听力文本

A Place of Our Own 自己的住房ACT I教师讲解版视频

In the living room of the Stewarts' home in Riverdale. Marilyn is designing a dress. She stops for a while to talk to her mother-in-law Ellen.

Marilyn：Ellen, I'd like your opinion.

Ellen：About what?

Marilyn：Well, Richard and I feel that with a baby coming we need to have our own place to live.

Ellen：Oh.

Marilyn：Well, what do you think about Richard and melooking for a small house or an apartment at this point in our lives?

Ellen：We love having you here, and there is room and … and when the baby comes, the baby can stay in your room for a while.

Marilyn：Richard feels we need to find a small house.

Ellen：I remember when I was pregnant with Richard Philip and were living with Grandma and Grandpa. Philip was a young doctor, and he kept talking about having a house of our own. It's natural.

Marilyn：What did you do?

Ellen：We looked at a lot of houses.

Marilyn：Did you find one?

Ellen：Oh, not at first. We couldn't afford it.Grandpa wanted to lend us the money to buy one, but Philip is too independent. He didn't want to borrow any money.

Marilyn：Sounds like Richard.

Ellen：They're all alike. Richard is a real Stewart.He's independent, and sometimes just stub born.

Marilyn：When did you buy a house?

Ellen：After Richard was born. I was teaching music, and Philip was opening his first medical office.

Marilyn：Where was the house?

Ellen：Right here in Riverdale. Of course, it was a small house, but just right for us.

Marilyn：It's funny. History repeats itself.Now Richard and I are having a baby, and we probably won't be able to afford a house right.

Ellen：Why don't you look at some houses, Marilyn?

Marilyn：Good idea.

Ellen：Look in the real-estate section of Sunday'sTimes. You'll learn a lot.

Marilyn：Maybe we should speak to a real-estateagent about a house.

Ellen：And a bank about a mortgage.

Marilyn：I'll talk to Richard about it. I think it's a good idea, Ellen. We can learn a lot by asking.

Ellen：And if I can be of any help, let me know. As a matter of fact, my friend Virginia Martinelli is a real-estate agent.

Marilyn：Good.

Ellen：You won't believe this, but she sold us our first house and this one.

Marilyn：Well, I'll tell Richard, and we'll go to see her.[she looks at the dress the is designing.]Do you think the skirt length is right, Ellen? Do you think it's too long?

Ellen：I think the skirt is just right. Are you planning to attach a train to it?

Marilyn：No. No train. Just the dress. But I am going to make a headpiece of lace.

Ellen：That dress is gorgeous.

Marilyn：Thanks, Ellen. And thanks for the advice about the house I'll talk to Richard about it the minute he comes home.

Ellen：And remember, we love having you here. There's no need to rush.

[They hug.]

中英对照版

Ellen, I'd like your opinion. Ellen，我想听听你的意见。
About what? 关于什么？
Well, Richard and I feel that with a baby coming 嗯，Richard和我觉得孩子快要出生了
we need to have our own place to live. 我们应该有自己的房子。
Oh. 噢。
Well, what do you think about Richard and me 那么，你觉得我和Richard
looking for a small house or an apartment 找一个小住宅或公寓
at this point in our lives? 在这个时候怎么样？
We love having you here, 我们喜欢你们住这儿，
and there is room, 并且这儿有地方，
and ... and when the baby comes, 而且……而且婴儿出生以后，
the baby can stay in your room for a while. 可以住在你们房间一段时间。
Richard feels we need to find a small house. Richard觉得我们应该要找一个小住宅。
I remember when I was pregnant with Richard. 我记得当我怀着Richard时。
Philip and I were living with Grandma and Grandpa. Philip与我和爷爷奶奶住在一起。
Philip was a young doctor, Philip当时是个年轻的大夫，
and he kept talking about having a house of our own. 他老说要有自己的家。
It's natural. 这是很自然的。
What did you do? 那你们怎么办呢？
We looked at a lot of houses. 我们看了好多房子。
Did you find one? 找到合适的吗？
Oh, not at first. 噢，没有马上找到。
We couldn't afford it. 我们当时钱不够。
Grandpa wanted to lend us the money to buy one, 爷爷要借给我们钱去买房，
but Philip is too independent. 但是Philip的独立性太强了。
He didn't want to borrow any money. 他不想借钱。
Sounds like Richard. 听起来跟Richard一样。
They're all alike. 他们都是一个样子。
Richard is a real Stewart. Richard是个典型的Stewart家后代。
He's independent, 他的独立性强，
and sometimes just stubborn. 有时候甚至近乎顽固。
When did you buy a house? 那你们在什么时候买房子？
After Richard was born. 等生下Richard之后。
I was teaching music, 我当时教音乐，
and Philip was opening his first medical office. 而Philip则第一次开诊所。
Where was the house? 房子在什么地方？
Right here in Riverdale. 就在这Riverdale。
Of course, it was a small house, 当然，那是一栋小房子。
but just right for us. 但正好够我们住。
It's funny. History repeats itself. 真有意思。历史在重演。
Now Richard and I are having a baby, 现在 Richard和我有了孩子，
and we probably won't be able to 而我们也许也一样不能
afford a house right away, either. 马上负担得起一栋房子。
Why don't you look at some houses, Marilyn? 何不去看一看房子呢，Marily？
Good idea. 好主意。
Look in the real-estate section of Sunday's Times. 查一查星期天纽约时报的房地产版面。
You'll learn a lot. 会增长不少见识。
Maybe we should 也许我们应该
speak to a real-estate agent about a house. 和房地产中介商谈谈关于房子的事。
And a bank about a mortgage. 还要和银行谈谈。 ??
I'll talk to Richard about it. 我会与Richard商量这些。
I think it's a good idea, Ellen. 我觉得这是个好主意，Ellen。
We can learn a lot by asking. 我们到处问问会学到不少东西。
And if I can be of any help, 如果我能有所帮忙的，
let me know. 告诉我。
As a matter of fact, 事实上，
my friend Virginia Martinelli is a real-estate agent. 我的朋友Virginia Martinelli就是个房地产中介。
Good. 好极了。
You won't believe this, 你简直不会相信，
but she sold us our first house and this one. 我们的第一栋房子和这一栋都是她卖的。
Well, I'll tell Richard, 嗯，我会告诉Richard，
and we'll go to see her. 我们会去找她。
Do you think the skirt length is right, Ellen? 你觉得这裙子长度合适吗，Ellen?
Do you think it's too long? 你会不会觉得太长点？
I think the skirt is just right. 我觉得长度合适。
Are you planning to attach a train to it? 你是不是准备加拖地裙摆？
No. No train. Just the dress. 不，不加裙摆。就是这样连身套装。
But I am going to make a headpiece of lace. 但我准备做一个蕾丝头饰。
That dress is gorgeous. 这套服装真华丽。
Thanks, Ellen. 谢谢，Ellen。
And thanks for the advice about the house. 也谢谢你关于房子的建议。
I'll talk to Richard about it 我就跟Richard商量
the minute he comes home. 他一回来。
And remember, 记住，
we love having you here. 我们喜欢你们住这儿。
There's no need to rush. 没有必要急急忙忙分开。

