Read the text and check your ideas.

Understanding the Information on the Label

Information included on the labels of food products is strictly controlled by law. Food shoppers will find labels to be one of their most useful andreliable sources of information. Labels provide such important facts as the ingredients and the relative amounts of each that were used, the net weight of the package contents, the name of the processor or distributor, andfederal inspection information.

a) Rate the importance of each of the following factors in your decision whether to buy a certain item in the grocery store:

taste price appearance

nutrition freshness packaging

need budget weight

container size

b) First work on your own, then discuss the results and come up with a unanimous sequence for the group.

Read the text and do the activities that follow.

The best places to go shopping in the world, and how to pick up a bargain

When you get there

Does it seem a bit extravagant to go all the way to New York to buy a pair of jeans? Think again – with a cheap flight, a bit of extra suitcase-space on the way out and the possibility to see the Statue of Liberty in the bargain, you could return with more money in your wallet than you can imagine. OK, so we’re exaggerating a bit, but shopping abroad can be seriously cheaper, not to mention seriously more fun, than spending money back home. Here is a guide to the best of the world’s shopping at the most wallet-friendly prices.

Fashion. If you’ve got a passion for fashion, there’s only really one place worth considering for the best of the designer clothes: Milan. Armani, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Versace are among the designers who started their careers here so class, and a little bit of Italian extravagance, abound on every street corner. There are sales in most shops from early January to February and from July to August so these are the times you’re most likely to pick up discounted designer clothes.

Antiques. Though London is still considered the antiques capital of the world by those in the know, prices can be startlingly high here. If you’re really after a bargain and can tell a fake from the genuine article at 20 paces, Eastern Europe is the place to pick up antiques. The countries were closed for so long and have only (relatively) recently opened up to trade, all sorts of articles are appearing out of grannies’ attics and selling on the open market. Find out the speciality of the region before you go and that’s where you’ll get the best deals. In both Estonia and Lithuania, for example lace and amber abound, but in Estonia lace is made locally and you’ll get the best prices. Travel south to Lithuania and you’ll get better deals on amber, which is the speciality of the country.

Flowers. It doesn’t have to be Spring and you can buy a lot more than just tulips – the floating flower market in Amsterdam is certainly the most fragrant shopping trip you’ll ever experience. The flower stalls stand on houseboats, a relic from the times when the flowers were shipped in on barges to the Dutch capital. Seasonal bargains are available all year round, including Christmas trees in December. The flower market has everything from the traditional tulips and geraniums to exotic flowers shipped in from all over the world. Bulbs are also ready for export, so you can bring them home with you. The floating flower market is open from 9 a.m.-5.30 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays and 11a.m.-5.30p.m. on Sundays. Arrive early to get the freshest blooms.

Interiors. For stunning hand-made carpets of wool or cotton Turkey is the place to visit. Carpets are knotted or flat woven (kilim) and each region has its individual designs and colors. Though Istanbul is the obvious place to go, travelers advisegoing to smaller villages further off the beaten track, such as Cappadoccia, where the carpets are made by the locals and you should get a better price.

Duty Free. On the off-chance that you’ve taken your holiday and not managed to find any good bargains, don’t forget the duty free at the airport. It is perfect not only for cheap alcohol and tobacco, but perfume, cosmetics, watches and ridiculously expensive pens.

These suggestions are just the peak of the worldwide shopping iceberg. Almost everywhere you could possibly travel to get local goods for sale. Know what they are before you go and you can return home with something unique and well-priced.

a) Answer the questions on the text.

1. What is the best place in the world for a fashion addict?

2. Where can one get the best of the antiques but for London?

3. What things can you get in Estonia and Lithuania?

4. What is country is famous for flowers? What bargains is it possible to get there?

5. Where are the best hand-made carpets woven?

6. What can one get at the duty-free shop? Why is it so popular among travelers?

b) Find these words and phrases in the text and underline them. Define their meanings.

a pair of jeans, shopping abroad, wallet-friendly prices, a passion for fashion, street corner, discounted designer clothes, to tell a fake from the genuine article, grannies’ attics, the best deals, lace and amber, speciality of the country.

c) Find a word in the article to complete these phrases.

the floating flower………. / fragrant shopping………. / the Dutch………. / seasonal………. / traditional tulips and ………. / hand-made ………. / individual ………. / the beaten ………. / to get a better ………. / cheap………. / ridiculously expensive ………..

d) Discuss the following: What places for shopping bargains would you recommend in your country? What things can be bought there?

1. Read the text and discuss the following.

Web shopping is a phenomenon that first emerged in the 1990s. With the growing popularity of the internet, online shopping allows customers to shop different stores from the comfort of their home or computer. The success of online stores like Amazon.com has led many away from in-store shopping toward web shopping. On the web, people are capable of easily comparing products while bargain shopping or discount shopping. Many, however, have raised questions over the costs of online shopping and whether web shopping is safe.

Many concerns about internet shopping are due to security issues. When engaging in an online transaction to purchase something, it is important to verify that your internet connection is secure, keep your passwords to favorite websites secure by never answering unsolicited emails that ask for that information. In addition, never open attachments from unsolicited emails because they may contain viruses which can sacrifice the security of a computer.

The best form of payment to use when shopping online is a credit or debit card. In some countries there are federal laws that protect the consumer from credit / debit card fraud. For example, under federal law in the United States a consumer’s liability is limited to $50 (USD) when using a credit card. Many websites will offer to cover the liability and the large credit card companies offer protection too.

Knowing your seller is another important guideline to lead to a pleasant internet shopping experience. Most transactions with major retailers are going to be smooth and very rarely will lead to any problems. However, when shopping with a company that is unfamiliar, it is important to do some research. Just because a company is ranked high in a search engine does not mean it is reputable. It is important to double-check company information and to be familiar with all of their purchase and return policies, as not to be surprised later.

If something seems to good be true, it probably is. This saying is used many places in life, but it is especially important when shopping online. There are many ways to save money online by shopping clearance sales, taking advantage of online-only specials or using online coupons that can be obtained at numerous websites. However, websites or unsolicited emails that offer products or services that sound too good to be true usually have less than honorable intentions. Many of these kinds of problems may occur when purchasing luxury or designer goods.

Finally, after an internet shopping transaction is complete, it is important to print all receipts. By printing or saving to a hard drive a copy of the order confirmation, there is a record of the transaction in case of any possible future disputes. Having a picture or record of the original product also provides a record if the product shows up and looks different than expected.

Ø Express your opinion on internet shopping. Have you ever used it?

Ø Is web shopping common for your country? Is it reliable there?

Ø What difficulties / tricks can you come across while shopping through internet?

Ø What forms of payment on internet shopping are used in your country?