【听英文对话做选择】公寓出租

原文：

Apartment Owner: Hello.

Caller: Hi. I'm calling about the ad for the apartment found in today's newspaper.

 

Apartment Owner: Okay.

 

Caller: I'm kind of desperate, and I need something right away.

 

Apartment Owner: Okay. What would you like to know?

 

Caller: First of all, how big is it?

 

Apartment Owner: It's a two-bedroom apartment with a living room, dining room and kitchen, and one bathroom. There's also a place for a washer and dryer¹.

 

Caller: Okay, and how old is the apartment complex?

 

Apartment Owner: Well, let's just say it has a lot of history. To be honest, my great grandfather built it during the 1920s, but it's a very sturdy² and sound structure.

 

Caller: Oh, and . . . so, is the apartment furnished at all?

 

Apartment Owner: Oh, yeah. The apartment is partially³ furnished with a refrigerator, stove, and my grandmother's old dishwasher.

 

Caller: Your grandmother's old dishwasher? Okay. What's the rent?

 

Apartment Owner: It's $950 a month.

 

Apartment Owner: Whoa. That is a little steep for me.

 

Caller: But you could always split⁴ the cost with a roommate.

 

Caller: Perhaps. Does that include utilities?

 

Caller: Well, the rent includes gas and electricity, but not the phone bill. And the water pump is right out the back door.

 

Caller: Water pump! [Yeah.] Oh, yeah. Well, can I rent month-to-month, or do I have to sign a lease⁵ for a longer period of time?

 

Apartment Owner: We require a 6-month commitment for the apartment, and if you cancel the agreement anytime during that period, hey . . . you lose your deposit⁶.

 

Caller: Oh, and how much is the deposit?

 

Apartment Owner: It's $400, and, of course, this money is used to repair damage or general wear and tear on our apartment, like the leaks in the old roof from last year's snow storm. Man, that was ugly. Plaster⁷ falling down from the ceiling. And I didn't even know there was a rat's nest up there, but we got that taken care of.

 

Caller: A what? Do I get my deposit back after I move out? That's assuming that I even move in.

 

Apartment Owner: Generally speaking, we return the deposit, minus a small fee for, you know, cleaning the apartment for the next tenant⁸, but if you trash the place, then don't expect to get anything back.

 

Caller: Okay. Oh, um . . . how close is the apartment to the university campus?

 

Apartment Owner: It's about eight blocks from campus, but you can catch a number of busses right out in front.

 

Caller: Oh, so, then, if there's a busy road out front, is it noisy?

 

Apartment Owner: Well, there are always trade-offs: it's a little noisy with the road outside and the airport behind you, but the place is really convenient because there's a supermarket and shopping center right across the street. Just keep the windows closed and a pair of ear plugs handy, and you'll be fine.

 

Caller: Okay, and one last question. Are there parking spaces for tenants⁹?

 

Apartment Owner: Yeah. The apartment has two covered parking spaces, which are really convenient during certain times of the year.

 

Caller: Uh . . . I don't know. Is it possible for me to drop by and visit the apartment tomorrow morning?

 

Apartment Owner: Sure, but just remember we rent the apartment on a first-come, first-serve basis, so there's no guarantee it'll still be available then.

 

Caller: Okay. Thanks. Um . . . and where exactly is the apartment located?

 

Apartment Owner: It's one block west of the waste water treatment plant.

 

Caller: Ah . . . . Are pets allowed?

 

Apartment Owner: Well, you can keep small pets like a hamster in a small cage, but we don't allow larger animals like dogs, cats, or snakes. Things like that.

 

Caller: Um, I have a rat . . .

 

Apartment Owner: You don't have anything like that, do you?

 

Caller: Well, I have a rat that I keep in a cage. Will that be okay?

 

Apartment Owner: Well, as long it doesn't escape, I guess that's okay.

 

Caller: And what's your name?

 

Apartment Owner: It's Norman. Norman Bates.

 

Caller: Alright, Mr. Bates. I'll see you tomorrow. Bye.

 

Apartment Owner: Bye.

1. Which statement is NOT true about the apartment for rent?

A. It includes a washer and a dryer.

B. The apartment is partially furnished.

C. The rent is over $900 a month. 

2. What utilities are included in the rent?

A. gas and water

B. electricity and phone

C. gas and electricity

 

3. Under which circumstance could you lose your deposit according to the conversation?

A. You end the agreement before the minimum leasing¹⁰ period of four months.

B. You cause damage beyond normal use of the apartment.

C. You remove any of the furnishings without permission.

 

4. How would you describe the location of the apartment?

A. The woman can catch a bus to school in front of her apartment.

B. A supermarket and shopping center are only a few blocks away. 

C. The apartment is in a relatively¹¹ quiet neighborhood.

 

5. What kind of pet is a tenant allowed to keep in the apartment?

A. a dog

B. a cat

C. a rat

 

正确答案：

1. It includes a washer and a dryer.

2. gas and electricity

3. You cause damage beyond normal use of the apartment.

4. The woman can catch a bus to school in front of her apartment.

5. a rat

 

1 dryer   

n.干衣机，干燥剂

参考例句：

• He bought a dryer yesterday.他昨天买了一台干燥机。
• There is a washer and a dryer in the basement.地下室里有洗衣机和烘干机。

2 sturdy   

adj.强壮的，结实的，坚固的，坚定(强)的

参考例句：

• We need several sturdy men to push this car.我们需要几个强壮的人来推车。
• Children need sturdy shoes.孩子们需要结实的鞋子。

3 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

4 split   

n.劈开，裂片，裂口；adj.分散的；v.分离，分开，劈开

参考例句：

• Who told you that Mary and I had split up?谁告诉你玛丽和我已经离婚了？
• The teacher split the class up into six groups.老师把班级分成6个小组。

5 lease   

n.租约，租期，租；v.出租，租出，租得

参考例句：

• When does the lease of the house run out?这房子的租约何时到期？
• He signed the lease yesterday.昨天他在租约上签了字。

6 deposit   

n.定金，存款，矿藏；vt.使沉淀，寄存，储蓄

参考例句：

• There is too much deposit in a bottle of wine.酒瓶里有太多的沉淀物。
• The hotel requires a deposit for all advance bookings.旅馆规定凡预订房间都要先付订金。

7 plaster   

n.石膏，灰泥，膏药；v.涂以灰泥，敷以膏药，使...平

参考例句：

• He mixed up some plaster to repair the wall.他和了一些灰泥去补墙。
• She applied the plaster on his shoulder.她将膏药贴在他的膀子上。

8 tenant   

n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用

参考例句：

• The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
• The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。

9 tenants   

n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者

参考例句：

• A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。
• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。

10 leasing   

出租业务

参考例句：

• Many more firms are selling the buildings in which their factories are, and leasing them back. 许多公司把工厂的建筑卖出去，然后再租回来使用。
• "Are you thinking of leasing your factory or selling out? 你是想出租呢出盘呀？ 来自子夜部分

11 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。