Yellow fever

Photos courtesy of Bangkok Post

University Tips is here to help you prepare for the English exams and tests that are coming your way. It gives you practise answering questions similar to those you may have at school and also on the University Entrance Examination.

Read the following story and interview from the Bangkok Post. Then, answer the questions that follow.

On a quiet afternoon in front of the CentralWorld cinema, Gift, 22, and Jira, 23, stop at the Minions booth to look at a small yellow toy. “When they’re together, they remind me of siblings,” Jira said. “They bite each other, hate each other and love each other all at the same time.” “They’re approachable,” Gift said. “They let us go back to being kids again.”

MINION MOMENT

The Minions are storming Bangkok, appearing on everything from bags, shoes and smartphone cases to ice-cream cones. There are also many Facebook pages about the characters. Licensed merchandise sells fast, and unofficial versions of the little yellow men are sprouting up at night markets across the city.

Originally presented as side characters in the Despicable Me film in 2010, the banana-obsessed, gibberish-speaking Minions won such popularity with audiences that the filmmakers gave them their own movie. Minions was released in Thailand on July 9 and made 62 million baht in its opening week, according to United International Pictures (UIP).

All limited-edition Minions items are potentially valuable because prices can go up by 25 to 50 percent within months. But above all, it is fun to have them.

STRANGELY CUTE

Annop Kittikul, 38, a freelance emcee, collects Minions. At first, he wanted one that was dressed like an English guard, but then he wanted the rest of the collection. He posts Instagram pictures of his Minions collection every week or so.

“I think Minions are so popular because they’re strange but cute,” Annop said. “They speak this language that no one can understand, and even though they look strange, they’re not too confusing. We can relate to them.”

Bob, Kevin and Stuart are the main characters in the first Despicable Me film. In the second film, Minions, Bob rises up to star status, with his teddy bear companion.

ONLINE SALE

For Minions fans who are in search of the little yellow guys at affordable prices, they can be purchased online. Online sellers describe the merchandise as imported — and not by an official distributor — so there’s no guarantee of authenticity, but it doesn’t seem to matter.

On a private Facebook page belonging to a Minions fan, a 12-piece, US-imported McDonald’s McMinions set is now being sold for 2,550 baht, up from 2,150 baht.

The Internet is a goldmine of fake Minions items, at affordable prices. A Minions notebook sells for 159 baht, a stationery set for 85 baht, while a 70cm-tall doll goes for 1,690 baht. The items will satisfy a 3-year-old who doesn’t know his bananas, but the official collectibles will command more cash at resale, and might just buy you more emotional capital.

CRAZY SALES

Siwipa Jarakul, the manager of Playhouse toy store has noticed something a little different about her latest products — Minions are selling like crazy.

“It’s really surprising,” Siwipa said. “I think Minions are becoming even more popular than Hello Kitty.”

Siwipa says the store’s Minions products are actually most popular with Thais in their 20s and 30s. Many customers come to the store to buy “blind boxes,” which contain one of 12 minion characters, the most popular being Bob.

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Exercises

Section 1

Read the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.

1. Why does Annop Kittikul think that Minions are popular?

a. Because they are they’re strange but cute.
b. Because they are appearing up at night markets near him.
c. Because they remind him of siblings.

2. Who says that Minions are selling like crazy?

a. Gift and Jira
b. Bob, Kevin and Stuart
c. Siwipa Jarakul

3. What does UIP stand for?

a. United International Products.
b. United International Pictures.
c. Universal International Productions.

4. Which of the Minion characters becomes a star in the second film?

a. A minion that is dressed like an English guard.
b. A teddy bear character.
c. Bob.

5. Where can you buy Minions dolls at an affordable price?

a. At a theatre.
b. From websites and fan pages.
c. At a shopping mall.

6. What was the name of the first film that included Minions?

a. Despicable Me.
b. Superman.
c. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

7. According to Siwipa, the most popular Minion character sold at her store is ________

a. Stuart.
b. Bob.
c. Kevin.

8. How much money did Minions make in its opening week in Thailand?

a. 160 million baht.
b. 72 million baht.
c. 62 million baht.

Section 2

Read the story and decide whether the following statements are true or false.

9. Annop is 38 years old.

………………………

10. Siwipa is the manager of Playhouse toy store.

………………………

11. Siwipa says Minions products are most popular with Thais in their 40s.

………………………

12. Minions was released in Thailand on July 19.

………………………

13. Annop is a freelance teacher.

………………………

Section 3

Fill in the blanks in the following passage with the correct words from the choices given.

Ladawan said unlicensed items, …..14….. counterfeit Minions dolls, are always popping up.

“The quality is of a different grade. The colour and the …..15….. of the material are also different.” …..16….. shop sells an …..17….. Minions shoulder bag for 590 baht, …..18….. a similar item can be …..19….. in the nearby Pratunam area for 240 baht.

14.

a. such
b. so
c. such as

15.

a. smooth
b. smoothie
c. smoothness

16.

a. Hers
b. She
c. Her

17.

a. officially
b. official
c. office

18.

a. but
b. because
c. despite

19.

a. find
b. finding
c. found

Section 4

Specify whether each of the following words is used in the story as a verb, noun, adjective or adverb.

20. originally ……………….

21. popular ……………….

22. manager ……………….

23. noticed ……………….

24. released ……………….

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