Từ vựng – Topic 18: Shopping

Giám khảo có thể sẽ hỏi bạn về thói quen mua sắm ở phần thi IELTS Speaking. Đọc những câu hỏi và trả lời bên dưới và chú ý vào phần in đậm. Sử sụng Glossary ở cuối trang để xem nghĩa của những từ chưa rõ nhé.
Part 1
Giám khảo: Do you often go shopping for personal items?
Maxine: When I can afford it yes … my college is in the city centre and I do a lot of window shopping … but being a student I’m on a tight budget so I have to be careful with money …
Giám khảo: Are there many shops where you live?
Jenny: We’ve got a few local shops nearby and a few independent stores but none of the big high street names … I have to go into town for them …
Giám khảo: Do you enjoy shopping?
Marco: It depends … I hate it when the sales are on … crowds of people all trying to snap up a bargain … I find it all a bit stressful … I also get annoyed when shop assistants try to give me the hard sell when all I want to do is look around …
Part 2
Describe a time when you bought something for someone.
You should say
- when this was
- what is was you bought
- who you bought it for
- how you felt about buying it for them.
Sample:
I’d like to tell you about the time … about four years ago … my husband and I bought a computer for our daughter … she was about to go to university and we’d promised her we would treat her to one … at the time there had been a big advertising campaign for the latest Apple Macbook and our daughter was very keen to have one … she kept telling us they were value for money … even though they seemed very expensive to us … anyway we tried to shop around to see if we could pick up a bargain … this was in the middle of the summer sales and wherever you went prices were being slashed on big brand names … but unfortunately not Apple products … we ended up having to pay the full price … I remember my daughter justifying the cost by pointing out how nice the Apple carrier bag was … but it was lovely to see her so excited and the customer service she’s received during the four years she’s had it has been excellent … so it was value for money after all …
Part 3
Giám khảo: Do you think we will stop using paper money in the future?
Louisa: I think it’s almost certain … at the moment it’s still possible to pay in cash but I’m sure this will change … the problem is people are more likely to get into debt and run up a credit card bill when this happens.
Giám khảo: How do companies encourage the consumer to spend their money?
Peter: Well … a recent development in my country is something called ‘Black Friday’ where people are encouraged to shop until they drop and buy the latest must-have products … then there are things like loyalty cards to get the customer back in the store …
Giám khảo: What do you think shops need to do to create a positive shopping experience?
Tania: The main thing for me is not being pressurised to buy … I appreciate that shop assistants are probably on commission but if I’m looking for clothes for example I like to take my time … to try something on … and to ask for help if I need it …
Glossary
- advertising campaign: chiến dịch quảng cáo
- big brand names: các nhãn hàng và công ty nổi tiếng
- to be careful with money: sử dụng tiền cẩn thận
- carrier bag: túi xách
- customer service: dịch vụ khách hàng
- to get into debt: nợ tiền
- to give someone the hard sell: ép ai đó mua thứ gì đó
- high street names: cửa hàng nổi tiếng
- independent stores: cửa hàng bán lẻ (của các thương hiệu nổi tiếng)
- local shops: cửa hàng địa phương
- loyalty card: thẻ thành viên thân thiết
- must-have product: sản phẩm nhiều người muốn có
- to be on a tight budget: ngân sách chi tiêu hạn hẹp
- to be on commission: hoa hồng
- a pay in cash: trả bằng tiền mặt
- to pay the full price: trả đủ một lần
- to pick up a bargain: mua được món đồ rẻ hơn với giá bình thường
- to run up a credit card bill: nợ tiền trên thẻ tín dụng
- to shop around: đi nhiều cửa hàng để lựa chọn sản phẩm tốt nhất
- shop assistant: nhân viên chăm sóc khách hàng
- to shop until you drop: đi mua sắm rất nhiều
- to slash prices: giám giả mạnh
- to snap up a bargain: mua nhanh một thứ gì đó đang được bán rẻ
- summer sales: đợt giảm giá lớn trong năm
- to try something on: thử đồ
- to be value for money: đáng tiền
- window shopping: chỉ nhìn sản phẩm nhưng không mua bất kì thứ gì.
(Nguồn:ieltsspeaking.co.uk)