口语讲解

二.口语讲解

1.Ellen, I'd like your opinion.

咨询别人的看法，还可以问：What do you think about it?

2.Well, Richard and I feel that with a baby coming we need to have our own place to live.

with a baby coming做状语。

3.Well, what do you think about Richard and melooking for a small house or an apartment at this point in our lives?

向别人提供建议。

4.We couldn't afford it.

表达某物太贵，支付不起。

5.They're all alike.

alike是形容词，相像的。

6.Now Richard and I are having a baby, and we probably won't be able to afford a house right.

一般的连词，比如either or,not only but also连接主语时，谓语动词采取就近原则。但是and则不是这样，如果主语是多个时，谓语动词用复数。

7.Why don't you look at some houses, Marilyn?

why not表示为什么不，表达的也是建议的意思。

美国文化介绍

三.美国文化介绍

我们在学英语的过程中，无论是老师还是其他朋友经常告诉我们，学习一种语言，不只要学其语言，还要学其文化。现在就了解一下本文中出现的一些美国特色的文化吧！

自从Marilyn和Richard结婚后一直住在Richard的父母家。现在他们的孩子要出世了，他俩打算买套房子。拥有自己的住房是美国梦（American dream）中很重要的一部分。因为买房子的费用差不多占去了全部收入的三分之一，最近美国的房价比个人收入上涨得更快。因此很多美国人买不起房子，只能租房子住。

一般人开始买房，都是从小的开始，例如先买公寓（apartment），再买连栋式的洋房（townhouse），最后才买独栋式的洋房（single-family house），房子越换越大，价钱也越贵。美国税制也鼓励这种“更上一层楼”的做法。

情景对话

四、情景对话

情景对话

李明 The apartment I looked at today was pretty decent - around 120 m2.

我今天看的房相当不错，大概得有一百二十平米。

王芳 Great. What about the surrounding area?

好啊。周围环境怎么样？

李明 Very quiet and safe. And it's got a lot of trees and plants.

很安静，治安很好，而且绿化也很棒。

王芳 That's good. Is the location easily accessible?

很好啊。交通便利吗？

李明 Yep, its' near a bus stop.

嗯，挨着公车站。

王芳 Hmm…well, maybe we can buy this one then.

