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64
I looked down into her trolley and shuddered: three gallons of milk, 3 loaves of bread, four chickens, a
mountain of baby-food jars, cakes and pies.
I especially like to observe male shoppers. I don't mean househusbands dutifiilly checking items off a list.
I prefer a gourmet who knows the real taste of things: imported cheeses, exotic spices, a whole leg of lamb,
early asparagus.
I felt hostility flowing from the woman standing behind me in the supermarket check-out queue. Had I cut
in front of her? She was glaring into my basket. I quickly surveyed my selections to see what could be
generating such hostility. Let's see:
two bottles of champagne, a lovely avocado, a pound of shrimp, and a
quart of purified water.
II. Fancy what one can see in a shopping basket of:
1) a good housewife;
2) a divorced man;
3)
a woman on a diet;
4)
a hearty eater;
5)
someone expecting guests.
III. Think of other games you can play in your head to make the time pass when you are waiting in a
queue.
Exercise 22
I. Read and translate the following dialogues. Reproduce them.
0 Dialogue 1
At the Grocery store
Grocer: Hello, Ann, how are you doing today?
Ann: Fine, thanks. How are you?
Grocer: I am okay, thank you. What can I get for you, Ann?
Ann: I 'd like half a pound of butter, a pound jar of strawberry jam, a large bottle of vinegar and a tin of
sardines.
Grocer: Will that be all?
Ann: No, I'd also like a small-sized packet of mushroom
soup and a piece of smoked bacon. Grocer
Will this do? It's all we have at the moment, I'mafraid.
Ann: No, it's much too fat. I wanted it leaner. I think I'd better take some ham instead. How much is it?
Grocer: Eighty pence a pound.
Ann: Good. Half a pound, please. That'll be all. How much does it come to?
Grocer: Five pounds thirty seven pence, please.
Ann: Right. Here is six pounds.
Grocer: And here is your change.
Ann: Thanks.
Grocer: Good-bye, Ann. Thank you. Come tomorrow, we'll have a new stock.
0 Dialogue 2
At the Butcher's
Shop assistant:
Can I help you, madam?
Mrs. Gi1bert:
I'd like a leg of lamb. Do you sell it?
Shop assistant:
Yes, we do, but I'm afraid we've sold out at the moment. If you'd care to call in
tomorrow.
Mrs. Gi1bert:
Thank you, I won't bother! I'll buy some pork instead.
Shop assistant:
Oh, yes. We've got excellent choice today. What part would you like to get — shoulder,
leg or some other?
Mrs. Gilbert:
This bit of shoulder is fine with me.
Shop assistant:
Okay. It weighs four pounds.
Mrs.Gilbert:
I'll also have a chicken.
Shop assistant:
Boiling or frying?
Mrs. Gilbert:
Boiling, please.
Shop assistant:
Will this do?
Mrs. Gilbert:
Nice. That will be all. How much is it?
Shop assistant:
Three pounds twenty pence.
Mrs.Gilbert: Here you are.