Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.
Lesson Info
Lesson Content
Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio
Understanding: Main Idea, True or False, Multiple Choice
Language: Words That Go Together, New Sentences
Use It: Discussion Builder, Discussion Questions
Answers
How do you think using a fake shopping site might affect people?
a) Make them want to shop even more.
b) Reduce their desire to make a real purchase.
c) Entertain them without changing their shopping habits.
Vocab List
South Korea’s latest online trend lets people enjoy shopping or ordering food without spending any money. Known as “dopamine sites,” these websites copy the experience of real shopping and delivery apps, but no real purchase is made and nothing is delivered.
Users can browse fake products or restaurant menus, read reviews, customize orders, and add items to a cart. Some sites even allow them to enter an address and watch a virtual courier move toward the delivery location. However, the order never arrives.
One popular example is FoodNeverComes, created by a South Korean developer named Malhee. He got the idea after noticing that he often opened food delivery apps late at night, even when he did not need anything. He would look through the menus and then close the app without ordering.
The idea began as a joke, but it has attracted attention among young South Koreans. For some users, dopamine sites provide entertainment or relief from boredom. They may also help people control unnecessary spending or avoid ordering food when they are not truly hungry.
Psychologists suggest that browsing and preparing an order can produce some of the excitement associated with making a purchase. This may satisfy the immediate urge without spending money or receiving anything.
However, critics question whether these sites address the real problem. Users are still repeating the behavior, even if they do not complete the purchase. The sites may therefore help control an impulse, or they may simply give it a new digital form.
Dopamine Sites: Shopping Without Spending
How do you think using a fake shopping site might affect people?
a) Make them want to shop even more.
b) Reduce their desire to make a real purchase.
c) Entertain them without changing their shopping habits.
-
customize (v.)
-
virtual courier (n.)
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dopamine (n.)
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psychologist (n.)
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satisfy (v.)
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urge (n.)
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impulse (n.)
South Korea’s latest online trend lets people enjoy shopping or ordering food without spending any money. Known as “dopamine sites,” these websites copy the experience of real shopping and delivery apps, but no real purchase is made and nothing is delivered.
Users can browse fake products or restaurant menus, read reviews, customize orders, and add items to a cart. Some sites even allow them to enter an address and watch a virtual courier move toward the delivery location. However, the order never arrives.
One popular example is FoodNeverComes, created by a South Korean developer named Malhee. He got the idea after noticing that he often opened food delivery apps late at night, even when he did not need anything. He would look through the menus and then close the app without ordering.
The idea began as a joke, but it has attracted attention among young South Koreans. For some users, dopamine sites provide entertainment or relief from boredom. They may also help people control unnecessary spending or avoid ordering food when they are not truly hungry.
Psychologists suggest that browsing and preparing an order can produce some of the excitement associated with making a purchase. This may satisfy the immediate urge without spending money or receiving anything.
However, critics question whether these sites address the real problem. Users are still repeating the behavior, even if they do not complete the purchase. The sites may therefore help control an impulse, or they may simply give it a new digital form.
Main Idea
Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.
Main Idea
Choose one:
- Digital entertainment can provide people with relief from boredom and everyday stress.
- Online habits may satisfy immediate urges without solving the problems behind them.
- Dopamine sites let people experience shopping and delivery without completing real purchases. Correct answer
True or False
Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.
True or False
1. Users can receive products from dopamine sites without paying for them. TRUEFALSE False
2. Malhee got the idea after noticing his own habit of browsing delivery apps late at night. TRUEFALSE True
3. Psychologists agree that dopamine sites solve the real cause of unnecessary shopping. TRUEFALSE False
Multiple Choice
Answer each question by selecting A, B, or C, then click CHECK to see your results.
Multiple Choice
1. What can users do on some dopamine sites?
a) Earn money by reviewing real products
b) Track a virtual courier moving toward a delivery locationCorrect
c) Ask a developer to cancel a real order
2. Why did Malhee create FoodNeverComes?
a) He wanted to advertise local restaurants.
b) He noticed that he browsed delivery apps without needing anything.Correct
c) He wanted users to compare food prices.
3. How might dopamine sites help some users?
a) By delivering orders more slowly
b) By removing all interest in shopping
c) By helping them avoid unnecessary spending or food ordersCorrect
4. What is the main concern about dopamine sites?
a) They may repeat the behavior without addressing its cause.Correct
b) Their products receive too many positive reviews.
c) They encourage people to spend more money immediately.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:
South Korea’s latest online trend lets people enjoy shopping or ordering food without (1) any money. Known as “dopamine sites,” these websites copy the experience of real shopping and delivery apps, but no real purchase is made and nothing is delivered.
Users can browse fake products or restaurant menus, read reviews, (2) orders, and add items to a cart. Some sites even allow them to enter an address and watch a virtual courier move toward the delivery location. However, the order never arrives.
One popular example is FoodNeverComes, created by a South Korean developer named Malhee. He got the idea after noticing that he often opened food delivery apps (3) at night, even when he did not need anything. He would look through the menus and then close the app without ordering.
