Passage A
Before Reading
Activity 1
Please read the famous quote below, understand the quote by consulting the reference and then recite it.
In taking a mouthful of congee or rice, bear in mind that its production is not easy.Half silk half wisp, always remember how difficult things are obtained.
— Familial Precepts of Master Zhu
Activity 2
Please enjoy a video clip “At the Supermarket” which is relevant to the passage we are going to learn.Fill in the blanks while watching.
At the Supermarket
Paula and Andy enter a supermarket.They get a shopping cart and look through 1) .There’s a coupon for 2) milk and also a coupon for 40% off shampoo.So, Paula and Andy decide to buy some.They also want to buy the pasta, tomatoes,cheese, broccoli and cereal.Paula couldn’t find the shampoo.Shop assistant tells them that 3) are on Aisle three.But the shampoo that’s 4) is on display near the dairy section.On the way to the dairy section, Paula and Andy pick up the cereal which is“buy one 5) ”.
Activity 3
Please conduct a survey by completing the questionnaire below.
Activity 4
Please report to the classmates the result of the survey in reference to the following suggested sentence structures.
To introduce:
■ The purpose / aim of this report
■ As requested
■ This survey was carried out / conducted by means of
■ The questionnaire consisted of
■ ...
To generalize:
■ In general
■ Generally
■ On the whole
■ ...
To refer to a fact:
■ The fact is that
■ In fact
■ In practice
■ ...
To conclude / summarize:
■ In conclusion
■ All things considered
■ To sum up
■ All in all
■ It is not easy to reach any definite conclusions
■ If any conclusions may be drawn from the data
■ It is clear that
■ The survey shows / indicates / demonstrates
■ ...
Play with Words
Challenge Your Classmates
Before you start to read the passage, please complete the questionnaire below.
Use this questionnaire to interview your classmates, and then report your f indings in class.
Develop Your Understanding
Try to f ind answers to the following questions.
1.Where does the author like shopping most?
2.What can you buy in a supermarket?
3.Why do the supermarkets install the automatic checkout lanes?
4.What was wrong with the salad the author bought?
5.What’s the internal policy of this supermarket?
My Shopping Experience in Supermarkets
I love shopping, even if it is just windowshopping.Shopping is always a pleasant experience.I go to the supermarket most often.
The supermarkets have more than a dozen checkouts and are one-stop shops since you can buy almost everything there:food,cosmetics, clothes, medicine, etc.Following the development of technology, some of these supermarkets have installed the automatic checkout lanes for customers.I was so thrilled the first time I used the automatic checkout lane.These automatic checkout lanes help the stores reduce their labor cost and increase their efficiency.
window-shopping / 'wɪndəʊʃɒpɪŋ /n.浏览商店橱窗
◆checkout / 'tʃekaʊt / n.付款台
one-stop shop 一站式购物商店
*cosmetic / kɒz'metɪk / n.化妆品
★install / ɪn'stɔːI / v.安装，安置
★automatic / ,ɔːtə'mætɪk / a.自动的
◆thrilled / θrɪId / a.非常兴奋；极为激动
Once, I bought two bags of salad.When I scanned them, the screen showed a different price from what the store advertised.Out of curiosity, I went to the customer service counter and asked why.The lady who helped me went to the shelf to doublecheck the price.When she came back, she apologized to me saying that the store did not scan the price properly.According to the internal policy of the store,if the customer discovers a scanning problem, he would get the product for free as an award for him or a penalty to the store.When I left the store with the two bags of free salad I marvelled at the honesty of the store clerk.If she had not told me I would never have had any chance to know that the store had this internal policy.
The cliché that “the customer is God” rings true for me.Sometimes I believe that at a certain corner of the world there is a god looking after the benefits for the customer.
out of curiosity 出于好奇
according to 根据
◆internal / ɪn'tзːnI / a.内部的；内在的
penalty / 'penəItɪ / n.处罚，惩罚
◆marvel / 'mɑːvI / v.大为赞叹；感到惊奇
★cliché / 'kIiːʃeɪ / n.陈词滥调
Check Your Study
Activity 1
Choose the best answers according to the passage.
1.The author was very ______ the first time he / she used the automatic checkout lane.
A）pleasant
B）excited
C）nervous
D）bored
2.A one-stop shop is a place where you can ______.
