Shopping
At the weekends, when she has more time to spare, Elinor Lloyd does her shopping at the big self-service food stores in town, for she can buy a lot of good more cheaply there than at her local grocer's. Accompanied by her husband or her daughter she walks round the Cooperative supermarket and other large food stores looking for bargains.
These large self-service stores are brightly-lit and usually well laid out. The goods are tidily arranged on trays and long shelves on which the various prices are clearly marked. There is plenty of room for the customers to walk about.
The shelves are well stocked with a very wide selection of attractively packed goods – everything from quick-frozen food to washing powder, from shoe polish to new-laid eggs, from tinned fish to toothpaste. Elinor walks from shelf to shelf, fill ing her wire basket. She has to be careful when shopping in a self-service store for the goods are so attractively displayed that she is tempted to buy things she does not need or cannot really afford. She puts two large tins of instant coffee into her basket. The same brand costs six pence more at the corner shop, so she has 'saved' twelve pence.
Elinor goes to the cash desk, where there is a short queue. When it is her turn the cashierreckons up the bill on a cash register which automatically adds up the various items. In the meantime another shop assistant packs the goods into Elinor's shopping bag. Elinor pays, carefully puts the receipt and the change into her purse and leaves the shop.
Before getting the bus home she goes to the marketin search of bargains. The market is large, with well over a hundred different stalls; part of it is covered, part of it open-air. A wide range of clothes, household goods, fruit and vegetables is on sale and prices are often considerably lower than in the ordinary shops, for the stall-holders' overheads are relatively low. Elinor buys washing powder 5p a packet cheaper than at her local grocer's, and fresh fruit and vegetables: two pounds of oranges, half a pound of strawberries, two medium-sized grapefruit, a large cauliflower and two pounds of sprouts.
She arrives home exhausted but a little proud of having saved forty or fifty pence of the housekeeping money. When she considers the matter more carefully, however, she realizes that the British housewife is fighting a losing battle against inflation. She may get some goods cheaper at the big stores or in the market, but even there prices are rising continuously.
Task 1. Read the text for detailed understanding. Prepare literary translation of the 3d passage.
Task 2. Answer the questions to the text.
1. Where does Elinor Lloyd do her shopping at the weekends? Why? 2. Why has Elinor to be careful when shopping in a self-service stores? 3. How big is the market? 4. What sort of goods are on sale there? 5. What is Elinor proud of?
Task 3. Give the summary of the texts.
Task 4. React to the statements using phrases of agreement or disagreement.
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1. At the weekends Elinor Lloyd does her shopping at her local grocer's. 2. The goods at large self-service stores are tidily arranged and various prices are clearly marked. 3. The shelves of the supermarkets are well stocked with a wide selection of attractively packed goods. 4. When shopping in a self-service store one has to be careful for the goods are so attractively displayed that a person is tempted to buy things he does not need or cannot really afford. 5. Before getting the bus home Elinor goes to the market in search of bargains. 6. Prices at the market are often considerably higher than in the ordinary shops. 7. Unfortunately prices at the big stores and in the marketare rising continuously.
Exercise 1. Give the Russian equivalents for the words and word combinations:
1. do shopping at the big self-service food stores; 2. accompanied by; 3. look for bargains; 4. plenty of room for the customers to walk about; 5. wide selection of attractively packed goods; 6. fill a wire basket; 7. a short queue; 8. reckon up the bill; 9. receipt; 10. household goods.
Exercise 2. Give the English equivalents for the words and word combinations:
1. делать покупки в местном магазине; 2. Крупный продуктовый магазин; 3. Аккуратно расставленные товары; 4. Цены чётко проставлены; 5. Наполнить корзинку 6. Испытывать соблазн купить ненужные вещи: 7. Упаковать товар; 8. Положить сдачу в кошелек; 9. В поиске выгодных покупок; 10. Широкий выбор одежды.
Exercise 3 .Act out the dialog.
At the Ready-Made Clothes Department
Customer: I’d like a summer frock.
Salesgirl: Certainly. What is your size?
Customer: 46. I’m stock size.
Salesgirl: The dresses on that rail are all size 46. Look them through and you may find something to your taste.
Customer: I want to try on this cotton dress.
Salesgirl: Sure. Here you are. The fitting room is over there.
