TOEFL Speaking
shopping
Practice questions
- 1.Do you prefer shopping in physical stores or online? Explain what influences your choice.
- 2.Describe a time when you found a particularly useful or valuable item while shopping.
- 3.How do advertisements and discounts affect the way people shop?
- 4.Do you think people buy too many things they do not really need? Why or why not?
Model answer
I generally prefer shopping in physical stores for items I need to try before buying, such as clothes or shoes. Last month, I needed a jacket for a trip, and shopping in person made the decision much easier. I could check the fabric, compare the fit in a mirror, and see whether the color looked right in natural light. That saved me from the inconvenience of returning something that seemed perfect on a screen but felt uncomfortable in real life. That said, I use online shopping for routine purchases, especially household supplies. It saves time, and customer reviews help me judge whether a product is reliable. However, I try not to order things just because they are advertised as being on sale. A discount is only useful if I actually need the item. Overall, I think the best option depends on the purchase. For practical essentials, online shopping is efficient, but for expensive or personal items, I value the chance to inspect them first.
Target vocabulary
routine purchase
An item someone buys regularly as part of everyday life.
customer review
Feedback written by someone who has bought or used a product.
reliable
Working well consistently and likely to meet expectations.
impulse purchase
Something bought suddenly without much thought or planning.
value for money
Good quality or usefulness for the price paid.
return an item
To take a purchase back to a shop, usually for a refund or exchange.