Shopping and Banking

1. Read the text and do the exercises that follow it.

When on a business trip abroad I often go shopping. I need to make some purchases before leaving the country because I want to buy presents for my wife and children.

I prefer supermarkets for shopping. They have become very popular with the shoppers because you can buy everything you need under one roof and they are self-service shops and have parking possibility. I can also make a purchase at clothes shops, shoe shops, book shops, etc. But I call at a department store as it has many departments and I can buy everything I need in one building. I don't like expensive department stores; I prefer to go to cheaper ones. Shops and department stores are open every day till 7 o'clock. Almost all the shops are closed on Sundays.

I ask the nearest way to the Central Department Store and get there by bus. It takes me 10 minutes. A lot of people move along the counters of the shop and look at the shop-windows choosing what they need. I'd like to buy a suit for me, a pair of gloves for my wife and some toys for my children. There's a very good choice of ready-made clothes at the men's and women's departments of the store. I ask the shop-assistant (the sales-girl) to help me choose a summer suit of the right size for everyday (office, better) wear. I try on a few suits in the fitting room. The suit I choose fits me perfectly, it's in grey and matches my eyes, it's not expensive. At least, it costs no more than I can spend. I'm sure that it's my style and it'll wear for ages. I pay for the suit in cash. The cashier gives me a change. I also buy a pair of nice gloves at the women's department for my wife. If the gloves are tight, I'll get a refund. And the toys I buy for my children will be a good present and make them happy.

Vocabulary

purchase – покупка

department – отдел

counter – прилавок

store – магазин

spend – тратить

expensive – дорогой

fitting room – примерочная

size – размер

refund – возврат денег

tight – тесный

2. Match the sentence beginnings to the correct endings.

1. I need to make some purchases before leaving the country because	a) at the women's department for my wife.
2. I call at a department store as it has many departments and	b) at the men's and women's departments of the store.
3. A lot of people move along the counters of the shop and	c) I can buy everything I need in one building.
4. There's a very good choice of ready-made clothes	d) I want to buy presents for my wife and children.
5. I also buy a pair of nice gloves	e) look at the shop-windows choosing what they need.

3. Answer the questions.

1. When and why do businessmen go shopping?

2. What kinds of shops can they make purchases at?

3. What are advantages of supermarkets?

4. Is there a great choice of ready-made clothes at the men's and women's departments of the store?

5. How can you pay for your purchases?