Customer: Thank you. (A couple of minutes later) Does it fit?
Salesgirl: Perfectly but I don’t think the color really becomes you. It’s too dark.
Customer: Have you got something a shade lighter?
Salesgirl: I’m afraid, we haven’t. Would you mind trying this light-blue one on?
Customer: But it’s artificial silk. It’s too hot for summer wear.
Salesgirl: Will you drop in in a couple of days? We are expecting most of our summer stock at the end of week.
Customer: Yes, of course. Thank you. Good-bye.
Salesgirl: Good-bye.
Exercise 4. Act out dialogs using the corresponding topical vocabulary and the appropriate conversational formulas from the list given bellow:
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Can I help you?; I'm looking for.../I'd like...; It's over there/It's to the right (left) from..; Look at...; Just a moment; O.K. I'll take it; I'll wrap it up for you; Anything else, sir/ma'am?; Here you are; Here is the receipt/your change
1) buying clothes; 2) buying footwear; 3) buying jewelery; 4) buying textiles for making clothes; 5) discussing the shopping list of food items for festive dinner.
Exercise 5. Insert prepositions where necessary:
1. What size do you take … shoes? 2. What size … collars do you wear? 3. I should like a pair … black laced boots. 4. Let me try this cardigan…. 5. Give me another one, … a size bigger. 6. You may pay … the goods … the cash-desk. 7. A wide variety … food products that save preparation time is available … supermarkets. 8. We’ve run … … salt. Let’s drop … … the grocer’s and buy some. 9. Supermarkets usually operate … the self-service system. 10. This frock … artificial silk is too hot … summer wear. 11. Will you wrap … the pull-over, please? 12. Most shopping in the US is done … the mall. 13. The main business of American drug-stores consists … selling stationery, candy, toys, furniture. 14. The gloves don’t go … my shoes. 15. I want white shoes to match … my new bag.
Exercise 6. Paraphrase the sentences:
1. Strong shoes with high heels are popular this spring. 2. We are short of rice. Go to a food store and buy 2 kilos. 3. This brown skirt goes well with my jacket. 4. This black suit is of right size for my husband. 5. My mother prefers to buy food in a shop where there are no salesgirls or salesmen. 6. As a rule goods in shops are arranged on long tables or shelves. 7. A woman serving in the shop helped me greatly to choose a gift for my niece. 8. Could you roll this nightgown into paper? 9. Women in the US like to do shopping at large areas with many shops and restaurants in nearly buildings. 10. These flat-heeled shoes squeeze me tightly. Will you give me another pair of the same model, just a size bigger? 11. At the outfitter’s Jane put practically all the fur coats on to see if they fit well. 12. Generally my roommates and I go to shops for buying food 2 times a week.
Exercise 7. Find the opposites:
1. To my thinking this hat is old-fashioned. 2. This summer frock is a bit loose on me. 3. My girl-friend prefers tailor-made clothes. 4. We are well stocked of different cereals. 5. In this shop there are shop-assistants to serve customers. 6. This dress is made of pure silk. 7. A little choice of foodstuffs is offered in the market. 8. These sandals pinch. 9. I want to buy shoes. Where is a customer? 10. She's always preferred enclosed malls.
Exercise 8. Insert the words from the vocabulary of the Unit:
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1. The dress doesn’t … well. It is a bit too loose in the waist and tight round the hips. 2. This color doesn't … you. 3. I want a gray jacket … my skirt. 4. The gloves don’t … with my shoes. 5. Does the price... you? 6. He went to the... to by some cereals. 7. Unfortunately, I'm not.... So I buy tailor-made clothes. 8.... silk is too hot for summer wear. 9. These shoes.... I need the same color and style but a size larger. 10. I will... this jacket... to see how it fits. 11. This is a... of Wal-Mart, which is famous all over the world. 12. People go to the... to buy suits, costumes, pants and shirts, blouses and skirts. 13. I think, I'll take this blouse. – Very well, ma'am. I'll... it... for you. 14. The cashier... the bill and told the whole sum I had to pay. 15. It is a bit loose. – Yes, it is. I'll bring another one a... smaller. 16. In order to know the exact mass of something you should... it.... 17. It's absolutely out of date. Buy something, which is... now. 18. There are many... lining up at the cash desk.
