Pa rt a text. The baxters go shopping
The other day my wife took me on a usual shopping round. In fact I hate going to the butcher's, grocer's and other shops of this sort but of course I have to help my wife about the house.
First we bought some pork and beef at the butcher's. Then we dropped in at the grocery and greengrocery Jill wanted to buy
sugar, salt, tomatoes and cucumbers. We also called at the baker's where we bought a loaf of brown bread, some buns and biscuits.
On our way home we were passing Selfridge's. "Let's drop in here for a while. You need a suit for everyday wear", my wife said. 1 agreed.
Selfridge's is still one of the biggest and most popular stores in London. They sell everything here. All the things for sale are on the counters. The customers walk round and choose what they want. The store has several departments: women's clothes, men's clothes, shoes, toys, sports goods, umbrellas, leather goods, china and glass, food and so on.
When we entered the shop we went straight to the men's department. A salesgirl showed us a number of suits but we didn't like any of them. One of them was a bit loose on me, another was too tight. As to the third our opinions were quite different. I liked the suit. My wife found it too expensive. She wanted a suit as good as that one but less expensive. The salesgirl showed us a cheaper suit. It was of good quality but I didn't like the style. We were about to leave the counter when they delivered a new selection of goods. They were not only suits but different kinds of clothes: coats, raincoats, shirts, jackets and trousers. I tried on two or three suits. The last was all right. It was just my size and fitted me perfectly. We both liked the suit and the price was not high. "We'll take it, wrap it up, please!" I said to the salesgirl.
After we left the men's department my wife spent the rest of the morning trying on hats. She wanted a pink straw hat to match one of her summer frocks. There was such a good selection of hats in the shop that in the end Jill bought two.
Comprehension
/. Listen to the text "The Baxters Go Shopping" and answer the questions:
Does Mr Baxter help his wife about the house? What food shops did the Baxters go to? Why did they go to Selfridge's?
//. Listen to the text again and answer more detailed questions on the text.
What did the Baxters buy at the butcher's? What departments does Selfridge's have? Did the Baxters choose the right suit at once? What did Jill buy for herself?
///. Read the text and analyse the language peculiarities of the text. Do some exercises in the next section to remember them.
Special Difficulties
/. Paraphrase the following sentences:
a) use the word combinations "to drop in at smb's place" and "to drop in on smb":
1. In the morning 1 called at the butcher's and bought some pork. 2. I called on my schoolmate yesterday. 3. Will you call at the greengrocery on your way back? 4. I often call on my cousin. 5. Does Helen sometimes call at your place? 6. Did you call at the library yesterday? 7. The other day I called on my parents. 8. Let's call at the baker's on our way home. 9. He called at our department store some days ago.
b) use "a bit" instead of "a little":
1. I'm a little tired. 2. He speaks English a little. 3. She was a little late. 4. I am a little hungry. 5. Wait a little! 6. Each time I think my holiday is a little short. 7. The course of studies is a little long. 8. I am a little angry with you.
c) use the verb "need" instead of "want":
1. Do you want any help? 2. I want two days more to finish the report. 3. I want an assistant to do the work. 4. He wants this journal for his studies. 5.— I want two pounds of sausage.— Do you want bacon, too? 6. I want a couple of weeks more to finish this work.
d) use the verb "let":
e.g. — May I use your tape-recorder?
— Let me use your tape-recorder.
1. May I stay here a bit longer? 2. May I have a look at the documents? 3. May I use your dictionary? 4. May I ask you a question or two? 5. May I take your text-book? 6. May I help you? 7. May I try the hat on another time?
//. Discuss plans for the weekend with your friend:
Suggest: going to the country, playing tennis, having dinner at a restaurant, going shopping, seeing a film, meeting at 10, visiting Mike, having a swim, e.g. Let's go to the country.
///. Make up short dialogues. Use the words prompted:
1. — Did you buy a present for Jane yesterday?
— Yes, I chose an interesting book for her.
(Mary — a bottle of perfume; your sister — a bag; your friend — a silk tie)
2. — I think this suit is a bit loose on you.
— I quite agree with you. (shirt, raincoat, jacket)
3. — The coat is rather tight. Give me a size larger.
— Here you are. (suit, sweater, trousers)
4. — How do you like this suit?
— You look smart in it, and it fits you well, (raincoat, frock, jacket)
5. — What do you think of Maugham's stories?
— I find them very interesting.
(furniture — modern; suit — expensive; girl — sweet; boy — clever; sister — beautiful; film — interesting; weather — windy)
6. — Do you often go shopping?
— In fact, I'm fond of it.
(play tennis, play chess, go fishing, go skating)
7. — Will you show me another coat, please. I don't like this
colour.
— How do you like this one?