嗯……好吧，也许我们可以买下这个房子。

有关买房的热门英语词汇

　　按揭贷款　　mortgage loan
　　按揭购房　　to buy a house on mortgage; to mortgage a house
　　房屋空置率　　housing vacancy rate
　　安居工程　　Comfortable Housing Project
　　板楼，板式楼　　slab-type apartment building
　　搬迁户　　a relocated unit or household
　　财产税 　　property tax;estate(or capital) duty
　　拆迁补偿费　　compensation for demolition
　　拆迁费用　　removal expense
　　城镇住房公积金　　urban housing provident fund
　　低价住房　　low-cost housing
　　二手房　　second-hand house
　　房产估价师　　realestate evaluator
　　房产证　　property ownership certificate
　　房屋置换　　buy or exchange houses
　　炒房者　　realestate speculator
　　房改　　housing system reform
　　房管　　realestate management
　　房权证　　property right certificate
　　房产市场　　realestate market
　　房屋空置率　　housing vacancy rate
　　福利分房　　welfare-oriented public housing distribution system
　　个人购房贷款　　individual housing loan
　　公房商品化　　commercialization of public housing
　　集资房 　　houses built with funds collected by the buyers
　　居民住房建设　　residential construction
　　人均住房　　per-capital housing
　　现房　　complete dapartment (or flat)
　　期房　　forward delivery housing
　　商品房　　commercial residential building
　　商品房空置　　the vacancy problem in commercial housing
　　政策性住房　　policy-related house, policy-based house
　　住房补贴　　rental allowance; housing allowance
　　住房分配货币化进程　　capitalization process of housing distribution/allocation

阅读素材

阅读素材

美国买房正当其时

Talk about capitulation! Judging from my mailbag following last week's coverage of the Case-Shiller housing numbers, almost nobody has a good word to say about the real estate market any more.

I'm an instinctive contrarian. So I hope readers don't take it the wrong way when I say that when so many of you agree with me, I start to get nervous.

And where is my hate mail? The brokers must be totally whipped. Even a year ago anyone questioning housing prices could reliably expect a torrent of furious replies from those in the business.

Today? Almost nothing. And the few left are mostly of the 'U r an idiot (Sent from my iPhone)' variety. Pitiful.

Maybe the moment of maximum pessimism is at hand after all.

So let me play devil's advocate and consider the positive case for buying a home right now.

The key factor: Interest rates.

If you can borrow at 4.5% or 5% over 30 years, many purchases start to look appealing. Especially if we get a hefty dose of inflation down the line.

If that happens, your monthly payments will be low and you'd get to repay the principal over time with devalued dollars. That's a double win.

Inflation isn't guaranteed: The bond markets are only predicting about 1.4% inflation over the next 10 years, and BCA Research recently reminded clients that deflation, or falling prices, remains a danger. Unemployment is still rising and recent wages actually fell.

Yet if you had to bet from here, you'd bet on inflation in due course. The government is running massive deficits and has the printing presses at full throttle. That's the classic recipe.

And inflation is the debtors' friend -- which is why it is surely going to prove the politically expedient way out of this mess.

Anyone purchasing hard assets like real estate, with a 5% fixed rate loan, ought to make good money if that happens.

When it comes to the house prices, it's true they may not have fallen as far as you might expect.

A recent analysis in the Financial Analysts Journal ('When Will Housing Recover?') suggested prices nationwide still weren't cheap by historical standards in relation to household incomes.

Homes were much cheaper, say, as recently as the 1970s.

Furthermore: the bigger the bubble, the bigger the bust. Considering how sharply home prices climbed from 2002 to 2006, one might expect real estate to end up really, really cheap before bottoming out. And you wouldn't expect a quick rebound either. Japan still hasn't recovered from 1989.

But if you are thinking of buying a home, here's the more positive news: While overall market averages may not be as cheap as you might have expected, you can probably ignore them.

There are plenty of deals taking place far below the official average levels. The indices are masking a huge disparity in prices.

Even the National Association of Realtors concedes distressed sales including foreclosures and short sales are closing about 20% below 'normal' market rates. (Never mind how to define 'normal').

Aggressive buyers are finding some simply terrific deals. And they're paying with cheap debt, too.

Default rates are rising. Lots of sellers are forced. A buyer with options holds all the cards.

Once upon a time, the name of the real estate game was 'let's make a deal.' Today, it's 'take it or leave it.' If the seller won't take your offer, his neighbor probably will.

自上周写了有关Case-Shiller住房数据的报导后，从我邮箱的情况来看，几乎没有什么人对房地产市场还抱有希望。

我是个本能的反向操作派。因此，当我说如果你们中有很多人认同我、我就开始变得紧张时，我希望读者不要从反面理解我的话。

那些烦人的邮件哪里去了？这些经纪人一定是彻底完蛋了。即使在一年前，任何有关房价的问题一定都会得到这些从业人员大量的热情回复。

今天呢？几乎什么都没有。仅有的几个都是诸如“你是个白痴（来自我的iPhone）”之类的话。可怜。

或许，极度悲观的时刻就要到来了。

因此，让我冒天下之大不韪，考虑一下眼下买房子的积极一面。

关键因素是：利率。

如果你能以4.5%或5%的利率获得30年期的贷款，那么，许多购房计划看上去立刻就有了吸引力。如果接下来会出现较高的通货膨胀的话，就更是如此了。

如果发生这种情况，你的月度供款会较低，你可以在一定时间内用贬值的美元逐渐偿还掉本金。这真是两全其美。

通货膨胀不一定会发生：债券市场对未来10年的通货膨胀率预期只有1.4%，而BCA Research最近提醒客户，通货紧缩的危险依然存在。失业率仍在上升，近期的工资水平实际在下降。