 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
68
Я покупаю кое-что из продуктов и становлюсь в очередь в кассу. У меня пять пакетов разных
размеров. Я плачу и собираюсь уже уходить, но тут контрол¸рша на выходе заставляет меня открыть
сумку, вынимает оттуда все мои покупки и потрясает каким-то св¸ртком. Какой ужас — у меня
оказался лишний кусок сыра на двадцать восемь копеек, который кассирша не пробила! (...) Я робко
говорю, что кассирша забыла пробить, что ничего страшного не произошло, я сейчас доплачу... (...)
Женщин это приводит в бешенство.
(М. Влади. «Владимир, или прерванный полет»)
Exercise 3
Write a short essay on one of the following topics.
1. Buying Delicacies Gives the Greatest Pleasure When One Hasn't Got Enough Money.
2. Shopping for Food — a Boring Routine or a Revealing Experience?
3. Why I Always Buy Food in the Same Place.
4. The Main Principles I Observe When I Shop for Food.
5. Why Men and Women Have Different Styles of Shopping for Food.
Note:
Punctuation (continued from page 82).
A colon is put:
1) before an enumeration (e.g. The reasons are as follows: we haven't prepared well enough, the
circumstances are unfavourable and there is no help);
2) between clauses when the second clause is an explanation or an extension of the first one (e.g. Some
things we can, and others we cannot do: we can walk, but we cannot fly);
3) before a short quotation (e.g. Always remember the ancient maxim: Know thyself).
A semicolon is put:
1) between asyndetic coordinate clauses in complex sentences (e.g. He was the only guest present who
had never met her; he decided that matters would be easier if he walked up and introduced himself);
2) between extended homogeneous parts of the sentence, particularly if there are other punctuation marks
within them (e.g. I thought that we had to act quickly; that we had to do something, to get the information).
(to be continued on page 198).
LESSON 6 SHOPPING FOR CONSUMER GOODS
INTRODUCTORY READING AND TALK
Shopping is a very important part of life, but shoppers arc faced with a confusing and rapidly changing
situation. The confusion arises from the claims made by advertising, a wider choice of goods than ever
before, and new places to shop. The prices of clothes, shoes, and make-up have gone sky-high, so it's vital
that you do not waste your money and that you shop carefully for value.
Be sure of what you want — never shop vaguely, because when you get home your purchase may not
match anything else you've got.
Shop around for the best price and quality. Start with a department store, where they stock a wide
range of goods and souvenirs. There you can find many departments: haberdashery, hosiery, drapery,
millinery, ladieswear, menswear, and footwear. If you are looking for a skirt and a top to go with it, you'll
need "Separates". You'll find shorts or T-shirts in "Leisurewear", jumpers in "Knitwear", and a
nightdress in "Nightwear". In "Accessories" they sell belts, gloves, and purses. Try on all the trousers or
dresses they have in the line although it may be quite boring to wait if the changing room is occupied.
Check out the racks with the sign "sale". Although it usually seems to be the small sizes that are offered in
sales, you can sometimes find some super buys.
Feeling cheered up by your new purchase, don't foiget to keep the receipt, in case an item turns out to be
faulty. You'll need the receipt if you want to exchange the item or have your money refunded. If you are a
bargain-hunter, try clothes markets. They often don't have the high overheads of town shops and can
therefore keep prices lower, though they can stock substandard goods. Flea markets are not the best place
to buy anything. The prices are low, but the quality is, too.
Don't put off the purchase of festive gifts until there are only two days left before a holiday. Department
stores are swarming with last-minute shoppers, so you may haveto queue for half an hour at the checkout
till. From everywhere you can hear people swapping rumours, 'They have sold out all the scarves', 'They
have run out of that cream'. You inevitably get involved in exchanging remarks with other people in the
queue or with salesgirls. Sometimes the talk gets so interesting that the cashier's question whether you