Episode 240

EPISODE 240
LEVEL A1.2/A2.1

 

READING COMPREHENSION

 

PROBLEMS WITH CLOTHES      

It’s a good idea to buy good quality clothes, even if they are a bit pricey (= expensive). But sometimes, even if we have paid a lot, after buying and taking something home, we discover a problem with it.
We can see that there is a button missing (= there is no button) or that there is a stain (= a dirty mark) on the item of clothing we have bought. The zip can be broken (= it doesn’t work properly) and there can be a hole (= an empty space) in our shirt or sweater. A sweater can shrink (= get smaller) or it can fade (= lose its colors) after we have washed it for the first time.
Fortunately, even if the item of clothing we have bought is imperfect we can take it back to the shop and either get a new one or get a refund (= money back).

 

More contexts for the new words:

• This coat looks really great! It must have cost a fortune! (= a lot of money)
• I took this coat back and they refunded the money. (= they gave me my money back)

 

 

EXERCISE 1

Give words for the definitions.

 

1. to lose colours = to f _ _ _
2. an empty space = a h _ _ _
3. to become smaller = to s _ _ _ _ _
4. to get your money back = to get a r _ _ _ _ _
5. it doesn’t work properly = it’s b _ _ _ _ _
6. there’s no button = there’s a button m _ _ _ _ _ _
7. expensive = p _ _ _ _ _

 

 

EXERCISE 2

Put the words in the correct order to make questions. Then answer the questions.

 

1. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ?

last, When, you, buy, something, did, pricey

2. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ?

did, get, When, you, a refund, last

3. ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. ?

with, What, you, stains, do, do

ENGLISH IN USE 

 

Look at a sentence from the text:

… after buying and taking something home, we discover a problem with it …

Again we can see that we have to use a „verb +ing„, only this time we don’t have another verb, but „after„.

Here are more examples for you to look at:

After eating dinner, he watched TV.
After eating breakfast, he went to work.

Are there any other words which are similar to „after” in construction? There is at least one, „before”, so we can say:

Before taking the test, she had to study a lot.
Before getting home, she did some shopping.

 

 

IDIOM CLOSE-UP

 

A/ I’ve heard John is having lots of problems.

B/ Yes, he is. I wouldn’t like to be IN HIS SHOES.

 

If you say you wouldn’t like to be in someone’s shoes, you think their situation is very bad and you don’t envy them.

 

 

PHRASAL VERBS CLOSE-UP

 

 

1. If you TAKE OUT a stain, you remove it.

I tried everything, but nothing can take out that blood stain.

 

2. If you DO UP an item of clothing, you fasten it.

I was trying to do up the zip, when I realized it was broken.

 

 

 

EXERCISE 3

Rewrite the sentences keeping the same meaning and using the word in CAPITALS.

 

1. I’ve finally managed to remove that juice stain.

OUT ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Don’t forget to fasten all the buttons to look elegant.

UP………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. I don’t envy her.

SHOES ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

 

NEWS

 

CUSTOMER RIGHTS

 

Not everyone knows what their rights as a customer are. Most of us are at the mercy of shop assistants, who – with apologetic smiles – politely explain that they cannot help us. In reality, however, it is not up to the shop assistant to accept or refuse a complaint, but the matter is ruled by regulations. Did you know, for instance, that – if you buy something online – you have 30 days to return it without giving any reason whatsoever? Also, if you buy something in a regular shop, you have seven days to do the same, provided that the product has not been damaged. Moreover, when you complain about a faulty product, it is up to you to decide what you want – an exchange or a refund. Many shops will try to convince you that getting your money back is not an option, but if you persist they will have to admit you’re right. Similarly, you don’t have to agree to have the item repaired.

 

GLOSSARY

– at the mercy of – dependant on

– apologetic – saying ‘I’m sorry’

– whatsoever – at all

– faulty – broken

 

 

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