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American Superstores

American Superstores

Date: Aug 08 2001

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

The U.S. is famous for doing things in a big way. Americans eat a lot of food, drive big cars and live in big houses. To support this lifestyle, Americans need big stores.
If you haven’t visited Costco, you’re in for an experience. Costco is America’s superstore. Customers buy everything from food to appliances in bulk, so the prices are lower.
Chad recently visited one of these stores to buy a bed. Here is a conversation between he and Nedra about his trip and the store.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

Log in to Listen

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Nedra

Nedra

Chad

Chad

Nedra:  Chad, you’re looking a little tired. What were you doing last night?

Chad:  Well, I went to one of these huge, humongous superstores called Costco and just, you know, walked through the aisles a million times trying to look for some different foods, clothes… bought a book – seems like you can buy anything there.

Nedra:  Yeah. It’s amazing. I mean, you can go to the pharmacy, you can go to the meat market. It really has everything. And Fred Meyer’s is like that, too, almost but you can’t buy things in bulk, right?

Chad:  That’s true. I mean, in Costco you see these huge, you know, towering displays of fifty cubes of butter and it sort of makes you, entices you to want to buy it because you think you’re saving money…

Nedra:  Uh huh.

Chad:  ...but you really get home and it sits in your freezer for two years and it rots.

Nedra:  Or you don’t even have the space to store that stuff. I mean, I live with basically five other people in a sense, and our freezer’s jam-packed with food. We couldn’t even store, you know, fifty rolls of toilet paper if we wanted to.

Chad:  I know. It’s like you’re supposed to buy a whole new freezer and put it in your basement or something to store all this extra stuff that you’ll never use.

Nedra:  Yeah. It’s just ridiculous, but even stores like, uh, Home Depot. They’re the same way, like, they have everything you want to build your house or to fix things and I always get lost in them.

Chad:  Totally. I think it’s a tactic of these big, you know, commercialized corporations. They want you to buy more than you’re going to use.

Nedra:  I believe you. I think that sounds about right.

 

Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

If you’ve been to stores like Costco, you understand what Chad and Nedra are talking about. These places are so big, it feels like you can get lost.
There are many countries in the world where you don’t get a discount when you buy things in bulk. What do you think about this concept? Americans have been trained that buying more for a cheaper price is a good thing. Do you think it is?
If you’ve got something to say about this, please come to the “Life Goes On” Message Board and let’s talk about it!
Now, on to the quiz. Good luck!
Your American friend,
John

 

Comments

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kimnga

kimnga

Viet Nam

I used to live in Houston for some time and I had visited Cosco once in a while. I really like to go there because there are so many things for you to see and  buy ; especially during special holiday seasons.

07:27 AM Apr 08 2014 |

1 person likes this

johnsten

johnsten

Chile

I enjoy being in superstores because I can buy so many new things that I have never seen before. In addition, If you have a big family, you can save a lot of money buying things in superstores. Otherwise, if you buy things that you won't need, It's a waste of money and room. So, be careful when you buy at superstores.Get only the necessary stuff.  

03:51 PM Jul 11 2010 |

1 person likes this

yolanda yancel

Venezuela

I like superstore, in venezuela we have two. Every saturday  I go to buy something, for example: food

02:36 PM Jun 22 2010 |

zhangchi

China

very interesting

01:38 PM Mar 02 2008 |

studentofbestlearner

Kazakhstan

i like soperstore but in our city thier is not that many.we have 3 or 2

01:21 PM Mar 02 2008 |

studentofbestlearner

Kazakhstan

in our country ther is not that many superstore.we ahve like 3or2

01:18 PM Mar 02 2008 |

taoyepei

China

china is a good place . i am achinese

 

11:47 AM Feb 27 2008 |

taoyepei

China

china is a good place . i am achinese

 

11:47 AM Feb 27 2008 |

taoyepei

China

how to do

11:43 AM Feb 27 2008 |

Haydee

Haydee

China

How can I watch it?

What should I press?

10:54 AM Feb 27 2008 |

Haydee

Haydee

China

How to watch it?
What should I press?

10:52 AM Feb 27 2008 |

zeken

China

hey,may be it is a jok.

01:05 AM Feb 24 2008 |

alothmani

alothmani

Saudi Arabia

welcome

09:58 AM Feb 23 2008 |

jhwang

jhwang

China

i like superstore

07:08 AM Feb 22 2008 |

jhwang

jhwang

China

I ever been there ,it’s really so big

07:06 AM Feb 22 2008 |

LightHouSe

LightHouSe

China

i can understand the feel like this.when i go to the superstores i want to buy everything.even them are useless

02:11 PM Feb 15 2008 |

195854255

195854255

United States

It's unfair but we have no power to change.I love peace and hamony. But what can we do?Maybe our human beings work together .its all be ok by then

10:51 AM Feb 04 2008 |

195854255

195854255

United States

it's unfair but we have no power to change it

10:48 AM Feb 04 2008 |

hana53

Jordan

i like superstores  ,i can see the latest of every thing .  for me its like carnavals ,  i m having fun there.

10:21 AM Jan 31 2008 |

foreverfrie

United States

If you want to make some friends online,make friends with chinese,learn about china culture. This website can help you, http://www.makefriendsonline.cn, in this website, many chinese can help you learn chinese ,learn china culture,good luck.

05:11 PM Jan 30 2008 |

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