9. At a Convenience Store

S. Clerk: May I help you?

Santos: Yes. I'd like to buy some cookies.

S. Clerk: They are on that shelf over there.

Santos: These are chocolate-flavored cookies. Excuse me, how much are these? I can't sее

the price.

S. Clerk: I'm sorry, but all the prices are bar-coded only. Those are 400 yen.

Santos: Thanks.

Cruz: Four-hundred yen is a bit expensive. Let's look for cheaper ones. How about thes

It says "Potato Chips" on the packet. They're only 230 yen. Santos It's quite light for such a big packet but it looks good. OK, I'll buy two of these. Cruz: I'll get two bags, too.

S. Clerk: Do you want to pay for these separately or together?

Santos: Together, please.

S. Clerk: That comes to 966 yen.

Cruz: Ah, isn't it supposed to be 920 yen since they are 230 yen each?

S. Clerk: You need to add the 5% consumption tax, which comes to 46 yen.

Cruz We have to pay tax on everything?

S. Clerk: I'm afraid so. Will that be all?

Cruz: Yes. Here's a thousand yen.

?. Clerk: Thank you. Here's your change: 34 yen.

Santos: Thank you. (They go out of the shop.) Wow! That young girl was looking af

such a big shop all by herself! Cruz: I heard that Japanese people are pretty honest and there isn't much shoplifting.

S. Clerk: Sales Clerk

chocolate-flavored: taste like chocolate price: cost bar-coded : price on package read by a computer scanner

a bit expensive : a little expensive, not cheap -> a bit = a little

look ftry to find

cheaper: cost less, priced lower

Separately: one at a time, not together

consumption tax : 5% tax on things bought at stores (in Japan)

a thousand yen: 1,000 yen

change: money left after a purchase, money you get back after paying for something

shoplifting : stealing, taking something without paying, especially from a shop

10. In a Taxi

Cruz: We should get going. We don't have much time left. Shall we take a taxi?

Santos: Yes. But can we catch one easily? Ah, here comes one now! Flag it down! Oh,

there's already a passenger in it. That's no good. Cruz: Here comes another one! It's stopping. The red lamp at the front seems to mean

that it's free. Santos: Wow! The door opens automatically! Japanese taxis are amazing!

(They get in the taxi)

Driver: Hello. Where to, sir?

Santos: To the Service Boat Station at Mizushima Port, please. How much will that be?

Driver: Mizushima Port, Service Boat Station. All right. The basic fare is 560 yen for the

initial two kilometers. There's an additional charge of 80 yen per 200 meters. So it

will cost about 640 yen from here. Cruz: Do you have the same taxi fares everywhere in Japan? Driver: No. Generally speaking, it costs more in urban areas than in rural areas. Santos: Is it a difficult job? Driver: Not really. It's a good way to earn a living. Here we are at the Service Boat

Station.

Santos: Oh, great! We're back just in time.

Driver: Just a moment. I'll pull over.

Santos: How much is it?

Driver: (Checking the meter) It's 640 yen.

catch: take, take hold of... Flag it down. : hail or wave to taxi driver free : not in use, available automatically : by itself, without having to do anything amazing : wonderful, great initial : first

an additional charge : extra cost. additional <-add (to increase) Generally speaking,... : speaking in a general manner, without giving specifics; usually, regularly urban area : city

rural area : country, farmland earn a living : work, have a job to make money just in time : in time, not late -> 1 was just in time ... (I was not late. I came on time.)

Chapter 2. On Board a Tanker