英语听力精选进阶版 7284

香港的一家酒店近日出售了一些客房供买家当住宅房用。香港是全球房价最高的几个城市之一，买酒店客房是当地居民应对房价暴涨的一个方法。

The hotel suites¹ are cheaper than apartments in Hong Kong. Hundreds of people lined up for hours to buy a unit at the Apex² Horizon Hotel this week. It's not clear whether investors³ can legally live in the suites but buyers are still eager.

Voice of Hong Kong man:

The developer had lawyers look at it thoroughly⁴, so I'm not worried.

Voice of Hong Kong woman:

At these prices the hotel suites are cheaper to buy than public housing.

The hotel was able to sell all 360 of its suites in two days - a sign there is a demand for affordable⁵ housing. Hong Kong's low interest rate has attracted hoards⁶ of mainland Chinese investors.

It pushed home prices to record highs last year. Flats cost an average of HK$14,000 per square metre in central locations. Many residents feel they can no longer afford to buy apartments.

Hong Kong people cope by renting makeshift homes on rooftops, while others move into so-called cage homes - hutches made from wire-mesh, stacked on top of each other in a tiny room. The government's efforts to cool down property prices have not worked. So Hong Kong residents have to be creative in finding space to live.

Quiz 听力测验

True or False? Apartments in Hong Kong are more expensive than hotel suites.

True. The hotel suites are cheaper than apartments in Hong Kong.

True or False? People who buy hotel suites can live in them legally.

False. It is not clear whether they can live in the suites.

Why does Hong Kong attract many Chinese mainland investors?

Because the interest rate is very low in Hong Kong.

What do Hong Kong people do to cope with soaring housing prices?

They rent makeshift homes on rooftops or move into hutches that are stacked on top of each other in a tiny room.

Glossary 词汇表

lined up排队（等候）

eager迫切的，非常感兴趣的

affordable（多数人）买得起的

hoards大量的

cope应对，对付

makeshift临时的，凑合的

hutches养小动物的笼子（尤其指兔笼）

cool down使（房价）增长速度放慢

1 suites   

n.套( suite的名词复数 )；一套房间；一套家具；一套公寓

参考例句：

• First he called upon all the Foreign Ministers in their hotel suites. 他首先到所有外交部长住的旅馆套间去拜访。 来自辞典例句
• All four doors to the two reserved suites were open. 预定的两个套房的四扇门都敞开着。 来自辞典例句

2 apex   

n.顶点，最高点

参考例句：

• He reached the apex of power in the early 1930s.他在三十年代初达到了权力的顶峰。
• His election to the presidency was the apex of his career.当选总统是他一生事业的顶峰。

3 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

4 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

5 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

6 hoards   

n.（钱财、食物或其他珍贵物品的）储藏，积存( hoard的名词复数 )v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She hoards her money - she never spends it. 她积蓄钱，但从来不花钱。 来自辞典例句
• A squirrel hoards nuts for the winter. 松鼠为过冬贮藏坚果。 来自辞典例句