休：我听说你买房了，是真的吗？
john: oh, i always have the idea, but the house prices have gone through the roof without any sign of reduction these two years. i even can't afford the down payment of a house. i have chosen to rent a house instead of buying one. or else i am going to be mortgage slaves for life.
约翰：哦，我是有那个想法，但是近两年的房价暴涨，而且丝毫没有下降的征兆，我连买房首付都付不起。我已经选择租房了。否则我就要成为终身房奴了。
hugh: have you rent a house?
休：你已经租到房子了吗？
john: no, i have been busy with looking for an apartment lately near ourpany.
约翰：没有，最近我一直忙着在公司附近寻找套房子。
hugh: that's good. you needn't worry about being late any more for traffic jams.
休：那样很好啊。你再也不用担心因为交通拥堵而迟到了。
john: but i haven't found a satisfactory apartment.
约翰：但是我还没有找到让我满意的房子。
hugh: what kind of house do you have in mind on earth? there are many houses as you required nearby.
休：你到底想找一个什么样的房子？这附近有很多这样的房子啊。
john: i know. but the rental of the houses with furniture and electric appliances is too high. i don't think they deserve that price.
约翰：我知道。但是带家具和电器的房子租金太贵了，我觉得不值那个价钱。
hugh: how much is the rent?
休：租金多少？
john: 2000 yuan per month.
约翰：一个月2000元。
hugh: hmmm…indeed a little high. but the houses downtown are always expensive.
休：嗯……确实有点贵。不过市区的房子一直都是很贵的。
notes
1. go through the roof（物价等）暴涨，飞涨；大声喧哗
2. payment ['peim?nt] n. 支付，支付的款项；报偿，报应
3. mortgage ['m?:gid?] n. 按揭；抵押，抵押贷款；v. 抵押
4. on earth 究竟，到底
小贴士
1. what kind of apartment do you have?
你们的公寓是什么样的？
2. i'd like to rent a studio or a one-bedroom apartment.
我想租一间小套房或是一室一厅的公寓。
3. could i take a look at it?
我可以看看吗？
也可以这样说：
may i have a look at it?
4. i can't give you your deposit back because you have broken our contract.
我不能退回你的押金，因为你违约了。
5. are there shopping centers or banks nearby?
附近有购物中心和银行吗？
6. i'd like to lease it for half a year first.
我想先租半年。
7. how much is the rent? are utilities included in the rent?
租金是多少？水电费包括在租金内吗？
装修房子有讲究
dialogue
molly likes to spend time on decoration to make her home more pleasant.
莫莉很喜欢花时间装修房子让她的家更温馨。
molly: i think the whole house needs repainting. i'd like the rural style, which can bring some elements of nature. what about repainting the living—room in primrose yellow?
莫莉：我觉得整个房子都需要重新粉刷。我喜欢田园风格的，这样能给我们带来一些自然元素。你觉得把客厅刷成淡黄色怎么样？
king: great minds think alike. and we can also ask someone to draw a picture on the wall.
金：英雄所见略同。我们也可以找人来帮我们在墙上画一幅画。
molly: i think a crystal chandelier would look great in our living—room, and maybe some new curtains for the windows.
莫莉：在客厅里装一盏水晶吊灯会很漂亮，另外还需要一些新窗帘装饰窗户。
king: no problem. you can be in charge of going to curtain shops to choose curtains. having good curtains made isn't cheap.
金：没问题，你可以负责去窗帘店挑窗帘。要订做好的窗帘可不便宜。
molly: why can't we just buy curtains already made?
莫莉：为什么我们不能买已经做好的窗帘？
king: absolutely not. the windows must be measured, and then the curtains need to be made specially.
金：绝对不行。必须先量好这些窗户，再专门制做窗帘。
molly: ok, leave it to me.
莫莉：好，交给我吧。
king: perhaps we could buy some potted plants for the dining room. and i think it's better to paint the dining room in orange or yellow to increase our appetite.
金：也许我们可以买些盆栽装饰餐厅。我认为把餐厅粉刷成橙色或者黄色比较好，这样可以增加食欲。
molly: great! paint it orange, ok?
莫莉：这个主意太棒了！把餐厅刷成橙色怎么样？
king: i can't agree with you any more.
