Topic Twelve: Shopping

Dictation 29

How to Shop in America.

In America, just as in England, you can see stores with the same counters and windows in every town and village. Shopping, however, happens to be an art of its own and you have to learn slowly where to buy various things. If you are hungry, no matter how strange it may sound, you go to the chemist's which is called a drug store in the United States. In larger ones you are likely to get drugs, too, but their main business consists of selling stationery, candies, toys, belts, fountain pens, furniture and imitation jewellery. There is a food counter with high stools in front of it and they serve juices, coffee, sundaes, ice-cream, sandwiches, omelettes and other egg dishes there.

If you want cigarettes, you are expected to go to the grocer's; if you wish to have your shoes cleaned, start for the barber's; if you need a radio, go to a man's shop; if you desire a suitcase, head for the chemist's. On the other hand if you want to send a telegram, avoid the post office, because they are sure to be handled by private companies. Nor has the post office anything to do with the telephone either, as this

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service is supplied by the American Telephone and Telegraph Co. It is impossible to find public conveniences in America in the British sense of the word because a lavatory turns out to be a strictly private enterprise, well hidden from the public eye.

Whatever you buy, it may be exchanged later for something else in the same store. This seems to be a wonderful pastime with the Americans. It is not unusual at all to see a lady bringing back a hat with a lot of fruit on it and exchanging it either for real fruit or a real hat; or to see somebody bringing back a refrigerator with the remark that he "made a mistake and now he wants to subscribe to the Reader's Digest instead". So to buy the things you really need, you should be actually very careful, or there are chances you'll join the majority wishing to exchange the things you have for some you don't.

Dictation 30*

Some Hints on Smart Shopping for Clothes

For most of us clothes are the expression of our personality and individuality in the styles and colours we pick. We also use them to show our membership in special groups. You can see that clothes serve several important purposes. None of us can really afford to neglect our appearance. Just as we use clothes to identify ourselves, other people use them as a way to find out what kind of people we are.

To be well dressed, we need something more than various collections of slacks, sweaters, skirts, and shoes, so a wardrobe must be planned in relation to the kinds of things we do and places we go.

We must always consider the activities and clothes we need for each. For example, an outfit for school usually is also suitable for informal parties; the one for dress-up social occasions may be appropriate for church. Most of us can afford to buy only a few new items each year. This is why it is vital to make every choice count.

There are, however, some buying techniques that can help anyone stretch a limited budget. First of all, you must choose versatile items, which have several uses. They may be ideal for more

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than one season of the year – an example is a raincoat with a zip-in lining for nippy weather. Or they can be worn for different events – like a basic dress, which can be changed by wearing accessories.

Many clothing items are discarded long before they are torn out because they look out-of-date. So choose styles that remain in fashion for several years especially when you acquire expensive articles of clothing such as a sports jacket or a smart dress. Simpler, less extreme designs can be counted on to be in good taste and attractive for several years.

It is also significant to take into account fiber and fabrics, as well as durability and ease of care. So we advise you to select your clothes based on the principles stated above.