Unlocking Word
Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in
today’s article.
1. retail
(adj.) [ree-teyl] – the sale of products in small quantities
Example: They can only buy necessary goods in
retail due to lack of finances.
2. arrival
(n.) [uh-rahy-vuhl] – an instance where a destination is reached
Example: The arrival of the deliveries was
delayed because of traffic.
3. punch
in (v. phrase) [puhnch-in] – to enter data into a computer by striking on some keys
Example: Do not forget to punch in the time
you arrived at the office.
4. deposit
(v.) [dih-poz-it] – to set down or put in a place, especially for safekeeping
Example: The government deposited the antique
treasure in a heavily secured room so it will not be stolen.
5.
competitor (n.) [kuhm-pet-i-ter] – a rival or an opponent (a person, team, or
company)
Example: The CEO gladly announced that the
company has greatly surpassed the performance of many of its competitors.
Article
Read the text below.
Amazon, an online retail service, is reportedly testing the use of lockers in
7-Eleven convenience stores to assure that deliveries safely reach the
customers.
According to The Daily, an iPad news source,
after customers order items from Amazon, they can select a preferred 7-Eleven
outlet where they can pick up orders upon arrival. To access a locker, a bar code will be e-mailed to the
customer. Machines in the locker will then scan this code to produce a PIN,
which the customers will have to punch
in to open the locker.
John Cook of GeekWire, an independent technology
news site, even posted a picture of a set of lockers at a 7-Eleven store in
Seattle. Cook writes that an employee told him how these lockers will be
activated soon to test Amazon's new system.
This new scheme by Amazon provides a safer place
to deposit the deliveries instead
of leaving them on the customers' doorsteps where they could get stolen. This
also puts Amazon at par with Best Buy, its competitor, which also sends online orders to local stores for
pick up.
However, both Amazon and 7-Eleven currently have
no comment about the story.
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Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion
A
·
What
do you think about Amazon's new delivery system?
·
What
would you prefer, having your purchased items delivered to your house or picking
them up from a convenient store? Explain your answer.
Discussion
B
·
What
are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online?
·
How
can online stores provide good service to their clients?