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Views #603 | Intermediate 5

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Joel and Tom compare buying electronic goods in Thailand and Japan.

Script
Vocab
Quiz


Tom	Joel

Joel: So, I know a lot of things are cheaper in Thailand, but like electronics, are they cheaper in Thailand or cheaper in Japan?

Tom: That's a difficult question. I think electrical accessories are cheaper in Thailand. Do you know what I mean by that? I mean, the plug-ins, like if you want a computer mouse or programs or.

Joel: Like a memory stick.

Tom: Memory sticks, yeah. They're always cheaper.

Joel: Cheaper in Thailand?

Tom: In Thailand, yeah. (and) I don't know, it's maybe about 30%, 20 or 30% less than you would find it in Japan.

Tom: But things like computers and cameras: the shop price is 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 time, check out the stores, check out what they've got. They always have a very limited selection in duty-free shops, and 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 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.

Joel: I see, so you just figure out what you want, when you go to the shops, but then you buy it all at the airport.

Tom: The difficult thing is the airport shops don't have the full-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 to do the research first.

Joel: Are you going to buy anything when you go back for holiday?

Tom: I've just done a lot of shopping. I think the holidays is going to take all of my money out, but there's a few little things I need to get: some hook-ups for my computer.

Learn vocabulary from the lesson!

How about electronics, are they cheaper in Thailand or cheaper in Japan?

You use 'or' when you are giving a list of at least two options, maybe more. Notice the following:

Should we make steak or seafood tonight?
We could drive or we could walk.

accessories

I think electrical accessories are cheaper in Thailand.

Here, 'accessory' refers to something that is non-essential, but helps in some way. This could be helping with appearance, safety or convenience. Notice the following:

He has all these fancy accessories for his computer. I don't even know what most of them are.
The large electronics are much cheaper here, but the accessories can get to be 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' in one place than it does in another, it means that price has decreased by 20 or 30% of the original value. So if something costs $100 originally, it would now cost $80 or 70. Notice the following:

This car uses 20 to 30% less gas than the one you drive right now.
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:

You are probably better off just buying a new car than trying to fix your old one.
You're better off just 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 options of things to buy or maybe there are limited sizes or colors. Notice the following:

When you go to a store after a big sale, there is usually a limited selection of things left.
The store close to me always has limited selection compared to the one at the mall.

Answer the following questions about the interview.