— I think it'll be all right. (jacket, shirt, pair of shoes)
8. — I called on Helen the other day. And when did you see her
last?
— I dropped in at her place on Friday.
(Mike — yesterday morning; the KJimovs — this morning; Robert — on Tuesday afternoon)
9. — This suit is too expensive. Will you show me something
cheaper?
— Certainly.
(hat; bag, shoes, trousers) 10. — John will come by the 4 o'clock train.
— Are you sure of that?
— No doubt.
(Helen — take part in the discussion; Peter — go away on business tomorrow; Jack — help them)
IV. Complete the following statements. Use the word "another":
e.g. I don't like this suit, (show)
Show me another, please.
1. This pen is broken, (give) 2. I need two notebooks, (bring) 3. This suit is tight on you. (take) 4. I think she hasn't received my letter, (send) 5. I can't translate this article, (give) 6. This set of furniture is too expensive, (show) 7. I don't like this book, (give)
V. Fill in the gaps with "other", "another" or (the) others (self check):
1. The store is on the ... side of the street. 2. I must put on ... suit before going to the party. 3. I've got a pen, some pencils, a book and some ... things. 4. Take this chair away and bring me ... .
5 I see only five students, Where are .. ? 6. Some children like milk, ... don't. 7. I don't like this apple. Give me ... . 8. There are only two books on the table Where are ...?
Text Exercises
/ Ask questions about'
a) what the Baxters bought before they went to Selfridge's;
b) how the Baxters were buying a suit.
// Agree or disagree with the following statements:
1. Mr Baxter is very fond of shopping. 2 The Baxters started their shopping with the baker's. 3 Selfridge's is one of the biggest and most popular stores in London. 4. The men's department had a good selection of goods and it was not difficult to choose the right suit. 6. Finally the Baxters bought the right suit 7 Jill didn't buy anything for herself.
///. Speak on the Baxters' shopping round. PART В
Conversation Practice At a DepartmentStore
Betty: Let's do all our shopping here at the Kaufman
department store. Then we can have lunch and go to the movies in the afternoon.
Mrs Black: That's a good idea I want to buy some gloves
and a purse at this counter There's the clerk Are you busy? Can you wait on us?
Shop Assistant: Certainly. What can I show you?
Mrs Black: 1 want a pair of brown gloves, size 6. What's the
price of this pair?
Shop Assistant: They are 3.50. They wear very well.
Mrs Black: I'll take one pair. Can you show me a brown purse
to match the gloves?
Shop Assistant: Here's a nice one. It's the latest style
Mrs. Black: How much does it cost?
Shop Assistant: It's ten dollars.
Betty: Do you want a larger purse? I like that one,
mother Why don't you buy it?
Mrs Black: All right, Betty Please, wrap the purse and
gloves together
I'll write a check for them.
Let's take this elevator to the fourth floor. I want
to look at a suit
Good morning. May I help you'
Yes, I'm looking for a grey suit, size 12
We have several your size. Do you want to try
on one of these? The quality is excellent.
Yes. Oh, I like this one. How much is it?
It's 75 dollars.
That's too expensive. Do you have a cheaper
suit?
Shop Assistant: Yes, this grey flannel is cheaper than the gaberdine. It's on sale today for 47.50 Do you want to try it on?
Betty: It fits perfectly. I'll take it.
/. Listen to the conversation "At a Department Store" and answer the questions:
1. What does Mrs Black want to buy at the Department Store? 2. Is the shop assistant very helpful? 3. What is Betty looking for?
4. Do they have a good choice of suits at the department store?
5. What size does Betty wear' 6. How much did the suit Betty bought cost?
//. Listen to the conversation again and repeat general questions. Imitate the voice on the tape.
III. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the following:
Хорошая идея. Вам помочь? Я ищу серый костюм, размер 12. Они хорошо носятся. Вы не можете показать мне коричневый кошелек, который бы подходил по цвету к перчаткам? Это последняя мода. Вы можете нас обслужить? Сколько стоит эта пара перчаток? Ты не хочешь кошелек побольше? Почему бы тебе не купить его? Вы не хотите примерить один из этих костюмов? Качество отличное. У вас есть костюм подешевле? Он (костюм) сегодня в продаже за 47 долларов. Костюм лежит на мне хорошо.
IV. Make up dialogues using the words prompted:
1. — What's the price of this pair?
— They are 3.50. They wear very well.
(trousers — 20; frock — 25; jacket--30; shirt — 10, shoes — 25)
2. — Can you show me a brown purse to match the gloves?
— Here's a nice one.
(a silk tie — the shirt; a blouse — the skirt; a scarf — the coat; a shirt — the suit)
3. — I like that purse. Why don't you buy it?
— All right.
