1. Сomplete the sentences, using the appropriate words:

a – smart; b – protection; c – splurge; d – caveat emptor; e – mislead; f – response; g – rights; h – agreement; i – informed; j – consumer.

1. A … is a person who buys goods and services for personal or household purposes from a seller.

2. When sellers agree to provide and consumers agree to pay for goods or services, the parties have entered into a legal ...

3. For many years, consumer law was characterized by the legal expression…

4. Consumers now have a right to be correctly … of important information.

5. Sellers must avoid sales and advertising practices that…, deceive, or are otherwise unfair to consumers.

6. The best … is still a careful purchase.

7. While consumers have many …, they also have responsibili­ties.

8. … consumers understand the factors that influence their shopping habits.

9. Sometimes consumers … and buy things they really don’t need.

10. Consumers often buy things in …to advertising.

2. Are the statements true (+) or false (–)? Correct the false statements.

1. A consumer is a person who buys goods and services from a seller.

2. When sellers agree to provide and consumers agree to pay for goods or services, the parties have entered into a contract.

3. Consumers now do not have a right to be correctly informed of important information, such as quality, price and credit terms.

4. The worst protection is a careful purchase.

5. Sellers are seldom better informed about the products or services being offered.

6. Consumers have a right to be fair and honest.

7. If you fall victim to a deceptive practice, all is not lost.

8. When you can’t solve the problem yourself, the law may provide a remedy.

9. Smart consumers think about whether they need the product, whether they can afford it, and how they can purchase it carefully.

10. Many ads provide useful information about products or announce the start of a sale.

UNIT 4. How Laws Protect the Consumer

1. Сomplete the sentences, using the appropriate words:

а – discrimination; b – harmful; c – establishments; d – prohibit; e – access; f – remedies;

g – standards; h – enforce; i – marketplace; j – passed

1. Congress has ... many consumer protection laws.

2. They …unfair or mis­leading trade practices.

3. Federal laws set …for the quality, safety, and reli­ability of many goods and services.

4. The Con­sumer Product Safety Act allows the government to ban, seize, or prevent the sale of … products.

5. The federal government has established many agencies that … consumer laws and help consumers.

6. Congress passes laws and agencies issue rules to improve the operation of the …

7. A new federal law, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), protects consumers against … on the basis of disability.

8. Consumers who are disabled must have equal …to goods and services.

9. The ADA covers all …that are generally open to the public.

10. State laws give the govern­ment power not only to stop unfair and deceptive practices but also to provide consumers with a variety of...

2. Are the statements true (+) or false (–)? Correct the false statements.

1. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is the federal agency primarily concerned with unfair or deceptive trade practices.

2. Federal laws set standards for the quality, safety, and reli­ability of many goods and services. Failure to meet these standards can result in legal action against the buyer.

3. The Federal Trade Commission has the power to prohibit unfair or deceptive trade practices (such as false advertising) and can take legal action to stop such practices.

4. Consumers who are disabled may have equal access to goods and services.

5. State laws allow consumers to bring complaints into state court and before state agencies.

6. Consumers can join together to bring class actions.

7. Remedies include cease and desist orders, which are voluntary agreements to end a practice that is claimed to be illegal.

8. Consent decrees are orders to refund or repay any money illegally obtained.

9. Restitution is a remedy by which an agency can require a business to stop a forbid­den practice.

10. Some countries have “truth–in–menus” laws under which if the menu reads “fresh swordfish,” the restaurant cannot serve swordfish that has been frozen.

Unit 5. What to Do Before Buying