Summative assessment for the unit «Daily Life and Shopping» and «Our World» Reading

Task 1. Read the text carefully. Select if the statements are TRUE or FALSE, put a tick in an appropriate column and EXPLAIN your choice. 

Britain’s favourite store

Marks & Spencer (M&S) is Britain’s favourite store in London. It attracts a great variety of customers. The Duchess of York and the British Prime Minister are just a few of its famous customers. Last year it made a profit of £929 million, which is more than £18 million a week. 

It all started 122 years ago, when a young Polish immigrant, Michael Marks, had a stall in Leeds market. He did not have many things to sell: some cotton, a little wool, many buttons and a few shoelaces. Above his stall he put the now famous notice: DON’T ASK HOW MUCH – IT IS A PENNY. For many years, the philosophy of M&S didn’t change – to sell goods at a moderate price. 

Ten years later, he met Tom Spencer and together they started Penny Stalls in many towns of England. Today there are over 1300 branches of M&S all over the world – in Britain, America, Canada, Spain, France, Belgium, Egypt, Russia, Greece, Finland and Hungary. Britain has the majority of the company’s stores; 852 stores open their doors for all sorts of customers daily. India takes the leading position among the international stores with 52 stores there. 

The store bases its business on three principles: good value, good quality and good service. In addition, it changes with the times – once it was all jumpers and knickers. Now it is food, furniture and flowers as well. 

The most important key to its success is its happy staff. Conditions of work are excellent. There are company doctors, dentists and hairdressers to look after the staff and all the staff can have lunch for under 40 pence! 

№ 

Statements 

True 

False 

Explanation 

1. 

The Scottish Prime Minister goes shopping to M&S. 

2. 

Michael Marks sold things at a very low price. 

3. 

India takes the leading position in having M&S stores. 

4. 

If M&S employees have health problems, they can consult medical specialists from their company. 

5.

M&S is Britain’s favourite store in Liverpool.

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