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Shopping in London. Exercise 1: Prepare to write a reproduction of the text.. Text: Shopping in the USA
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Shopping in London
(from " Spotlights on Britain " by S. Sheerin, G. Seath, G. White)
Most of London's big department stores are in Oxford Street and Regent Street. They are always crowded, but at sale times, in January and July, there are so many people that it is difficult to move and it is usually safer to go in the direction of the majority!
These days, it is often difficult to distinguish the goods in one large store from those in another. If you are looking for something " different" (but cannot afford the prices of Bond Street) it is certainly worth going to New Covent Garden. This used to be England's biggest fruit and vegetable market, but a few years ago, the market was moved to a new site on the other side of the River Thames. The old market, now called " New Covent Garden", was restored and converted into a shoppimg centre. There are now more than forty shops of many different kinds, and there are several places to eat and drink. The opening hours are different from most other shops: they open at 10 a. m. and close at 8 p. m. As well as shopping, there is entertainment with lunch-time theatre groups and classical, jazz, folk and pop music.
Kensington and Knightsbridge is an exclusive area of London. There you can find the department store that is the symbol of expensive and high-class living – Harrods. People say you can buy anything in Harrods, including wild animals – they even have a zoo which will sell you lion cubs as well as more common pets such as dogs, cats or parrots.
Exercise 1: Prepare to write a reproduction of the text.
Exercise 2: Read the e-mail letter and speak on the girl' impressions of shops in London:
To: Lilly
From: Mary
Subject: Shopping
London is a paradise for shoppers. With their large selection of goods, there are famous department stores like Harrods and Selfridges. You can also find designer shops, souvenir shops, wellstocked book shops, market stalls and many other kinds of shops. Second-hand shops are also popular with young people. I know what I am going to get for you-that's a surprise. But I don't know what to get for boys. Can you suggest some presents for them?
Drop me a line soon.
Answer the questions:
1. What kind of shops caneveryone find in London?
2. What kind of shops are popular with young people?
3. Has Mary bought any presents for her friends?
4. Why does she call London a paradise for shoppers?
Role play:
Student A: You are a customer in a department store. You received a gift voucher for your birthday. It is for 3 items. You want to buy: 1. A Versace shirt – Size L. 2. A MaxMara T-shirt – Size L. 3. Frankie Morella trainers – Size 41.
Student B: You are a shop assistant in a department store. You have: 1. Versace shirts – Size S – M – L – XL. MaxMara T-shirtS – Size S – M – XL. Frankie Morella trainers – Size 36 – 38 – 42 – 44 – 46. You don’t have any size 40. Try to sell your partner smth else.
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Text: Shopping in the USA
Shopping in the USA has two very important tendencies that can be determined as «Born to shop» and «Caveat Emptor » (the Latin expression that means «the customer runs risks of buying goods of inferior quality»). Stores are full of wares of various kinds and prices. If you are in funds shopping can be extremely interesting and bring you real satisfaction. In this case, you can find out that you are «born to shop».
But on the other hand, we can free the so called «Caveat Emptor». Purchasers have to be careful. The owners of the shops put different kinds of advertisements and offers like «sales» or «reduced prices» in order to decoy buyers and push the articles. Of course, such signs attract people's attention. But before buying something it is better to examine the label to be aware of validity of commodities. Very often fashionable things can be made of cheap materials.
| Shopping in the USA for brands like Apple, Dell, Levi's etc. |
There are many shops where even licensed articles (such as clock, cameras, videos, electrical appliances, etc. ) are sold at a discount and their value results much cheaper than at the department stores. There’re similar clothes shops.
Shopping malls are typical for America where a lot of specialized stores and a big department store are joined in one building. There is also a restaurant and some food shops. There can be a movie hall as well so the clients can spend the whole day at the shopping mall. Clients usually pay cash or by credit cards. Customers are better to keep the receipt to be able to exchange the thing they bought in case of necessity or return it and get a refund.
Many stores organize special seasonal sales and experienced buyers are looking forward to visiting them. November and February is high time for reducing prices for winter clothes.
January and August are «white sales days» when towels and sheets are sold out. People learn about discount periods from the newspapers and thus can save a lot of money.
In the USA you can find very expensive department stores, the ones with more moderate and cheap prices. The difference in price is significant in these shops. If your American friend offers you to accompany you and go shopping together, you would better to tell him the sum of money you can afford to spend. He or she can advice you the right place to go.
Exercise 1: Guess the meaning of the following international words:
Tendency, risk, label, material, licensed, typical, special, specialized, restaurant, client.
Exercise 2: Give the Russian equivalents for the words word expressions below:
To determine; to run risks; inferior quality; goods / wares / articles / commodities; shopper / customer / purchaser / client; to be in funds; extremely; satisfaction; careful; to decoy; to attract smb. 's attention; to compare; discount; shopping mall; to pay (past paid, p. p. paid) in cash; moderate; significant
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Exercise 3: Answer the questions:
1. What are the two very important tendencies about shopping in the USA?
2. When can shopping be extremely interesting and bring you real satisfaction?
3. Why do the purchasers have to be careful?
4. How is it possible to save some money if you are going to buy expensive things?
5. What is a shopping mall?
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