Listening comprehension

11 Form

Variant 5 text

Love them or hate them, online shops are here to stay, and more and more are appearing on the world wide web every day. Shopping online should be quick, easy and, above all, safe, but many people still feel uncomfortable about doing business on the net. By following the advice below, you can ensure that your shopping trip in cyberspace is a successful one.

Before you purchase an item online, make sure that the website you are buying from is secure. Many websites use special technology to encrypt the credit card information that customers send over the Internet. If a site does not tell you that they are using this technology, you could also look for an icon of a locked padlock or an unbroken key at the bottom of your screen, an icon of a lock on your status bar.

Many websites ask you to choose a password for future orders. Make sure you use a different password to the one you use to log on to your computer or network. Never use your address, date of birth, phone number or other recognizable words as your password. Instead, pick at least five letters, numbers and punctuation marks. One idea is to use the first letter of each word in a song title and throw in some numbers and punctuation marks. For example, “wyslmt.3” comes from “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”. Don’t write your password down, as somebody might see it and be able to use it. If you can’t remember your password and have to write it down, try reversing the order of the characters, or change the order of the letters and numbers so that anyone who finds it still won’t know your true password. '

Never e-mail anyone your password and credit card details. Only give them in a secure connection on a website. You should make sure that you are not making your personal information accessible to thieves as this will allow them to impersonate you. “Theft of identity” which involves someone accessing your bank account, getting credits or loans in your name, or using your credit card details to purchase products, is a growing problem these days. If you don’t like the idea of giving your credit card details over the Internet, most online stores allow you to order online and pay over the phone. However, you should be sure to make a note of the company’s phone number, the date and time of your call and the name of the person you spoke to.

These tips should ensure that you will have a safe and easy shopping experience. However, as in all areas of life, it is important to have faith in your instincts. If you don’t feel comfortable buying an item over the Internet, or if you do not trust a website one hundred percent, then you may well be right.

Happy shopping!

Task 1. Mark the sentences as true or false.

1. According to the text online shopping is easy to do.

2. People normally buy things online paying by checks.

3. You don’t necessarily need to have a credit card to shop online.

4. In general, secure websites use a code for your information.

5. Not all websites need your password for doing shopping.

6. There are strict regulations about what passwords should look like.

7. It’s a common practice to use the Internet] for providing your personal info.

8. It is possible that your money may be stolen.

9. Online companies may be quite flexible in choosing the ways of payment.

10. You should make decisions basing on your inner feeling.

Task 2. Choose the correct variant.

11. The text implies that online shopping

A is something uncomfortable.

B is something never giving you trouble.

C is created for cheating customers.

D develops independently of people’s likes and dislikes.

12. Some people do not like to shop online because

A it is not safe.

B there are too many online stores.

C it is not easy.

D they aren’t computer happy.

13. A website may not be secure if

A there is a picture of a key on your screen

B there is a picture of a padlock on your screen.

C it uses technology to conceal credit card details.

D the website does not tell you anything about it.

14. A password is not safe if it

A contains more than five letters. .

B is the same as other passwords you use.

C contains punctuation marks.

D is different from your address.

11. If you have to write your password down, you should

A always keep it with you.

B write it somewhere in your files.

C write it backwards.

D write down some different letters and numbers.

11. The author suggests that a password may

A encrypt your personal information.

B be a familiar abbreviation.

C be an abbreviation of a song line.

D be a nickname of your favourite pop group.

17. You should not give information about your credit card but

A over the phone.

B in a note to store manager.

C in an e-mail.

D on a secure website.

18. “Theft of identity” is not when

A someone steals your credit card.

B someone copies your style in clothes.

C someone uses your info to get money or products.

D someone applies for a loan for you.

19. If you pay over the phone you should

A make a note of your call.

B order by phone too.

C know the clerk personally.

D be aware of phone thieves.

20. Don’t buy a product online if

A you do not trust the company.

B you do not trust your instincts.

C you feel too comfortable.

D the website does not have all the information.