Read the text and answer the questions that follow.
Dragon slayersI / In recent years, many countries have been exporting work to China. Companies in the United States that sell toys and textiles, for example, often have their products made in China, where labour is cheap. Now workers in China have got a new job. They are being hired to play computer games.
II / Every month, more than 100 million people all over the world log on to their computers to play computer games. Some of the games, like World of Warcraft and Magic Land, are played at many levels, and players progress from one round to the next. As the game progresses, the rounds get harder. However, many players want to log on directly to the more challenging levels, and are prepared to pay someone to play the earlier rounds for them. So, tens of thousands of young Chinese are employed full-time in gaming factories, playing these games.
III / It isn’t all fun killing monsters and fighting battles on the screen. Working conditions are hard. Many of these factories are in old buildings and these young people must work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week. They are supervised by bosses and have to complete fixed amounts of work. The pay is only about $250
a month, but as one young worker put it, “That’s pretty good compared with other jobs I’ve had.”
IV / Apart from their wages, the workers do not profit from their game successes, but people who hire them sometimes make money. As players reach the higher levels of a game, they get rewards for their successes and are paid in virtual gold coins. They trade these coins with other players who use them to buy “weapons” and other things to help them to progress more quickly to higher levels. Virtual money can also be traded for real money as there are Internet sites which are full of adverts from people willing to buy and sell. This idea seems strange to many people because it’s as if the world of fantasy and reality have become one.
TOP MARKS 1 Photocopiable © Burlington Books
1 Choose the correct answer.
1. Shops in the United States sell a lot of toys
a. in China.
b. that are made in China.
c. that are cheap.
2. Gaming factories in China
a. have recently started making computer games.
b. only offer services to Chinese players.
c. were set up to help people progress quickly in the games.
2 Are the following statements true (T) or false (F)? Find evidence in the text to support your answers.
...... 1. Employees at gaming factories decide on the amount of work they want to do.
...... 2. At the higher levels, the players receive real money prizes.
3 Find words or expressions in the text that mean:
1. employed (paragraph I) ......
2. not expensive (paragraph I) ......
3. one stage of a game or
competition (paragraph II) ......
4. said (paragraph III) ......
5. exchange (paragraph IV) ......
4 Complete the sentence using the information given in the text. Use your own words as far as possible.
Some Internet sites advertise
.
5 Write a composition of about 100-150 words. Choose one option.
In your opinion, is it right for companies to export work to other countries? Explain your reasons.
TOP MARKS 1 Photocopiable © Burlington Books