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Benjamin: What a fine day! Oh, I can enjoy reading on this balcony in a fine day like this. I like it.
Shirley: The balcony is very beautiful, but I don’t like the fact that it faces north.
Benjamin: Why? What’s wrong with its facing north?
Shirley: You don’t know that, if the balcony faces north, it will get cool in the summer, but too cold in the winter.
Benjamin: You don’t have to worry about it. We have the radiator system in winter, don’t we?
Shirley: The best houses face south; in that case, we will enjoy the cool wind in the summer and own the warm sunshine in the winter.
Benjamin: Oh, darling, I am sorry, but we don’t have that kind of money for a south facing house.
Shirley: Well, forget it. I was just talking. The nice environment of this apartment is good for our children. I am satisfied with it.
Benjamin: Thanks. And it’s convenient for you to go to work and to go shopping.
Shirley: Yes. To our children, it’s also close to their schools. That’s really satisfying me.
Benjamin: I am most attracted by the price. You know, this slab-type apartment building costs the least in Beijing.
Shirley: The cheapest? Are you sure? Do you know the developer?
Benjamin: Know little about the developer but I am sure this is the cheapest building here.
Shirley: Can we buy this house on mortgage?
Benjamin: Yes, and we got the urban housing provident fund to pay for part of it. It’s not very hard for us to come up with the money for down payment.
Shirley: Wish to move in earlier.
Benjamin: Oh, darling, refresh our memory. Our silver wedding anniversary is coming.
Shirley: (smile) Thinking about the wedding, it’s just like yesterday.
听看学
本杰明：天气真好!噢，我可以在像今天这样的好天气在阳台上看书了。我喜欢这阳台。
雪莉：阳台很漂亮，但是我不喜欢它朝北。
本杰明：为什么啊?朝北有什么不好吗?
雪莉：你不知道啊，如果阳台朝北，夏天凉爽，但是冬天很冷啊。
本杰明：不用担心那个。我们冬天有暖气，不是吗?
雪莉：最好的房子是朝南的，那样的话夏天很凉快，冬天阳光很温暖。
本杰明：噢，亲爱的。很抱歉，我们没那么多钱买朝南的房子。
雪莉：好了，忘记它吧。我只是说说而已。这公寓环境不错，对孩子们有益。我对此很满意。
本杰明：谢谢。你工作和购物也很方便。
雪莉：是啊，孩子们上学也很近。这真让我满意。
本杰明：最吸引我的是价钱。你知道吧，这套板楼公寓是全北京最便宜的。
雪莉：最便宜的?你确定?你了解开发商吗?
本杰明：关于开发商我只知道一点点，但我确定这是最便宜的。
雪莉：我们能按揭买这房子吗?
本杰明：可以，我们可以用城市住房公积金来支付一部分，付头款对我们来说也不是很难。
雪莉：希望能早点搬进来。
本杰明：噢，亲爱的，回忆一下，我们的银婚纪念日快到了。
雪莉：(微笑)想想我们的婚礼，就像在昨天一样。
生词小结
north n. 北面
radiator n. 散热器
convenient adj. 方便的
on mortgage 按揭
Recitation 经典背诵
Benjamin: I enjoy reading on balcony in a fine day. But Shirley doesn’t like the fact that it faces north. If the balcony faces north, it will get cool in the summer, but too cold in the winter. The environment of this apartment is good for our children. We are satisfied with the new house.
注释
refresh our memory 字面意思为“让回忆重新新鲜”，即“回忆一下”。
词汇扩展 Vocabulary Builder
关于房屋和房屋类型的词汇
基础词汇
bright 明亮的
double 双人的
palatial 富丽堂皇的
simple and crude 简陋的
single 单人的
small 小的
spacious 宽敞的
vacant 空的
提高词汇
apartment 公寓
balcony 阳台
bathroom 浴室
bedroom 卧室
corridor 走廊
kitchen 厨房
living room 客厅
storeroom 储藏室
家庭总动员 Do it together
两人一组，一方随机大声读出上面词汇的英文和中文，另一方用该词汇填入下面的句子，大声朗读并翻译出来。
I am fond of this ( ) ( ) very much.
[例] 家长读 bright 明亮的 new house 新房
孩子读 I am fond of this bright new house very much.
我很喜欢这个明亮的新房子。
