Recalls add to pressure on toy
industry
1.
Read the text
Parents
know about supply and demand. What they supply is not always what children
demand. Toymakers have the same problem. These days, they not only face greater
competition - kids have more entertainment choices than ever - and parents
could also become more choosey.
Last
week, Mattel, one of the world's largest toy companies, announced the largest
recall in its history. Mattel is recalling more than eighteen million toys
that contain small, powerful magnets. These can cause serious injury if swallowed.
One death has already been reported. The toys were made over the past five
years based on Mattel designs that the company says have now been improved.
Mattel combined its announcement with a separate recall of more than four
hundred thousand toy cars. Mattel said the manufacturer, Lee Der Industrial in
China, used lead-based paint without permission. Chinese media said the
company owner committed suicide by hanging himself.
The vehicles are based
on the "Sarge" character in the movie "Cars". Mattel is
based in California but makes about sixty-five percent of its products in
China. The company promises greater testing. On August first, Mattel recalled
almost one million toys from its Fisher-Price division because of lead paint.
That recall cost the company thirty million dollars.
Other
companies have also recalled children's products. Last week Toys "R"
Us recalled baby bibs made in China. Independent tests showed that the vinyl
bibs contained high levels of lead. The seller of a simple test for lead in
products has seen its sales jump. The kit from Ноmах
can be found in stores including home improvement centers. Ноmах's
Donald Hamm says the company is receiving five or six calls each day from
businesses wanting to sell the LeadCheck kit. The company has now set up a Web
site to sell directly to the public, at leadtesttoys.com.
China has formed a cabinet-level committee to improve the quality and safety of
its exports. This follows a number of recalls around the world.
But
China has also criticized the quality of some American imports. And it has
accused the United States and the European Union of trade protectionism. The American
toy industry is worth an estimated twenty-two billion dollars. Eighty percent
of the toys are made in China. But now several companies that still make toys
in the United States are reporting increased sales.
2. True or False
Decide whether these statements are true or false and correct the
false ones.
1. 75 percent of Mattel production is made in China.
2. Lee Der Industrial in China used lead-based paint with
permission.
3. Toymakers usually have the same problems as kids' parents do.
4. Parents are less choosey today.
5. Mattel is based in Carolina.
6. More
entertainment choices involve greater competition among toy-making companies.
7. No lethal cases have yet been reported due to swallowing small
toy parte.
8. The toy vehicles are movie-based.
9. Certain details can cause serious health problems if swallowed.
10. China has formed a special committee to enlarge its exports.
3. Irregular Verbs. Find all the irregular
verbs in the text and write down their 3 forms.
4. Here are the definitions of some words from the text.
Guess the words themselves.
1. ... - to provide something that is wanted or needed, often in
large quantities and over a long period of time.
2. … - to have something inside or include something as apart.
3. ... - something that someone says officially, giving
information about something.
4. ... - physical harm or damage to someone's body caused by an accident
or an attack.
5. ... - when you have this, you are allowed to do something.
5. Here are some jumbled words from the text.
Can you read them correctly?
1. DNOSIIVI
2. POMRIVE
3. NANOCUNE
4. CECSAU
5. TESTAMIE
KEY:
2.1. F, 2. F, 3. T; 4. F; 5. F; 6. T; 7. F; 8. T; 9. T. 10. F
4.1. supply; 2. contain; 3. announcement, 4. injury; 5. permission
5.1. DIVISION; 2. IMPROVE; 3. ANNOUNCE; 4. ACCUSE,
5. ESTIMATE
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