It is interesting to know

 Reading

The passage is taken from the novel Tender is the Night by the American writer, F Scott Fitzgerald, which was published in 1934. Read the passage about Nicole’s shopping trip.

With Nicole’s help Rosemary bought two dresses and two hats and four pairs of shoes with her money. Nicole bought from a great list that ran two pages, and bought the things in the windows besides. Everything she liked that she couldn’t possibly use herself, she bought as a present for a friend. She bought coloured beads, folding beach cushions, artificial flowers, honey, a guest bed, bags, scarves, love birds, miniatures for a doll’s house, and three yards of some new cloth the colour of prawns. She bought a dozen bathing suits, a rubber alligator, a travelling chess set of gold and ivory, big linen handkerchiefs for Abe, two chamois leather jackets from Hermes. Nicole was the product of much hard work. For her sake trains began their run at Chicago and crossed the continent to California; in factories men mixed toothpaste in vats and girls canned tomatoes quickly in August or worked hard at the local store on Christmas Eve; Indians worked on Brazilian coffee plantations – these were some of the people who contributed to Nicole’s wealth and, as the whole system swayed and thundered onward, it gave a rosy colour to such processes of hers as wholesale buying.

Comprehension check

A. Work in pairs and discuss your answers to the questions.

1. What did Nicole buy?

2. What impression of Nicole does the author want to give in his description of her shopping list?

3. What type of person do you think Nicole is? Would you say that she is selfish or generous, serious or frivolous? Find words and phrases in the passage to support your opinion.

4. Do you think Nicole has worked hard to earn her wealth?

5. Who has worked hard to make Nicole wealthy?

B. Decide which of the following summaries of the passage is the most accurate.

1. The first part of the passage is a list of what Nicole buys, and the second is a list of the people who have been exploited and who have contributed to her wealth.

2. The passage describes Nicole and Rosemary on a shopping trip in which they spend a great deal of money on some expensive and frivolous things.

3. The passage describes how Nicole and Rosemary exploited the capitalist system and became rich.

 Stop and Smile

His wife was brooding all day and John couldn’t stand it.

‘What’s wrong, sweetheart?’ he asked.

‘That terrible Lila Black next door has a hat exactly like mine,’ she replied, dabbing away an angry tear.

‘And I suppose you want me to buy you a new one?’

‘Well,’ she said, ‘it’s a lot cheaper than moving.’

Listening

Listen to two men talking about purchases. Do you think there is any problem with someone’s shopping? Do you need someone’s help when you go shopping?

Answer the following questions.

1. How many pullovers has he tried on?

2. Is this the one he wanted? Why did he buy it?

3. How has he put it on?

4. What kind of pullover did he want?

 Speaking

Do you often go on a shopping round? Describe your last shopping tour.

 Reading

Read the text, translate into Ukrainian in writing. What is your idea of present giving?

An ideal present

Presents and present giving should be fun. The whole idea of giving a present is that you should enjoy planning an especial pleasure and surprise for someone. The value of a present is the least important thing about it. What matters is that it is a token of your love and appreciation of the person. Those who never give anything away, not even sympathy, are sure to be disappointed and unhappy people.

An ideal present should be something one will like and want, not just something you like. The simplest present is often the most appreciated. The most successful present givers I know shop all the year round for presents. They see just the right present for a friend, buy it and then put it away till it is wanted. In this case, I suggest you keep a list of suitable presents for your friends so that when the time comes, you can go out and buy something special.

Listening

Listen to the women talking. Where are they? What shops are they going to? What are they going to buy?

 Speaking

1. In the United States people often buy chocolates to give as a present on Valentine’s Day. What are some of the common gifts that you buy for a special occasion or holidays in your country? Where do you shop for them?

2. Choose a present for a friend or relative from the presents shown. Say who the person is, what you are going to buy, and why?

3. Do you think that presents shown are good ones? Think of some more suitable presents, and explain why they are better.

 Speaking

Role play

1. Choosing a present can be a pleasure and an ordeal at the same time. You’ve been looking for a present for your friend for a month but all to no avail. Tomorrow is her birthday party, and you have no present yet. Ask your groupmates for the way out in a situation like that.

2. Choosing a present is art in itself. It involves proper ingenuity, wit and patience. It really poses a problem when it comes to ‘a present with meaning’. Taking into account your groupmates’ temperament, intellect and interests think of a suitable present for everyone.

 Speaking

Making complaints

Have you ever taken something back to a shop? How did you complain? Were you calm or did you get angry? Were you successful?

 Reading

Read the dialogue. How does Linda introduce and support her complaint?

