Unit 3 – Shopping Part A – Shopping at stores

Listening Track 15 –Listen to the short passage about shopping at stores.

Useful Expressions Match the related choices.

1. I’d like to try this on. a. I will use my VISA card.

2. Do you have this in blue? b. Which do you prefer?
3. We have leather and cotton. c. Thank you. Is it on sale?
4. It looks great on you. d. We have various colors of blue....
5. How will you pay for that? e. OK. What size do you take?

Listening and speaking

Model Dialog Track 16 Listen as the teacher reads the model dialog.
(Scenario – Tenesha is a young office worker shopping for a blouse at a department
store.)

Tenesha: Hello, I’d like to try this on.

Sales Person: No problem. I’ll show you where the fitting room is. Follow me.
Tenesha: (looking in mirror) I think this would look better in blue. Do you have
this in blue?
Sales Person: Yes, I do. We also have it in pink, white, and burgundy. Which do you
prefer?
Tenesha I will try on the blue blouse.
Sales Person: What size do you take?
Tenesha: Medium should fit.
Sales Person: I have two colors in your size. Here’s the blue blouse. Please try it on.
Tenesha: OK. (looking in mirror) What do you think?
Sales Person: I think it looks great on you.
Tenesha: I’d really like to buy this. Is it on sale?
Sales Person: Yes, today is a clearance sale. Everything in this section is 20% off.
Tenesha: I’ll take it.
Sales Person: How will you pay for that?
Tenesha: Cash.

Guided Speaking
Complete the dialog, and practice it, changing roles with a partner.
(Scenario – A young man named Tili is shopping for shoes.)

Tili: Hello, I am looking for a pair of business shoes.

Sales Person: (1) _____________________, loafers or wing tips?
Tili: I prefer wing tips. (2) _____________________ in brown?
Sales Person: I believe we do. Let me check. Here we are.
Tili: (3) _________________________.

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Sales Person: (4) __________________________.
Tili: (5) __________________________?
Sales Person: No, I’m sorry they are not, but they are selling for a great price.
Tili: OK, I’ll take them. Do you accept VISA?
Sales Person: Yes, we do.

Loafers are shoes that do not utilize a lacing or fastening system and are
instead simply slipped on the foot. For this reason, they are also sometimes
referred to as slip-ons. Usually, they have a low heel or no heel. They are a style
for men, women, and children and can be casual or dress shoes.

 Wing tip – a shoe having a wing-tip toecap; shoe – footwear shaped to fit the
foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and
heel of heavier material. wing tip - a decorative toecap having a point extending
toward the throat of the shoe.

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Description
Tables – Read the table below and learn about international shoe size conversion.

Products such as shoes and clothing are not measured the same around the world. You
need to convert your size to a different measuring system when you travel to other
countries. The following table provides an approximate shoe size conversion for
several countries.

International Shoe Size Conversion Table

1. Look at the table again and answer the following questions.

a. Mike, whose foot size is about 260 mm, is looking for shoes in the USA.
What size will fit him? _________

b. Ms. Peng wears approximately size 36 in China. She is looking around a

shoe store in London. What size should she try on? ________________

c. Jane is visiting France for her vacation and wants to buy shoes for her
brother as a gift. His shoe size is 9.5 in the U.S. What size should Jane
buy him? _________

2. Convert your shoe size to the appropriate measurement.

a. Your shoe size: _________ Country: ___________

b. If you buy a pair of shoes in the United States, what size should you try on?
_________
c. If you buy a pair of shoes in the United Kingdom, what size should you try
on? _________

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  Grammar Focus (phrasal verbs)

 I’d like to try this on.

 You’d better try on a larger size.
 I am looking for a pair of business shoes.
 That might cheer you up.

Reading and discussion

Read the following passage and answer the questions.

Shopping Track 17

S hopping is a favorite activity for many people in North America. Most people just
like to go and look around. When you enter a shop, the clerk or salesperson will
ask you if they can help you. If you say no, they will not ask again. Also, they will
not stand by or follow you around. Prices are set and the price is usually clearly
marked on the product or near it. It is not possible to bargain in most stores in North
America. After you buy something, save the receipt. It is quite easy to return the
purchased item to a store, even if you have taken it home and unwrapped it. However,
you must have the receipt.

Many Americans love to shop for things on sale. There are almost always some special
items for sale at a discount. Also, there is usually a “clearance” area of the store. Here,
you can find old items, such as last year’s fashions, for very low prices.

If you want to pay even less for clothes, you can go to a second-hand store. You can
find used clothes and other items here. Most of the things are quite old. However, you
could find some high-quality, brand-name clothes for just a few dollars. If you shop
there, you will be helping others as well. Most second-hand stores are owned by
charities. Almost all of the money from the sales goes to help the poor.

1. According to the reading passage, where can you buy clothes at a lower price?

2. How do you buy things at lower prices?

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Part B – Shopping Online

Listening Track 18 – Listen to the following conversation.

