Buying Things for a Picnic and Everyday Shopping

This dialogue is a conversation between two friends, Michael and Tom. They hadn't seen each other for some time. Tom went into one of the big London stores and enjoyed himself very much, just wandering from one department to another, looking at the various articles on the counters. Michael was surprised to meet him.

T: Oh, Michael! I haven't seen you for ages.

M: And imagine us meeting here of all places.

T: We are having a picnic this Saturday. Can you come?

M: Sounds great, sounds good, I'd love to!

T: Will you help me to do some shopping, you see we've run out of vegetables and we've hardly any bread in the house. And Margery said that it was my turn to go to the greengrocer's and to the baker's.

M: How could I possibly refuse .You've been a lazy-bones ever since you were born. It was always so difficult to make you go anywhere .Where is the list .Let me see: a cabbage, a pound of onions, half a pound of carrots and a loaf of bread. Well, well, well!

T: Oh and here is another list. Here is everything we need for a picnic, you know quite the most important feature of the picnic is the lunch. So first of all Margery has put down chicken. Oh, I'm fond of fried chicken. Then there should be hard-boiled eggs.

M: That's a good idea. Almost everything else that comes in a can or a paper bag is good for a picnic lunch. By the way, do you remember our walk in Epping Forest?

T: What a beautiful day, wasn't it? Look, there are crowds of shoppers near that great store over there. I should like to look what's happening there.

M: But, Tom! If we pause at each article of clothing, we'll never buy any food.

T: But the jackets are so marvellous! I've almost got my heart fixed on them!

M: Be sure it won't fit you perfectly. It is not your size and it is rather loose .

T: Oh, but the assistants seem to be so helpful!

M: Thomas! I'm sick and tired of all your pretexts. Let me have a minute's rest!

T: All right! All right! I'll be as good as gold, so what did you say we should buy first?

M: How many more times do you want me telling?

Пензенский государственный педагогический университет

имени В.Г. Белинского

Светова Марина Александровна,

Разумова Марина Владимировна

ENGLISH ACTIVATOR FOR FRESHERS

Учебное пособие по практике устной речи

для студентов 1 курса

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