Replace or Repair (2)

I guess there's nothing wrong with browsing in a few appliance stores. But I really don't want to buy a new refrigerator.

You might be surprised at how nice the new models are. They are energy-efficient and will save you money on your electric bill.

But the technology that goes into newer models also makes them more likely to break down.

Not necessarily

It seems like a waste to throw out something that can still be be used. I don't want to put it in a landfill until I have to.

But most appliances can be recycled.

Arranging for someone to recycle a fridge sounds like more trouble than finding a professional to repair it. The chemicals inside refrigerators have to be carefully removed before recycling.

Most stores will take away your fridge for free when you buy a new one. Or you could find a scrap metal business to buy it.

So instead of spending money on repairs, I would be making money on my old fridge?

Exactly. Now let's go shopping!

Info Cloud
Teaching Topic: Electric Bill vs. Electricity Bill 教學主題: 電費賬單的名稱
Once a month or in some places once every two months we get the bill that charges us for the amount of electricity we use in our house. So what’s that bill called?

It’s called the electric bill. But is it really correct to call that?

Well, some people don’t think so, they say since electricity is what we’re paying for, it should be called the electricity bill.

Right, electric is an adjective that refers to something that uses electricity and an electric car runs on electricity. So calling a bill an electric bill implies that the bill runs on electricity.

However, if you look through all of its definitions in a dictionary, you’ll find the word electric can also be used as a noun. But we would never say, there’s no electric, it should be, there’s no electricity.

As you can see, friends, we can analyze this to death and still not reach a logical answer, the truth of the matter is that both forms are long established, it’s just irrelevant to argue which is more correct, both are acceptable.

So if you’re still not sure which one to use, here’s another option, utility bill. Just keep in mind, utility bill can include price of electricity, water and gas.

Language Lab
break down [phrasal verb]
a of a machine : to stop working properly
- My car broke down on the way to the office.
- The dryer has broken down too many times. We need to get a new one.
breakdown n.
a failure of a machine to function : an occurrence in which a machine (such as a car) stops working
- The car had a breakdown on the free way.

necessarily adv.
/ˌnɛsəˈserəli/
used to say that something is necessary and cannot be changed or avoided
- An overseas trip doesn't necessarily cost a lot of money.
necessary adj.
so important that you must do it or have it : absolutely needed
- It's necessary to call people in advance if you want to visit them.

recycle v.
to make something new from (something that has been used before)
- The campaign was designed to educate people on how to recycle domestic waste.
recycling n.
- Recycling bins are placed outside the apartment.

scrap n.
/ˈskræp/
things from an unwanted or broken object (such as a car) that are useful only in making or fixing something else
- You can bring your scrap paper to the local recycling center.
- Scrap metal is sold by the ton and shipped to other countries.
a small piece of something that is left after you have used the main part
- I wrote the phone number on a scrap of paper.

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