Read the text

A Shopping Day with a Difference

Last Saturday, Emma and her older brother Jack decided to go shopping for new clothes. They were getting ready for a school trip, so they wanted to find something comfortable but not too expensive.

First, they went to a large shopping centre in the city. Emma immediately noticed a beautiful blue jacket in the window of a clothes shop. The jacket cost £60, but there was a 30% discount. Emma thought it was a great bargain.

Inside the shop, she took the jacket to the fitting room. It looked perfect, but the sleeves were too long. A shop assistant helped her find a smaller size. Unfortunately, the smaller jacket was not available in blue. Emma had to choose between a black jacket and a green one.

“I think the green one looks better,” Jack said.

Emma agreed and bought it. At the checkout, the shop assistant gave her a receipt. Emma put it carefully into her bag because she knew she might need it if she wanted to return the jacket.

After that, Jack wanted to buy a pair of trainers. He found a pair he really liked, but they were quite expensive. Then he remembered that the same shop had an online store. He checked the price on his phone and discovered that the trainers were £15 cheaper online.

Jack was surprised. However, there was one problem: online delivery would take three days, and they needed the trainers before their trip. He decided to buy them in the shop.

On the way home, Emma and Jack talked about shopping. They agreed that shopping online was convenient because you could compare prices and shop from home. However, they also liked going to real shops because they could see and try things before buying them.

“Maybe the best way to shop is to use both,” Emma said.

Jack smiled. “Exactly! We just need to be smart shoppers.”

Tasks

2. True or False?

Read the statements and write T (True) or F (False).

1. Emma and Jack were shopping for a birthday party.

2. Emma liked a blue jacket in the shop window.

3. The jacket was on sale.

4. Emma bought the blue jacket.

5. Jack wanted to buy trainers.

6. The trainers were cheaper online.

7. Jack bought the trainers online.

8. Emma and Jack thought that both online and traditional shopping had advantages.

3. Choose the correct answer

1. Why did Emma and Jack go shopping?

a) They needed presents for their parents.
b) They were preparing for a school trip.
c) They wanted to buy new phones.
d) They were bored at home.

2. What was wrong with the first jacket Emma tried?

a) It was too expensive.
b) It was too small.
c) Its sleeves were too long.
d) It was the wrong colour.

3. Why didn't Emma buy a blue jacket?

a) There was no discount.
b) The shop was closing.
c) The smaller size wasn't available in blue.
d) Jack didn't like blue.

4. How much cheaper were the trainers online?

a) £5
b) £10
c) £15
d) £20

5. Why did Jack buy the trainers in the shop?

a) He didn't like online shopping.
b) He needed them before the trip.
c) The online shop was closed.
d) The shop assistant gave him a discount.

4. Match the sentence halves

1. Emma liked

2. The jacket had

3. The smaller jacket was not

4. Jack discovered that the trainers were

5. Online shopping was convenient because

6. They liked real shops because

a) available in blue.
b) they could try things on.
c) a beautiful blue jacket.
d) cheaper online.
e) they could compare prices.
f) sleeves that were too long.

5. Find in the text

Find English words or phrases that mean:

1. a person who works in a shop — __________

2. a room where you try on clothes — __________

3. a lower price — __________

4. a good product at a good price — __________

5. a person who buys something — __________

6. a paper showing what you bought — __________

6. Answer the questions

Answer in complete sentences.

1. What were Emma and Jack preparing for?

2. What did Emma buy?

3. Why did she choose a green jacket?

4. What did Jack want to buy?

5. Why didn't he order the trainers online?

6. What advantages of online shopping are mentioned in the text?

7. Why do Emma and Jack like traditional shopping?

8. What do they mean by “smart shoppers”?

7. Complete the summary

Use the words from the box.

discount • trainers • school trip • green • online • receipt • smart • fitting room

Emma and Jack went shopping because they were preparing for a __________. Emma found a jacket with a __________. She tried it on in the __________ and finally chose a __________ jacket. The shop assistant gave her a __________.

Jack wanted to buy __________. He discovered that they were cheaper __________, but he needed them quickly. In the end, they decided that good shoppers should be __________ shoppers.

8. Discussion

Work in pairs or small groups.

1. Do you prefer shopping online or in real shops? Why?

2. What are the advantages of online shopping?

3. What are the disadvantages?

4. Have you ever bought something online that you didn't like?

5. Do discounts always mean that you are getting a good bargain?

6. What makes someone a “smart shopper”?

Useful phrases:

• I prefer … because …

• In my opinion, …

• One advantage is …

• One disadvantage is …

• I agree / I disagree because …

• I think a smart shopper should …