The High Street

In the centre of most towns and villages there is a main street with lots of different shops. This street is usually called the High Street. The high streets of Britain are beginning to look more and more the same. This is because they are full of branches of big chain-stores.

One of the best-known chain-stores is Marks & Spencer, which sells clothes and food. The company has over 700 stores world-wide and has a reputation for good quality. If you buy something that you decide you don't like, you can take it back and get your money back.

In most high streets there is a charity shop. All the profits from the things sold go to charity. Oxfam is the best-known chain of charity shops and it sells second-hand clothes and books.

What's your favourite shop?

Where is your favourite shop?

Is your favourite shop a chain-store?

Give examples of chain-stores in your country.

Michael Vaughan-Rees, Geraldine Sweeney, Picot Cassidy: In Britain. 21st Century Edition, Cornelsen Verlag, 2000, page 58