CRI English Unit 10:Shopping in the United States 购物在美国

Part 3  Get A Good Buy 物美价廉

  The main channel through which customers get merchandise infomp3ation is advertisement or commercials, and nowadays advertisements are almost everywhere, newspapers, TVs, radios, etc., where the sales infomp3ation is the most attractive. In the United States, there are two kinds of nationwide sales, the spring sale and summer sale. Besides, there is also the white sale, here you can find whatever you need for bedding.

    So if you've decided where to buy, you also need to make sure when to buy. The prices of the same goods vary at different season in a year, and we recommend that you pay attention to the useful commercials, especially those about seasonal sale and discount ads. These will save you a great deal of money.

    Generally, most shops enjoy good reputation and credibility, and they provide excellent service to the customers. In most circumstances, goods can be exchanged or even refunded after being sold, of course, they mustn't be used or damaged.

    In North American countries, package bags are provided in every shopping mall, super market and grocery as well. So you don't need to carry a bag when you go shopping. And if you do take one, you'll probably make the shop assistants feel unease, they might be doubtful of your intentions.

    商品信息的渠道是令人眼花缭乱的各类广告。这些广告通过报纸、电视、电台传送进入千千万万人的眼睛耳朵。大减价大拍卖信息最引人注意。在美国，一年中就有全国范围内规模较大的“春季大拍卖”和“夏季大拍卖”，以及出床上用品的“白色大抛售”。

    在选好购物地点的同时，还应该注意时机。同一种商品在不同的时间、季节出售，其价格相差很大。因此应留意商家的广告宣传，特别是换季大拍卖和打折广告，这会帮你省下不少钱哦！

    一般商店的信誉都很好。商品卖出后只要没有损坏或用旧就能调换，甚至退货。

    在北美国家，任何商店都会为顾客提供各类结实的包裹袋，这样顾客就不用带包购物了。倘若你自己带着拎包进店，反倒会使店家觉得不踏实，没准会怀疑你是扒手呢！

Dialogue Script 对话原文

Clerk: May I help you, ma'am?
Anna: Yes, thank you. I'd like to buy a blouse.
Clerk: What colour are you looking for?
Anna: I need something to go with a brown skirt.
Clerk: Here's a pretty green one.
Anna: But it has long sleeves. I'd like a short-sleeved blouse with a high neck, if you have one.
Clerk: We have this one in yellow. What size do you take?
Anna: Thirty-four. Do you have that one in my size?
Clerk: Yes, here it is.
Anna: How much is it?
Clerk: It costs 8 pounds.
Anna: Oh, my. That's too expensive for me. Do you have anything like it for less?
Clerk: I'm afraid not.
Anna: Well, I think I'll look around some more. But I may come back for this one. Thank you.
Clerk: You are welcome.

讲解：

1. 这段对话发生在商店的服装部。当看到顾客时，店员一般都会主动地迎上去，热情地为顾客提供讲解和服务。他们首先会说，May I help you? 或者 What can I do for you? 对话中的 ma'am 是对女士的礼貌称呼。

2. blouse是宽松的上衣，似衬衫的上衣。I need something to go with a brown skirt. 我想买一件上衣配我的棕色裙子。go with，在这里是“与…搭配，与…相配”的意思。

3. 当我们向别人询问穿多大码的衣服或鞋子时，可以说 What size do you take? 当顾客得知那件上衣要8英镑时，觉得太贵了。于是她说 Do you have anything like it for less? 你们有没有像这种样式但便宜一点的？表示用多少钱买某样东西时用介词“for”，比如，I bought my new car for ＄20，000.

4. 最后，这位顾客决定再到其它地方看看，look around some more是口语中简便的说法，我们可以理解为look around for some more blouses. 虽然顾客没有买商品，但店员仍应礼貌地对她的光临表示感谢，并说You are welcome.