The idea began as a joke, but it has attracted attention among young South Koreans. For some users, dopamine sites provide entertainment or relief from (4) . They may also help people control unnecessary spending or avoid ordering food when they are not truly hungry.
Psychologists suggest that browsing and preparing an order can produce some of the (5) associated with making a purchase. This may satisfy the immediate urge without spending money or receiving anything.
However, critics question whether these sites address the real problem. Users are still repeating the (6) , even if they do not complete the purchase. The sites may therefore help control an impulse, or they may simply give it a new digital form.
Listen and Fill Gaps
Listen to the audio and complete the gaps below:
Loading listening activity...
Words That Go Together
Drag each word to its match below, or select a word and then select its match:
Loading vocabulary activity...
Words That Go Together
Match each word with the words it goes with:
1. Browseh) a fake menu
2. Customizeg) an order
3. Attractf) attention
4. Providee) relief from boredom
5. Controld) unnecessary spending
6. Satisfyc) an immediate urge
7. Addressb) the real problem
8. Completea) a purchase
a) a purchase
b) the real problem
c) an immediate urge
d) unnecessary spending
e) relief from boredom
f) attention
g) an order
h) a fake menu
New Sentences
Choose the best word for each new sentence.
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Customers can {blank} the design by choosing different colors and materials.
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The map showed a {blank} moving toward our address, although no real delivery was coming.
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The brain releases {blank} as part of its reward system.
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She spoke to a {blank} about the reasons behind her shopping habits.
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A small snack was enough to {blank} his hunger until dinner.
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I felt a strong {blank} to check my phone during the meeting.
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He bought the expensive headphones on {blank} and regretted it later.
New Sentences
behavior / customize / dopamine / impulse / psychologist / purchase / relief / satisfy / urge / virtual courier
- Customers can the design by choosing different colors and materials.
- The map showed a moving toward our address, although no real delivery was coming.
- The brain releases as part of its reward system.
- She spoke to a about the reasons behind her shopping habits.
- A small snack was enough to his hunger until dinner.
- I felt a strong to check my phone during the meeting.
- He bought the expensive headphones on and regretted it later.
Discussion Builder
1) Example 2) Contrast 3) Reason
Q: What are your favorite shopping or delivery apps?
A:Q: Do you ever add things to an online cart without buying them? Why?
A:Q: Rank these actions from most to least pleasurable: choosing something online, ordering it, and receiving it.
A:
Discussion Builder
Choose the best phrase for each gap:
Q: What are your favorite shopping or delivery apps?
A: I use several shopping apps. I use Coupang most often because it has fast delivery.
However, / For example, / As a result, / In addition,
I use several shopping apps. For example, I use Coupang most often because it has fast delivery.
Q: Do you ever add things to an online cart without buying them? Why?
A: I add things to my cart I often decide not to buy them.
because / so / although / but
I add things to my cart but I often decide not to buy them.
Q: Rank these actions from most to least pleasurable: choosing something online, ordering it, and receiving it.
A: I would rank receiving first, ordering second, and choosing third I enjoy using an item most.
because / unless / although / if
I would rank receiving first, ordering second, and choosing third because I enjoy using an item most.
Discussion Questions
- What are your favorite shopping or delivery apps?
- Do you ever add things to an online cart without buying them? Why?
- Do you sometimes buy things on impulse? What kinds of things?
- What kinds of purchases do you consider and research carefully?
- Rank these actions from most to least pleasurable: choosing something online, ordering it, and receiving it.
- Are impulse purchases a serious problem for many people today? Why?
- Do you think dopamine sites are a good way to deal with boredom? Why or why not?
- Could these sites help people control unnecessary spending? Why or why not?
- Will you try FoodNeverComes? Why or why not?
Discussion Questions
- What are your favorite shopping or delivery apps?
- Do you ever add things to an online cart without buying them? Why?
- Do you sometimes buy things on impulse? What kinds of things?
- What kinds of purchases do you consider and research carefully?
- Rank these actions from most to least pleasurable: choosing something online, ordering it, and receiving it.
- Are impulse purchases a serious problem for many people today? Why?
- Do you think dopamine sites are a good way to deal with boredom? Why or why not?
- Could these sites help people control unnecessary spending? Why or why not?
- Will you try FoodNeverComes? Why or why not?
Answers
Listening: (1) spending, (2) customize, (3) late, (4) boredom, (5) excitement, (6) behavior
Main Idea: Dopamine sites let people experience shopping and delivery without completing real purchases.
True or False:
- False. No real purchase is made, and nothing is delivered.
- True. He often looked through menus and closed the app without ordering anything.
- False. Critics question whether the sites address the real problem because users still repeat the behavior.
Multiple Choice: b, b, c, a
Vocabulary:
- Browse: a fake menu
- Customize: an order
- Attract: attention
- Provide: relief from boredom
- Control: unnecessary spending
- Satisfy: an immediate urge
- Address: the real problem
- Complete: a purchase
New Sentences: 1. customize; 2. virtual courier; 3. dopamine; 4. psychologist; 5. satisfy; 6. urge; 7. impulse
Discussion Builder:
Hints: 1) Example. 2) Contrast. 3) Reason.
- For example,
- but
- because