Salesgirl	Yes, madam? May I help you?
Linda	Yes, about the sweater. I bought it here last month. A few days ago I washed it and the colour ran and the sweater shrank.
Salesgirl	You must have washed it in boiling water.
Linda	No, I didn’t. I followed the washing instructions: I washed it in lukewarm water, just as the label said I should.
Salesgirl	Well, I’m afraid I can’t exchange it for you.
Linda	Why not? … Well, then I’d like to see the manager.
Salesgirl	I’m afraid he’s busy.
Linda	I’m sorry but I’d like to see him.
Salesgirl	Very well. If you insist. One moment.
Manager	Yes, madam. May I help you?
Linda	… about this sweater. When I washed, the colour ran and the sweater shrank even though I followed the instructions.
Manager	Really? This has never happened before.
Linda	There’s always the first time, isn’t there?
Manager	I, er, I really don’t see what we can do.
Linda	Excuse me, isn’t there a poster over there?
Manager	Yes, what about it?
Linda	It says “We give our customers satisfaction”
Manager	Yes, I know what it says.
Linda	Well, this store is supposed to give their customers satisfaction! But I am not satisfied.
Manager	I, uh, hmmm. There’s a flaw in this sweater. One of the threads is of different colour.
Linda	Is it? I can’t see.
Manager	Yes, there’s definitely a flaw there. All right, madam. We’ll exchange it for you, but only because of the flaw.

Listening

A. Colin is taking a sports shirt back to a store. He received it as a present. Listen for the answers to these questions:

1. What is the problem with the shirt?

2. Does he complain successfully?

3. How does he feel at the end?

B. Listen again and try to fill in the gaps in the dialogue. How does Colin introduce and support his complaint?

Assistant:	Can I help you?
Colin:	Yes, it’s (1) ……………. this sports shirt. I washed it the other day. The colour ran and it shrank.
Assistant:	Oh dear, I see. Do you have the (2) ……………?
Colin:	I’m (3) ………….., but it was in one of your bags.
Assistant:	I’m sorry, (4) ………….. without a receipt.
Colin:	(5) ………….. to the Manageress.
Assistant:	Yes, of course. I’ll fetch her for you.
Manageress:	Are you the gentleman who brought this shirt in?
Colin:	Yes, could you change it? It’s (6) ……………. .
Manageress:	Where did you get it? Did you buy it here?
Colin:	Actually it was a present from my girlfriend. Is (7) ………………?
Manageress:	I’m afraid there is. You see, (8) ……………… .
Colin:	An imitation? Are you sure?
Manageress:	I’m absolutely positive. The crocodile is even the wrong way round.
Colin:	I don’t know (9) ………………... .
Manageress:	Forget it. But if I (10) ………………….. with my girlfriend!

Exercise 1

The following dialogue takes place in a department store. Look at what the shopper says and complete the dialogue. The first is done for you.

Assistant:	(1) Can I help you?
Shopper:	Yes, it’s these jeans. I bought them here a week ago, and I’m not satisfied with them. I’d like my money back.
Assistant:	(2) ................................................................................................
Shopper:	Well, when I washed them, they shrank so much I couldn’t put them on again. And look how the colour has faded!
Assistant:	(3) ................................................................................................
Shopper:	Only once. And in lukewarm water.
Assistant:	(4) ................................................................................................
Shopper:	Dry them? Why, I ... uh ... I just hung them up, as I always do. Didn’t even use a machine.
Assistant:	(5) ................................................................................................
Shopper:	No, I haven’t. I’m afraid I lost it. But you can see they’re yours, can’t you?
Assistant:	(6) ................................................................................................
Shopper:	What do you mean you can’t unless I’ve got one? Look at the label. They must be yours. What more proof do you need?
Assistant:	(7) ................................................................................................
Shopper:	I don’t care what the policy of the store is. I’d like to see the manager about this!
Assistant:	(8) ................................................................................................
Shopper:	I don’t care. I can wait!

Exercise 2

A	Read through the statements and put them in the correct order. Compare your answers with a partner.
	You show the assistant your receipt. You get a receipt. You look for an item of clothing you want. You take it off and try another one on. You decide to buy it. You take it home and find a problem with it. You try it on. You get your money back. You pay for it. You take it back. You ask for a refund.
B	Match these sentences with the statements in A. Compare your answers with a partner.
Example: Here’s my receipt. = You show the assistant your receipt.
	Here’s my receipt. Excuse me, where is the changing room? I’ll take it. Do you take American Express? Oh, no, there’s something wrong with it. Excuse me, I’m looking for a sweater. Could I have my money back, please? I’m afraid it doesn’t fit. Here’s your receipt. I bought it here last week and I’m afraid ... Thank you.
C	Skeleton story. Write out this story adding words where necessary and using the correct tenses of the verbs.
Example: Last/week/shopping/city/centre Last week I went shopping in the city centre.
		See/ trousers/ decide/ try on pay/ cash/ get/ receipt take/ home/ discover/ problem take/ back/ shop/ ask/ refund assistant/ want/ see/ receipt give/ me/ money/ back/ immediately

 Reading

Read the text and discuss it in your class.