CRI实用英语课堂 Unit 10 Shopping in the United States 购物在美国

 Part 1  Types of Shops 商店类型   

    First of all, it should be pointed 1 out that shops in the western countries are somehow different with those in China. Basically, there are divided into three types: the large-scaled, well-decorated shopping malls and chain shops, the super markets and medium or small sized groceries, and those that exclusively deal with one area, such as books, household appliances, cosmetics 2, clothes, furniture, shoes, etc. Besides, there are also many dime 3 shops that sell discounted goods. 

    It should be noted 4 that in the United States, there is a kind of shops that are run by the church community who sell various types of goods at the lowest price. These shops are called the Salvation 5 Army or Good Will Retailer 6 Store. The merchandise here are mostly beneficences, which are marked "used". Frequent customers to these shops are poor people who can't afford expensive goods. 

     大家都知道，我国与西方国家在经济制度和商业体系上有许多不同之处，同时从商业网点分布、商店规模、经营范围、营销方式，到商品的种类、物价的升降幅度、服务态度、广告宣传，以及招徕、吸引顾客的生意经和商品售后服务等方面存在着差异。因此，我们有必要了解一些在国外购物的常识。

    英美等国的商店格局与国内不大相同，有规模大、装修豪华的大型购物中心、联营公司，有许多超级市场和中小型的杂货店，还有专门出售某类商品的商店，如卖书的、卖家电的、卖化妆品的、卖服装的、卖家具的、卖鞋帽的等。除此以外，经营、出售减价商品的折价商店，或出售二手商品的旧货店也不少。

    购物中心是shopping mall或者shopping center；chain shop是“联营公司”的意思；杂货店，我们可以说grocery或者grocery store；另外，折价商店和旧货店分别是discount shop和second-hand shop。

    百货商店，也就是department store，一般分成很多的营业部门，你可以从中买到服装、鞋帽、电器、厨房用具、工艺品、礼品、珠宝首饰……等等。不同档次的百货商店出售的商品价格和质量都不一样。百货商店经常举办减价销售，在此期间选择-部分商品减价出售。多数减价销售都会在地方报纸上刊登广告。一般说来，百货商店都设在商场里面，成为那里的支柱或“龙头店家”。

    折扣商店（discount store）经营的内容与百货商店大同小异，由于它们是大批量进货，（出售的商品有时也可能有点过时或不再流行），又因为店商的面积比较大、造价低廉装饰朴素，因此价格往往比百货商店要便宜一些。有些折扣商店必须交费成为成员，才能入内购物。如果你仔细观察，往往能在折扣商店发现价格低廉的“特价商品”（bargains或good buys）。

    超级市场（supermarket），或称自选商场，在美国有时也叫做“grocery store”。这是一种规模、面积都相当大的商店，主要销售各种副食品，同时也有选择地销售-定量的其他物品，诸如，医药用品、金属器具、厨房用具、室内盆栽植物、供宠物吃的食品，有时甚至也出售衣服。

    在美国，由教堂经营的求世军或名为善意零售店的商店的货物最为便宜。那儿的商品多为捐赠物，上面标有“USED”的字样。经常光顾这种商店的人大都是穷人。

    国外有名的“跳蚤市场”与国内的集市贸易差不多，所售的物品有新有旧。跳蚤市场就是flea 7 market。有时设于广场，有时趁星期天借商店的走廊设摊。

    在美国，你不仅可以做顾客光顾商店，还可以随时出售自己家里已经用不着的东西。提前登报或在大街上登广告，声明什么时间在自己家中出售旧货。如果恰逢屋主搬家，这种被称为moving sales的大拍卖会更廉价。