Exercise 9. React to the statements using the phrases of agreement and disagreement in the form of situations of 5-7 sentences:
1. Supermarkets at home and abroad are rather different. 2. Unfortunately there are no real malls in Russia. 3. Shops with speedy lifts, well-planned lightning, ventilation are expensive. 4. Discount stores are becoming more and more popular. 5. Long line is what I hate about shops that operate on a self-service system. 6. If there is a flaw in the item you bought you can return it to the shop and demand a refund or an adequate substitute. 7. Do not buy any goods after the expiration date. 8. Very often we have to make a choice between comfort and beauty of our clothes and footwear. 9. In general men don't like shopping. 10. There are some kinds of shops that men/women do not like.
Exercise 10. Translate into English:
1. Она искала шляпу в тон своему светло-коричневому пальто. 2. Мне кажется, вам не идет этот цвет. 3. Жакет не очень хорошо сидит на тебе, он узок в плечах. 4. Ей очень идут шляпы с большими полями. 5. Такие костюмы сейчас в моде. 6. По дороге домой зайди в гастроном и купи килограмм сахара. 7. Ассортимент продуктов в этом супермаркете очень широкий. 8. Покрой этого платья ей очень идет. 9. Какого цвета шарф ты мне посоветуешь купить, чтобы он гармонировал с моим темно-синим пальто? 10. У меня мало времени на приготовление пищи, поэтому я часто покупаю мороженые полуфабрикаты и овощи. 11. Этот цвет мне идет, но это платье плохо сидит. 12. Меня не устраивает цена этих туфель. 13. Срок годности этого йогурта истекает через неделю. 14. В нашем универмаге сейчас большая распродажа готовой одежды. 15. Мне хотелось бы примерить вот эту шелковую блузку. 16. Ей пришлось поменять туфли. Ведь те, которые она купила, жали ей. 17. Я смогу приготовить праздничный обед, если ты зайдешь в мясной магазин и купишь килограмм мяса. 18. Эти туфли уже не в моде. Неужели ты их еще носишь? 19. К сожалению, эти джинсы мне велики. У вас есть такого же цвета, но на размер меньше? 20. Я предпочитаю покупать продукты именно в этом магазине, потому что они всегда свежие и обслуживание на высоком уровне. 21. Как мне пройти в кондитерский отдел? – Это на противоположной стороне торгового зала. 22. До которого часа открыта аптека?
Exercise 11. Speak on:
1. Buying food. 2. Buying clothes and footwear. 3. Shopping opportunities at home and abroad.
Complaints
1. Try to guess what people are complaining about.
· The first time I wore them, one of the hills came off.
· When I washed it, it shrank so much that I could not wear it.
· When I tried to install the software, the whole thing crashed.
· I read the instructions but I still don’t understand how to use it, so I couldn’t take any pictures at my friends’ wedding.
· When I took it out of the box, I noticed a big crack in it. It wouldn’t hold water.
2. The complainers can be categorized into 4 general types. Which of them do you belong to?
1. A silent sufferer = never complains.
2. A calm, collected type = complains if he really has to.
3. An activist = complains because it’s his right.
4. A fighter = complains at the slightest opportunity.
3. Read the letter of complaint and choose the correct linking words in brackets.
Dear Mr. Brown,
I’m writing to complain about a water-proof jacket I purchased from your shop last week.
(However / Although) the jacket was supposed to be completely water-proof, I got soaked the first time I wore it in wet weather.
(Furthermore / But) when I tried to take the jacket off, the zip wouldn’t open and when I tried to get it unstuck, the jacket tore. I sent the jacket back to your shop after having been assured by one of the assistants that I would be sent a refund. (However / In addition) I still haven’t received one.
As a regular customer of yours, I feel disappointed with the way I have been treated and hope that steps will be taken to rectify the situation.
I trust this matter will receive your immediate attention.
Yours sincerely,
John Wells.
4. Study the following rules:
1. Examine the goods you buy at once. If they are faulty, tell the seller quickly.
2. Keep any receipts you are given. If you have to return something, the receipt will help to prove where and when you bought it.
3. Don’t be afraid to complain. You are not asking a favour to have faulty goods put right. The law is on your side.
4. Be persistent (but not aggressive). If your complaint is justified, it is somebody’s responsibility to put things right.