A）buy almost everything
B）use automatic checkout lanes
C）reduce your labor cost
D）increase your efficiency
3.Supermarkets use automatic checkout machines because they ______.
A）add to the pleasantness of shopping
B）show the development of technology
C）can thrill the customers at times
D）increase the stores’ efficiency
4.The author got a product for free because he / she ______.
A）double-checked the price
B）scanned the price properly
C）discovered a scanning problem
D）was found to be honest
5.Why did the author say that “the customer is God” ?
A）Because the customer benefits are really genuine.
B）Because the writer believes in God.
C）Because the customers are really Gods.
D）Because the writer really got cheap things.
Activity 2
Read the passage quickly, and f ill in the blanks.
My Shopping Experience in Supermarkets
The main idea:
Shopping is a 1）__________ experience.
I like going to supermarkets because they:
A）have more than 2）__________.
B）are 3）__________ since you can buy almost everything there.
C）have installed the 4）__________ for customers.
The internal policy of supermarkets:
If the customer discovers 5）__________, he would get the product for free.
Activity 3
Read the passage carefully and f ill in the blanks with proper words or phrases.Then try to recite it.
The supermarkets have more than a dozen 1）_________ and are one-stop shops since you can buy almost everything there:food, cosmetics, clothes, medicine, etc.Following the development of 2）_________, some of these supermarkets have installed the 3）_________ checkout lanes for customers.I was so 4）_________ the first time I used the automatic checkout lane.These automatic checkout lanes help the stores reduce their labor cost and increase their 5）_________.
Activity 4
Work with your partner according to the clues given below.
Most people like shopping in the supermarket.Work with your partner and share your supermarket shopping experience.
Suggested questions:
■ What do you think of shopping in the supermarkets?
■ How do you like promotions in the supermarkets?
■ What was your most impressive shopping experience in the supermarkets?
■ ...
Useful expressions:
■ pleasant / interesting / boring experience
■ be thrilled / excited / nervous / relaxed
■ get benefits / cheated / poor quality goods
■ on sale / get a discount / too crowded/noisy
■ ...
Useful sentence paは erns:
■ Shopping in the supermarkets is convenient / relaxing…
■ I enjoy / dislike promotions because…
■ I can get a discount of…
■ Most goods on sale are of good / poor quality.
■ I waited to pay in a long line.
■ I was lost in a wide variety of choices.
■ ...
Further Your Skills
Exercise 1
Match the words in Column A with those in Column B, and then fill in the blanks with proper expressions.Remember that each may be used only once.
1.Climbing Jinyun Mountain is always a _____________ for me.
2.Yesterday, my classmates and I enjoyed a _____________ in the cinema.
3.Let’s find a _____________ to discuss this problem.
4.The _____________ continued to carry out his project plan.
5.The supermarket has installed many _____________ recently to increase efficiency.
Exercise 2
Fill in each blank with the proper form of the word given in brackets and rewrite the sentence according to the requirement written below.
1.This store sells a wide range of（cosmetic）_____________ at a very low price.
A wide range of（被动句）__________________________________________________________.
2.I was（thrill）_____________ at the news that he’d been offered the job.
（he改为I）________________________________________________________________________.
3.“But why on earth did you agree with him?” I asked（curiosity）_____________.
I asked（改为宾语从句）___________________________________________________________.
4.The new posts were only advertised（internal）_____________ in the company.
（主动句）________________________________________________________________________.
5.He dislikes using some（cliché）_____________ in writing or speaking.
（否定句）________________________________________________________________________.
6.The（penal）_____________ for entering the scenic areas is 200 yuan.
_______________________________（if条件句）_______________________________________.
7.Everyone（marvel）_____________ at his courage to reach the peak of this mountain.
（将来时）________________________________________________________________________.
8.（install）_____________ of the new software will take several hours.
Several hours（被动句）___________________________________________________________.
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences by translating the given Chinese into English.
1.He will come for dinner on time, ____________（即使）it rains.
2.I have known David for ____________（超过）20 years.
3.Most supermarkets have installed the automatic checkout lanes for customers,_____________（随着……的发展）of technology.
4.I opened the blue box _____________（出于好奇）.
5._____________（根据）the doctor, I need to give up smoking.
Develop Your Understanding