Part 2  Shopping Craze 购物狂 

Dialogue Script 对话原文

Jack 8: Boy, I'm full. Why don't we get a little exercise---go for a walk in the park or something?
Annie: Well, a walk sounds good, but there are no stores in the park.
Jack: Uh-oh...
Annie: And I really feel like going shopping. I hear they're having some great sales at Century City.
Jack: Annie, don't you ever think about anything but clothes? I mean, to me, clothes are just something to put on.
Annie: Yes, and it shows. I think you'd better get a few new things, too——things with a little style.
Jack： Oh, no. I learned a long time ago that I shouldn't try to be trendy. It doesn't suit me.
Annie: But it's fun to be trendy---it gives you a reason to buy more clothes. Anyway I need a dress for the party on Saturday.
Jack: Another dress?
Annie: Hey, this is cute. What do you think?
Jack: Well, it looks great on the mannequin...but it's awfully 9 form-fitting, isn't it?
Annie: Are you implying that I need to lose weight to wear this dress?
Jack: I am implying that Audrey Hepurn would need to lose weight to wear this dress.
Annie: Oh, well...I just know that I'm gonna find a terrific bargain today. Hey, this is beautiful. I'm gonna try it on.
Jack: But it's not on sale.
Annie: Well, you get what you pay for, right?
Jack: Annie, you'll be up to your ears in debt if you keep spending so much money.
Annie: No, I won't. I'll just charge it.

讲解：

1. Annie和朋友准备上街，朋友希望去公园或其它地方走走，而Annie却一心想着逛商场，选衣服。对话一开始，朋友说道Boy, I'm full.注意，这里的boy可不是“男孩”的意思，它只是个感叹词，我们可以这样翻译这句话：天啊，我肚子太饱了！

2. Annie执意要去买衣服，因为她听说一家叫“世纪城”的商场正在大甩卖。I really feel like going shopping.我真的很想去购物。feel like doing sth. 想做什么事。great sales，也就是我们通常说的“大促销，大甩卖”。

3. 当Annie看上了一件衣服，并问朋友觉得怎么样时，朋友说 ...it looks great on the mannequin...but it's awfully form-fitting.它在模特身上是很好看，不过它太紧身了。mannequin 是商店里用来展示服装的模特或人体模型；form-fitting是紧身的意思。

4. a terrific bargain一件很不错的特价品，bargain，有“便宜货”的意思，在这里意为“特价商品”。当Annie又看上一件衣服后，朋友说 It's not on sale.它不打折。

5. 不过Annie却总是有自己的理由：You get what you pay for. 一分钱，一分货。无奈的朋友只好说you'll be up to your ears in debt if you keep spending so much money. 这句话的意思是，如果你总是大手大脚的花钱，你会债台高筑的。up to one's ears in debt 债台高筑。

6. Annie回应朋友说，I'll just charge it. 意思是，我只要赊帐就好了。

Part 3  Get A Good Buy 物美价廉 

    The main channel through which customers get merchandise information is advertisement or commercials, and nowadays advertisements are almost everywhere, newspapers, TVs, radios, etc., where the sales information is the most attractive. In the United States, there are two kinds of nationwide sales, the spring sale and summer sale. Besides, there is also the white sale, here you can find whatever you need for bedding.

    So if you've decided 10 where to buy, you also need to make sure when to buy. The prices of the same goods vary at different season in a year, and we recommend that you pay attention to the useful commercials, especially those about seasonal 11 sale and discount ads. These will save you a great deal of money.

    Generally, most shops enjoy good reputation and credibility, and they provide excellent service to the customers. In most circumstances, goods can be exchanged or even refunded 13 after being sold, of course, they mustn't be used or damaged.

    In North American countries, package bags are provided in every shopping mall, super market and grocery as well. So you don't need to carry a bag when you go shopping. And if you do take one, you'll probably make the shop assistants feel unease, they might be doubtful of your intentions.

    商品信息的渠道是令人眼花缭乱的各类广告。这些广告通过报纸、电视、电台传送进入千千万万人的眼睛耳朵。大减价大拍卖信息最引人注意。在美国，一年中就有全国范围内规模较大的“春季大拍卖”和“夏季大拍卖”，以及出床上用品的“白色大抛售”。

    在选好购物地点的同时，还应该注意时机。同一种商品在不同的时间、季节出售，其价格相差很大。因此应留意商家的广告宣传，特别是换季大拍卖和打折广告，这会帮你省下不少钱哦！

