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    Petra at the Bakery

    disagreeing politely with someonea bakery counterCEFR A2
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    Petra walked into the bakery on a sunny morning. She wanted to buy a cake for her friend's birthday party. The bakery was small but very clean. There were many cakes and breads behind the glass . Everything looked fresh and . A woman stood behind the . She smiled at Petra. Her name tag said "Mara." Petra smiled back at her. "Good morning," Petra said. "Good morning! How can I help you?" Mara asked. Petra looked at all the cakes carefully. There were chocolate cakes, fruit cakes, and cream cakes. She wanted something special. "I need a cake for a birthday, please," Petra said. Mara pointed to a large chocolate cake.

    "This is our most cake," she said. "Everyone loves it." Petra looked at the cake. It was very big and very dark. "It looks nice, but I think it is too big for us," Petra said . "We only need a small cake." Mara then showed her a small fruit cake. "How about this one? The fruit is very fresh today," Mara said. Petra thought about it for a moment. "That is a good idea, but my friend does not like fruit cake very much," Petra said. "I am sorry." Mara was not at all. She listened carefully to Petra. "No problem! Tell me more about what you want," Mara said. Petra felt because Mara was very kind. "I think a small cake would be perfect," Petra said. Mara went to the back of the bakery.

    She came back with a small cake. It had white cream on top and little flowers made of sugar. "What do you think of this one?" Mara asked. Petra's eyes got big. "Oh, that is beautiful!" she said. "It is exactly what I wanted." Mara put the cake in a nice box. "I am glad we found the right one," Mara said. Petra paid for the cake. "Thank you for being so with me," Petra said. "I hope I was not too difficult." Mara laughed softly. "Not at all! It is important to find the right cake," she said. Petra picked up the box carefully. She walked out of the bakery feeling very happy. She knew her friend would love the cake.

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    Key Vocabulary

    How to use these cards
    1. Read each word and its meaning.
    2. Tap “Cover the meanings”, then tap a card to check yourself.
    3. Tap “Quick quiz” for a short test. Tap “I know this” on cards you have learned.
    politely
    /pəˈlaɪt.li/
    adverb

    in a way that is respectful and kind to other people

    "She politely told the waiter that her soup was cold."

    popular
    /ˈpɒp.jə.lər/
    adjective

    liked by many people

    "This bread is very popular with our customers."

    counter
    /ˈkaʊn.tər/
    noun

    a long flat surface in a shop where customers are served

    "The cakes were displayed behind the counter."

    patient
    /ˈpeɪ.ʃənt/
    adjective

    able to wait calmly without getting angry or upset

    "The teacher was very patient with the new students."

    upset
    /ʌpˈset/
    adjective

    feeling unhappy or disappointed

    "He was upset because he lost his keys."

    delicious
    /dɪˈlɪʃ.əs/
    adjective

    having a very nice taste

    "The fresh bread smelled delicious."

    vanilla
    /vəˈnɪl.ə/
    noun

    a flavor that comes from a plant, often used in sweet food

    "I would like a vanilla ice cream, please."

    comfortable
    /ˈkʌmf.tə.bəl/
    adjective

    feeling relaxed and free from worry

    "She felt comfortable talking to her new neighbor."

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    Useful Phrases

    How to use these cards
    1. Read each phrase and its meaning.
    2. Tap “Cover the meanings”, then tap a card to check yourself.
    3. Tap “Quick quiz” for a short test. Tap “I know this” on cards you have learned.

    How can I help you?

    A polite question asked when offering to help someone, often in a shop

    "The shop assistant said, "How can I help you?""

    I think it is too big

    A gentle way to say something is not the right size

    "I think it is too big for our table."

    How about this one?

    A way to suggest something different

    "You don't like blue? How about this one in green?"

    That is a good idea, but...

    A polite way to say no to a suggestion before giving your reason

    "That is a good idea, but I prefer something simpler."

    No problem!

    A friendly way to say that something is not a difficulty

    ""Sorry for the wait." "No problem!""

    What do you think of this one?

    Asking someone for their opinion about something

    "What do you think of this one? Do you like the color?"

    Not at all!

    A way to say that something was no trouble or bother

    ""Was I difficult?" "Not at all!""

    It is exactly what I wanted

    Used to say that something is perfect and matches what you hoped for

    "This dress is exactly what I wanted."

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