(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
In Susan Stewart's apartment in Soho, a neighborhood in Manhattan. Susan and Harry Bennett are preparing lunch for Harry's daughter Michelle and her friends.
Harry：You like living in New York, don't you?
Susan：Oh, I love it, it's so convenient. I can take the bus to work… or the subway… or a taxi. And there's so much to do. Lots of movie houses, and the theater.
Harry：I know what you mean. I'd like to live in the city, but living in New Jersey and the suburbs is better for Michelle. Trees, grass.
Susan：There's a lot of good things about suburban living. I grew up in Riverdale, remember? So I know. But, as a working woman, I think New York has all the conveniences-including the best tomatoes. [She gives a slice of tomato to Harry to taste.]
Harry：The truth is, I'd like to live in the city. Michelle's the right age.There are lots of things for her here.
Susan：You're right, Harry. Today is the perfect example. Michelle and her friends are at the aquarium in Brooklyn. They come back here for lunch, then go uptown to the Museum of Natural History. There's so much for young people to see and do. It's just incredible!
Harry：Not just for young people. What about me?
I've never been to the aquarium or the Museum of Natural History. Have you?
Susan：Oh yes, Harry. My mother and father often took us somewhere in the city on the weekends. Dad was a busy doctor, but he usually managed to squeeze a Sunday in with Richard, Robbie, and me. I used to love to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Harry：I've been there several times. Twice with Michelle.
Susan：You ought to think about spending more time with Michelle at all the great places in the city.
Harry：Well, perhaps, you'll help me select some of the great places. And perhaps, you'll join us?
Susan：Perhpas I will.
Later. Susan and Harry have just set the table for lunch.
Susan：Well, there we are. All set for lunch,Harry.
Harry：It looks inviting. I wish Michelle and her friends would get here. I'm starving, aren't you?
Susan：I can't wait to take a bite of the pumpernickel. It smells so delicious.
[The downstairs buzzer sounds. Susan goes to the intercom.]
Susan：Coming! Coming![She speaks into the intercom.] Who is it ?
Michelle：Michelle. It's us,Susan.
Susan：Come in, Michelle, and bring your friends along. We're on the fifth floor. Oh, you've been here before.[She opens the door.]
Harry：Susan, I really appreciate your doing this for Michelle and her friends.
Susan：Oh, please,Harry. It's nothing. I'm not just doing it for Michelle. I'm doing it for you.
Harry：Thank you.
Susan：I'm doing it for us, Harry.
Harry：Well, it's… it's important for Michelle to see us together more often.That's true.
Susan：It's important for Michelle and me to get to know each other better. That's important for us.
Harry：That makes me feel good.
Susan：What, Harry? What makes you feel good?
Harry：Well ,that you care about Michelle, that you care about me, and that you care about us.
Susan：Well Harry, that's because I do. I do care.
Harry：They'll be here any minute. Susan, I'd like to continue this conversation later.
Susan：Of course, Harry. We'll finish the conversation when they go to the museum.
Harry：I'd like that.
Susan：So would I.
中英对照版
You like living in New York, don't you? 你喜欢住在纽约,是吗？
Oh, I love it. 噢，我喜欢住在纽约。
It's so convenient. 一切都很方便。
I can take the bus to work ... 我可以坐公共汽车上班……
or the subway ... 或者搭地铁……
or a taxi. 或者坐计程车。
And there's so much to do. 而且这儿总是有许多事可做。
Lots of movie houses, and the theater. 很多电影院，还有剧院。
I know what you mean. 我懂得你的意思。
I'd like to live in the city, 我也喜欢住在这。
