II. Listening Skills
Listening for Rents or Charges
M: Look at this ad! “One bedroom apartment, with kitchen and bathroom.” It’s close to our school, and the price is only $250 a month.
W: But I want an apartment at least $50 cheaper.
Q: What is the highest rent the woman is willing to pay?
B) $200.
M: Laura, I really hate to ask this, but I think I’m going to be five days late with this month’s rent. Do you think you could help me out?
W: I’m afraid I can’t. It’s $350! I haven’t much money. I have to save hard to pay my own rent; and it’s almost twice as high as yours.
Q: How much is the man’s monthly rent？
A)$350.
M: Okay, Mrs. Smith, I’m all packed and ready to move out. There’s just the matter of the $500 damage deposit and I’ll be off.
W: Well, Rob, there’s also the matter of some cigarette burns on the carpet and a hole in one of the walls. Those damages will cost $100 to repair.
Q: How much is the landlady willing to give back to the man?
B)$400.
M1: Frank, we need to talk about this month’s utility bill. It’s $220, and I’ve give you half the amount. Why are you asking for $50 morre?
W2: Don’t you think you should pay a little bit more than that? You have an extra heater in your bedroom. And you have been taking two hot showers a day, sometimes for almost an hour. I think you should be thankful I’m only asking for $160.
Q: How much is the second speaker asking the first one to pay?
B)$160.
M: Why are you still staying here? The girls on this floor are so noisy! You can get an apartment off campus for just a little more money. Perhaps $450 a month.
W: Well, actually, I was planning to pay the extra $50 to move there. But I changed my idea when I learned those noisy girls will move out next term.
Q: What is the rent for the girl’s dorm?
B)$400.
III. Listening In
Task 1:Living with Roommates
Living with roommates in college dorms, one is likely to have problems as well as success.
Some students report more unhappy relationships with their roommates than they do the opposite. One reason for this is that it’s human nature to pick out a person’s negative aspects more easily than to realize his or her positive ones. Living in a college dorm, you will certainly se both the strong points and shortcomings of your roommates. But you’ll be more likely to remember those unhappy moments between you and talk about them. You may often tend to tell war stories about someone who spilled their breakfast all over you, but seldom will you talk about the pleasant conversation you had with someone over breakfast. This selective memory does you no good at all! Therefore, if you want to enjoy better relationships with your roommates, you must work hard to view them as people and make yourself fully aware that they’re going to have some faults—and so are you!
1.C 2.A 3.B 4.D 5.B
Task 2:Interviewing a Rental Agent
M: Hi. Are you Jane from the rental agency?
W: Yes. Nice to meet you. I take it you’re Tim.
M: Yeah. Well, I just started to look into moving off campus. It seems that all the good places are going fast.
W: That’s right; you gotta be quick. Let me tell you a little about this apartment. It’s a one bedroom, one living room apartment, with a bathroom and a kitchen. The furnishings are all new. There are hardwood floors, these large windows in the front, and it tends to be a quiet neighborhood.
M: And how about the transportation?
W: Well, from the bus stop down the block you can always catch buses onto campus, or into the city.
M: Ok. How about the rent?
W: The rent is $300 per month.
M: Is there a security deposit?
W: Yes. You must first pay the security deposit, which is one month’s rent, and the last month’s rent. Then, normal monthly payment begins.
M: And, would mind if I have a roommate?
W: Of course not! Whatever you like.
M: Well, the place looks good. I’ll definitely be in touch.
W: Ok. Here’s my business card. Give me a call if you have any questions.
M: Will do.
He intends to move off campus.
The apartment consists of a bedroom, a living room, a bathroom and a kitchen. It is equipped with hardwood floors and new furnishings, and is located in a quiet neighborhood.
From the bus stop down the block people can always catch buses onto campus, or into the city.
It is $300 per month.
He has to first pay the security deposit, which is one month’s rent, and the last month’s rent.
Task 3: Off-campus Apartments
In many colleges and universities, the rapid increase in the number of resident students has made on-campus dormitories increasingly crowded. Thus even some of the least attractive off-campus apartments now seem to be in great demand. As a result, real estate owners tend to purchase as many properties as they can near college campus for the sole purpose of renting them out yo students. “College towns” have sprung up across the country where there are large numbers of houses filled with students tenants. To find an apartment that’s “right” for you, first determine exactly how much you can spend. Don’t waste your valuable time seeing apartments you can’t afford. Use newspaper classified ads, apartment guides and the Internet, to make a list of “candidates” in your price range and needs. First consider how much travel time you can afford each day. The next question: will you have a roommate to share the costs? Will you be able to afford the apartment if your partner moves out? Furthermore, be sure to consider the potential costs of utilities carefully. Sometimes utility costs are included in the rent. This arrangement often gives a clearer picture of monthly costs.
resident dormitories apartments demand properties rent right spend afford roommate moves costs
Task 4: Roommate Wanted
20-year-old two 3-bedroom preferred responsible respectful north walking distance private
air conditioning high speed $275 utilities
IV. Speaking Out
Model 1 It’s all my fault.
Now Your Turn
Professor: Everyone should be here by now. Where’re they?
David: Well, there was a notice posted on the bulletin board, but maybe not everyone saw it.
Professor: Did anyone put up a notice in the regular classroom?
David: Well, I think nobody did.
Professor: Really?
David: I hate to say it, but I don’t think the rest of the class is coming.
Professor: It’s all my fault. I should have told them all on the last class.
Model 2 I didn’t do that.
Now Your Turn
Electrician: Wasn’t I just here several days ago for an electrical problem?
Ashley: I guess you’re mistaken.
Electrician: Oh man! Look what you’ve done! You can’t plug all these appliances into one socket. It’s too much overloaded!
