Keeping up with the Joneses - Unit 10

C2 Proficiency · Multiple Choice Cloze · Close-up C2, National Geographic Learning

For questions 1–8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap.

scorn

satire

ridicule

sarcasm

means

assets

finances

resources

guideline

benchmark

pattern

point

lobby

endorse

hype

entice

bullied

prevailed

compelled

intimidated

fractured

snapped

split

broken

collectively

commonly

jointly

mutually

repression

depression

desolation

decline

'Keeping up with the Joneses' is an idiom that originated in a twentieth century American comic strip called 'Keep Up With The Joneses'. The strip was a (1) ___ that made fun of people who strive beyond their (2) ___ to keep up socially and financially with others in their social circle or neighbourhood. These days, not much has changed. The comparison to others as a (3) ___ for social class continues, and is being driven by a variety of factors, including prolific advertising and easy credit to (4) ___ consumers. But in order to fund their lifestyles, people are increasingly (5) ___ to work longer hours each week. This 'work-and-spend' trap has now become an inescapable part of life. Can the cycle be (6) ___ ? Perhaps not. Were we all to (7) ___ reduce our consumption, the economy would tank and jobs would be lost. There would be a recession, perhaps even a (8) ___ .

Keeping up with the Joneses

Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.

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