Buy Nothing Day
B2 First · Gapped Text · Ready for B2 First 4th Edition Workbook, Macmillan Education Limited
You are going to read an article about Buy Nothing Day. Six sentences have been removed from the article. Choose from the sentences A–G the one which fits each gap (1–6). There is one extra sentence which you do not need to use.
Buy Nothing Day
This does nothing to discourage the water waste associated with the industry.
They have little chance of competing against the big consumer giants.
So, why not take a leaf out of her book this year?
If you think this seems easy in theory, give it a go.
On top of that, her spending priorities have changed as a result of the experiment.
Shouldn't they all be partly to blame for the high prices in local shops?
You'd better buy quickly or they'll sell out of that amazing bargain product.
If you're anything like me, spending money on anything is an easy and enjoyable task. Who can resist all the half-price sales and discount rails we come across in almost every shop? This is made worse by the desperate message of marketing campaigns like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
We usually take the advice fearing that we'll miss this fantastic opportunity. To counteract this pressure to spend, spend, Canadian artist, Ted Dave, came up with the idea of Buy Nothing Day back in 1992. Held on the same day as Black Friday since 1997, the rules are simple, according to its UK website: an entire day without spending money on consumer items.
It is, in practice, much harder than it looks. The consumer machine not only comes at us on the high street but also in our own home via our TVs, tablets, phones and laptops. And if you really have to buy something, consider popping into local independent shops for the things you require.
But why bother when you can purchase something for less? Well, there are a number of reasons. You keep money in your region, you can often pick up unique products that are not mass produced and you can also create jobs for local people. Buy Nothing Day is, perhaps unsurprisingly, supported by a number of environmental organisations. They use the day to highlight the fashion industry and its impact on our environment. Textile dying is the second biggest polluter to clean water (the first being agriculture), and the industry uses around a tenth of the water used in all types of industry. On Black Friday, clothing comes in as one of the top sellers.
In short, Buy Nothing Day is a way in which we, the consumers, can help our planet. And it doesn't need to stop there. It is hoped that by changing people's spending for one day, we might be encouraged to try it for longer. This is what one consumer did after Black Friday in 2015. Londoner, Michelle McGagh, promised herself that she wouldn't spend anything apart from her mortgage, bills and food for a whole year. It wasn't without hardships. She found the winter months particularly challenging, as in the summer months there was more opportunity for free outdoor activities. However, she has no regrets and saved an estimated £22,000.
It has led her to focusing on buying essentials and setting aside some of her income for fun, like going to the cinema or on holiday, and none for takeaway coffees! The main message she took from it was that her long-term goals, security and being content with what she has are far more rewarding than anything she can buy in a shop.
You never know, maybe you'll be the someone who turns Buy Nothing Day into Buy Nothing Year and enjoy the benefits this has to offer. At the very least, you may be more successful in spending less to save more for the things you really want.
If you're anything like me, spending money on anything is an easy and enjoyable task. Who can resist all the half-price sales and discount rails we come across in almost every shop? This is made worse by the desperate message of marketing campaigns like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. ___ We usually take the advice fearing that we'll miss this fantastic opportunity. To counteract this pressure to spend, spend, Canadian artist, Ted Dave, came up with the idea of Buy Nothing Day back in 1992. Held on the same day as Black Friday since 1997, the rules are simple, according to its UK website: an entire day without spending money on consumer items. ___ It is, in practice, much harder than it looks. The consumer machine not only comes at us on the high street but also in our own home via our TVs, tablets, phones and laptops. And if you really have to buy something, consider popping into local independent shops for the things you require. ___ But why bother when you can purchase something for less? Well, there are a number of reasons. You keep money in your region, you can often pick up unique products that are not mass produced and you can also create jobs for local people. Buy Nothing Day is, perhaps unsurprisingly, supported by a number of environmental organisations. They use the day to highlight the fashion industry and its impact on our environment. Textile dying is the second biggest polluter to clean water (the first being agriculture), and the industry uses around a tenth of the water used in all types of industry. On Black Friday, clothing comes in as one of the top sellers. ___ In short, Buy Nothing Day is a way in which we, the consumers, can help our planet. And it doesn't need to stop there. It is hoped that by changing people's spending for one day, we might be encouraged to try it for longer. This is what one consumer did after Black Friday in 2015. Londoner, Michelle McGagh, promised herself that she wouldn't spend anything apart from her mortgage, bills and food for a whole year. It wasn't without hardships. She found the winter months particularly challenging, as in the summer months there was more opportunity for free outdoor activities. However, she has no regrets and saved an estimated £22,000. ___ It has led her to focusing on buying essentials and setting aside some of her income for fun, like going to the cinema or on holiday, and none for takeaway coffees! The main message she took from it was that her long-term goals, security and being content with what she has are far more rewarding than anything she can buy in a shop. ___ You never know, maybe you'll be the someone who turns Buy Nothing Day into Buy Nothing Year and enjoy the benefits this has to offer. At the very least, you may be more successful in spending less to save more for the things you really want.
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