READING-Unit 10- Is Stuff Winning?

Read the article quickly. What is it mainly about? Choose the best option.

• Some people are buying too much stuff and

  need to spend less.

• Some people are trying to have less stuff in

  their lives.

• Some people are bored because they have

  nothing to do.

These sentences are missing from the ends of

the paragraphs in the article. Read the article again

and match these sentences with the paragraphs (1–5).

I bought another book today and have put it with a pile of unread books on my new coffee table. There’s no more space on the table, which also has on it digital devices, coffee cups, and some clothes I need to put away in my bedroom. But my bedroom is also full of stuff. I pick up my phone. My email inbox contains 243 unread emails. I’ve already missed three calls this morning.

• I also need to reply to a few text messages from work.

• By the end of the month, you’ll have thrown away lots of your stuff.

• Maybe one way to begin is by going offline for fifteen minutes a day and seeing if you feel better!

• They buy more stuff in order to avoid getting bored.

• All these people are interested in leading a “minimalist” life.

These sentences are missing from the ends of

the paragraphs in the article. Read the article again

and match these sentences with the paragraphs (1–5).

I know that I want less stuff in my life, but at the moment, the stuff is winning. I seem to spend all my time buying things and then putting them away, when really I’d like more time for family, friends, and hobbies. The good news is that now there is an excellent website to help people like me, called The Minimalists. When Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn set up this website, they had 52 visitors in the first month. Two years later, the website has over two million visitors a month.

• I also need to reply to a few text messages from work.

• By the end of the month, you’ll have thrown away lots of your stuff.

• Maybe one way to begin is by going offline for fifteen minutes a day and seeing if you feel better!

• They buy more stuff in order to avoid getting bored.

• All these people are interested in leading a “minimalist” life.

These sentences are missing from the ends of

the paragraphs in the article. Read the article again

and match these sentences with the paragraphs (1–5).

In the same way that stuff can fill the space in our homes, some people think that there is a problem with having lots of stuff in our heads. Often people go online because they don’t want to be doing nothing, so they keep their brains busy with unnecessary activities. According to a recent survey, most people born between 1980 and 2000 use their phones when they have nothing else to do: 46% check social media, 43% play games, and a fifth do some online shopping.

• I also need to reply to a few text messages from work.

• By the end of the month, you’ll have thrown away lots of your stuff.

• Maybe one way to begin is by going offline for fifteen minutes a day and seeing if you feel better!

• They buy more stuff in order to avoid getting bored.

• All these people are interested in leading a “minimalist” life.

These sentences are missing from the ends of

the paragraphs in the article. Read the article again

and match these sentences with the paragraphs (1–5).

Nicodemus explains how it began. He was working between sixty and eighty hours a week and spending his free time buying more products to make himself feel better. One day, he decided to start working fewer hours and to get rid of all his stuff. After a while, he realized he was much happier, and he wanted to share his ideas with other people. So he set up the website with Millburn to give advice to others about how to become “minimalists.” On the website, there are blog posts and lots of practical ideas. One of these ideas is to play the thirty-day minimalism game. On day 1, you throw out, sell, recycle, or give away one object in your life. Then on day 2, two objects. On day 3, three objects.

• I also need to reply to a few text messages from work.

• By the end of the month, you’ll have thrown away lots of your stuff.

• Maybe one way to begin is by going offline for fifteen minutes a day and seeing if you feel better!

• They buy more stuff in order to avoid getting bored.

• All these people are interested in leading a “minimalist” life.

These sentences are missing from the ends of

the paragraphs in the article. Read the article again

and match these sentences with the paragraphs (1–5).

In the same survey, some people said they were bored with their screens and online life. For example, 27% said they were bored of watching TV, and 14% were bored of social media. So perhaps we need to simplify our heads in the same way Nicodemus and Millburn have simplified their homes. Spending more time away from our devices could be the first step toward this.

• I also need to reply to a few text messages from work.

• By the end of the month, you’ll have thrown away lots of your stuff.

• Maybe one way to begin is by going offline for fifteen minutes a day and seeing if you feel better!

• They buy more stuff in order to avoid getting bored.

• All these people are interested in leading a “minimalist” life.

The sentence below is from the article. Choose the right function of the sentence.

My email inbox contains 243 unread emails.

• give facts?

• give the author’s opinion?

• report other people’s opinion?

The sentence below is from the article. Choose the right function of the sentence.

The good news is that now there is an excellent website to help people like me.

• give facts?

• give the author’s opinion?

• report other people’s opinion?

The sentence below is from the article. Choose the right function of the sentence.

When Ryan Nicodemus and Joshua Fields Millburn set up this website, they had 52 visitors in the first month.

• give facts?

• give the author’s opinion?

• report other people’s opinion?

The sentence below is from the article. Choose the right function of the sentence.

Some people think that there is a problem with having lots of stuff in our heads.

• give facts?

• give the author’s opinion?

• report other people’s opinion?