Why read this: Students see shopping apps every day. This short text helps them think about why the apps are so easy to use, and why some people buy too much. It uses simple words and short sentences. Students learn that apps like TikTok, Temu, and Shein are made to keep them watching and buying.
What to notice: Notice the names of the apps: TikTok, Temu, and Shein. Notice the numbers: 5 in 100 people, 8 in 10 people in China, and 86 billion dollars in America. Notice the new words: livestream shopping and impulse buy. The text says the same idea in two ways: the apps are fun, but they can also harm people.
Skills practised: Students practise reading short sentences for facts. They practise finding numbers and names in a text. They learn two new shopping words: livestream shopping and impulse buy. They also practise saying what they read in their own words. The open questions ask them to name three apps and describe a feeling.
Why we cannot stop shopping online
Apps like TikTok, Temu, and Shein make it easy to buy too much
Tap any green word in the article to see its meaning.
Have you ever used a shopping app late at night? Did you clickclick: To press a button on a computer mouse, or to make a short sharp sound. — 点击；单击；发出咔哒声 and buy something? The next day, did you feel sorry? Many young people do this. Some buy too much and cannot stop.
Apps like TikTok, Temu, and Shein are changing how we shop. They mixmix: to combine two or more things together — 混合；搅拌 shopping with short videos and games. In livestream shopping: shopping on a live video where a host shows products and viewers can buy right away — 直播购物（主播在实时视频中介绍商品，观众可以立刻购买）, a hosthost: a person who invites guests and takes care of them; a person who presents a TV show — 主人；主持人 shows products on a live video. The host is friendly and funny. The host plays games and gives quick discountsdiscount: A reduction in the usual price of something. — 折扣；减价. They ask viewersviewer: a person who watches television or looks at something — 观众；观看者 to buy right now, before the deal ends.
These apps are made to keep you watching and buying. When you buy something, your brain feels happy for a short time. Then the happy feeling goes away. Soon, you want to buy again. An impulse buy: when you buy something quickly without thinking about it first — 冲动购买（没有事先考虑就买东西） is when you buy something without thinking first. Many people do this and feel bad later.
About 5 in 100 people have a shopping problem. They cannot stop buying, eveneven: Exactly, just, fully — 正好 when they have no money. They may hidehide: To put yourself or something where it cannot be seen. — 躲藏；隐藏 bags from their family. In China, almostalmost: Very nearly but not completely. — 几乎；差不多 8 in 10 people in one surveysurvey: A set of questions you ask a group of people to find out their opinions. — 调查；问卷 said they shop too much online. In America this year, people will spend about 86 billion dollars through socialsocial: Relating to society and people living together. — 社会的；社交的 mediamedia: TV, radio, newspapers, and other ways of giving information — 媒体；媒介.
Some governmentsgovernment: The group of people who run a country. — 政府 want to make new rules for these apps. The European Union is now looking at Temu. They worryworry: To feel anxious or troubled about a problem or possible event. — 担心；烦恼 the apps pushpush: To move something away from you using force. — 推；推动 people to buy too much. But many shoppersshopper: A person who shops — 购物者 enjoy these apps. Mark Griffiths is an expertexpert: A person who knows a lot about a subject — 专家 on this problem. He says the line between fun and harmharm: Physical or mental damage or injury. — 伤害；损害 is very small.
Have you ever used a shopping app late at night? Did you clickclick: To press a button on a computer mouse, or to make a short sharp sound. — 点击；单击；发出咔哒声 and buy something? The next day, did you feel sorry? Many young people do this. Some buy too much and cannot stop.
Apps like TikTok, Temu, and Shein are changing how we shop. They mixmix: to combine two or more things together — 混合；搅拌 shopping with short videos and games. In livestream shopping: shopping on a live video where a host shows products and viewers can buy right away — 直播购物（主播在实时视频中介绍商品，观众可以立刻购买）, a hosthost: a person who invites guests and takes care of them; a person who presents a TV show — 主人；主持人 shows products on a live video. The host is friendly and funny. The host plays games and gives quick discountsdiscount: A reduction in the usual price of something. — 折扣；减价. They ask viewersviewer: a person who watches television or looks at something — 观众；观看者 to buy right now, before the deal ends.
These apps are made to keep you watching and buying. When you buy something, your brain feels happy for a short time. Then the happy feeling goes away. Soon, you want to buy again. An impulse buy: when you buy something quickly without thinking about it first — 冲动购买（没有事先考虑就买东西） is when you buy something without thinking first. Many people do this and feel bad later.
About 5 in 100 people have a shopping problem. They cannot stop buying, eveneven: Exactly, just, fully — 正好 when they have no money. They may hidehide: To put yourself or something where it cannot be seen. — 躲藏；隐藏 bags from their family. In China, almostalmost: Very nearly but not completely. — 几乎；差不多 8 in 10 people in one surveysurvey: A set of questions you ask a group of people to find out their opinions. — 调查；问卷 said they shop too much online. In America this year, people will spend about 86 billion dollars through socialsocial: Relating to society and people living together. — 社会的；社交的 mediamedia: TV, radio, newspapers, and other ways of giving information — 媒体；媒介.
Some governmentsgovernment: The group of people who run a country. — 政府 want to make new rules for these apps. The European Union is now looking at Temu. They worryworry: To feel anxious or troubled about a problem or possible event. — 担心；烦恼 the apps pushpush: To move something away from you using force. — 推；推动 people to buy too much. But many shoppersshopper: A person who shops — 购物者 enjoy these apps. Mark Griffiths is an expertexpert: A person who knows a lot about a subject — 专家 on this problem. He says the line between fun and harmharm: Physical or mental damage or injury. — 伤害；损害 is very small.
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What is livestream shopping?
- 02
About how many people in 100 have a shopping problem?
- 03
Why is the European Union looking at Temu?
- 04
Name three shopping apps from the article and say what they do.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Describe how a person feels when they buy something on a shopping app.
Suggested length: ~50 words
Questions
Check your understanding
- 01
What is livestream shopping?
- 02
About how many people in 100 have a shopping problem?
- 03
Why is the European Union looking at Temu?
- 04
Name three shopping apps from the article and say what they do.
Suggested length: ~50 words
- 05
Describe how a person feels when they buy something on a shopping app.
Suggested length: ~50 words