Exercise 6

A. Compare the ways of shopping, using the words given in brackets. Add explanations where possible.

Using local shops is more convenient than going to the centre. Large shops are cheaper than small local shops. This is because they sell more things, so they can reduce prices.

a) supermarkets / small grocer’s (cheap)

b) expensive clothes / cheap clothes (good quality)

c) department stores / small shops (interesting)

d) staff in small shops / staff in supermarkets (happy)

e) street markets / ordinary shops (expensive)

f) local ‘corner’ shops / other shops (expensive)

g) buying by post / going to shops (difficult)

h) products in advertisements / the real thing (good)

B. Complete each sentence and give your own opinion.

People say that platinum is the most expensive metal.

Some people say that leather shoes are more reliable than canvas ones.

a) Generally speaking, gold jewellery is more…

b) Finding exactly what you want to buy is the most...

c) When they go shopping, teenagers are not as…

d) Going shopping with your family is more...

e) Buying presents for others is not as…

f) Looking around the shops on Saturday morning is the most…

g) Going to the supermarket is worse…

h) Paying with a credit card is not as…

Listening

Have you ever received a free gift with a product? Do offers of free gifts make you buy products?

Listen to a conversation about free gifts. Match the products listed below with the free gifts which were given.

— Speaking

What else makes you decide to buy something?

a cut-price offer

seeing a new product

an advertisement

the wrapping or packaging