PAU Inglés

BUY NOTHING DAY

In 1990, in ten countries around the world, people demonstrated their discontent with consumer culture and decided to hold a Buy Nothing Day. Their intention was to encourage people to say no to consumerism and to remind them that they shouldn´t be salves to material possessions. Every year since then, they have staged similar days, and each year more and more people and countries have joined them.

On Buy Nothing day, activists organize various free and creative forms of entertainment to prove to people that it is possible to have fun without spending money. Activists also pass out colourful booklets and stick up posters to encourage people to think twice about the dangers of consumerism. Some activists publicly cut up their credit cards at mass demonstrations, as a protest against the pressure on people to spend more than they can afford.

Buy Nothing Day campaigners in the United States have also produced a special TV commercial called an “uncommercial”, which asks people not to buy anything! However, the most imaginative suggestion of the Buy Nothing Day activists is their “Christmas Gift Exemption Vouchers”. The idea is to give people you love a voucher which states that they are exempt from buying Christmas presents, on condition that they append quality time with you instead.

The message of Buy Nothing Day is not supposed to be heard only once a year. Its supporters insist that the spirit of simplicity is timeless, and they want people to fight materialism with imagination and creativity all year round.

QUESTIONS

1. Are the following statements TRUE or FALSE? Write down the evidence from the text. No marks are given for only TRUE or FALSE.

a. It is necessary to spend money in order to enjoy yourself.

False: “On Buy Nothing day, activists organize various free and creative forms of entertainment to prove to people that it is possible to have fun without spending money.”

b. Buy Nothing Day is not to be practised only once a year.

True: “The message of Buy Nothing Day is not supposed to be heard only once a year.”

2. in your own words and based on the ideas from the text, answer the following questions.

a. What is the message of Buy Nothing Day?

You don´t need material things in order to be happy and enjoy yourself.

b. What things do activists do on Buy Nothing Day?

They put posters to make people realize the dangers of consumerism and some also cut their credit cards.

3. Find the words in the text that mean.

a. put on, organized (paragraph 1)

Hold.

b. permit yourself financially to do something (paragraph 2)

Afford.

c. present (paragraph 3)

Gift.

d. coupons (paragraph 3)

Vouchers.

4. Complete the following sentences. Use the appropriate form of the word in brackets when given.

a. Materialism is (be)

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