When it comes to shopping, the stores here in the United States are often oversupplied because of the competitiveness of American society. There is a great 【C1】______ of choices and brands and de 【C2】______ vary according to the store and often according to the 【C3】______ of the year. Prices 【C4】______ be lowest after Christmas and during the summer in 【C5】______ August. Sometimes prices vary according to 【C6】______ state or local taxes. There are 【C7】______ variations in taxes 【C8】______ things like liquor, Cigarettes, clothing or even automobiles, and some people even cross state lines to take 【C9】______ of better prices. There are also discount stores in every city. 【C10】______ of what they sell is comparable to goods sold 【C11】______ , but prices are lower because 【C12】______ are bought in large mounts or because of slight irregularities that are rarely 【C13】______ . In this period of inflation stores selling second-hand commodities in good condition arc becoming increasingly popular. Often these shops are 【C14】______ by charitable organizations which collect used 【C15】______ and furnishings. Profits in these cases are donated to a particular charity, school, hospital or home for the 【C16】______ . The comparative affluence of much of American society has 【C17】______ to a degree of wastefulness that will astonish you. Students from poorer countries where people struggle to 【C18】______ their basic needs have, like me, been dismayed to see so much food, paper, electricity and even furniture being wasted. I have often seen good food 【C19】______ as bread, butter and meat in our cafeteria being thrown into garbage bins 【C20】______ repairable chairs, tables and sofas left on the roadside for disposal. 【C1】