6. Dramatize the conversations:

1. - Good morning madam. What can I do for you?

- A pound of apples at 3 shillings and these oranges for 4 shillings, please.

- Yes, m`am. Would you like some peaches? They are so juicy and sweet.

- I think, I`ll take some. Add half a dozen.

- Anything else, m`am?

- No, thank you.

2. - I`d like this and that. Oh, and that too.

- Here you are, m`am. Anything else?

- A pound of sugar and a pound of cheese, please.

- Yes, m`am. What else?

- That`s all, thank you.

3. - Can you show me some blouses, please?

- Will that light green one do?

- Oh, it`s rather too loud for me.

- Here is one a shade darker.

- That`s just the thing I`ve been looking for.

4. - How much is that blue striped suit over there?

- Let me see… 80 dollars.

- Oh, that`s more than I can afford. I`d like something of the same cut, but cheaper.

- Then have a look at this grey one. The quality is excellent for the price.

- Yes, it will do.

5. - Excuse me. I`d like to try on this coat.

- Certainly. I think it will fit you - it`s about your size.

- I`ll try it on. Oh, dear, it`s too small. The sleeves are too short and it`s a bit tight. I think I`ll leave it, thank you.

6. - Will you show me those black pumps?

- Leather-soled?

- Yes, please.

- What size do you wear in shoes?

- Thirty-eight.

- Here you are.

7. - I`ll take this dress, but I haven`t got any cash on me. Do you take credit cards?

- No, but we accept cheques if you have a banker`s card.

- Good, then I`ll pay by cheque.

7. Read and translate the text. Supermarkets

Supermarkets sell wrapped goods, mainly food of various kinds. The customer goes round and picks the goods off the shelves and puts them into a little wire basket which is provided for the purpose. He pays for them all together at the end.

The small shops that are situated in the back streets have a very difficult time. They have to struggle for existence. Housewives seem to prefer supermarkets. The goods are simply collected by the customer. It is very convenient. It is also very tempting. Husbands complain that their wives spend much more than in an ordinary shop. The goods look so neat and inviting in their attractive wrappings. And you can see what you are getting because you can actually handle the goods.

Some goods can`t be standardized and wrapped so easily. Meat, for instance, is usually sold at a separate counter. There are some cuts already weighed, wrapped and marked with a price. But if you want something different the butcher will cut and weigh it for you and wrap and price it on the spot. This goes for poultry, seafood and cheese. Fruit and vegetables are sold in most of the stores.

The small wire basket must be carried round. But there are some larger ones, mounted on wheels. It is believed that the use of baskets will prevent stealing. One can see customers with one small toothbrush lying in the middle of their basket. But you can also see others who needed two baskets for all their purchases.

The whole idea is to save labour and time. But the number of assistants required to stack the goods and restock the shelves is almost as many as in the older type of shops.

As for time saving: you can wait a quarter of an hour, and sometimes more, in a queue at the check-out. Perhaps, the main purpose for supermarkets is to provide such a display of attractive goods, that a person buys much more than he might in an ordinary shop.

Questions

1. What goods do supermarkets sell?

2. Who serves the customers in a supermarket?

3. What products are sold at a separate counter?

4. What is the main idea of the supermarket?

5. Why does the person buy much more in a supermarket than in an ordinary shop?