1. Learn these words.

consumer – потребитель

batch – количество хлеба, выпекаемого за один раз

to accustom – привыкать

to assert – утверждать, защищать

complaint – жалоба

merchantable – ходкий (о товаре)

reasonable – приемлемый

delivery – поставка

to discharge – расторгнуть

transaction – сделка

warning – предупреждение

damage – ущерб

exemption – освобождение (от налога)

liability – ответственность

to withhold – утаивать

defendant – подзащитный

2. Answer the following questions.

1. What is consumer law mostly concerned with?

2. Where has consumer law grown most quickly?

3. What does ‘product liability’ mean?

4. Why is the problem of exemption clauses difficult?

5. What is the main difficulty for government in making consumer legislation?

III. Match the given Russian word-combinations on the left with the English word-combinations on the right.

законные права расторгнуть контракт отказаться от ответственности утаивать информацию уголовная ответственность

to discharge a contract legal rights to refuse responsibility legal responsibility to withhold information

IV. Find in the text the words that correspond to the following definitions.

1. a person who buys food or services for his/her own use;

2. to state, claim or establish;

3. formal accusation; plaintiff’s case in civil action;

4. formal handing over of property; the act of bringing something;

5. management of business; piece of commercial business done;

6. a duty that a person has because of his/her job or position;

7. a document that states and explains a formal agreement between two people or groups, or the agreement itself.

V. Give the English equivalents for the following words and expressions.

1. утверждать права;

2. жалобы покупателей;

3. товарный вид;

4. приемлемая стоимость;

5. вид сделки;

6. не нести ответственность.

VI. Insert the articles if necessary.

Consumer law is mostly concerned with … rights of … private individuals. Consumer rights are not … new concept. Pre-industrial societies throughout the world have imposed punishments on … traders who deceive their customers, even if they make honest mistakes. Bakers in Medieval England were so worried about … laws against selling underweight bread that they developed … custom of adding an extra roll free to … batch of twelve. Even today the expression "a baker's dozen" means thirteen of something, not twelve.

Consumer law has grown most quickly in … wealthier industrialized countries where people are accustomed to asserting their rights. In Britain, … magazine “Which?” has been publishing independently researched information about products, services and legal rights for thirty years, and popular television programs discuss consumer complaints.

VII. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

There are consumer laws implying certain terms … consumer agreements.

… English law, … example, the 1979 Sale … Goods Act implies a term that the seller has a right to sell. This protects the honest buyer … a seller who had no right to sell goods because they had been stolen. Another implied term is that goods correspond … any description given … the buyer. Another is that they be … "merchantable quality"—but this only applies if the seller is … business. When buying … a private seller the buyer may have to rely … express terms … quality. The 1982 Supply of Goods and Services Act implies similar terms regarding services. It also implies that services be provided … reasonable care … a reasonable cost and … a reasonable time.