(bag, skirt, shirt, shoes, dress, jacket)
4. — May I help you?
— I'm looking for a grey suit.
(a brown bag, a leather jacket, a winter coat, a suit for everyday wear, jeans)
V. In one paragraph of about 70 words give a brief account of the conversation.
VI. Act out the conversation.
It's Too Small for Me
Assistant: Do you like this dress, madam?
Lady: I like the colour very much. It's a lovely dress, but it's too small for me.
Assistant: What about this one? It's a lovely dress. It's very smart. Short skirts are in fashion now. Would you like to buy it?
Lady: All right. I'm afraid this green dress is too small for me as well. It's smaller than the blue one. I don't like the colour either. It doesn't suit me at all. I think the blue dress is prettier. Could you show me another blue dress? I want a dress like that one, but it must be my size.
Assistant: I'm afraid I haven't got a larger dress. This is the largest dress in the shop.
/. Listen to the conversation "It's Too Small for Me" and answer the questions:
1. What does the lady want to buy? 2. What colour does she want? 3. What's wrong with the dresses?
//. Listen to the conversation again and reproduce the phrases with the adjectives in the comparative and superlative degrees.
III. Read the conversation.
IV. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the following:
Мне также не нравится цвет. Это самое большое платье в магазине. Вы не могли бы показать мне другое голубое платье? Короткие юбки сейчас в моде. Вы бы не хотели примерить ее? Мне очень нравится цвет. Это платье не идет мне. Я думаю, голубое платье красивее.
V. In one paragraph of 50 words give a brief account of the conversation.
VI. Act out the conversation.
VII. Situation I: You are at a men's ready-made clothes department. You want a suit for everyday wear, some shirts and a tie to match the suit. The shop-assistant is ready to help you.
Situation 2. You are at a shoe department. You want a pair of good summer walking shoes. The shop-assistant is very helpful. (The students are supposed to write the conversation at home and then to act it out with a partner in class).
You are not a Millionaire
Mr Frith: I like this record-player very much. How much does it cost, please?
Assistant: It's the most expensive model in the shop. It costs sixty-four pounds.
Mrs Frith: That's too expensive for us. We can't afford all that money.
Assistant: This model's less expensive than that. It's only twenty-eight pounds. But, of course, it's not as good as the expensive one.
Mr Frith: I don't like this model. The other model's more expensive, but it's worth the money. Can we buy it on instalments?
Assistant: Of course. You can pay a deposit of ten pounds, and then one pound a week for sixty weeks.
Mr Frith: Do you like it, dear?
Mrs Frith: I certainly do, but I don't like the price. You always want the best, but we can't afford it. Sometimes you think you are a millionaire!
Mr Frith: Millionaires don't buy things on installments.
/. Listen to the conversation "You are not a Millionaire" and answer the questions:
How much does the record-player Mr Frith likes cost? Can he afford buying it?
//. Listen to the conversation again and reproduce the phrases with the adjectives in the comparative and superlative degrees.
III. Read the conversation.
IV. In one paragraph of 50 words give a brief account of the conversation.
V. Act out the conversation.
VI. Situation: You are at a radio-shop. You need a radio-set. You want it to be both cheap and reliable.
At a Car Shop
The salesman is now trying to sell a customer a second-hand Lotus Elan but the customer thinks to prefer a Jaguar. Man: I think I rather like the look of that Jaguar.
Salesman: But Lotus is a much better car. Man: Well, yes, but ...
Salesman: It's smaller and easier to park. Man: Perhaps, but I need room. And Jaguar is a good, fast
car. Salesman: But the Lotus has better acceleration. In fact, it's much
faster altogether. Man: Yes, I know, but I do like the red and black interior of
the Jaguar.
Salesman: But the Lotus has more comfortable seats. Man: Mmm. But I want a quiet car.
Salesman: Well, the Lotus is much quieter than the Jaguar. It
makes tar less noise. Man: Yes, but you see ...
Salesman: It's a smaller, better, more comfortable car. Man: Yes, yes. I know it's a fantastic car because I sold it to
you altogether ... last week, remember?
/. Listen to the conversation "At a Car Shop" and answer the questions:
What car does the man want to buy? What car does the salesman want to sell? What does the salesman say about the Lotus'
//. Listen to the conversation again and reproduce the phrases with the adjectives in the comparative and superlative degrees.
III. Read the conversation.
IV. In one paragraph of 50 words give a brief account of the conversation.
V. Act out the conversation.
VI. Situation: You are at a car shop. You want to buy a comfortable fast car with plenty of room.
A Few Errands
Felix: I'm just going down to the shops to buy some cigarettes, Gertie. Do you want anything while I'm there?
