elllo #603 Get Gadget 7/4/13 10:43 PM

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Vocabulary Quiz

or • accessories • 30% less

better off • selection

1. When you go to the market late in the day, most of the

people have a limited .
2. Do you prefer the blue green shirt?
3. Those pants are if you buy them online.
4. You might be waiting until you graduate to go
traveling.
5. What kind of do you sell to protect a cell
phone.

Quiz

603 Get Gadget 1) Where does he say plug-ins are cheaper?

Joel and Tom compare buying electronic goods in Thailand and
Japan. a) Thailand
b) Japan
c) Online
Joel: So, I know a lot of things are cheaper 2) How much cheaper are they?
in Thailand, but like electronics, are they
cheaper in Thailand or cheaper in Japan? a) 10 to 20 percent
b) 20 to 30 percent
Tom: That's a difficult question. I think c) 30 to 50 percent
electrical accessories are cheaper in Tom Joel
Thailand. Do you know what I mean by that? 3) Where should you buy computers?
I mean, the plug-ins, like if you want a computer mouse or
programs or. a) Duty-free
b) Online
Joel: Like a memory stick. c) Thailand
Tom: Memory sticks, yeah. They're always cheaper.
4) What does Tom recommend doing?
Joel: Cheaper in Thailand? a) Paying by credit card
Tom: In Thailand, yeah. (and) I don't know, it's maybe about 30%, b) Haggling the price
c) Researching the product
20 or 30% less than you would find it in Japan.
Tom: But things like computers and cameras: the shop price is 5) What will Tom buy on his trip?
about the same. If you want to get those cheaper, you're better
off going duty-free. When you're going through the airport the first a) Christmas gifts
time, check out the stores, check out what they've got. They b) Computer stuff
always have a very limited selection in duty-free shops, and c) Nothing. He's poor.
then when you're on holiday, go onto the internet and find out
about the products you saw in shops, so that when you're on your Audio Notes
way home, you can pick it up at duty-free and that way you save,
you can make big savings. You can make big deals.
or
Joel: I see, so you just figure out what you want, when you go to How about electronics, are they cheaper in Thailand or cheaper
the shops, but then you buy it all at the airport.
in Japan?
Tom: The difficult thing is the airport shops don't have the full- You use 'or' when you are giving a choice of two or more
range. They only have the latest stuff and the best stuff, so in a
way, you're getting top-quality at a bargain price, but you do need options. Notice the following:
to do the research first. 1. Should we make steak or seafood tonight?
Joel: Are you going to buy anything when you go back for 2. We could drive, or we could walk.
holiday? accessories
Tom: I've just done a lot of shopping. I think the holidays is going I think electrical accessories are cheaper in Thailand.
to take all of my money out, but there's a few little things I need to
get: some hook-ups for my computer.
Here, 'accessory' refers to an electrical item that makes using a
device easier or more convenient. Notice the following:

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elllo #603 Get Gadget 7/4/13 10:43 PM

1. He has all these fancy accessories for his computer. I

don't even know what most of them are.
2. Large electrical things like computers are much cheaper
here, but the accessories can get expensive.
20 or 30% less

It may be 20 or 30% less than you would find it in Japan.

When something costs '20 or 30% less' , it means that price is
20 or 30% cheaper. Notice the following:
1. This car uses 20 to 30% less gas than the one you drive
right now.
2. Gym memberships are 20 to 30% less when you get them
during the summer.
better off

If you want to get those cheaper, you're better off going duty-
free.

If you are 'better off' doing something, it means it is a better

option. Notice the following:
1. You are probably better off just buying a new car than
trying to fix your old one.
2. You're better off calling a taxi. Parking is going to be hard
to find downtown.

limited selection
They always have a very limited selection in duty-free shops.
When a place has a 'limited selection,' there are not many
choices. Notice the following:

1. When you go to a store after a big sale, there is usually a

limited selection of things left.
2. The little shop close to me always has a limited selection
compared to the one at the mall.

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