Lesson 7
Going Shopping
Text A
Gretel
Mrs Clark went shopping
the centre
London yesterday.
"I'd like
know which store you like bestLondon, Mrs Clark , " Gretel said.
"Now that's
difficult question," Mrs Clark replied. "I just haven't any idea which store
like best. There are so many huge storesLondon.suppose Selfridges must be
biggest.
There's so much variety there.can usually find what I'm looking for. Then there's Liberty's. It's suchlovely building. Harrods
very famous, too. It's suchsmart store,love allbig storesLondon because you can walk roundnobody bothers you. Nobody triessell you anything-unless you wantbuy something.
Sometimesgo window-shopping , or just wander roundstorelook atthings
display. The big stores are onethe sightsLondon.wentthe salesJanuary. That was onethe sightsLondon, too! My goodness!
The crowds! But
was worth it.bought some lovely things very cheaply. It was good fun, but very exhausting.
Text B
As she walked roundhuge department store, Edith reflectde how difficultwaschoosesuitable Christmas present
her father. She wished that he was as easyplease as her mother, who was always delighted with perfume.
Besides, shopping at th'ss timethe year wasmost disagreeable experience : people trodyour toes , poked you with their elbowsalmost knocked you overtheir hastegeta bargain aheadyou.
Partlyhaverest, Edith pausedfronta counter where some attractive ties weredisplay. 'They are real silk'assistant assured her, tryingtempt her. 'Worth doubleprice. ' But Edith knew from past experience that her choiceties. hardly ever pleased her father.
She movedreluctantlythen, quite by chance, stopped wheresmall crowdmen had gathered roundcounter. She found some good quality pipessale -the prices were very reasonable. Edith did not hesitatelong: although her father only smokedpipe occasionally, she knew that this waspresent which was boundplease him.
When she got home, with her small but well-chosen present concealedher handbag, her parents were already at table having supper. Her mother wasespecially cheerful mood. `Your father has at last decidedstop smoking,' she informed her daughter.
Additional Information
(
)
JOAN: Yes, madam? Canhelp you?
MRS S: Oh yes, please, but you're just closing. aren't you?
JOAN: Well , yes , we are , madam. The shop shutsfive minutes.
MRS S: shan't keep you long then. It was about some saucepans you had
your .
window last week
JOAN: Last week, madam?really can't remember which ones you mean.
What were they like?
MRS S: Oh, they were lovely! Sortimitation wood. dark brown colour.
country-style you know,the lids, ifremember rightly,
hadsortleaf pattern, or wasflowers?
JOAN: That's strange.don't recognise anythe ones we had from that
description. Are you sure they werethis shop?
MRS S: Oh, you must knowonesmean. They werea sale. A real
bargain. Reduceda quarterthe original price.couldn't
believe my eyeswhensaw them.
JOAN: I'm afraidsales are over now, madam, andknow we sold outall
saucepans.
MRS S: don't think you did, you know. At least, my neighbour, Mrs Cliffe,
told me she saw some here only yesterday.
JOZN: Well, it's all new stockthe window now.
MRS S: Mayjust haveiook,see if there's asything else?
JOAN: Er, well, madam, as you know. we were just closing.
MRS S: Yes , yes , I'm sorrywon't keep you. It must getyour nerves when
l customers comerightclosing-time. But they were such beautifu
saucepans! I'd have bought them then if only I'd made up my mind on
stop.
JOAN: Perhaps, madam. if you came back tomorrow,could show you all we
haveour
rangekitchen ware.And there are still one or two things at sale
MRS S: Oh look! That one there! That'ssortthingwas looking for!
price.Butit's not quiteright colour.
JOAN: That might beartificial lighting. madam. Of course, if you came
backdaylight , you might find it's exactly what you're looking for.
MRS S: Thereis! That'spattern! The set behind you! Thank goodness
they haven't been sold! And thank you so muchbeing so patient with
me. Yes, those areones!
(2)
Shops
Most shopsBritain open at 9. 00 a. m.close at 5. 00 or 5. 30the evening. Small shops usually closean hour at lunchtime. On one or two daysweek-usually Thursday and/or Friday-some large food shops stay open until about 8. 00 p. m.late night shopping.
Many shops are closedthe afternoonone dayweek. The dayusually Wednesday or Thursdayita different daydifferent towns. Nearly all shops are closedSundays. Newspaper shops are openthe morning,sell sweetscigarettes as well. But there are legal restrictionsselling many thingsSundays.
In general, overseas visitors don't have much difficulty knowing wherebuy things. Most shops sellthings that you would expect them to. One problemstamps. In Britain you can only buy these at post-offices.
Many large food shops (supermarkets ) are self-service. When you go into onethese shops you takebasketyou putthings you wishbuy into this. You queue up atcash-deskpayeverything just before you leave.
If anyone triestake things fromshop without paying they are almest certainbe caught. Most shops have store detectives who havejobcatching shoplifters. Shopliftingconsideredserious crime bypolicethe courts.
When you are waitingbe serveda shop itimportantwait your turn. Itimportant nottrybe served before people who arrived before you. Many people from overseas are astonished atBritish habitqueueing.