(Scenario – Tanya and Michelle are female friends talking at a coffee shop.).

Dictation Track 19 – Fill in the blanks as you listen to the dialog again.

Tanya: Michelle, I (1) __________________________.

Michelle: What’s the problem, Tanya?
Tanya: I bought a (2) __________________________. It turns out that it’s of
very low quality.
Michelle: (3) ________________. Just return it.
Tanya: That’s the problem. I (4) __________________________ to return it.
Michelle: Isn’t there a physical (5) ______________________?
Tanya: None. No (6) ________________________. Not even an e-mail
address.
Michelle: It (7) __________________________ they intended to rip off shoppers.
Tanya: I’m afraid you’re right. I (8) _______________________ I can’t wear.
Michelle: That’s why (9) _____________________________ on the Internet.

Useful Expressions
Make complete sentences by writing the best expression in each blank.

1. it turns out that a. If you think I’m going to leave,

______________________.
2. that’s too bad b. In the last ten years, I’ve never
_________________ lose weight.
3. found any way to c. After all this time, ____________________ we
should be friends.
4. it seems to me that d. It’s late, but ______________. You still have to do
your homework.
5. I’m afraid you’re right e. After a long search, _________________the dog
was under our house.

Listening and speaking

Model Dialog Track 20 Listen as the teacher reads the model dialog.
(Scenario – Jason and Maria are friends having lunch at a restaurant.)

Jason: This is a great restaurant for lunch! Thanks for inviting me here.
Maria: My pleasure. It’s good to see you again.

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Jason: You too. What have you been doing lately?
Maria: I’ve been buying a lot of items for our high-tech store.
Jason: Is that hard?
Maria: It turns out that most of what we need is on the Internet.
Jason: That must be helpful.
Maria: If we didn’t use the Internet, it would be harder to make a profit.
Jason: It seems to me that your customers could buy those things directly.
Maria: Frankly, they could. But our customers like to see what they’re buying.
Jason: Have you found any way to get special discounts?
Maria: Yes. We often get lower prices when we buy large amounts.
Jason: Internet shopping is working for you. My experience has been worse.
Maria: That’s too bad. I’m afraid you’re right for clothes and shoes. Things like
that.
Jason: I guess shoppers have to be careful no matter how they shop.
Maria: True. Or you could shop with us and relax.

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 Guided Speaking
With a partner, take turns completing the answers to the questions.

 What do you shop for on the Internet?

Mostly I (1) ___________________________________.

  How often are you satisfied with your results?

Usually (2) _______________. [or] Sometimes _____________________.

  How often do you shop on the Internet?

I shop on the Internet (3) ______________________________.

  How do you feel about prices on the Internet?

Internet prices are (4) ______________________________.

  What kind of problems have you had?

Once I (5) __________________________. [or] I’ve never

___________________________.

  Have you found any way to get discounts?

Often (6) ____________________________________________________.

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Description
Shopping Receipts

Read the receipt and learn the common symbols and expressions.

When we go shopping we receive a receipt for what we buy. Receipts are small and
can be difficult to read if we don’t understand the common symbols used on receipts.
Below are explanations of common symbols and expressions.

1. Look at the receipt again and answer the following questions.

a. The shopper purchased ________ pounds of apples.

b. The shopper spent $ __________ for beverage.

c. The shopper paid using __________.
d. Salmon costs $ ________ per pound.

Grammar Focus (conditionals)

 I am not a couch potato, if that’s what you mean.

 We would be delighted if you could join us.
 If we didn’t use the Internet, it would be harder to make a profit.
 If I had a magic carpet, I’d take you to a magic land.

Reading and discussion

Read the following passage and answer the questions.

Shopping on the Internet Track 21

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H ave you ever bought anything online? Or have you ever gone “window
shopping” on websites? If so, you’re not alone. This is one of the fastest
growing consumer habits in the world.

Just a few years ago, people were not very familiar with Internet technology. They
were worried about making a purchase online. But now people can buy nearly
everything on the Internet. From 1999 to 2002, electronic commerce, or e-commerce,
grew by 29 percent annually. This is not only due to an increase in the number of
people trusting the Internet; it is also because more people have Internet access. In
1997, less than 20 percent of Americans had Internet access at home. In 2001, that
number increased to more than 50 percent. As more people have gained online access,
they have begun shopping online more often.

The Internet has created a convenient way for business people to locate items they
need and to get them at the best prices. In the past, owners of most businesses bought
their supplies locally. Now, business people anywhere in the world can shop on the
Internet to find the best deals. For instance, the owner of a restaurant in a small town
that wants to buy uniforms for employees can compare items from New York, Chicago,
and other cities. In this way, he or she often can choose from a wider variety of items
at lower prices. If you are one of the few people who haven’t tried online shopping yet,
you’re likely to be an online shopper eventually!

1. According to the reading passage, what can restaurant owners in a small town do?

2. What are some Internet shopping tips?