【明報專訊】To avoid the queues in supermarket, Pat and Bill choose to pay at the self-checkout machines. They save some time, but spend more money than they expect...

“ Eason: "Surprise" for the bargain hunters... Hee-hee... ”

“ Pat: What a bargain! I shall get as many as I can! ”

“ Bill: Are you sure you can finish them all? ”

“ Bill: You bought too much! We've no money for the bus fare home! ”

“ Pat: Not my fault! You should have topped up your Octopus before that! ”

■English highway﹕bargain

"Bargain" refers to something you buy cheaply or for less than its usual price. "Bargain hunters" are people looking for things at a low price.

e.g. This scarf was half-price. It's a real bargain!

The shoppers began looking for bargains at the mega sales.

■Quiz

Rearrange the words to form correct sentences.

1. do not / watches / good / come at / bargain / prices

2. a sharp eye / my / has / mother / a bargain / for

3. second-hand / is / sofa / a / that / real bargain

(Answers on next text)

■Glossary

queue (n) 長隊

self-checkout (n phr) 自助結帳

balance (n) 餘額

top up (v) 增值

[Smarties' Power English 第231期]