B. An Expensive Breakfast

Once the king of a small country was travelling about Holland. He stopped at an inn in a little village to have breakfast. He ordered some boiled eggs, coffee, bread and butter for breakfast.

The king ate two eggs with bread and butter, took a cup of coffee and asked the innkeeper, "How much must I pay for my breakfast?"

The innkeeper answered: "A hundred florins."

The king was very much surprised and said, "What? A hundred florins for a little bread and butter, a cup of coffee and two eggs? It is very expensive! Are eggs scarce (редкий, надостаточный) in your village?"

"No, sir," answered the innkeeper, "there are a lot of eggs in our village, but kings are very scarce nowadays."

C. Two Americans were travelling in Spain. One morning they came into a little restaurant for lunch. They did not know Spanish and their waiter did not know English. They wanted him to understand that they wanted some milk and sandwiches. So one of them took a piece of paper and began to draw a cow. He was finishing his drawing, when the waiter looked at it and ran out of the restaurant. He was back again soon, but he brought no milk. He put down in front of the two men two tickets for a bull fight (бой быков).

D. Once a young Englishman invited his girlfriend to a French restaurant. The menu was written in French and he did not know French. As he did not want to look ignorant (невежественный) before the girl, he pointed to some lines in the menu and said to the waiter, "I think, we shall have some of that."

The waiter looked where the man was showing and said, "I'm sorry, sir, but that's what the band is playing."

UNIT FIVE

NEVER BUY A PIG IN A POKE

Topic: Shopping

TOPICAL VOCABULARY

Some Good Rules

1. Tastes differ.

2. Never buy a pig in a poke.

3. If the cap fits, wear it.

4. Be dressed as neat as a new pin.

5. To cost a pretty penny.

6. Ask your purse what you should buy.

The Big Stores of London

One of the features of London is the number of big stores,most of which are to be found in or near the West End. These stores are a mixture of tradition and modernity.

They developed in the nineteenth century; they maintain the dignity of that century, yet they are always ready to follow new trends.

The big stores of London are vast buildings, many storeys high, equipped with speedy lifts and escalators, with well-planned lighting, ventilation and heating.

Departmentsare carefully named; "Budget Dresses" are really cheapdresses - but no customertikes tb be thought of as a "cheap" shopper.The same applies to "Ready-to-wear";fyused to be used for the garmentsthat were not made-to-measure, though now off-the-peg clothesare the rule rather than the exception. "Mother-to-be" or "Lady-in-Waiting" will often be found instead of the conventional "Maternity Wear". Then mere are newer words for the new trends in fashion- "Mix-and-Match", "Unisex", which are 'used alongside the more old-fashioned names: "Haberdashery", "Millinery"; "Gowns",and sometimes still the words derive from the French - "Mantles"for coats, "Layette" for baby-wear. Another feature of London's shopping life is the chain-stores,in which the goods are displayed on open counters.A wide variety of goodsis offered - chiefly foodstuffs, household goods, clothingand stationery.These chain-stores have branchesin most British towns of importance.

One very well-known firm of chemistshas shops in many parts of London (and elsewhere); here you maybuy not only medicinesbut also cosmeticsand toilet supplies.Dairy firms have shops in various parts of London, too, and in these you; may buy not only dairy producebut also groceries, soapand household articles.

Most of the food stores, called supermarkets,operate oh the self-service system:you go in, pick up a basket, walk round the shop and choose what you want. At the exit there is a check-out point, a cash-deskwhere you pay: for all your goods together.

1. -- What kind of shoes do you want, madam?

-- I'd like walking shoes with a low heel. High heels are no good for country wear. You see I have rather small feet.

-- Here is a pair about your size. Try them on. How are they?

-- They are rather comfortable, but they are a little tight, will you show me another pair a size bigger, please?

-- Certainly, madam. Will these do?

-- They fit me very well, thank you.

-- You are welcome.

2. -- What would you like to buy, sir?

-- I'm looking for a navy blue jacket, size 44.

-- How do you like this jacket?

-- Well, I like it. How much is it?

-- Fifty-five pounds ninety-nine pence.

-- Where must I pay?

-- At the cash desk over there.

At the Shoe Shop

Mrs. Morales is visiting San Diego from Mexico and wants to buy a new pair of shoes. She enters a shoe shop and a saleswoman comes towards her.

Saleswoman: Good morning. Can I help you?

Mrs. Morales: Yes, please. I'm looking for a pair of sandals. I wear size 8 and I have

rather wide feet.

Saleswoman: What color would you like?

Mrs. Morales: I'd prefer black or brown.

Saleswoman: Would you like to take a seat and I'll show you what we have in your size.

(The saleswoman brings some sandals and Mrs. Morales tries them on)

Mrs. Morales: These black ones are nice, but they're not as comfortable as the brown

pair. Do you have anything a little wider in black?

Saleswoman: No, I'm sorry. Those are the widest we have. What about the suede pair?

How do they feel?

Mrs. Morales: Well, they're the most comfortable, but 1 don't think they're as elegant as

the brown pair. Are they the same price?

Saleswoman: No. The suede ones are much cheaper. They're on sale for $49.95. The

brown ones are $79.95.

Mrs. Morales: Oh dear. I'm sorry but I just can't make up my mind. I think I'll come

back with my sister.

Saleswoman: OK. We'll see you later then.

EXERCISES

1. Answer the following questions:

Text A: l. What kinds of stores are the features of London's shopping life? 2. Why are the big stores of London called a mixture of tradition and modernity? 3. Why are the departments in the stores carefully named? 4. Which stores have branches in most British towns of Importance? 5. What is characteristic of the British chemist's and dairy shops? 6. How do supermarkets operate?

Text B: Is Mrs. Morales visiting a supermarket? 2. What does she want to buy? З. Does her sister come up to her in the shop? 4. What does the saleswoman tell Mrs. Morales? 5. Does Mrs. Morales want to buy a pair of sandals or boots? 6. What size does she wear? 7. What colour does she ask for? 8. Why does the saleswoman offer Mrs. Morales to take a seat? 9. Does Mrs. Morales try on any sandals? 10. Does Mrs. Morales like black sandals? 11. What is wrong with them? 12. Do they have a little wider ones in black in the shop? 13. What does Mrs. Morales say about the suede pair? 14. Are they the same price as the brown pair? 15. Mrs. Morales buys black sandals in the shop, doesn't she? Why?

2. Find In the text equivalents to the following words and phrases:

1) характерная черта; 2} сочетание старого и нового; 3) новые направления в моде; 4) многоэтажные здания; 5) продуманно названные; 6) "экономичное платье"; 7) общепринятый; 8) старомодный; 9) выставлять; 10) широкий выбор товаров; 11) филиал, значительные города; 12) молокозаводы; 13) фармацевтическая фирма; 14) туалетные принадлежности; 15) хозяйственные товары; 16) работать по принципу самообслуживания; 17) контрольный пункт.

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