I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top] |
What kinds of items would you find being sold at a flea or street market? Would you ever go to such a market to shop? Why or why not?
HELPFUL TIP: Be prepared to haggle with sellers at a flea market to see if they will lower the price on the goods you want. They can only say no, and you can try your luck with a different seller.
II. Listening Exercises [Top] |
I. Listen to the conversation by pressing the “Play” button and answer the questions. Press the “Final Score” button to check your quiz.
Merchant: Well hi there. What are you looking for today?
Customer: Uh, I’m just looking.
Merchant: Well, how about a ring from someone special?
Customer: There IS no one special.
Merchant: Well, take a look at this CD player. A great bargain today only.
Customer: Nah. I already have one, plus the handle is cracked.
Merchant: Okay. Well what about this genuine leather jacket? It would look great on you.
Customer: Hum. Let me take a look at it.
Merchant: Sure.
Customer: Umm. There are stains on the sleeves. I’ll pass.
Merchant: Well okay. Well, wouldn’t you like to walk home with some of these great records? Some of the best hits from the 1960’s.
Customer: Yeah, let’s see. [Yeah] Now here’s something I’d . . . Ah, these records are scratched.
Merchant: [Laughter] Just in a couple places. Listen. I’ll sell you these ten records for fifty dollars. A steal!
Customer: Whoa! They’re way too expensive. I’ll give you twenty-five bucks for them.
Merchant: Ah, come on. I can’t charge you less than thirty dollars and break even.
Customer: Well, that guy over there is selling similar records for a much better price [Ah!], so thanks anyway.
Merchant: Wait, wait, wait, wait. You drive a hard bargain. Twenty-eight dollars, and that’s my final offer.
Customer: Huh . . . I’ll think about it.
Merchant: Wait, wait, wait, wait. Listen. I’ll even throw in this vase.
Customer: Now what am I going to do with a vase?
Merchant: Well, you can give it to that someone special when you find her. . . and this ring would look great with it.
Customer: Oh, I’ll stick with the records.
Key Vocabulary [Top] |
- steal (noun): a great bargain
– For only $10, that radio is a steal. - buck (noun): one dollar (informal)
– Hey. Can you loan me a few bucks until the end of the week? - break even (verb): end up with no profit or loss at the end of some business activity
– Business was good yesterday at the store, but in the end, we barely broke even. - drive a hard bargain (idiom): expect a lot for what you pay for
– She drives a hard bargain whenever she sells clothing in the outside marketplace. - throw in (phrasal verb): add or include
– I’ll buy the ring if you throw in the necklace too. - stick with (phrasal verb): stay with, not changing to something else
– Although that is a nice jacket, I think I’ll stick with the one a bought yesterday. I don’t need two jackets.
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