Ashley: I’m sorry, but I didn’t do that.
Electrician: The truth is, you college kids never learn!
Model 3 I’m afraid you’re right
Now Your Turn
James: Well, you see, when you get up, you always take a long shower—one hour sometimes.
John: That’s not true! I do have a shower every morning, but I don’t think I spent that long.
James: But when you use the bathroom, you always lock the door.
John: I’m sorry. I just like my privacy.
James: Well, the fact is that others need to use the toilet too. Do you think we should go downstairs to the gas station to use the public toilets?
John: I’m afraid you’re right. I promise I’ll take a quick shower later, and keep the door open.
V. Let’s Talk
Jack: Hey, Anne, long time no see!
Anne: Yeah, whatcha’ been doin’?
Jack: Oh, not much, just hanging around my suite.
Anne: Oh, you got a suite this year? I remember last year you were in a triple. I mean, thouse rooms were really supposed to be for two people, but they stuffed three of you in them.
Jack: Right. That’s why I got to bid first for my room this year. And now me and five other guys are in a suite.
Anne: So it’s three rooms for two people each？
Jack: Right. And how about you? Where are you living this year?
Anne: I’m out in the Hillside Community, I really like it there. It’s a little further away from the Academic buildings, but it’s nice and quiet. You know, I’m not much of a partygoer.
Jack: I know. Last year our crazy floor used to keep you up all night! Do you remember when the RA caught me with beer in my room? I had to do 15 hours of building service!
Anne: That RA was so strict! In Hillside, since it’s mostly an older community, there are no regulations about alcohol. However, Sunday through Thursday, and Friday and Saturday after 1 a.m. are all “quiet hours”.
Jack: Is it more expensive to live up there? Iknow the apartments are really nice.
Anne: Yeah, a lot more. It’s about $2,000 a semester.
Jack: Whoa. My room is just $1,400 for a year per person.
Column A Column B
Jack
Anne was in a triple last year.
is now out in the Hillside Community.
now lives with five other students in a suite.
once had to do 15 hours of building service.
believes that the RA was too strict.
has got to pay about $2,000 for an apartment a semester.
has got to pay $1,400 for a room a year.
doesn’t like noisy roommates.
For Reference
a
B, ask A why he/she wants to move out.
Why? Is your roommate really that hard to live with?
A, make your complaint.
I’m afraid so. He/she snores loudly, and it keeps me up all night!
B, ask A whether he/she has tried to solve the problem.
Well, isn’t there anything you can do about it? Have you talked to him/her?
A, express your disappointment.
I have, but he/she says there’s nothing he/she can do about it. I know it’s not his/her fault.
B, make your suggestion.
I think you can suggest he/she go to see a doctor. They can help people who snore.
A, make comments on B’s suggestion.
.Well, if he/she agrees, that would be a good idea. And I don’t have to move out.
For Reference
b
A, greet B and show your surprise for having not seen him/her for days.
Hi, John. I haven’t seen you for days. Where have you been?
B, tell A that you’re not on campus very often.
Hey, John. It’s good to see you. I’m not living in the dorm now.
A, ask B why.
What’s up? Anything unhappy?
B, give your reason.
Well, I just wanted a little more freedom. And… some of my roommates were making me crazy.
A, make comments on what B says.
I know what you mean. It’s really inconvenient to share a single room with several other people.
VI. Further Listening and Speaking
Listening
Task 1: The Residence Hall
The University Residence Hall houses 339 students. It is conveniently located on campus, andprovides comfortable, fully air-conditioned room for male and female students. As an integral partof the educational program, it is more than a place where students can eat and sleep; it is a livingunit in the true sense of the term. Here students from all parts of the country and all corners of theworld are assigned to room without regard to race, religion, color or national origin. They enjoymany opportunities to make new friends with all kinds of people and can also enjoy manyvoluntary educational, social, culture and recreational activities provided by the Residence Hallstaff, in cooperation with the Residence Hall Council. The experience here will contribute as muchto students’ development as will their coursework and study, and ultimately to the sound educationneeded for effective citizenship in the community.
1. on campus air-conditioned room 339
2. the educational program a living unit eat and sleep
3. all parts of the country assigned to room national origin
4. make new friends educational activities
5. students’ development the sound education citizenship
Task 2: Arrangements for Moving
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I’ve called this meeting to discuss our new campus which isopening fully next year. We plan to move our students to the new facilities in groups, so pleaselisten carefully. They Agricultural Science students won’t move at all. As you know, their newfacilities were opened last year, and they are well placed for both laboratory and classroom space.
The Arts students, however, are a different case. History students are all moving, but unfortunatelyTheir teachers will be left in the old building, as the new office accommodation isn’t yet ready.
Better news for engineers. Your faculty, staff and students, are already in the process of moving tothe new campus. The lab is already in operation. The move for the engineers should be completednext week. The old engineering building will be taken over by the Philosophy Department. TheFaculty of Law has been moved downtown. This leaves vacant the premises previously occupiedby the lawyers. The planning committee is accepting suggestions for the way school buildingscould be used. So, if you have further doubts or questions, please let us know. Thank you.
1. T 2. F 3. T 4. T 5. F
Task 3: Top of the World
Such a feeling’s coming over me
There is wonder in most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky
Got the sun in my eyes
And I won’t be surprised if it’s a dream
Everything I want the world to be
Is now coming true especially for me
And the reason is clear
It’s because you are here
You’re the nearest thing to heaven that I’ve seen
I’m on the top of the world looking
Down on creation
And the only explanation I can find
Is the love that I’ve found ever since
You’ve been around
Your love’s put me at the top of world… |