Internet Shopping

BBC Learning EnglishWeekenderInternet Shopping
Jo: You’re listening to Weekender frombbclearningenglish.com. I’m Jo Reffin andtoday we’re talking about shopping – but the kind ofshopping where you can buy almost anything without evenleaving your house!! Yes, we’re talking about internetshopping.
　　We spoke¹ to Russell Padmore from the BBC World Service. He’s a business reporter and we went along to one of thebusiest shopping streets in London, Oxford² Street, to askhim more about internet shopping. First of all, I asked himjust how big this trend is in the UK. Listen to him andlisten out for a word that means ‘almost’.
　　Russell PadmorePerhaps 10 years ago we’d have been talking aboutvirtually zero but I can tell you today internet shoppingis a really significant part of the retail³ sector⁴ in the UKJo: So 10 years ago, the number of people shopping onthe internet was virtually zero.
　　Virtually is the word meaning almost – almost no one didinternet shopping then. However today, internet shopping isa really significant part of the retail sector. Asignificant part is a large part. Retail basically meansselling things – so out of all the things sold now, alarge amount of them are sold over the internet.
　　But is internet shopping popular only in the UK? Whichother part of the world is seeing an increase in the use ofthe internet? Here’s Russell again.
　　Russell PadmoreIt’s not just confined to the developed economies of theworld – it’s not just the United States or Western Europeor Japan – elsewhere we’re starting to see the internetbecoming a serious area where people can do business. InAfrica many telecom companies are developing their business- they also see the growth of the internet.
　　Jo: Did you catch where there is an increase in the useof the internet? Yes, Russell talked about Africa. Internetshopping is not only confined to developed countries. To beconfined to means to only exist or affect that place – anddeveloped countries are the richer ones with advancedindustries – like the United States or Japan as Russellsaid. So internet shopping isn’t only a trend in thoseplaces. Indeveloping countries, so poorer countries whose industriesaren’t so advanced - for example countries in Africa –those developing countries are increasing their useof the internet.
　　We wanted to know from Russell if internet shopping waslikely to get even more popular in the future. But whatkind of things does he say people don’t like to by online?
　　Russell PadmoreInternet shopping is definitely going to increase in thefuture – it’s changing the traditional method of shopping– but let’s remember there are some things that peoplestill want to buy in a shop – if you’re buying a pair oftrousers – if you’re buying a new shirt – people stillfeel more comfortable going into lets say one of thesegrand shops where we’re here on Oxford St in London –they want to see that particular piece if clothing – feelit touch it – perhaps more importantly if it’s a pair ofshoes try them onJo: So Russell thinks internet shopping is definitelygoing to get more and more popular in the future. But whatdon’t people like to buy online? Well as you might expect– clothes. If you’re buying a shirt, trousers or shoespeople still like to go into a shop and try things on, seethem, touch them before they buy – you can’t of course dothis if you’re internet shopping. And this man would agree– when weasked him if he ever did internet shopping he said hepreferred going to a shop to buy things. Which word does heuse that means the opposite of modern?
　　ManPersonally I don’t do a lot of internet shopping. When itactually comes to buying products maybeI’m a bit old fashioned – I like to go into a shop andget them.
　　Jo: So this man thinks he is perhaps a bit old-fashioned, not very modern. Some people we asked areactually a bit worried about shopping on the internet –but what is it that worries them?
　　ManI use the internet quite a lot – I just sometimes worryabout putting my card details inWomanThe problem is that you have to put all the informationrelated to your debit⁵ card and credit card which I think isso dangerousJo: So these people are worried about putting theircredit and debit card details into the computer. They thinkit’s not safe because someone might be able to get thosedetails and buy things with their card. But then somepeople love it – like this man– he thoroughly⁶ recommends it – he thinks everyone shoulddo it.
　　ManInternet shopping – I thoroughly recommend it and I mustsay I practise it all the time – I’m not afraid at all.
　　Jo: And speaking of the internet – you can look at allof the language from today’s programme on our websitebbclearningenglish.com. That’s all for today – bye fornow.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 Oxford   

n.牛津（英国城市）

参考例句：

• At present he has become a Professor of Chemistry at Oxford.他现在已是牛津大学的化学教授了。
• This is where the road to Oxford joins the road to London.这是去牛津的路与去伦敦的路的汇合处。

3 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 debit   

n.借方，借项，记人借方的款项

参考例句：

• To whom shall I debit this sum?此款应记入谁的账户的借方？
• We undercharge Mr.Smith and have to send him a debit note for the extra amount.我们少收了史密斯先生的钱，只得给他寄去一张借条所要欠款。

6 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。