ESCOLA SECUNDRIA DE FAFE

English Written Test

11
th
grade
2010/2011
Nae!""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
N#$er! """""""""" Class! """""""""""
%ODULE 2! Young people
and consumerism
Date:
Evaluation:
Teachers signature:
Consumerism increases poverty gap
Thu 11 October 2007
Sarah Ritchie
Greedy consumers in rich countries are hypnotized by the
fascination of consumerism, purchasing unsustainably in a fruitless
attempt to achieve self-fulfillment, while ignoring the poverty crisis in
the developing world.
The trend in western countries of mass consumption has left developing
countries at the other end of the spectrum. United Nations Industrial evelopment
!rganisation director "arlos Negations claims that poverty is higher than ever before.
#ealth in western society increases developing countries e$perience the highest
levels of poverty on record. Ironically the United Nation "apital evelopment %und
found that the world&s seven richest men could wipe out global poverty.
The United Nations non-governmental liaison service released figures
demonstrating the ine'uality in consumption levels is due to unsustainable consumption
patterns motivated by greed that has () per cent of world&s resources being consumed
by one fifth of the world&s total population. This outcome demonstrated the greed of
affluence that drives the consumer-driven western world.
*+" !nline measured the standard of living of ,-- countries and *ustralia was
perceived to be the third richest country in regards to standard of living and e'uality.
The president of the *ustralian "onservation %oundation .*"%/ says0 1The present
policy settings in *ustralia would lead any outside observer to conclude that we either
can2t see that we are living unsustainably, or are too short-sighted to care.1
BBC Online acknowledges that the link between consumerism and
emotional fulfillment is undeniable. Possessions have become a temporary
replacement for happiness, which is harmful because it contributes to an
increase in mental illness and poverty.
The Daily Telegraph claims that marketing campaigns utilize insecurities by
offering empty promises of self-fulfillment. he self-fulfillment people e!perience
after purchasing is only temporary and often leaves them more unsatisfied than
before. he more they buy, the more they feel materially deprived.
he "needs# of individuals in western countries have risen significantly
due to consumerism. he essential needs such as food and shelter have now
e!tended to lu!urious homes, e!pensive cars and designer wardrobes. hese
new forms of necessities have come to dictate the worth of the individual. $any
people have succumbed to the obsession of the material world. hey are working
long hours, increasing mortgages and e!periencing more stress than ever before.
"onscious consumption is a conscious decision to reduce consumption levels
and could help the consumerism crisis by altering the individual&s pursuit of possession
to one of well being. The decision to remain conscious to the effects of purchases could
prevent people from purchasing beyond their needs and promote awareness of the
social and implications of each purchase.
he age-old saying "money can%t buy you happiness# appears to hold an
element of truth. #estern society&s greed for consumption has created a severe
imbalance in world consumption levels only to be confronted with the realization that
they are still as unhappy as ever before.
http://neovox.journalismaustralia.com
&. 'ead the te!t carefully and do the e!ercises about it(
). *ind evidence for the following statements(
a. 3urchasing power in rich countries is responsible for rising numbers of poor
around the world.
b. 3eople consume to feel well4 it&s only a matter of time, though.
c.+asic needs are not what rich people need.
d. "onsumers need to 5eep up the high standards.

e. 6aterialism has made people&s lives in the developed world even worse.
7. *ind words+e!pressions that mean the same as(
a. eliminate .para.8/ a.
b. imbalance .para.9/ b.
c. strong material desire .para.9/ c.
d. material comfort .para.9/ d.
e. unwise .para.:/ e.
,. &nswer the -uestions with your words.
a. *ccording to ;arah <itchie words, ,=: of the world consumes unsustainably. #hat
does unsustainable consumption mean and how is it responsible for global poverty>
b. ?ow would you personally define conscious consumption> Give your own definition
of the concept.
B. .oin the pairs of sentences below by means of a '/0&12/ P'O3O43(
,. Greedy consumers in rich countries are hypnotized by the fascination of consumerism.
They ignore the poverty crisis in the developing world.
7. () per cent of world&s resources are consumed by one fifth of the world&s total
population. This demonstrates what drives the consumer-driven western world.
8. @ou might decide not to buy that particular product from a country. ?uman rights are
violated there.
9. ?appiness is only temporary. 3ossessions have become a replacement for it.
:. The AneedsB of individuals in western countries have risen significantly due to
consumerism. They have now e$tended to lu$urious homes, e$pensive cars and designer
wardrobes.
C. Choose O3/ of the topics and write an /55&6 on it 7write no more than
)89 words:(
,. !ur society places too much importance on what a person possesses rather than
what a person is or can do.
7. A*bundance of consumption is no crime,1 says UN3 *dministrator, Cames Gustave
;peth. 1+ut it is scandalous that the poor are unable to consume enough to
meet even their most basic needs.1