创新英语教程第二册UNIT8(在线收听) |
[00:04.70]4 While you read [00:11.68]Home-but not alone [00:15.80]Dave and Steve Briggs share a bedroom in their parents' house. [00:23.04]You might think that's quite normal for brothers. [00:27.77]but Dave and Steve aren't teenagers. [00:33.04]They're both in their mid-thirties and their parents are now retired. [00:39.71]They are part of a growing number of children [00:44.67]who are being forced to live with their parents well intoadulthood, [00:50.73]simply because they can't afford to rent or buy a place of their own. [00:57.00]Steve has lived in the twobedroom terraced house in the London suburb of Walthamstow [01:05.04]nearly all his life. [01:08.52]apart from two years when he was studying nursing in Derby.While he was there. [01:16.28]he suffered a nervous breaddown and came home before completing his course. [01:23.44]It was a difficult time.he said, [01:28.69]it was the first time I'd really been away from my family [01:33.96]and I was finding the course quite stressful. [01:38.40]In the end,I just couldn't cope and my life just went to pieces. [01:44.57]I've suffered from depression ever since. [01:49.30]which has meant I've been in and out of work a lot. [01:54.47]but I've always been able to come home and know I'll be looked after, [02:00.53]that I won't end up on the streets because I couldn't afford to pay the rent. [02:06.69]And until two years ago.I had the bedroom to myself,so that was all right. [02:14.27]I had the TV and PlayStation in there.so I had my privacy.' [02:20.62]All that changed when Dave got divorced [02:26.78]and had to leave his large four-bedroom house to his wife and two kids. [02:33.55]He had originally left home at seventeen. [02:38.69]When he joined the army,and now works as a mechanical engineer for Ford Motors. [02:46.16]When Lisa and I divorced. [02:50.81]I thought I would just rent somewhere close by [02:56.38]so I could just drop in and see the kids easily,but when I started looking, [03:03.14]I just couldn't believe how expensive everything was. [03:08.47]I'd never actually had to rent a flat before,being in the army, [03:14.93]and most landlords wanted something like a hundred and fifty pounds a week just for a tiny studio flat. [03:23.60]I thought about buying,but over the ten years Lisa and I had lived in our place, [03:30.86]prices had just rocketed.I mean,for the money we paid for our house ten years ago. [03:38.72]we culd probably only get a one or two-bedroom flat in a large block now. [03:44.97]It's ridiculous! [03:48.62]There were cheaper places,but they were in really rough parts of town. [03:55.70]where I wouldn't want my kids walking around. [04:00.07]And the trouble is,it's not stopping. [04:04.22]Prices have almost doubled just in the two years I've been staying with my parents. [04:11.66]You know,the other day I saw a parking space being sold for&73000!&73000! [04:23.73]For a parking space!The world's gone mad! [04:29.51]So how does he find living at home again?It was quite werid for a long time, [04:39.07]but you get used to it.It has its advantages. [04:45.02]I still get my meals cooked and my clothes washed,but of course, [04:51.68]it's difficult to have any privacy.Steve snores really badly. [04:58.95]And he's always smoking.It's really disgusting! [05:05.01]I sometimes stay over at my girlfriend's flat, [05:09.86]and I'm trying to persuade her to let me move in, [05:14.51]but she's not keen at the moment.So what else can I do?" [05:20.26]As many people know,the answer is "Not much'. [05:26.64]Unless.of course,you're prepared to move to a poor industrial town in the north [05:32.80]or a tiny little village right out in the countryside, [05:38.16]where you can buy a house for a tenth of the price it would be in London. [05:43.61]I did suggest this to Steve."Yeah,right! [05:50.28]So I could live in a slum or in the middle of nowhere, [05:55.53]it's not much of an alternative,is it? [05:59.60]No, in the end,my family and job are here,and that's what's most important." [06:08.56]4 Pronunciation:sentence stress [06:22.22]When we complain about something,we usually place an extra stress on always and never. [06:29.77]They're always gossiping. [06:33.85]He never does the washing-up. [06:38.11]While you listen [06:54.67]Come in,come in.You can leave your bags in the hall for the moment. [07:00.91]Take your coat off.Just hang it up on the back of the door there. [07:06.66]Paul,why don't you take it?Honestly,he can be so rude sometimes. [07:14.91]Hello.Nice to meet you at last.I'm Angela.Hello. [07:23.38]Did you have a good journey?I was starting to get a bit worried about you. [07:30.35]It was OK.but the plane was...what did you say.Paul? [07:37.51]Yeah.I think she had a bit of a bumpy flight from the sounds of things. [07:43.96]It was almost an hour late getting in.A storm or something. [07:49.32]Oh,poor you.Sit down.You must be exhausted. [07:56.29]Sorry?You must be very tired.Yes,yes. [08:03.74]Can I get you something to eat? [08:08.18]No.thank you.I had something to eat on the plane.I'm just tired.Yes.I'm sure. [08:17.11]The children wanted to stay up to meet you.but they've got school tomorrow. [08:23.28]Do you want me to show you round the house now or shall we do it in the morning? [08:29.44]No.I'm very tired,so maybe... [08:35.68]So.We'll show you where everything is tomorrow? [08:40.65]Is it OK if I just go to bed? [08:45.11]Yes,yes of couse,It is very late.I need to get to bed myself. [08:52.87]Paul,do you think you could take her bags up? [08:57.60]Yeah,of course.Thanks,Goodnight.Yes,Sleep well. [09:04.55]By the way,have you got an alarm clock? [09:09.22]The children really do need to have their breakfast by seven thirty. [09:15.47]Seven thirty? [09:18.94]Do you want me to get you up tomorrow? [09:23.30]Maybe that'll be easier as it's your first day.I...er...yes. |
原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/jiaocai/cxyyjcderc/87310.html |