Practice English Listening C1 Exercises – Consumer culture

A

Ben: Shopping preference: online

Positive aspects: things are never sold out; there is a very wide selection; he gets a good price (because he can compare prices easily)

Anna: Shopping preference: in stores

Positive aspects: she can try on clothes; the personal touch of sales staff; a shopping trip is usually social

B

Ben:

Negative aspects: shipping can be expensive; he has to wait for delivery, which can be unpredictable

Anna:

Negative aspects: stores get crowded during sales; when a store doesn’t have what she needs, she has to go somewhere else

1   Ben

I definitely prefer shopping online because even if one retailer doesn’t have what I want, it’s likely that another retailer is going to have it. I rarely have to worry about things being completely sold out anymore.

And nothing can compare to the Internet in terms of selection. I love being able to buy things from anywhere in the country – or anywhere in the world! Of course, the farther away the store, the more I have to pay for shipping, which I have to admit is one drawback. It can be quite expensive sometimes. But I usually get a really good price because I’m able to compare prices so easily online – some websites even do it for you.

Basically, it’s a great way to shop, except for having to wait for delivery. That can be unpredictable, which bothers me, since I’m . . . I’m kind of an impatient person, I guess.

2   Anna

When it comes to shopping for clothes, I’m not an online shopper. I really need to try clothes on before I buy them to make sure they fit right. I’ve had some bad experiences buying clothes online, and in some cases, ended up having to return them.

And I really appreciate the personal touch of attentive sales staff that you get in a store. Some have a lot of experience and can be really helpful.

Of course, not everything about shopping in stores is perfect. For example, some of the stores I like can get incredibly crowded during big sales, which is really annoying. And when a store doesn’t have what I need, I have to go somewhere else, which wastes a lot of time.

That said, I still prefer shopping in stores because a shopping trip is usually social for me – a way to go out with friends and have fun.

A

1   Name of product: Healthy Go

      Type of product: energy drink

2    Name of product: Meow Chow

      Type of product: cat food

3    Name of product: Budget Talk

      Type of product: a smartphone and service plan

B

Benefits:

1   It has a lot of vitamins and minerals. It gives you energy.

2   It’s organic with pure, high-quality ingredients and nothing artificial added.

3   The connection is fast and reliable. You get a free smartphone.

1

Mary:   Bill, are you sure you’re not too tired to keep working on our project?

Bill:   I am tired, but we have two more ads to write before our presentation in 10 hours. What can I do?

Mary:   Here, Bill, try some Healthy Go. Just one glass of this fantastic energy drink has the same amount of vitamins and minerals as 12 different fruits and vegetables.

Bill:   But this looks just like tomato juice!

Mary:   Try it!

Bill:   OK . . . Wow! I see what you mean. I feel so much better – energized!

Mary:   Good! Now we’re sure to get our presentation done on time!

2

Hailey:   Hi, Laura! What a surprise! Won’t you come in?

Laura:   Hi, Hailey! And hello to you, too, Mittens! Oh! Mittens is getting thin, isn’t she!

Hailey:   Yes, I’m afraid so. She just isn’t eating like she used to.

Laura:   What are you feeding her?

Hailey:   Oh, you know, whatever cat food is on sale.

Laura:   You should try Meow Chow. It’s a little more expensive than the other brands, but it’s organic, so it’s made only with pure, high-quality ingredients. Nothing artificial is ever added. And cats seem to really like it!

Hailey:   OK, Laura. I’ll give it a try! . . .

* * *

Hailey:   Hi, Laura!

Laura:   Hi, Hailey! And hello to you, too, Mittens. Oh, Hailey, doesn’t she look beautiful!

Hailey:   She’s got her appetite back, and she’s eating well again – thanks to you!

Laura:   You mean, thanks to Meow Chow!

3

Jake:   Argh, Sonia’s party has started by now. I can’t believe we got lost. Has the map loaded on your phone yet?

Erik:   No! I’m still waiting for it to come up. Sometimes it takes a really long time, especially out here in the country. In fact, I don’t think I’m even getting a connection right now.

Jake:   Don’t tell me you’re still using that same old phone service!

Erik:   I’m afraid so. I just can’t afford to upgrade to a better service.

Announcer:   Tired of your slow phone? Afraid of paying too much for a reliable, high-speed connection? Then a Budget Talk smartphone is just what you need. Our research shows that a Budget Talk connection is 10 times faster than the average connection. What’s more, Budget Talk guarantees you a fast, reliable connection, even in rural areas.

Enrolling in a Budget Talk service plan is simple. And we’ll even give you a Budget Talk smartphone absolutely free, just for signing up.

Do you have the need for speed? Then sign up for a Budget Talk service plan today.

1 False   2 True   3 True   4 True   5 False

Frances:   Hey Tami, have you been to the new Cut-Rate Supermarket on 24th Street?

Tami:   Nah, I heard about it but I haven’t been. I don’t like big supermarkets.

Frances:   Why not? The prices are so good. Everything is so cheap! You can buy huge packages of vegetables for half the price of what you would find in a regular supermarket.

Tami:   Yeah, but what about the quality of the food? I prefer to buy organic produce from local farmers at the farmer’s market.

Frances:   But that stuff is so expensive, Tami.

Tami:   Yeah, but I know what I’m getting! I know that the food I’m eating doesn’t have harmful chemicals sprayed on it, or that it didn’t spend two weeks on a truck before I bought it.

Frances:   Huh? You mean the produce in the supermarket may be that old?

Tami:   Yeah, like many fruits, for example, are picked while they’re still green, so that they ripen while they’re being transported. That can be a long time. I prefer to eat fruit that is fresh from the tree. Produce that isn’t eaten right after it’s picked can lose its nutritional value.

Frances:   I didn’t know that.

Tami:   And you know, I think it’s just better to buy food from the people who grew it.

Frances:   That makes a lot of sense. But what about stuff like cereal and cookies … you know, packaged food?

Tami:   Well, I usually get that from the corner store. It’s expensive, though.

Frances:   Listen, I know you’re on a budget, Tami. We both are. You should at least try the new Cut-Rate supermarket. You could buy your packaged food there and your produce from the farmer’s market.

Tami:   Good idea. Next time you go, let me know. I’ll go with you.

Frances:   Great! I’ll give you a call.