Spending may make us happy or unhappy depending on how and why we spend. When we spend money on things that we need and within our limit, it is good. When it becomes a compulsive behaviour, it makes life stressful. Unnecessary spending or spending beyond one's means has some bad effects. For one thing, it may lead to financial ruin or debt, and for another, it may create unhappiness within families. People who overspend are never satisfied with what they have. They always rush for brands, fashion items, designer clothes etc. Over a period of time it becomes an addiction which may eventually create psychological problems.
Nowadays consumer items are displayed in stores or in advertisements in ways that they create a feeling of immediate need for them. We are constantly tempted to buy, use or consume things even when we do not have a genuine need. We all need to be careful here. Salespersons often encourage customers to buy things by flattering them. 'This is a perfect match for you,' they would say, or 'You look so stunning in that dress'. Never forget, they say the same thing to most of their customers. It is better not to be persuaded by such words. They use these words to please the customers as the more a customer buys, the higher the profit is. Overspending is not only related to shopping, it applies to other activities as well such as eating out. Many people buy too many items to eat in a restaurant. They can eat only some of them and the rest are wasted. It's not a responsible attitude. We cannot simply waste food because we have money to buy it.
Young people in a shopping mall often look at an item on display and think 'Oh I must buy this, I really need this.' They may not have the money needed in their wallet. So, they use credit cards but using them is like taking a loan. If they are not careful, the loans increase which might lead them to a debt-trap.
Choose the best answer from alternatives.
(a) The word 'flatter' is synonymous for — .
(i) cajole (ii) slander (iii) malign (iv) derogate
(b) 'When it becomes a compulsive behaviour, it makes life stressful.' 'Stressful' can be replaced by —
(i) nerve-racking (ii) slacken-loose (iii) lounge-quite (iv) luxuriate
(c) 'Unhappiness within families' is a/an
(i) adjective phrase (ii) prepositional phrase (iii) noun phrase (iv) none
(d) Which choice states both factors mentioned in the first sentence?
(i) our style (ii) our purpose of expenditure (iii) our financial ability (iv) how and why we spend
(e) The word 'consume' in the passage means -.
(i) husband (ii) safeguard (iii) use up (iv) accumulate
(f) The word 'rush for' means -.
(i) stroll (ii) hurry to obtain (iii) linger (iv) procrastinate
(g) The word 'ruin' in the passage does not refer to -
(i) indigence (ii) destitution (iii) bankruptcy (iv) opulence
(h) It is better not to be persuaded by such words. Here 'persuade' means -.
(i) fend off (ii) inhibit (iii) impede (iv) convince
(i) Unnecessary expenditure or expenditure crossing one's limit has-.
(i) no influence over anyone (ii) some adverse aftermaths (iii) no effect on family life (iv) some efficacious effects
(j) A debt trap is a situation when one-
(i) spends more than one's income (ii) expends against one's credit card to adjust that spending (iii) is caught in debt that is difficult to repay (iv) both (i) & (ii)
(a) (i) cajole
(b) (i) nerve-racking
(c) (iii) noun phrase
(d) (iv) how and why we spend
(e) (iii) use up
(f) (ii) hurry to obtain
(g) (iv) opulence
(h) (iv) convince
(i) (ii) some adverse aftermaths
(j) (iii) is caught in debt that is difficult to repay