but living in New Jersey and the suburbs 但住在New Jersey和郊区
is better for Michelle. 对 Michelle会好些。
Trees, grass. 有绿树，有草地。
There's a lot of good things about suburban living. 郊区生活是有许多优点。
I grew up in Riverdale, remember? 你记得吗，我就是在Riverdale长大的？
So I know. 所以我了解这些。
But, as a working woman, 但是就职业妇女来讲，
I think New York has all the conveniences-- 我觉得纽约具备了一切便利的条件。
including the best tomatoes. 包括上好的西红柿。
The truth is, I'd like to live in the city. 老实说我也想住到城里来。
Michelle's the right age. Michelle正处于成长的年龄。
There are lots of things for her here. 这里有许多适合她的东西。
You're right, Harry. 你说的对，Harry。
Today is the perfect example. 今天就是一个很好的例子。
Michelle and her friends are at the aquarium in Brooklyn. Michelle和她的朋友们在参观Brooklyn的水族馆。
They come back here for lunch, 他们回到这儿来吃午饭。
then go uptown to the Museum of Natural History. 然后再往北去自然历史博物馆。
There's so much for young people to see and do. 这儿有很多可供年轻人看和做的事情。
It's just incredible! 简直是难以置信！
Not just for young people. 不仅仅对年轻人来说是这样。
What about me? 对我还不是一样？
I've never been to the aquarium 我从来没有去过水族馆
or the Museum of Natural History. 或自然历史博物馆。
Have you?你呢？
Oh yes, Harry. 去过了，Harry。
My mother and father 我父母
often took us somewhere in the city on the weekends. 经常在周末带我们去城里的一些地方。
Dad was a busy doctor, 爸爸是个很忙的医生，
but he usually managed to squeeze a Sunday in 但是他总会设法挤出星期天
with Richard, Robbie, and me. 和Richard， Robbie及我在一起。
I used to love to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 我过去很喜欢去大都会美术馆。
I've been there several times. 我到那儿去过好几次。
Twice with Michelle. 其中两次是和Michelle去的。
You ought to think about spending more time with Michelle 你应当考虑多花点时间陪Michelle
at all the great places in the city. 去城里所有的好地方看看。
Well, perhaps, 好的，也许，
you'll help me select some of the great places.你能帮我挑一些好地方。
And perhaps, you'll join us? 也许，你能跟我们一起去？
Perhaps I will. 也许我会吧。
Well, there we are. 好了，就这样了。
All set for lunch, Harry. 午餐的一切都准备好了，Harry。
It looks inviting. 它看起来很令人食欲大开。
I wish Michelle and her friends would get here. 我希望Michelle和她的朋友很快就到这儿。
I'm starving, aren't you? 我饿了，你呢？
I can't wait to take a bite of the pumpernickel. 我简直迫不及待想吃一口黑面包。
It smells so delicious. 它闻起来好香啊。
Coming! Coming! 来了！来了！
Who is it? 是谁呀？
Michelle. Michelle。
It's us, Susan. 是我们，Susan。
Come in, Michelle, 请进，Michelle。
and bring your friends along. 请带你的朋友们进来。
We're on the fifth floor. 我们在五楼。
Oh, you've been here before. 噢，你以前来过的。
Susan, Susan，
I really appreciate 我真的很感谢
your doing this for Michelle and her friends. 你为Michelle和她的朋友们所做的这些。
Oh, please, Harry. 噢，别客气，Harry。
It's nothing. 这没什么。
I'm not just doing it for Michelle. 我不仅是为 Michelle做这些。
I'm doing it for you. 也是为你做的。
Thank you. 谢谢你。
I'm doing it for us, Harry. 我是为我们大家做的，Harry。
Well, 是的，
it's ... it's important for Michelle to see us together more often. 让Michelle看到我们更常在一起是……是很重要的。
That's true. 确实是这样。
It's important 这是很重要的。
for Michelle and me to get to know each other better. 让Michelle和我彼此更了解。
That's important for us. 这对我们很重要。
That makes me feel good. 那使我感到很高兴。
What, Harry? 什么，Harry？
What makes you feel good? 什么使你感到高兴？
Well, that you care about Michelle, 哦，我是说你关心Michelle，
that you care about me, and 关心我 ，而且
that you care about us. 关心我们大家。
Well, Harry, that's because I do. 哦，Harry ，那是因为我关心。
I do care. 我真的关心。
They'll be here any minute. 他们马上就到了。
Susan, I'd like to continue this conversation later. Susan ，我希望等一下能继续我们的谈话。
Of course, Harry. 当然可以 ，Harry。
We'll finish the conversation when they go to the museum. 他们去博物馆之后我们再聊。
I'd like that. 我很乐意。
So would I. 我也是。
口语讲解
二.口语讲解
1.Oh, I love it, it's so convenient.I can take the bus to work… or the subway… or a taxi.
表达对住在某地方的喜爱，并列出其方便之处。
2.I know what you mean.
表达对别人的理解。
3.I'd like to live in the city, but living in New Jersey and the suburbs is better for Michelle.
