Vocabulary

Part II

shopping basket sausage bacon frozen foods department groceries counter Christmas card destination cosmetics to be pressed for to recommend to realise to select lipstick fragrance medium size shampoo

a container with a handle for carrying purchases. chopped up meat, fat, vegetables etc. flavoured and stuffed into a tube-like skin. sliced, salted or smoked meat of a pig. foods kept very cold to prevent decay. a division of an organization. foodstuffs such as tea, sugar, tinned and bottled food. a long table on which goods are placed. a greeting card sent to friends before Christmas. a place to which a person is going. creams, ointments, perfumes etc. to make a human body more attractive. to be short of. to speak well of. to be conscious of. to choose as most suitable. a colouring matter for the reddening of the lips. a sweet or pleasing smell, e.g. of flowers. the size between large and small. soap in liquid or powder form for the washing of the hair.

Explanations

Part III

1. Weather changes. Sometimes it rains and at other times there is sunshine. Temporary changes of this nature are changes of weather. The word climate (weather conditions of a place) is used with reference to long period of time, e.g. a season.

She stays indoors during the rainy season.

2. Traffic is unusually heavy. The word heavy aptly describes the condition of the traffic, as there were many vehicles in the street. Note the following expressions and their meanings.

   - a heavy heart -a heavy sea -a heavy sky -heavy food -a heavy blow -heavy handed

   a sad heart the sea with big waves the sky with dark clouds rich food which is difficult to digest one with great force behind it awkward

3. Cleansing lotion. This is a cosmetic used for cleaning skin. The word cleansing is derived from to cleanse (to make thoroughly clean). It follows that a cleanser is a substance that cleans, e.g. a detergent.

Exercises

1. Answer the following questions.

1. Why was the traffic heavy?

2. What did Mrs Smith buy first of all?

3. What did Mrs Smith buy in the groceries department?

4. What cosmetics did she buy?

5. What did Mr Smith buy in the book department?

6. At what time did Mr and Mrs Smith leave the supermarket?

2. Give the meanings of the following words.

1. Destination. 2. Cosmetics. 3. To recommend. 4. To be pressed for. 5. To realise.

3. Give the word what fits the description.

1. Sliced, salted or smoked meat of a pig.

2. To choose as most suitable.

3. A division of an organization.

4. Sweet or pleasing smell.

5. The size between large and small.

6. A long table on which goods are placed.

Lesson 6

Contracts in business

Part I

In a business transaction two or more people may sign an agreement. Such an agreement is called a contract. Let us say that a vendor offers a pound of grapes for sale and the buyer accepts it at an agreed price. A verbal contract has been made by the buyer and the seller. The payment for the goods is called consideration. This is an essential requirement of every contract.

When goods worth a great deal of money are sold, the buyer and the seller often enter into a written contract acceptable to their lawyers. For example, if a house is sold, a written contract will be necessary. The lawyers of the buyer and the seller ensure that both parties keep their promise. If one party does not, the other can take him to court to obtain compensation. The party that takes action in court is said to sue the other.

Only certain classes of people are permitted by law to sign contracts. They must be 18 years of age in the United Kingdom. Lunatics and bankrupts are disqualified. Contracts cannot be enforced against them. The law considers them incapable of fully understanding their actions. It does not hold them responsible. A contract must be entered into willingly by the people signing it. Threat or force cannot be used. If this occurs, the contract will not be enforceable.

A contract cannot be made for the carrying out of an illegal act. For example, a contract between two people to rob a bank is illegal. If one of them refuses to carry out the robbery, his partner cannot sue him. A contract must relate to a matter that can be carried out.

Businessmen use contracts to protect their interests. Without written contracts there may be misunderstandings resulting in the loss of money and time. It is important for businessmen not only to enter into written contracts but also to know the essentials of a valid contract.