    一般商店的信誉都很好。商品卖出后只要没有损坏或用旧就能调换，甚至退货。

    在北美国家，任何商店都会为顾客提供各类结实的包裹袋，这样顾客就不用带包购物了。倘若你自己带着拎包进店，反倒会使店家觉得不踏实，没准会怀疑你是扒手呢！

Dialogue Script 对话原文

Clerk: May I help you, ma'am?
Anna: Yes, thank you. I'd like to buy a blouse.
Clerk: What colour are you looking for?
Anna: I need something to go with a brown skirt.
Clerk: Here's a pretty green one.
Anna: But it has long sleeves. I'd like a short-sleeved blouse with a high neck, if you have one.
Clerk: We have this one in yellow. What size do you take?
Anna: Thirty-four. Do you have that one in my size?
Clerk: Yes, here it is.
Anna: How much is it?
Clerk: It costs 8 pounds.
Anna: Oh, my. That's too expensive for me. Do you have anything like it for less?
Clerk: I'm afraid not.
Anna: Well, I think I'll look around some more. But I may come back for this one. Thank you.
Clerk: You are welcome.

讲解：

1. 这段对话发生在商店的服装部。当看到顾客时，店员一般都会主动地迎上去，热情地为顾客提供讲解和服务。他们首先会说，May I help you? 或者 What can I do for you? 对话中的 ma'am 是对女士的礼貌称呼。

2. blouse是宽松的上衣，似衬衫的上衣。I need something to go with a brown skirt. 我想买一件上衣配我的棕色裙子。go with，在这里是“与…搭配，与…相配”的意思。

3. 当我们向别人询问穿多大码的衣服或鞋子时，可以说 What size do you take? 当顾客得知那件上衣要8英镑时，觉得太贵了。于是她说 Do you have anything like it for less? 你们有没有像这种样式但便宜一点的？表示用多少钱买某样东西时用介词“for”，比如，I bought my new car for ＄20，000.

4. 最后，这位顾客决定再到其它地方看看，look around some more是口语中简便的说法，我们可以理解为look around for some more blouses. 虽然顾客没有买商品，但店员仍应礼貌地对她的光临表示感谢，并说You are welcome.

Part 4 Can I Get A Refund 12? 可以退货吗？

Lisa: Excuse me, I want to return this shirt.
Clerk: What's the problem with it?
Lisa: It's too small.
Clerk: Didn't you try it on before you bought it?
Lisa: Well, as a matter of fact, I receive it as a gift.
Clerk: Then you are sure it came from our store?
Lisa: Yes, I am pretty sure. Don't you sell this item?
Clerk: Yes, we do. I'm afraid we don't give a refund, but we can give you credit toward another purchase in our store.
Lisa: No refunds 14? Well, in that case, I'll accept the credit.

讲解：

1. 这段对话的内容是一位顾客在商店要求退货时的情景。尽管这位顾客确定衬衫是在那家店里买的，但店员表示，商店的商品一经售出，概不退款。因此，最后顾客只能接受商店开出的有价凭证在该店买一样其它的商品。

2. 这段对话的语言比较简单。refund是“退款，偿还”的意思，即可做名词，也可做动词，因此，表示对话中的意思，我们也可以说，I'm afraid we can't refund your purchase price. 另外，对话中的credit是商店为顾客开出的有价凭证。

3. 在购物时，遇到麻烦不会表达就会麻烦加麻烦。比如，“这个搅拌器不好用，能给我换一下吗？”如果说成“This blender doesn't work. Can you change?”就不对，因为“change”这个词后面应该跟一个宾语。所以，正确的说法是，“This blender doesn't work. Can you change it?”或者“Can I exchange this blender for another one?”不能说“Can I change for another one?”。再比如“这种电热毯的保修期有多长？”“保修期”英文是“warranty 15 period”这句话应该说“How long is the warranty period of these electric blankets?”而不能说成“How long is the warranty period of this electric blanket?”。在这里，“these”代表一类商品，而不能用“this”将该物品同其它同类商品分开。

4. 当我们表示大、小号服装时，L 代表“large”，S 表示“small”，不过大家要注意，中号不能用“middle-size”，应该说“medium-size”。例如，“我想要一件中号衬衫。”就是“I'd like a medium-size blouse.”另外，“这条围巾我买下了，你以帮我包装一下吗？”的正确说法是“I'll take this scarf. Can you wrap it up for me?”而不要说，“I'll take this scarf. Can you pack it for me?”因为“pack”一词通常用在旅行前收拾行礼的时候。