I'd like to……表达自己的喜好。后面转折，提出怎样更好。
4.I used to love to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
used to do表示过去常常做某事。
5.You ought to think about spending more time with Michelle at all the great places in the city.
ought to意思是应该。这里是对别人提出建议。
6.It looks inviting.
inviting在这里是诱人的意思。
7.Susan, I really appreciate your doing this for Michelle and her friends.
表达对别人做某事的感激。
8.I can't wait to take a bite of the pumpernickel.
can't wait to do 表示迫不及待做某事。
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！
汽车促进了美国郊区的发展。在本世纪，一大部分美国人口移居到大城市以外地区。然而电梯的发明使很多人可以在城市高层建筑中工作。所以许多人住在郊区，却在城里工作。这些人叫通勤者（commuters），上下班路上有时需要一两个小时。
一般说来，中产阶级或更高收入的人常住郊区，而都市闹市区居民常是低收入者和流浪汉，不过也不能就此一概而论，例如纽约市的曼哈顿区，也有一小部分极其昂贵而高级的公寓，是世界首富们的住所。
美国的城镇化水平非常发达，因而城市也就特别多。不过美国城市的地位和我们的理解略有不同，它包括的范围只局限到市区的边缘。城市（city）只是县（county）的一部分；城市有属于自己的政府，管辖市区以内的区域。县也有自己单独的行政机构，负责市区以外的那部分地区。
美国的人口分布与中国也大不一样。绝大多数人居住在十万人口以上的城市里。因为美国农业的机械化程度很高，只需要较少的人务农，居住在乡村的人自然就少了。
在美国，约占人口60％的中产阶级拥有自己的住房，包括独门独户的小楼房、半边楼、公寓套房等。对于大多数城里人来说，理想的住处环境是他们所在城市的郊区，或者离城市更远处的乡间。这样的居住选择之所以可能，是因为有方便的公共交通设施和私人交通作保障。大部分家庭至少拥有两辆汽车，74%的美国人乘坐小汽车上下班。
可以把美国现在的居住潮流称之为“郊区化”。但不要忘记其前提条件除了经济实力外，更重要的是日常上下班的交通已不成为问题。
一个城市最醒目的是闹市区（Inner city），也即该城市较古老的、聚集人群较稠密的繁华区域。以往这些地方是房地产的黄金地带，现在不同了，拥有一定资产的中产阶级对这里已经丧失了兴趣，正在逐步撤离，专家们把这种现象概括为城市的“空心化”。接下来很自然的，在今日的美国，郊区的一些学校无论是校园环境还是教学质量均比城里的学校要好得多。
能够居住在郊区的，基本上都是白领阶层以上的人士。由于有较为坚强的经济基础做支撑，他们置业的标准都不低。比如说在离城里半个小时路程的郊区买一栋房子，四个卧室，一个客厅，客厅里铺有地毯，有两个可走入的大壁橱，一个餐厅，一个大厨房，三个卫生间，一个大花园。这样的情况很正常。
至于百万富翁或亿万富翁的住宅，则又是“郊区化”当中的佼佼者。他们的房子可以是这个样子的：三层楼，一部电梯。大餐厅能坐下40人，房子里有一个热水游泳池，房子周围有几英亩到几十英亩的地产，花园里种植各种各样的花草，拥有三辆甚至五辆轿车的车房等等。
市区内的住房则以公寓为主。公寓分高层公寓和低层公寓。高层公寓可以达到二、三十层，外加顶楼房屋。公寓可以带家具，也可以不带家具。公寓楼大都安装有中央空调和供暖设备，房客有停车位置。楼内房间的格局分为一卧室、两卧室和三卧室不等。一个房间、一个浴室、一个厨房的经济型小公寓月租不算太贵，大约在200美元左右。
成年有收入的人大都居住在公寓，那么大学生住哪里？大学生也住公寓，只是相对更简单一些而已。在学生村有经济型、一居室和两居室的公寓，供家庭经济背景不同的学生选择。顺便说一下教师的住房，一般是由学校提供，大部分不带家具。
此外，美国人还发明了一种独特的移动居住方式：汽车房子。美国人喜欢旅游，无论是退休的老年人还是在职职员（他们在夏天通常有两到三个星期的假期），每年都要出去走走。有的人到国外寻找异域风情，更多的人则是在国内转悠。居住地在山区的，最受欢迎的度假地是海滨，享受诸如佛罗里达、加利福尼亚这些地方的夏日阳光；如果是海滨地区的居民，那么最佳去处则是山区，比如说到冬季的佛蒙特寻找“原弛腊象”的感觉。
开房车是一种国内旅行的好办法。几乎所有保证生活舒适的东西都可以弄进车里头：浴室、床、家具、冰箱、炉子、微波炉。现在大部分房车甚至连电视也有了。开上房车，想停就停，想走就走，想停多久就停多久，惬意无比，十分符合美国人天生热爱自由的性格。
许多退休夫妇都有房车，这在美国的西部尤其如此。他们一般是春天、夏天住在家里，秋天一到，他们就钻进房车，开向温暖气候地带过冬。有人把这些人叫做“雪鹉”(snow birds)，因为他们像雪鹉一样，冬天一来便向南方迁移。
以上说的是住房，但居住不等于住房，其中的差别在于住房不包括居住的一项重要内容 —— 邻里之间的交流。这就自然引出“社区”概念来。
人一方面当然要追求物质生活的享受，但另一方面，人还要追求精神世界的安慰，这后一点对于退休的老年人更是如此。
社区组织的义务工作在美国是一件十分受欢迎的事情。退休后的老年人感到做点义务工作很有益处，反而是整天呆在家里并不愉快，因为家庭里缺少以前在工作场所的那种人际交流。所以他们乐意奉献出时间和精力为社会做一些有意义的事情。流行的义务工作领域包括：医院、为其他老年人服务、学校、帮助穷人的非赢利性机构、少年体育活动项目、少年组织、学校董事会以及许多其他社区组织等等。
社区还经常举办地方艺术节，大小社区都有自己的图书馆和其他各种服务措施，这些对工作繁忙的成年人和青少年也都是很有益处的。
趣味阅读
美国人的家
Home. Few words in the English language have such a special meaning. Home is a place where you can relax， kick back and just be yourself. Just about everyone has a strong opinion of what makes a house a home. And for most people in America， home should be， above all， comfortable.
家，在英文中没有几个字有这样特别的意义。家是一个你可以放松、只要做你自己的地方。大概每个人对于如何把一间屋子变成一个家都非常有主见。对大多数的美国人来说，家最重要的应该是舒适。
Americans like their homes to reflect their personal tastes. Many do-it-yourselfers enjoy fixing up their house and making it more "livable." They often try to create a cozy atmosphere so that when they're at home， they'll really feel "at home." Sofas and lounge chairs may be heavily padded and arranged in groupings conducive to relaxed conversation. The bathroom even receives special attention. Carpeted floors， scented soaps， colorful wallpaper and decorative curtains adorn the "comfort room" in many homes. And on average， Americans have more bathrooms than any other people in the world.
美国人喜欢让家反映出他们个人的品味。许多喜欢自己动手做的人沉醉于修补他们的房子并让它更「适于居住」。他们常试着营造一个温暖而舒适的气氛，这样当他们待在家时，会真的感觉到「毫无拘束」。沙发及安乐椅可能会被铺上厚厚的垫子，并运用不同空间组合的摆设，让坐的人可以轻松的谈话。甚至连浴室也颇费心思：铺有地毯的地板、香气四溢的肥皂、彩色的壁纸及装饰窗帘，如此就打扮出了许多家庭的「舒服之地」。平均来说，美国人拥有的浴室比世界上其它的人都多。
Lisa Marie Odegard， an interior designer in Bozeman， Montana， comments that "a home is a haven. People want an open， easy feeling to make their homes comfortable." For that reason， many new homes now have big， open kitchens and vaulted ceilings.
蒙大拿州柏斯曼的一位室内设计师丽莎？区迪嘉谈到：「家是一个避难所。人们想要一个开放、轻松的感觉来让他们的家变得很舒适。」因为这个原因，现在许多新房子都有大而开放的厨房以及拱形的屋顶。
Americans try to make the most of their space， too. The majority of homes have built-in closets and shelves， and people spare no pains to add dressers， filing cabinets and closet organizers to maximize their storage space. Although keeping the house neat is often a constant battle， Americans feel it's a battle worth fighting.
美国人也试着将空间做最佳的利用。大多数的家庭都有壁橱以及架子，人们也不辞辛劳的添加橱柜、文件柜以及壁柜分隔架来加大储藏空间。虽然让房子维持整洁像是一场永无止尽的长期战役，美国人觉得这是一个值得打下去的战役。
People in America keep an eye on the latest trends in interior design. In the 80s， the "country" look dominated the home decorating scene. Rustic furniture and shelves full of old-fashioned knick-knacks created a homey atmosphere reminiscent of rural America several generations back. The 90s have brought in another longing for the past： the retro 50s and 60s look——plain and simple furniture with square backs and arms and block-style legs.
