Discussion Questions
Text Comprehension:
Black Friday
Black Friday is in late November. It happens on the day after American Thanksgiving.
Black Friday is not an official holiday, but it is one of the busiest shopping days of the year in the US. Many people consider it to be the beginning of the Christmas shopping season.
On Black Friday, stores have big sales on many items. They open their doors very early. Some stores open at midnight. A few stores even open on Thanksgiving Day to start their Black Friday sales. Some people think this is a bad idea because it interrupts Thanksgiving dinner and family time.
The day got its name in the 1960s. Bus and taxi drivers used the word “black” to describe the heavy traffic on the day after Thanksgiving. Store owners, on the other hand, used the term “black” to mean that they were making a profit. (Accountants use the word “red” to mean that a business is losing money.)
Although Black Friday originated in the US, more than 20 countries around the world have adopted the tradition. Shoppers in Japan, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, and South Africa enjoy large discounts on this day.
Listening Practice:
