Garage Sale 1. Warm-up Questions Warm-up Questions 2. Background Knowledge Background Knowledge 3. Text Analysis Text Analysis 4. Exercises Exercises 5

Garage Sale

1. Warm-up Questions

2. Background Knowledge

3. Text Analysis

4. Exercises

5. Questions For Discussion

Distant Education College, Jilin UniversityDistant Education College, Jilin University

Warm-up Questions


1) What are we going to have in this lesson, a story, an essay, or what?

Answer

Warm-up Questions


1) What are we going to have in this lesson, a story, an essay, or what?

A short play.

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Warm-up Questions


2) What characters do we have in this play?

Answer

Warm-up Questions


2) What characters do we have in this play?

The Burns family: the mother, the daughter, the son, the father, and a foreign student who lives with the family.

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Warm-up Questions


3) What are they doing in the play?

Answer

Warm-up Questions


3) What are they doing in the play?

They are holding a garage sale.

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Warm-up Questions


4) Do you know what a garage sale is after reading this play?

Answer

Warm-up Questions


4) Do you know what a garage sale is after reading this play?

A garage sale is part of American daily life. If an American family wants to dispose of its junk, it may set up a sale in its garage.

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Background Knowledge


There is an old saying, “One person’s junk is another person’s treasure.” This means what one person sees as having little value, another person sees as very valuable. The value of anything depends upon the demand for it.

The term “garage sale” comes from the place where one displays the household items he wishes to sell. Most people do not wish strangers to come into their house, so they will place the items for sale in the garage. The garage is an enclosed area where people normally park their car(s) and has a large outside doorway of its own. Setting up sale items in it provides protection from the weather. If a person does not wish to use his garage to display the items for sale, he may place them on tables in his front yard. This would then be a “yard sale”.

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Text Analysis


In the United States, it is very common for people to buy second-hand goods as they are useful and much cheaper. But, if you were a foreign student in America, would you know where to buy them?

Characters:

Pat …………………………………………. the daughter

F.S. ………………………………………… foreign student (male or female)

Text Analysis


Bob ………………………………………… the son

Mom ……………………………………….. the mother

Mr. Smith ………………………………….. a neighbor

Mrs. Green ………………………………… a neighbor

Dad (Mr. Burns) …………………………… the father

Text Analysis


Garage sales are very common in the United States now. They also have other names such as yard sales or porch sales. Sometimes several families have a joint sale, or a group will have a sale to benefit a charity. They serve many purposes besides cleaning out unwanted items and making money. They also serve as a minor social event, a chance for new neighbors to get acquainted, and a place to pick up needed items inexpensively.

Text Analysis


The action takes place in the garage of the Burns home. There are a couple of makeshift tables with a collection of things on them. (Note: the things sold at garage sales can be almost anything —furniture, books, toys, dishes, magazines —anything you can bring in.) Place some things on the stage floor near the front of the stage. Have the tables and big items upstage (at the back) and on the sides. Throughout the play the family can be arranging and pricing items. Mr. Smith and Mrs. Green can move about examining the various things for sale.

Text Analysis


As the curtain rises Pat is busily putting prices on bits of paper and pinning or attaching them to various articles. F. S. enters, carrying a box of things to be added to the sale.

Pat: (looking up) Just put it down anywhere. We’ll arrange it later, okay?

F.S.:Okay. (He puts the box on the floor and begins to remove items to a table.)

Pat: Was there much more stuff?

F.S.:Quite a bit. Want me to go and get it?

Text Analysis


Pat: Relax. Let the others bring it. You’ve done your share.

F.S.:How often do you do this —(he can’t think of what to call it) —this —

Pat: Garage sale?

F.S.:Yeah.

Pat: Oh, this is the first time for us, but people are always having them.

Bob:(enters with both arms full) Here’s some more junk.

Pat: (indicating a place) Put it over there and we’ll set it up in a minute.

Text Analysis


F.S.:Is it really junk?

Bob: as he takes things out and places them about) No, it’s just stuff we don’t need or use anymore.

F.S.:So why don't you just throw it out?

Pat:That would be a waste. Some of it’s good.

Bob:Yeah, it’s a kind of recycling.

(Mom enters.)

Mom: You kids all set?

Pat:Not yet, but we’re getting there.

Text Analysis


Mom: Well, you’d better get moving. You know we said ten a.m. to three p.m. and it’s almost ten.

(Mom goes to a table and looks over the things for sale.)

Bob:Really? (He looks at his watch.) My gosh, it is!

Mom: (picking up a book) And just what is this?

Pat:I don’t know.

Mom: I’ll tell you what it is. It’s my latest book club selection— that’s what it is!

Pat:Well, it was with that stuff you set out.

Text Analysis


Mom: You must’ve picked it up by mistake. I’d better check over everything out here. (She starts to check carefully.)

Mr. S.:Good morning. Store open?

F.S.:Oh, good morning, Mr. Smith. You’re the first customer.

Mr. S.:Do I get a special discount?

Mom: Everything’s a special discount, but don’t buy anything until I finish checking. I just found this (showing the book) out here.

Mr. S.:(to the foreign student) You’re going to be a clerk?

Text Analysis


F.S.:I suppose so. It will be a good experience.

Mr. S.:Well, I’ll just look around and see if I can find anything I’d like.

(Smith moves about the garage looking at the sale items.)

Bob:Pat, what should I put on these paperbacks? (holding up a book or two)

Pat:Ten cents each —six for fifty cents.

(Bob begins to put price tags on books.)

Bob:And the comic books?

Pat:Oh, five cents.

Text Analysis


Mom: Give them away. I want them out of the house.

Pat:Mom, is one dollar okay for this sweater?

(Mom takes the sweater and inspects it.)

Mom: Mark it one dollar, but you can come down to seventy-five cents.

F.S.:I didn’t know Americans would buy used clothes.

Bob:Sure, it’s the “in” thing. Like I said— recycling.

Pat:It’s mostly high school and university kids— sometimes others.

(Mrs. Green enters.)

Text Analysis


Mrs. G.:Well, what are you throwing out?

Mom: Oh, good morning, Ellen. Isn’t it awful? Look at all this stuff we had in the house and didn’t use.

Mrs. G.:I’m sure if I dug around in all the closets, the attic, and the basement, I’d have two garages full.

Bob:(rather disappointed) So we can’t sell you anything?

Mrs. G.:Not on your life! I just came over to see what folks will buy. (Mrs. G. starts to look about, picking up something every now and then to examine it.)

Text Analysis


Pat: I hope other folks show up. I don’t want to carry all this stuff back in the house.

F.S.: (He looks at his watch.) It’s only ten minutes after ten— you just started.

Mr. S.: How much is this fly?

Bob: That’s a dollar and a quarter.

Mr. S.: Too much— give you seventy-five cents.

Bob: Settle for a dollar?

Text Analysis


Mr. S.:It’s robbery, but okay.

Mom: Where’s your father?

Bob:He’s still reading the paper.

Pat:He said he wasn’t going to get involved.

Mom: He doesn’t have to get involved, but he could come out and be sociable.

F.S.:(Starts for the house.) Want me to go and get him?

Mom: That’s all right. I’m going in in a minute to get some bags, so I’ll send him out.

Text Analysis


Mrs. G.:(holding them up) Are these salt and pepper shakers?

Pat:I think so.

Mrs. G.:Well, now they’re just real sweet. How much are they?

Pat:Isn’t there a tag?

Mrs. G.:I don’t see one. Oh, here it is on the table. I guess it fell off.

Mom: (teasing) Thought you were just looking.

Mrs. G.:That was my intention, but I just don’t have much will power— especially when it comes to salt and peppers. You know, for my collection.

Text Analysis


(Dad enters.)

Dad:Well, how’s business? I expected to see the whole neighborhood here at 10 a.m. sharp.

Bob:It’s only a quarter past.

Pat:We’ve made two sales. That’s not bad.

Mom: I’m glad you decided to join us.

Dad:It’s my day off. I’ll do as I please.

Mom: I wish I had a day off.

Dad:No liberation lectures during sale hours, please.

Text Analysis


Mr. S.:Quite a load of junk you’ve got here, Fred.

Dad:What bothers me is that I paid for all this stuff that we don’t want anymore.

Mr. S.:(to Bob) Guess I’ll be moving on— don’t see anything else I want. (He takes out his wallet.) Can you change five? (Hands him a five dollar bill.)

Bob:Not yet. Dad, you got change for five?

Dad:Sure have, if you were able to separate Smitty from some of his money. (to Smith) What did you buy?

Mr. S.:A fly.

Text Analysis


Dad:A fly? There shouldn’t have been any flies for sale.

Bob:Sure, Dad. Mom brought it last night and put it with the stuff.

Dad:Which fly? Let me see. (Smith shows it to him.)

Dad:You bought that? How much?

Bob:A dollar. Pretty good, huh?

Dad:I just bought that fly last week for ten dollars and fifty cents!

Mr. S.:That’s too bad, Fred. I tell you what I’ll do. I’ll let you have it back for five.

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Words to Know

benefit [] vt. 有益于，受益（常与 from, by 连用）= to be helpful or useful toe.g. The plants benefited from the rain. 植物得益于这场雨。


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Words to Know

charity [] n. 慈善事业（团体），博爱，慈爱 = an institution, an organization, or a fund established to help the needye.g. The Red Cross is an international charity.红十字会是个国际性的慈善机构。


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Words to Know

acquaint [] vt. 使认识，使了解（与 with 连用）=to cause to come to know personallye.g. Let me acquaint you with the facts.让我把事实告诉你。


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Words to Know

junk [] n. 廉价旧货，废品 =rubbishe.g. The room is full of junk. 那间屋子里满是破烂儿。


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Words to Know

recycling [] n. 使再循环，使再生 =putting or passing through a cycle again, as for further treatmente.g. The waste paper is for recycling.这些废纸将被再生利用。


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Words to Know

discount [] n. 折扣 =a reduction from the full or standard amount of a price or debte.g. All these are discount goods.这些都是打折商品。


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Words to Know

paperback [] n. 平装书 =a book having a flexible paper bindinge.g. This bookshop only sells paperbacks.这书店只出售平装本的书。


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Words to Know

comic []adj. 连环漫画的 =of or relating to comic stripse.g. There is a comic paper in this newspaper.这份报纸有连环图画版。


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Words to Know

inspect [] vt. 检查，审查 =to examine carefully and criticallye.g. He inspected the car before he bought it. 他买这辆车之前仔细检查了一下。


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Words to Know

awful [] adj. 极坏的 =extremely bad or unpleasante.g. That's an awful book. 那是一本很糟糕的书。


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Words to Know

closet [] n. 壁橱，衣橱 =a cabinet or enclosed recess for linens, household supplies, or clothinge.g. The child hid the cake in the closet.孩子把蛋糕藏到了壁橱里。


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Words to Know

attic [] n. 顶楼，屋顶室 =a story or room directly below the roof of a building, especially a housee.g. Mother put many useless things in the attic.妈妈把好多没用的东西放在了阁楼里。


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Words to Know

basement [] n. 地下室 =the lowest habitable story of a building, usually below ground levele.g. It is rather damp in the basement.地下室很潮湿。


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Words to Know

involved [] adj. 参与的 =connected by participation or associatione.g. He was not involved in that criminal activity.他与那项犯罪活动无关。


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Words to Know

sociable [] adj. 合群的 =fond of the company of otherse.g. The Smiths are a sociable family.史密斯一家人很好交际。


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Words to Know

pepper [] n. 胡椒 =any of several plants of the genus Pipere.g. Finally Mother added some kitchen pepper.最后妈妈加了些烹调用胡椒粉。 salt and pepper shakers （餐桌上用的）盐瓶和胡椒粉瓶e.g. She gave her mother crystal salt and pepper shakers as Christmas gifts.她送给她妈妈水晶的盐瓶和胡椒粉瓶作为圣诞礼物。


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Words to Know

tease [] vt. 戏弄 =to make fun of; mock playfullye.g. If you always tease others like that, you'll forfeit the good opinion of your friends.你如果老是那样捉弄别人 , 你就会丧失朋友们的好感。


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Words to Know

intention [] n. 意图，目的 =an aim that guides action; an objectivee.g. Good acts are better than good intentions.好的行动胜于好的意图。


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Words to Know

bother [] vt. 使愤怒，打扰 =to disturb or angere.g. Don't bother me while I am taking my nap.我小睡的时候不要打扰我。


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Words to Knowarticle [] n. 1) 物件 , 商品 =a particular object or iteme.g. The woman first bought a few small articles.这个妇女先买了些小商品2) 文章，论文 =piece of writinge.g. There is an article about ships in this magazine.这本杂志上有一篇关于船舶的文章。3) 条款，条文 =(legal)separate item or clause in an agreemente.g. There are many articles of apprenticeship.学徒契约有许多条款。4) 冠词 =(gram)any of a class of words used to signal nouns and to specify their applicatione.g. “The” is a definite article while “a” “an” are indefinite articles.“The” 是定冠词而“ a” “an” 是不定冠词。


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Useful phrases and expressions

pick up 买得，拿起，收拾e.g. She picked up a mink coat on sale.她买了一件貂皮大衣。


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makeshift tables 临时代用的桌子e.g. He took big boxes as makeshift tables.他用大箱子当代用的桌子。


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things for sale 待售物品e.g. She walked along the goods shelves slowly to examine things for sale.她慢慢地沿着货架走，仔细看那些待售的物品。


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set up 上架，使就位e.g. The shop girl set up more toys on the shelves.女店员把更多的玩具放上了货架。


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look around 逛逛，观光e.g. Window shoppers will just look around without the intention of buying.只逛不买的顾客会只是四处看看没有买东西的意思。


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every now and then 偶尔e.g. Every now and then he will go to visit his elderly grandparents.偶尔他会去看望他年迈的祖父母。


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show up 来到，露面e.g. He did not show up at the party that night.那晚他没有在宴会上露面。


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when it comes to 表示“当谈到”、“当涉及”、“当提及”等意思； to 之后只能跟名词和动名词：e.g. When it comes to the working conditions, the workers begin to complain.当谈到工作条件时，工人们开始抱怨了。


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My gosh: another pronunciation of “my God”, expressing surprise or strong feeling


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Difficult Sentences

It’s my latest book club selection: It’s the latest book I bought through the book club (I joined). 那是我刚刚从读者俱乐部买回来的新书。


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Difficult Sentences

It’s the “in” thing: Buying second-hand clothes is fashionable in the United States. Here “in” is an adjective meaning “currently popular”. 当然喽，买旧衣服还挺流行呢。


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Not on your life!: Certainly not!


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fly: a fishhook with a man-made fly attached to it


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they’re just real sweet: they’re just lovely


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Difficult Sentences

Sometimes several families have a joint sale, or a group will have a sale to benefit a charity. 有时几家联合销售 , 或者某个团体举办拍卖资助慈善事业。


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Difficult Sentences

Yeah, it’s a kind of recycling. 对，变废为宝嘛。


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Difficult Sentences

Well, you’d better get moving. 噢，你们最好抓紧点时间。

had better表示“最好，还是的好”，后面跟动词原形：We'd better hurry up if we want to get home before lunch.


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Difficult Sentences

Do I get a special discount? 我能享受特殊优惠价吗？


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Difficult Sentences

Ten cents each — six for fifty cents. 一本 10美分，买 6 本 50美分。


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Difficult Sentences

… but I just don’t have much will power — especially when it comes to salt and peppers.I’m not strong-willed and these salt and pepper shakers are so lovely that I can’t prevent myself from buying them.可我实在控制不住自己，尤其是碰上盐罐胡椒瓶什么的。


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Difficult Sentences

Sure have, if you were able to separate Smitty from some of his money.if you were able to persuade Mr. Smith to spend his money. “Smitty” is the pet name for Smith.当然有，只要你有能耐让史密斯老兄掏腰包的话。


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Difficult Sentences

Put it over there and we’ll set it up in a minute.先放在那里吧，我们一会儿就把它就位。


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Difficult Sentences

What bothers me is that I paid for all this stuff that we don’t want anymore.令我懊恼的是，现在我们不想要的这些东西都是我付钱买的。


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Difficult Sentences

What bothers me is that I paid for all this stuff that we don’t want anymore.令我懊恼的是，现在我们不想要的这些东西都是我付钱买的。


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Excercises

1. True/False Questions

2. Multiple-choice Questions

3. Translation


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True/False Questions

1. The Burns family often holds garage sales on weekends.

2. The foreign student is happy to help the Burns family sell goods.

3. Mrs. Burns is angry with her husband for not getting involved in the garage sale.

4. Young people like to buy second-hand goods.

5. One can find anything at a garage sale.

6. The author thinks it good to set up garage sales at which things useless to one family can be made useful to another.


Answer



1. The Burns family often holds garage sales on weekends. F

2. The foreign student is happy to help the Burns family sell goods.





Answer




2. The foreign student is happy to help the Burns family sell goods. T





Answer





3. Mrs. Burns is angry with her husband for not getting involved in the garage sale. F




Answer






4. Young people like to buy second-hand goods. T



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5. One can find anything at a garage sale. F


Answer







5. One can find anything at a garage sale. F

6. The author thinks it good to set up garage sales at which things useless to one family can be made useful to another. T

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True/False Questions7. Mr. Burns and Mr. Smith were friends and they knew each other very well.

8. Garage sales serve only two purposes: getting rid of the unwanted things and making money.

9. Americans are economical; they think throwing useless things away is a kind of waste.

10. The foreign student comes to the Burns’ garage sale to pick up some items he needs.

11. Several neighbors show up at the garage sale, but none of them buys anything.

12. People can make a bargain at a garage sale.


Answer

True/False Questions7. Mr. Burns and Mr. Smith were friends and they knew each other very well. T

8. Garage sales serve only two purposes: getting rid of the unwanted things and making money.






Answer


8. Garage sales serve only two purposes: getting rid of the unwanted things and making money. F






Answer



9. Americans are economical; they think throwing useless things away is a kind of waste. T





Answer




10. The foreign student comes to the Burns’ garage sale to pick up some items he needs. F




Answer





11. Several neighbors show up at the garage sale, but none of them buys anything. F



Answer





11. Several neighbors show up at the garage sale, but none of them buys anything. F

12. People can make a bargain at a garage sale. T


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Multiple-choice Questions

1. Which one of the following statements is not true according to the text?

A) A garage sale is usually held when an American family wants to get rid of its junk.

B) A joint sale is sometimes held to contribute to a charity.

C) A garage sale is held whenever a family needs extra money.

D) A garage sale is often held to make new friends.


Answer


1. Which one of the following statements is not true according to the text? C

A) A garage sale is usually held when an American family wants to get rid of its junk.

B) A joint sale is sometimes held to contribute to a charity.

C) A garage sale is held whenever a family needs extra money.

D) A garage sale is often held to make new friends.


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2. According to Pat and Bob, the Americans like garage sales because_____.

A) they need money to buy new clothes

B) they have no other way to get rid of their unwanted items

C) they like to benefit a charity

D) they think it’s a sort of waste to throw out useful articles they don’t want


Answer



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2. According to Pat and Bob, the Americans like garage sales because_____. D

A) they need money to buy new clothes

B) they have no other way to get rid of their unwanted items

C) they like to benefit a charity

D) they think it’s a sort of waste to throw out useful articles they don’t want


3. Mrs. Green came over to the garage sale _____.

A) to see if she could get a special price for salt and pepper shakers

B) just to have a look

C) to add some of her used items to the Burns’ garage sale

D) to join the Burns in holding the garage sale


Answer



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3. Mrs. Green came over to the garage sale _____. B

A) to see if she could get a special price for salt and pepper shakers

B) just to have a look

C) to add some of her used items to the Burns’ garage sale

D) to join the Burns in holding the garage sale


4. From the garage sale we learn about the Burns family that ___.

A) both father and mother work on weekdays

B) the father works on night shift while the mother works on day shift

C) the father works and the mother’s a housewife

D) both father and mother are retired


Answer



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4. From the garage sale we learn about the Burns family that ___. C

A) both father and mother work on weekdays

B) the father works on night shift while the mother works on day shift

C) the father works and the mother’s a housewife

D) both father and mother are retired


5. What can you infer from the play?

A) Mrs. Burns doesn’t like her husband’s fishing fly.

B) Husband and wife sometimes make mistakes in selecting things.

C) Bob is not good at bargaining.

D) Mr. And Mrs. Burns have different likes and dislikes.


Answer



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5. What can you infer from the play? B

A) Mrs. Burns doesn’t like her husband’s fishing fly.

B) Husband and wife sometimes make mistakes in selecting things.

C) Bob is not good at bargaining.

D) Mr. And Mrs. Burns have different likes and dislikes.


6. Mr. Smith is a person who _____.

A) usually buys things at a special discount

B) robs Mr. Burns of his fishing fly

C) is always careful with his money

D) is good at selling things


Answer



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6. Mr. Smith is a person who _____. C

A) usually buys things at a special discount

B) robs Mr. Burns of his fishing fly

C) is always careful with his money

D) is good at selling things


7. What clue did you get from the text to support your choice in Question 6?

A) Mr. Smith asks for a special discount.

B) Mr. Smith thinks he is overcharged for that fishing fly.

C) Mr. Smith is likely to sell the fishing fly.

D) Father says you can hardly persuade Smith to spend his money.


Answer



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7. What clue did you get from the text to support your choice in Question 6? D

A) Mr. Smith asks for a special discount.

B) Mr. Smith thinks he is overcharged for that fishing fly.

C) Mr. Smith is likely to sell the fishing fly.

D) Father says you can hardly persuade Smith to spend his money.

Translation

1. Don’t buy anything until I finish checking.

2. Settle for a dollar?

3. We’ve made two sales.

4. It’s my day off.

5. You got change for five.


Answer

Translation


等我检查完毕你再买东西。

2. Settle for a dollar?





Answer

Translation



2. Settle for a dollar? 一美元卖给你行不行？





Answer

Translation




3. We’ve made two sales. 我们已做成两笔交易。




Answer

Translation





4. It’s my day off. 今天是我的休息日。



Answer

Translation





4. It’s my day off. 今天是我的休息日。

5. You got change for five. 你找得开五块钱吗？


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Questions for Discussion

1. Why do people like to start a garage sale?

2. Why do people like to go to a garage sale?

3. How do people start a garage sale?

4. Are there firm prices at a garage sale?

5. Do you have garage sales in China? In what ways do such sales differ from those in the United States?

6. Can you make a bargain when buying things? How do you know you have paid a reasonable price for your purchase?


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Documents

Garage Sale 1. Warm-up Questions Warm-up Questions 2. Background Knowledge Background Knowledge 3. Text Analysis Text Analysis 4. Exercises Exercises 5