美国人也会注意室内设计的最新时尚。八○年代，「乡村」风貌主导了家庭装潢；摆满旧式风格的小摆设的质朴家俱及架子，创造出一种会令人想起几世代以前以农业为主的美国之家庭气氛。九○年代又带入另一个怀旧情愫：回溯到五○及六○年代风貌——有四方形靠背、把手以及有方正桌脚的朴素、简单的家俱。
Some parts of the country have their own regional preferences. In the western United States， homeowners favor the Navajo Indian style of the Southwest or the cowboy look. In contrast， Easterners prefer French Country or more "fussy" styles.
国内某些地方的人们有他们自己地区性的偏好。在美国西部，屋主们喜欢西南部印地安拿佛和族或是牛仔式的风格。相对的，东部人喜欢法国乡村或是更漂亮的形式。
With all this attention to their homes， you would think Americans place a high premium on housekeeping. In fact， however， keeping house doesn't receive as much attention as it used to. Why？ The fast-paced lifestyles of the 90s allow little spare time for dusting， vacuuming and scrubbing the tub. Ironically， however， even though more and more women work outside the home， women still do twice as much house work as men. Modern conve-niences like the washing machine， the vacuum cleaner， and the dishwasher have taken some of the drudgery out of household chores. But in general， Americans these days take their cue from books like How to Avoid Housework.
花了这么多心思在他们的家，你大概会认为美国人非常重视家庭的打理与清洁，但是事实上，整理家务已不像以前一样受重视。为什么？九○年代步调快速的生活方式几乎没有留什么时间撢灰尘、吸尘以及刷洗浴缸。然而，讽刺的是，即使越来越多的妇女在外工作，她们还是比男人多做两倍的家务。虽然像是洗衣机、吸尘器和洗碗机等现代家电已代为处理家事中一些乏味、辛苦的工作。但一般而言，美国人今天已会向「如何避免家务」这类的书来求救。
As a result， you might think American homes of the 90s are less than spotless. Witness the fact that sales of household cleaning products have declined in recent years. Besides that， Americans seem to be less persnickety about their housecleaning——especially in areas that nobody sees. Vacuum under the sofa？ Dust the baseboards？ Are you kidding？ Ironically， though， American women seem quite satisfied with their housekeeping， according to a national survey conducted in 1995-96. Besides that， people are designing their homes with low-maintenance features——tile in bathrooms and kitchens as well as marble on countertops——to cut down on the need for frequent cleaning. Even so， more and more people are hiring outside help to clean their houses. A Roper poll found that one in six Americans hired cleaning help last year， up from one in 10 in 1986. One professional housecleaning service， Merry Maids， has grown to over 800 franchises in recent years.
因此，你可能会认为九○年代的美国家庭大概不是一尘不染。由家用清洁产品的销售量在近几年下降便可见一般。此外，美国人似乎对于家庭的清洁比较不那么吹毛求疵了——特别是对那些没有人看到的地方。吸沙发下的灰尘？撢踢脚板？你开玩笑？但可笑的是，根据一九九五／六年做的一项全国性调查，美国妇女似乎对他们的家务整理挺满意。除此之外，人们以较不需要时时清洁的材料来设计他们的家——在浴室及厨房贴磁砖以及做大理石的台面——减少打扫的次数。即使如此，越来越多的人雇用外人协助清理屋子。一项洛普民意调查发现，去年有六分之一的美国雇用清洁服务，较一九八六年的十分之一比率上升许多。一个专业性的家务清理服务「快乐女佣公司」在最近几年已成长到有八百多家的连锁店。
In a pre-Revolutionary War speech in 1761， James Otis made the famous remark that "a man's home is his castle." Americans like their castle to be as comfortable as possible. They would like to have a home they can be proud of， a place they can call their own. Not everyone's home looks like a castle， but "be it ever so humble， there's no place like home."
在一七六一年独立战争前的一次演说中，詹姆士。欧提斯留下了一句名言——「男人的家是他的城堡」。美国人喜欢他们的城堡能够尽可能的舒适，他们都想要有一个引以为荣的家，一个可以属于他们自己的地方。并不是每个人的家都看起来像是一座城堡，但是「即使是非常简陋，但没有一个地方可以比得上家。」
