零距離美語會話[住房]Lesson 1:Do you rent an apartment or&nb

Unit 6 Housing 住房問題
One Do you rent an apartment or own it?
你租房住，還是住自己的房？

1 Introduction
The issue of housing is something that China and America generally have in common. In the U.S., like here, houses and apartments are usually more expensive in the cities and the suburbs. The places to live in rural America are usually much less expensive.
住房問題通常是中國和美國都所共有的問題。在美國，像這裏一樣，城市和郊區的房子和公寓都通常貴許多。住在美國鄉村通常也要便宜得多。

2 Sample Sentences
1. They live in the apartment above ours.
他們住在我們樓上的一套公寓房裏。
2. The kitchen sink is broken.
廚房水池壞了。
3. Are there friends or family in the neighborhood?
附近一帶有朋友或者親戚嗎？
4. Would you like a duplex or a mobile home?
你想要雙層樓公寓還是活動房屋？
4. This one is furnished, and the neighborhood looks nice.
這套配置有傢俱，居民區看起來也很漂亮。
6. Does the garage apartment have a fenced yard?
車庫式的公寓有籬笆圍着的院子嗎？
7. The suburbs usually have their own churches, schools, and shopping centers.
郊區通常都有他們自己的教堂，學校和購物中心。
8. Many people prefer to live near the center of cities, but because houses there are expensive, they often commute from suburbs.
許多人比較喜歡住得離市中心近一點，但是因爲那兒的房子太貴，所以他們經常住郊區上下班往返。
9. There are only two crimes this year so far in my neighborhood.
到目前爲止，今年我們居民區才發生了兩起犯罪案。
10. The place I’m living now has planes flying over day and night. I can’t stand the noise sometimes!
我現在住的地方日日夜夜都有飛機經過。有時候我真受不了這噪音！

3. Conversations
1. House and employment.
A: Susan, I am inviting you and Frank to our “house warming” party this weekend.
B: A house warming party?
A: Yes, Deborah and I are going to buy a new home in Woodlawn.
B: Congratulations! That’s wonderful. I bet both of you are quite happy.
A: Well, we have always dreamed of owning our own home, but real estate1 in this area is extremely expensive.
B: I understand. That’s why Christopher and I want to find a place in a small town, far from the city.
A: That’s a good idea if you can find employment nearby.
B: I agree. That’s why Christopher is already looking for a job in Maine, or Wisconsin.
【譯文】
——蘇珊，我邀請你和弗蘭克這個週末來參加我們家的“喬遷之喜”聚會。
——“喬遷之喜”聚會？
——是啊，戴博拉和我打算在烏德洛買個新房子。
——恭喜你們！那太好了。我猜你們兩個肯定都很高興。
——是啊，我們一直都夢想着有自己的房子，但是這個地區的房產實在太貴了。
——我能理解。那就是爲什麼克力斯多夫和我想在一個遠離城市的小鎮上買個房子。
——如果你們能在附近找個工作那就好了。
——我也這麼認爲。那就是爲什麼克力斯多夫總是想在緬因州或者威斯康辛州找份工作。

2. High rent.
A: I can’t believe the cost of apartments in New York City.
B: Oh, you didn’t know that apartments here are considered valuable, even if they are small and crowded?
A: Of course I had heard about that, but now I know how expensive it is to rent a place here.
B: I don’t mind paying high rent to live in New York.
A: Why? You pay so much for such a tiny2 space to live.
B: Yeah, but so what! I’m proud to live in the world’s most excting city. And, the salaries here are the highest in the nation, too.
【譯文】
——我真難以相信紐約市的房價。
——噢，你難道不知道這裏的公寓雖然很小、很擠，但還是很值錢嗎？
——我當然聽說過了，但是現在我知道在這裏租間房都多貴了。
——能住在紐約，我不介意房租貴。
——爲什麼不呢？你付那麼多的錢住一個這麼小的地方。
——是啊，但那又怎麼樣？能住在世界上最繁華的城市，我很自豪。而且，這裏的薪水也是全國最高的。

3. Meeting new neighbors.
A: Hi, my name’s Karl. My wife and I are moving in next door.
B: Hello, Karl. I’m Chuck Jones. We’re going to be neighbors.
A: I’m happy to meet you. It seems everyone in town is so friendly.
B: This is a small town, and we like to be neighborly3. We know everyone who lives around here.
A: Well, I’m from Chicago. There few people take the time to get to know their neighbors.
B: So, tell me, Karl, why did you come all the way to Minnesota to live?
A: We wanted to live in a more peaceful4 community and have more space. Another reason is, we can afford to buy a home here, but we can’t in Chicago!
【譯文】
——你好，我叫卡爾。我的妻子和我將會住在你的隔壁。
——你好，卡爾。我是查克•瓊斯。我們將會是鄰居。
——我很高興見到你。看來鎮上每個人都很友好。
——這是個小鎮，我們喜歡和睦相處。每個住在這裏的人我們都認識。
——啊，是這樣，我來自芝加哥。那兒很少有人會抽空來和鄰居認識一下。
——那，卡爾，你能告訴我你爲什麼會老遠搬到明尼蘇達州來住嗎。
——我們想住在一個更加安寧，地方也更加寬敞的居民區。 還有一個原因是，在這裏我們可以買得起房子，但是在芝加哥卻不行！

4. How much is the rent?
A: Let’s move out of here. This apartment is too small.
B: I agree. I’ll look in the paper.
A: A house would be great. I could plant a garden. And you could use the garage for a workshop.
B: Here’s an interesting ad: For rent. Two-bedroom, unfurnished5 house, fenced yard, one-car garage. Pets6 OK.
A: How much is the rent?
B: The ad says $325 plus deposit7.
A: When is the place available?
B: It’s available now, and it’s got a very good location8. You won’t be far from work.
【譯文】
——我們搬開這個地方吧。這間公寓太小了。
——我贊同。我去看一下報紙。
——要是一個房子就好了。我可以有個花園栽種。你也可以把車庫當作工作場所來用。
——這裏有一個廣告很有趣：供租。兩個臥室，沒有傢俱，有個籬笆圍起來的小院子，能放一輛車的車庫。可以養寵物。
——房租多少？
——廣告上說是325美金加上押金。
——什麼時候可以入住？
——現在就可以了，而且地理位置很好。你離上班的地方都不會很遠。

4 Words and Expressions
1. real estate 不動產
2. tiny 極小的; 微小的
3. neighborly 像鄰居的; 親切的; 和睦的
4. peaceful 平靜的; 安寧的
5. unfurnished 沒有傢俱設備的
6. pet 供玩賞的動物, 寵物
7. deposit 保證金; 押金; 定金
8. location 位置; 場所, 所在地