Study the following dialogues. The first one is between Mrs Smith and her younger son John. The second is between Mrs Smith and a shop assistant.
A. It’s Saturday morning and Mrs Smith is going shopping.
Mrs S:
John, I’m going to the shops. Is there anything you want?
John:
Yes, please! Can you pick up my magazine from the newsagent’s?
Mrs S:
Of course. Do you want to come with me?
John:
No way, I’m going round to Mike’s house, sorry.
Mrs S:
No problem. I’ll be about an hour, be home by 5 o’clock at the latest.
John:
O.K. I’ll see you later.
A bit later......
Mrs S:
John, are you home?
John:
Yes, mum, I’m upstairs.
Mrs S:
Come down here, I bought you a new Nike T-shirt, I want you to try it on.
John:
Nike? Great I’m coming!
A few minutes later.....
Mrs S:
Well, does it fit?
John:
I think it’s a bit too small.
Mrs S:
Let’s have a look. Hmmm, I think you’ve grown again!
John:
I can’t wear it though.
Mrs S:
Do you like it?
John:
Yeah, it’s a nice colour.
Mrs S:
I’ll take it back to the supermarket and see if I can change it.
B. Mrs Smith had bought a nice new T-shirt for John, but when he tried it on it didn’t fit. It’s Saturday evening and Mrs Smith has to return the T-shirt.
Mrs S:
Excuse me, can you help me?
Shop assistant:
Yes, of course, what can I do for you?
Mrs S:
I bought this T-shirt for my son this afternoon, but it doesn’t fit him, it’s too small.
Shop assistant:
Do you want to change it or get a refund?
Mrs S:
I’d like to change it for a larger size. Do you have these in large?
Shop assistant:
I’ll just check. Let’s see, yes, we have large or extra large, which would you prefer?
Mrs S:
I think large will be fine, it’s for my son.
Shop assistant:
That’s fine, if it doesn’t fit just bring it back again. If you take it to the customer service desk, they’ll sort it all out for you.
Mrs. S:
Thank you. Just as a matter of interest, do you give refunds?
Shop assistant:
Yes, of course. You can bring any clothing items back up to three weeks after purchase, but you must keep the receipt.
Mrs S:
I see, thanks again.
Shop assistant:
You’re welcome.
SPEAKING
Express your agreement or disagreement with the following quotes.
The odds of going to the store for a loaf of bread and coming out with only a loaf of bread are three billion to one. (Erma Bombeck)
A bargain is something you can’t use at a price you can’t resist. (Franklin P. Jones)
When women are depressed, they eat or go shopping. Men invade another country. It’s a whole different way of thinking. (Elayne Boosler)
The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her. (Marcelene Cox)
Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination. (Oscar Wilde)
We used to build civilizations. Now we build shopping malls. (Bill Bryson)