A simple intermediate level English resource on  British life 

            Christmas will soon be here again. For Britain's shops, specially shops in cities, November and December are the busiest months of the year. In fact, some big shops do half their year's business in those two months.  
   Yet Christmas shopping has changed.  More and more people are now shopping on the Internet !  Internet shops are safe for  shoppers, and they never shut... not even on Christmas Day !  

   Most people, however, spend their money before Christmas. "Christmas shopping" is different from ordinary shopping, and people like to do it differently. They go to different shops, or different online stores, more expensive shops very often. They don't just buy food from their supermarket and clothes from big department stores. They look round, they take time (if they can), they browse and they choose.
    City shops do their best to attract them with exciting windows, and special offers. In the West End of London, shops spend thousands of pounds on lights, decorations, and special window displays. Some visitors come to London, just to see the lights and shop windows; but others come to shop in famous shops like Harrod's or Hamley's, Europe's biggest toy shop.
    For shop assistants, it is a frantic season . There is not much time to rest. Just time for a cup of coffee or tea perhaps, then back to work. It's a good season for pay! As Christmas gets nearer, shops stay open longer, sometimes until 10 p.m. That means more pay for the staff. It also means extra staff. Some people find a job, for a few weeks at least.
    Then, at about 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, it all stops. The shops are suddenly empty - just a few people running round, looking for last minute presents. In many shops, there is a small party, a bottle of wine and mince pies or something like that. And then it's over. The shop doors close, but the lights stay on. Out in the streets, which were so busy a few hours before, there is hardly anyone. Just a few people going home, or singing in the street.
    Christmas shopping is over again.... until next October or November.
    But for some shops, the doors will only stay closed for a day. After Christmas shopping, there is New Year shopping! The New Year sales used to start after January 1st. Now in some shops they start on the day after Christmas, and the crowds rush back for a few more days. Lots of things are cheaper now.

   Most people, however, spend their money  - after before on  Christmas. "Christmas shopping" is different  - from to of ordinary shopping, and people like to do it differently. They go  - to in through different shops, or different online stores, more expensive shops very often. They don't just buy food  - for to from their supermarket and clothes  - in to by big department stores. They look  - at round through , they take time (if they can), and they choose.
    City shops do their best to attract them  - into in with exciting windows, and special offers.     - At In To the West End of London, shops spend thousands  - to of for pounds  - to on of lights, decorations, and special window displays. ......
     - With To For shop assistants, it is a frantic season . There is not much time  - to of at rest. Just time  - to for of a cup of coffee or tea perhaps, then back  - at in to work. It's a good season  - of for to pay! As Christmas gets nearer, shops stay open longer, sometimes  - until before at 10 p.m. That means more pay  - of to for the staff. .....,  - through in for   a few weeks at least.

    1.    November and December
    2.    Yes, if you shop on the Internet.
    3.    They do so with exciting windows.
    4.    Thousands of pounds
    5.    Hamley's.
    6.    Sometimes not until 10 p.m.
    7.    Some just close for one day.
    8.    Because things are suddenly cheaper.