英语听力文摘 English Digest 37、如何对付缺乏公德心的邻居

　　Dear Annie:
I live next door to people who leave their windows open and have the television blaring most of the night, while their children play loud video games. They also run some sort of compressor all day long that's right next to our patio¹.
This home was once our retreat to get away from the hustle² and bustle³ of the world outside, and it has turned into noise pollution central. While our neighbors seem like nice enough people, hearing noise when I'm trying to sleep or getting blasted with sound when sitting on the patio is starting to wear on my nerves. I did put a water fountain out back, and that seems to cut down a bit on the surrounding noise, but I can't keep it on all night. Any ideas? － Matt in Michigan
Dear Matt:
First, try talking to your neighbors. Ask nicely if they would shut their windows or lower the volume on their entertainment systems at night. They may not realize how much they are disturbing you. If that doesn't help, try earplugs or other sources of white noise, such as fans. There also may be noise ordinances⁴ in your area that they are violating, in which case you should notify the authorities.
to blare  (v.)   发出声响；喧嚷
compressor  (n.)   压缩机
patio  (n.)   内院
retreat  (n.)   藏匿处；避难所
hustle and bustle   忙碌、匆忙（的状态）
to wear on one's nerves   令人难以忍受；让人勃然大怒
fountain  (n.)   喷水池；喷泉
to cut down   减少；降低
to disturb  (v.)   打扰；扰乱
ordinance  (n.)   法令；命令

1 patio   

n.庭院，平台

参考例句：

• Suddenly, the thought of my beautiful patio came to mind. I can be quiet out there,I thought.我又忽然想到家里漂亮的院子，我能够在这里宁静地呆会。
• They had a barbecue on their patio on Sunday.星期天他们在院子里进行烧烤。

2 hustle   

v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌)

参考例句：

• It seems that he enjoys the hustle and bustle of life in the big city.看起来他似乎很喜欢大城市的热闹繁忙的生活。
• I had to hustle through the crowded street.我不得不挤过拥挤的街道。

3 bustle   

v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹

参考例句：

• The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
• There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。

4 ordinances   

n.条例，法令( ordinance的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These points of view, however, had not been generally accepted in building ordinances. 然而，这些观点仍未普遍地为其他的建筑条例而接受。 来自辞典例句
• Great are Your mercies, O Lord; Revive me according to Your ordinances. 诗119:156耶和华阿、你的慈悲本为大．求你照你的典章将我救活。 来自互联网