________________________________
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However, there are also some disadvantages of online shopping.
5. To begin with, in online shopping _____________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________.
6. In addition, it _____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________.
7. Furthermore, there ________________________________________________________________.
Nowadays we have to use online shopping in a good way, but we can also go to a supermarket or an open-air
market.
III. Write a paragraph about the advantages and disadvantages of open-air markets, using the cues
given below. Use the words showing the sequence: firstly, secondly, next, to begin with, in addition.
Open-air markets are still popular nowadays. There are some advantages of an open-air market.
1. bargain and buy goods / reasonable prices
2. fruits and vegetables / that market / often fresher / a better taste / those in supermarkets
3. get shopping experience there /because sellers / often share advice / buying things. However, there are some
disadvantages of open-air markets.
4. shorter opening hours / daily shopping in an open-air market
5. not use/ credit cards
Open-air Markets
Open-air markets are still popular nowadays. There are some advantages of an open-air market.
1. Firstly, you _______________________________________________________________________.
2. Secondly, ________________________________________________________________________
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3. Next, you ________________________________________________________________________
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However, there are some disadvantages of open-air markets.
4. To begin with, we _________________________________________________________________
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5. In addition, customers _____________________________________________________________
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 TEST FOR UNIT 8
I. Choose the word whose underlined port is pronounced differently from that of the others
1. a. speciality b. tag c. shopaholic d. access
2. a. online b. browse c. shop d. product
3. a. fixed b. loved c. bargained d. displayed
4. a. wide b. advertise c. assistant d. price
5. a. items b. deliveries c. centres d. markets

II. Choose the word that has different stress pattern.

1. a. supermarket b. vegetable c. comfortable d. convenience
2. a. excitement b. announcement c. customer d. assistant
3. a. crowded b. home-made c. offline d. year-round
4. a. prepare b. order c. bargain d. wander
5. a. shopping b. complaint c. product d. discount

III. Choose the best answer a, b, c or d to complete the sentence.

1. Most of the sellers __________ this open-air market are from ethnic minority groups.
a. at b. on c. in d. as
2. Let’s go to Vincom Center on Black Friday. A lot of items will be __________ sale.
a. for b. in c. at d. on
3. The customer is not __________ with the quality of the suitcase.
a. angry b. excited c. happy d. interested
4. Carol buys everything online. She __________ goes to the shops, just once or twice a year.
a. usually b. never c. always d. rarely
5. If she keeps spending all her money on shopping, she’ll become a __________.
a. shopper b. shopaholic c. shop assistant d. shopkeeper
6. That souvenir shop sells a lot of items, __________ they are all overpriced.
a. but b. and c. or d. so
7. Strong Internet __________ will allow you to order online more easily.
a. website b. access c. link d. platform
8. __________ online shopping platform do you prefer, Shopee or Lazada?
a. Which b. What c. How d. Who
9. That luxury shop doesn’t allow customers __________ on clothes. That’s annoying!
a. trying b. to try c. to trying d. try
10. ‘How awful! Your shop delivered expired milk to me!’ - ‘__________ We’ll give you a refund.'
a. How inconvenient! b. Of course it is.
c. What a bad order! d. We’re sorry about that.
IV. Choose the underlined word or phrase, A, B, C or D that needs correcting.
1. Could you meet us at the airport tomorrow afternoon? Our flight will land at 4 o’clock.
A. Could you B. at the airport C. will land D. at 4 o’clock
2. My mom bargains always when she shops at the local market.
A. bargains always B. shops C. at D. local market
3. That shopping centre has approximate a thousand retail outlets.
A. That B. has approximate C. a thousand D. outlets
4. Let’s go to Iconsiam! That’s Bangkok’s second large shopping mall in size.
A. Iconsiam B. Bangkok’s C. second large D. in size
5. About 33.3 percents of the world’s population chooses to buy things online.
A. percents of B. world’s C. chooses D. online
6. How usually do you go to the supermarket to buy your groceries?
A. usually B. supermarket C. to buy D. groceries
7. The flash sale is beginning at 3 p.m. and ends at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
A. The B. is beginning C. ends D. tomorrow
8. I find it’s difficult to bargain with the sellers for cheaper prices because I’m shy.
A. it’s B. to bargain C. for D. because
9. It’s too hot outside, so we don’t go shopping at the discount shop later.
A. too B. so C. don’t go D. at
10. Visitors to Dubai Mall can spend endless hours to explore its shops and restaurants.
A. to B. endless C. to explore D. shops and restaurants