TAKE THE STRESS OUT OF SHOPPING

B) Read and translate the following article.

The holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year, especially when it comes to shopping. Shoppers are faced with long queues at the counters, last minute shopping trips and midnight gift wrapping. If you want to enjoy the holidays and experience less stress this year, here are a few simple holiday shopping tips. The first step to successful gift shopping is to make a list of who you need to buy presents for. You also need to know what type of gift you would like to give each person, as this will help you save both time and money. The next step is to decide where you want to do your shopping. If you are going to a shopping centre, make sure you have already decided which shops you want to visit. This will help cut down on the time you have to spend on your shopping trip as well as keeping you from wandering around window shopping. If possible try to do your shopping on weekdays, or if you have to do it on the weekends, go early in the morning to avoid the crowds. Another tip is to stock up on basic items, such as wrapping paper, ribbon, tape, cards and tags, before the season rush begins as the selection is usually better and the shops are not as crowded. It's also a good idea to buy some spare presents, for example candles or chocolates, and pre-wrap them, as this can save you from embarrassing moments and last-minute trips to the shops for people you have forgotten. Finally, make sure that you save all your sales receipts in an envelope, just in case something needs to be returned or exchanged. Also make sure that you check each shop's policy on returning items as this will help you, or the people you are buying for, to avoid getting stuck with an unsuitable or unwanted gift. If all of this sounds like too much hard work, then, thanks to modern technology, many of us have the option of doing all our shopping on the Internet, without ever having to leave home. Many shopping sites will even wrap your gifts, include a personalised card and ship them directly to your relatives and friends. No matter how you do your shopping, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that you are buying gifts to show your love and affection for friends and family. At times like these it is easy to forget that it's the thought that counts, not the gift.

c) Read the statements below and guess which are correct “+” and which are incorrect “—“. Give their right variants.

1. __ The holiday season can be very tiring.

2. __ Holiday shopping can be made easier.

3. __ It’s important to make a list of how much you want to spend.

4. __ You should take the time to go window shopping.

5. __ The best time to go shopping is at the weekend.

6. __ It’s best to buy wrapping paper and cards before you buy your gifts.

7. __ Buying spare presents can save you money.

8. __ Make sure you can return or exchange goods before you buy them.

9. __ Shopping on the Internet is a hard work.

10. __Internet gifts can be delivered already wrapped.