年轻的中国工程师高斌刚抵达英国,因为他的公司派他到曼彻斯特(Manchester)驻点六个月。这六个月的住宿他得自己想办法,所以他正在烦恼要找怎样的房子来住。
在中国,过去最常见的房屋种类就是四合院,现在则是一个个街区的公寓大楼。此外,中国与世界其他地方还有很多不同种类的房屋:detached houses(独立式住宅),terraced houses(排屋公寓),bungalows(小平房)等。下面的方框中有许多不同种类的房屋,方框下方提供了它们的定义。请在每个定义旁边写下相对应的房屋名称,并观察这些房屋的图片,将每种房屋的名称写在对应图片下方的横线上。
将房屋种类的不同表达分别与其定义搭配。
a detached house a semi-detached house a terraced house a housing estate a block of flats a cottage a bungalow a caravan a high-rise / tower block
1 ____: a house which is part of a continuous row of houses all of the same type in one block
2 ____: a small house, especially in the country
3 ____: a building with several storeys and separate flats
4 ____: a temporary home on wheels which can be moved from place to place
5 ____: a house which is totally separate from other houses
6 ____: a tall building which has many storeys
7 ____: an area where lots of houses are grouped together
8 ____: a house which is joined to another house by one wall that they share
9 ____: a house with only one storey
将房屋种类的名称写在相应图片下方的横线上,其中前三个已为你写好了。
定义搭配:
1 a terraced house
2 a cottage
3 a block of flats
4 a caravan
5 a detached house
6 a high-rise / tower block
7 a housing estate
8 a semi-detached house
9 a bungalow
请注意,a high-rise / tower block和a block of flats不一样!前者是有很多层楼的一栋高楼(里面通常会有电梯),而后者通常不会很高。
图片名称:
④ a caravan ⑤ a bungalow ⑥ a semi-detached house ⑦ a housing estate ⑧ a cottage ⑨ a high-rise / tower block
高斌问了许多人,怎样才能找到最适合自己的房子,于是有人建议他看当地报纸的租房专栏(Accommodation to Let)。高斌觉得,他比较想住“house”或“flat”,最好在市中心或方便的车站附近,并且想和其他人合租,因为一个人住可能会寂寞。此外,他希望新家最好配备家具,而且可以做饭,因为他不想天天在外吃饭。他知道曼彻斯特的冬天又湿又冷,所以他还希望新家有空调。他的预算是一个月600英镑至700英镑,视燃气费和电费等是否需要另外计算而定。也就是说,如果燃气费和电费等杂费需要额外算,每个月租金最好不超过600英镑;如果租金包含燃气费和电费等杂费,则可以接受700英镑的月租。
高斌看了一些广告,如下所示。你会发现,这些广告中使用了很多缩写(为了省空间,因为报纸版面空间珍贵,字字都是金钱)。高斌研究了很久,才弄清楚这些缩写代表什么意思。那么,现在请阅读广告,并在广告后表格中的空白处写下相应缩写部分的完整形式。第一项我已经为你填好了!
阅读广告,并写下缩写部分的完整形式。
Ad. 1
To LET: Exc. 1st fl. flat; conv. for buses, shops etc., dbl. b., fitted k& b, gar., gas c.h. unfurn., prof. person / couple preferred. No pets. £300 pw. Tel: Happy Flats Agency, 3035847
Ad. 2
FOR RENT: part-furn. modern flat, of a high standard, avail. now in new city centre bl. Would suit single prof. person. £240 pw. Tel: 3424673
Ad. 3
AVAILABLE NOW: Close to buses and shops, two single rooms in comfortable shared house. Fully equipped. £160 pw. inc. bills. Non-smokers. Male pref. Call 3075219 for details.
Ad. 4
TO LET: conv. 3 b. furn. flat with gar., fitted k & b, suit 3 gentlemen sharing. Rent: £450 (£150 each) pw., excluding bills. Tel: 3622179.
Ad. 5
FOR RENT: single furn. room in family house, extremely clean and well maintained. No cooking facilities. Chinese students pref.£150 + bills. Tel: 3760417
Ad. 6
AVAILABLE NOW: Bedsit, recently converted and decorated. No cooking. Shared b., female pref. £100 pw. Contact: Happy Flats Agency, 3035847
2 convenient
3 kitchen and bathroom
4 double bedroom
5 (un)furnished
6 part-furnished
7 preferred / preferable
8 professional
9 included / including
10 per week
11 central heating
12 available
13 block (or building)
14 first floor
15 garage (or garden)
16 telephone (number)
你有没有发现第13项和第15项有两个可能的答案?这就是缩写可能会产生的不便之处,因为大家有时会解读成不同的意思。所以要搞清楚这些缩写到底代表什么意思,最快的方式就是直接打电话去问!
读懂房屋广告后,如何从中找出合适的住处呢?现在我们回头看看阅读租房广告前高斌对住处的要求,把这些要求逐条写下来,我们在阅读广告的时候,就可以很快判断哪些住处比较适合他了。
写出高斌对住处的要求。
rent (per week): ____________________
other requirements: __________________________________
写下比较适合高斌的租屋广告号码。
Possible choice(s) for Gao Bin: _______________________________________
rent (per week): £150―£175
other requirements:
a shared house or flat, near convenient bus stops, furnished, with cooking facilities, central heating, a fair rent
Possible choice(s) for Gao Bin: 3, 4
(这两间的租金合适,而且都可以与人合租。第3条广告的房子还离公交车站很近,非常符合高斌的要求。)
别忘了,广告中的信息不见得完整,所以必要的话还是打电话去问!
在前一个练习中,我们发现第3条和第4条广告中的住处很适合高斌。那其他住处为什么不适合他呢?请用以下句型写出句子,说明其他四个住处的问题。
The house / flat / room in Ad. x is not suitable for Gao Bin because ______ .
写下这些住处不合适的原因。
1 Ad. 1
__________________________________
2 Ad. 2
__________________________________
3 Ad. 5
__________________________________
4 Ad. 6
__________________________________
参考答案:
1 The flat in Ad. 1 is not suitable for Gao Bin because it is too expensive and is for a single person or a couple.
2 The flat in Ad. 2 is not suitable for Gao Bin because it is too expensive and not shared with other people.
3 The room in Ad. 5 is not suitable for Gao Bin because there are no cooking facilities and students are preferred.
4 The bedsit in Ad. 6 is not suitable for Gao Bin because there are no cooking facilities and females are preferred.
社交英语无师自通,换你说说看
看完解答后,还可以练习把这些句子大声读出来!