Reading
Student Sells Her Virginity
Before you start reading, study the following vocabulary:
Virginity
Tender
Bidder
Awareness
Circumstances
Consequences
To breach
Tuition
A university student in New Zealand who offered her virginity on an auction site has accepted a £20,000 offer to sleep with a stranger. The 19-year-old, who has not been named or pictured, said she posted the advert to help pay for her university fees.
The girl is only known by her username, Unigirl. She wrote on auction site ineed.co.nz after the auction had finished at NZD $46,000: "I have accepted an offer in excess of NZD $45,000, which is way beyond what I dreamed." The student added that the advert had been viewed by more than 30,000 people and had received more than 1200 offers.
In the auction, she described herself as attractive, fit and healthy and having never been in a sexual relationship. She wrote: "I have never had a sexual relationship and am still a virgin. I am offering my virginity by tender to the highest bidder as long as all personal safety aspects are observed. This is my decision made with full awareness of the circumstances and possible consequences. I am fit, healthy and have no medical conditions of any nature. I am a keen athlete and have a trim physique."
The girl has not responded to any media requests for interviews. Ross MacKenzie, the website proprietor, confirmed it was a legitimate posting. He also defended the auction saying it was legal and did not offend society in general. National police spokesman Jon Neilson said no law appeared to have been breached. But "we would suggest it's not a safe practice," he added.
Bruce Pilbrow of the organization Parents Inc. told the New Zealand Herald it was "horrifically sad" the woman had to sell herself to meet tuition costs, but sexologist Blair Bishop describing it as "just a novel form of sex work". Prostitution is legal in New Zealand in brothels and on the streets, as is offering sexual services in print ads and online.
Questions
Choose the best explanation for the following words and phrases from the text...
- “The highest bidder” is
- “Tuition costs” are
- “As long as all personal safety aspects are observed” means
- “With full AWARENESS OF POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES” means
- “No law has been BREACHED” means
Are the following statements about the reading true or false?
1. After the auction, the girl gave a few interviews to New Zealand newspapers and magazines.
2. Selling virginity online is not against any law in New Zealand.
3. The girl was not satisfied with the result of the auction because she expected to get much more.
4. The girl sold her virginity in an auction to have more cash and live a better life.
5. Prostitution is not legal in New Zealand.