English Lesson 113
Your neighbourhood and online shopping
Your neighbourhood, a website you bought something from, and the future of shopping.
How to practise
- Listen to an answer two times. Read the text while you listen.
- Shadow it. Set the speed to 0.75×. Play it again and speak at the same time as the voice.
- Turn on practice mode. The answers are hidden. Read each question and answer it out loud.
- Make it yours. Use the same phrases, but say true things about your city, your job and your life.
- Practise with a partner. One person reads the questions. The other answers without looking.
Part 1 · Interview
Your neighbourhood
Short answers. About 20 to 30 seconds each. Answer, give a reason, add one detail.
Do you like the neighbourhood you live in? Why?
Yes, I like it a lot. It's quiet and green, with a big park and many trees. Everything I need is close: a supermarket, a bakery and a metro station. The only problem is that parking is difficult.
- quiet and greencalm with many plants
- Everything I need is closeall important places are near
- parking is difficultit's hard to find a place for a car
What do you do in your neighbourhood in your free time?
I usually go running in the park in the morning. In the evening, I sometimes walk to a small café near my home and read a book. At weekends, I like buying fresh bread from the bakery for breakfast.
- go runningrun for exercise
- walk to a small cafégo on foot to a café
- fresh breadbread made today
What new things would you like to have in your neighbourhood? Why?
I'd like a public library and a swimming pool. There's no library nearby, so I have to go to the city centre to borrow books. And a pool would be great for people of all ages to exercise.
- a public librarya free library for everyone
- borrow bookstake books for a short time
- for people of all agesfor young and old
Would you like to live in another neighbourhood in your city? Why?
Maybe one day, I'd like to live in the old part of the city. I love the traditional houses and narrow streets. But for now, I'm happy where I am, because it's convenient and close to my work.
- Maybe one day, …possibly in the future
- for now, …at the moment
- it's convenientit's easy and practical
Part 2 · Cue card
A website you have bought something from
You get 1 minute to prepare and then speak for 1 to 2 minutes. Follow the four points on the card in order.
Candidate task card
Describe a website you have bought something from.
You should say:
- what the website is
- what you bought from it
- how satisfied you were with what you bought
- and explain what you liked and disliked about using it
Start
I'd like to talk about Digikala. It's the biggest online shop in my country, a bit like Amazon.
What the website is
It sells almost everything: electronics, clothes, books, kitchen things and even food. It has a website and an app, and millions of people use it.
What you bought
Last month, I bought a coffee machine from it. I compared about ten different models on the website, read the reviews, and chose a mid-range one with good ratings.
How satisfied you were
I was very satisfied. It arrived in only two days, and it was well packaged. It works perfectly, and the coffee is great. I use it every morning.
Likes and dislikes
I liked that the website is easy to use, and the customer reviews are really helpful. I also liked the fast delivery. The only thing I didn't like is that the prices change very often, so the next day, the same machine was a little cheaper! That was a bit annoying.
- the biggest online shop in my countrythe largest internet shop
- a bit like Amazonsimilar to Amazon
- read the reviewsread customers' opinions
- with good ratingswith good scores from buyers
- well packagedput in a box carefully
- a bit annoyinga little irritating
Part 3 · Discussion
Online shopping
Longer answers. About 30 to 45 seconds. Give your opinion, explain why, and give an example.
What kinds of things do people in your country often buy online?
Electronics, like phones and headphones, are very common. People also buy clothes, books, cosmetics and household items online. Recently, many people have started ordering groceries and food through apps.
- household itemsthings for the home
- ordering groceriesbuying food and home items
- through appsusing apps
Why has online shopping become so popular?
It's convenient. You can shop at any time, from home, and compare prices easily. Delivery has become fast and cheap. Also, people are busier now, so they don't have time to go from shop to shop.
- It's convenient.it's easy and saves time
- compare prices easilycheck prices simply
- go from shop to shopvisit many shops
What are some disadvantages of buying things online?
You can't see or touch the product before buying, so it might be different from the photos. Returning things can be difficult. There's also a risk of online fraud. And it's easy to buy things you don't need, because it's so quick.
- different from the photosnot like the pictures
- Returning thingsgiving things back
- online fraudstealing money by tricking people online
Should prices be lower online than in shops?
I think they usually should, because online shops don't pay rent for big stores or as many staff. But they have delivery costs. So I think prices should be a little lower, but not always much lower.
- pay rent for big storespay for large shop buildings
- as many staffas many workers
- delivery costsmoney for sending products
Will large shopping malls stay popular despite online shopping?
I think they'll stay popular, but they'll change. People go to malls not only to shop, but also to eat, watch films and meet friends. So malls will become more like entertainment centres.
- despiteeven though there is
- not only to shop, but also to…for more than shopping
- entertainment centresplaces with fun activities
Will some businesses, like banks and travel agents, only work online in the future?
Yes, I think many will. Most people already use banking apps and book flights online. But some older people still prefer to talk to a real person. So I think there will be fewer offices, but not zero.
- travel agentscompanies that arrange trips
- banking appsbank services on phones
- fewer offices, but not zeroless but still some
Audio: Microsoft neural voices. A British voice reads the examiner's questions, and an American voice reads the model answers.