----- It all started in wartime Munich when a doctor, Klaus Maertens, had a bad skiing accident. He decided to make himself a comfortable shoe to relieve the pain of walking. Together with a friend, Dr Herbert Funck, he designed a shoe with a special sole. Soon the two men were selling their product all over Germany, mostly to old women with foot trouble. The medical image lasted until 1959, when Maertens decided to find a company to produce the shoes outside Germany. He contacted R. Griggs & Co, a firm in Northamptonshire (central England). Griggs anglicized the name which became "Dr Martens". The first British boots were made on 1 April 1960 and soon thy began to sell quite well.
----- In the mid-60s the company discovered that their shoes were worn by skinheads. They liked Docs because they wanted to look hard and intimidating. Later, Docs were successful with punks. Then Doc Martens became the favourite shoes of students all over Britains, and more and more young women began wearing them. Even the police began wearing Docs.
----- At first they came in only two models and two colours. But in the 80s new styles and colours appeared. Griggs began exporting in 1988, and Docs are now sold all over Europe and the U.S.A. the company employs more than 2,500 people and manufactures 170,000 pairs of Docs a week.

 

1. True or false? Justify by quoting from the text.
a. Klaus Maertens was not English.
b. Originally Docs were for people with bad feet.
c. Griggs started manufacturing Docs in Germany.
d. At the beginning there was not a wide variety of Docs.
e. Docs are only sold in England.

2. Please answer these questions by writing full sentences.
a. What is the text about?
b. What was Klaus Maertens's job?
c. Why did Klaus Maertens decide to make a special shoe?
d. Who bought Doc Martens in England? (Give four examples).

3. Complete with one of the words from the list.
will - are going - there - they - to - than - that - people - a teenager - good - bad
"I would like ____________ buy a pair of Docs because____________ are very comfortable. I am sure____________ they are ____________quality and when____________ buy them, they know that they ____________ to last."

4. Complete with the correct word.
a. ____________ are those yellow boots? £40. (what - how long - how much - how many)
b. In 1975 Elton John ____________ attention by wearing a giant pair of Docs. (will attract - attracted - attracts - attract)
c. Docs are exported ____________ 22 countries around the world. (to - at - from - behind - between)
d. Is there ____________ shop where I could buy a pair of Docs? (two - any - much - many - not any)
e. The picture ____________ at the factory in Northamptonshire. (take - takes - took - are taken - was taken)

5. Ask the correct question about the highlighted words.
1. The company employs 2,500 people.
2. Griggs began exporting in 1988.