Gertie: Yes, what a good idea! There are a lot ot things 1 need, as a matter of fact. Let me see ... . We haven't got many eggs left, so bring a dozen large ones. And there isn't much cooking-fat in the jar, so bring a pound of lard. And ..
Felix: Hold on! If you want me to get a lot of things, write them down on a piece of paper, or I'll forget something.
Gertie: All right. But wait a minute, while I look in the other cupboard to see what we need.
Felix: Hurry up, then! I want to call in for a chat with Gerry on the way back.
Gertie: We've got plenty of cocoa, but there isn't much tea or coffee left. Bring a large tin of instant and a quarter pound of tea. Oh! And I want some ham.
Felix: How much?
Gertie: Half a pound will do. We're short of vegetables, too; bring some beans, and a tin of carrots ...
Felix: I only wanted to go out for a stroll and a chat. I'll need a lorry to bring all that home.
Gertie: Here's the list. Oh, and you can pick up my coat at the dry-cleaner's while you are passing? And do me a favour while you are at Gerry's: ask Pam if she's free on Thursday morning. We're having a meeting at ten o'clock about the tennis-club dance in August. Bye, dear.
/. Listen to the conversation "A Few Errands" and answer the questions.
Why is Felix going to the shops' What does Gertie want him to buy? What does Felix want to do on the way back? What favour does Gertie ask Felix?
//. Listen to the conversation again and reproduce the phrases in which the indefinite pronouns are used.
III. Read the conversation.
IV. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the following:
Остановись на минутку! У нас много какао, но у нас осталось мало чая и кофе. Половины фунта будет достаточно. Я только хотел выйти на прогулку и поболтать. Сделай мне одолжение. Какая хорошая идея! У нас достаточно овощей. Ты можешь зайти за моим пальто в чистку, когда будешь проходить мимо' Дай мне подумать. Спроси Пэм, свободна ли она в четверг утром. На самом деле мне нужно много продуктов. У нас осталось мало яиц.
V. In one paragraph of 100 words give a brief account of the conversation.
VI. Act out the conversation.
VII. Read the conversation below. Fill in the gaps with the proper indefinite pronouns.
Peggy: I'm making a shopping list, Tom.
Tom: What do we need?
Peggy: We need ... things this week. I must go the grocer's
We haven't got... tea or coffee and we haven't got... sugar
or jam.
Tom: What about vegetables? Peggy: We haven't got ... tomatoes, but we've got ... potatoes.
I must go to the butcher's, too. We need ... meat. We haven't
got ... meat at all.
Tom: Have we got ... beer or wine? Peggy: No, we haven't. And I'm not going to get ...! Tom: I hope you've got ... money. Peggy: I haven't got ... . Tom: Well, I haven't got ... either!
VIII. Situation: You are having a party on Sunday and you need a lot of things. At the moment your wife (husband) and you are making a shopping list.
At a Grocery Store
Shop-assistant: Good morning, Mrs Smith. How are you this morning?
Mrs Smith: I'm fine, thank you. And how are you?
Shop-assistant: I'm having a little trouble. I don't have any eggs or butter.
Mrs Smith: Oh. that's a shame. I need two pounds of butter and a dozen eggs.
Shop-assistant: I can deliver them this afternoon.
Mrs Smith: That'll be fine. I'm having a party tonight for 15 persons. I have a list here of about 20 things.
Shop-assistant: First, what do you want m the line of meat?
Mrs Smith: Can you give me a ten-pound ham?
Shop-assistant: Yes, here's a nice one It's 95 cents a pound.
Mrs Smith: That seems expensive. But all right. I'll take it.
Shop-assistant: Now what else?
Mrs Smith: Well, I want some canned goods, 3 cans of peas and a can of peaches.
Shop-assistant: Here they are. Now, do you need any milk'
Mrs Smith: Yes, three quarts, please, and a pint of cream ... Well, that's all for today. How much do I owe you?
Shop-assistant: That's 17.70. Here's your change from the 20 dollar bill 2.30.
Mrs Smith: Thank you.
Shop-assistant: Good-bye, Mrs Smith. Thanks a lot.
/. Listen to the conversation "At a Grocery Store" and answer the questions:
Why does Mrs Smith need a lot of things at the grocery today? What products does she want? What trouble does the shop-assistant have? Does Mrs Smith want anything in the line of wine?
//. Read the conversation.
III. Find in the text appropriate English phrases for the following:
Обидно! (жаль) Прежде всего, что вам нужно по части мяса? Что еще? Сколько я вам должна? У меня неприятности. Это кажется дорого. У меня сегодня вечер на 15 персон. Вам нужно молоко?
IV. Act out the conversation.
V. Situation: Tomorrow is your mother's birthday. You've come to the grocer's. You want to buy a lot of food. The grocer is eager to help you.