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Read the following passage. Then answer the questions provided below. Check your answers with the answers provided. If you are an English teacher, you are welcome to reproduce this passage.

The Ideal Gift

A gift, also known as a present, is the transfer of a good or service to another person without the obligation of the receiver providing something in return. Although in some cases gifts are exchanged, the notion of “gift” implies no obligation.

Gifts are usually given for certain occasions, like social occasions, holidays, and certain events in the life of the receiver, such as birthdays and anniversaries. Most people want to give a suitable gift for the occasion, and the closer you are to the other person, the more you want a gift that makes an impression, that makes that person smile — in other words, the ideal gift.

There are numerous ideas for the ideal gift and one of them is books. If a book is to be the ideal gift, you have to take in consideration the receiver of the gift and of the book. There are numerous things to take in consideration. Examples include gender, age, and occupation. The most important variables in choosing the ideal book for a gift are the person’s interests, the occasion, and the relationship you have with that person.

If you are close to the person, then you already know their interests and you can easily give them a book in that area of interest or a publication that you know they want to buy. But it is harder when you are not close to the person. In this situation, it is advisable for you to buy a book with somewhat of a relevance to the event or occasion. I will give a couple of suggestions for some of the major events usually celebrated.

For example, if you are going to a person’s birthday, you might give a humorous book like A Liar’s Autobiography (Volume VI) by Graham Chapman of Monty Python or the popular gift book Funny English Errors and Insights by Troy Simpson. If you are going to a Christmas party, you can always give a collector’s edition of any of the famous childhood Christmas books, like A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens or How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr Seuss.

So, what is the ideal gift when it comes to books? There is no one correct answer and no one specific book; there are books that can mesmerize the reader and bring them into a new world, books that can present to them a new universe of knowledge, or books that can change your perspective or values.

There is no ideal gift, but there are endless possibilities. So if you want to give the ideal gift, a book, chosen with a little thought of the age, sex, occasion, and relationship with that person, can represent a memorable gift for the receiver and may be a life-changing perspective too, all in just a few pages.

Comprehension Test

Questions

1. What is a gift?

2. Name 3 occasions mentioned in the article for which you might give a gift

3. According to the author, what is an ideal gift?

4. Give 2 examples of humorous books you might give someone for their birthday

5. What factors should you consider when choosing a book for the ideal gift?

Answers

1. A gift is the transfer of a good or service to another person without the obligation of the receiver providing something in return

2. Three from: social occasions, holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas party

3. A gift that makes an impression, that makes the person smile

4. A Liar’s Autobiography and Funny English Errors and Insights

5. The receiver, the book, the receiver's age, sex or gender, interests, and occupation, your relationship with the person receiving the gift, and the occasion or event