金：非常赞同。
notes
1. rural ['ru:r?l] adj. 农村的
2. primrose ['primr?uz] n. 报春花；淡黄色；adj. 如樱草般淡黄色泽的；欢乐的
3. great minds think alike. 英雄所见略同。
4. chandelier [???ndi'li?] n. 枝形吊灯（烛台）
5. potted ['p?tid] adj. 盆栽的，罐装的，摘要的；（俚）喝醉的
小贴士
decorate, remodel, redo, upgrade词义辨析：
decorate 指的是对人或物进行装饰，使之更加完美。比如用画和植物来装饰房间。装修很多都需要动用泥工、木工等，而装饰则不需要。remodel和redo都是表示重新改造、翻新的意思，我国国内的装修大部分是装而不是修，基本上都是新房毛坯房，所以没有“翻新”的意思。如果是已经住过人的房子，改造成另外的用途用remodel比较恰当。在美国买卖二手房比国内要普遍得多，美国人平均5年就换一套房子，然后装修（remodel）。在国外购买商品房装修时，经常用upgrade，也就是把毛坯房升级为精装修房。
例如：
1. it cost us a lot of money to decorate the interior of the house.
房屋的内部装饰花去了我们很多钱。
2. we'll remodel the downstairs living—room first.
我们先要装修楼下的客厅。
3. we are occupied with the work of redoing our house.
我们忙于重新装修我们的房子。
手忙脚乱来搬家
dialogue
monica finally bought a house. now she is calling some friends for packing before the movingpany arrives.
莫尼卡终于买到了房子。现在她正在给一些朋友打电话让他们在搬家公司来之前帮忙打包。
monica: hey, joe. this is monica.
莫尼卡：嗨，乔。我是莫尼卡。
joe: hello, monica. what's going on?
乔：你好，莫妮卡。最近怎么样啊？
monica: things are fine with me. actually,i am wondering if you could help me with something.
莫尼卡：很好。其实我是想问问你能不能给我帮忙。
joe: help you with what?
乔：帮什么忙？
monica: you do know i'm getting ready to move, right? do you mind helping me move house?
莫尼卡：你知道我正在准备搬家，对吧？你介意帮我下忙吗？
joe: no problem. we are good friends. when?
乔：没问题。我们是好朋友嘛。什么时候？
monica: are you busy this wednesday?
莫尼卡：你这周三有时间吗？
joe: i don't think i have any plans.
乔：那天我没什么事。
monica: how does 10 a.m. sound to you?
莫尼卡：上午10点怎么样？
joe: that'll be fine.
乔：好的。
monica: thank you. i'll see you then. then i'll give jane, tony and steven a call to help me out. i shall be lucky to make friends like you.
莫尼卡：谢谢你，那到时见。我还要给简、托尼和史蒂文打电话让他们帮忙。我能交到像你们这样的朋友真是太荣幸了。
notes
1. pack [p?k] v.（把……）打包；收拾行李
2. help sb. out 帮助某人解决难题；帮助某人摆脱困境；帮助某人完成工作
小贴士
搬家省钱省时妙招
the cost of moving is rarely cheap, but if you do it right, it doesn't have to break the bank.
搬家的成本很高，不过如果做得恰当，也不会很破费。
step 1: make a budget（做好预算）
figure out what will be involved in your move and how much you can afford to spend. consider the cost of shipping large or fragile items versus selling them and then replacing them when you move to your new home.
弄清楚搬家都需要做哪些以及能支付起多少。对于搬运体积大的或易碎物品，可也先将其卖掉，等搬完新家后再重新买，要考虑好这两者之间的成本。
step 2: trim your stuff（精简自己的物品）
step 3: hold a yard sale（不需要的物品卖掉）
step 4: do it yourself（亲力亲为）
do as much as possible by yourself, including packing, loading, cleaning, and shipping. the more you do, the less you have to pay.
尽量自己动手，包括打包、装运、清洁和运输。自己动手做得越多，需要支付的就越少。
step 5: ask for help（寻求帮助）
ask friends for help with packing, loading, and cleaning. if you're moving locally, you can borrow friends' cars instead of renting a moving van.
请朋友来帮忙打包、装运以及清洁。如果是在当地搬家，你可以借用朋友的汽车，而不必租用搬家公司的车辆。
step 6: shop for discounts（买打折的商品）
go to the discount store if you need a packing or pick up service.
如果需要打包和运送服务，就去打折商店。
精挑细选买家具
dialogue
the smiths are planning to buy a sofa of threepiece suite. now they are in a furniture store.
史密斯夫妇正打算买一组3件套的沙发。现在他们在一家家具店里。
seller: good morning. what can i do for you?
卖家：早上好。我能为您做些什么？
mrs. smith: good morning. we're thinking about buying a set of sofa. could you help us?
史密斯太太：早上好。我们想买套沙发。你能推荐一下吗？
seller: certainly. which kind of sofa do you want?
卖家：当然。您想买什么样式的沙发？
mrs. smith: a fabric sofa of three-piece suite.
史密斯太太：3件套的布艺沙发。
seller: we have several three-piece suites on sale. take a look at this suite. this sofa is made from unique materials. it's beautiful andfortable on it.
卖家：我们有几套正在打折销售。请看下这套怎么样？这套沙发采用了独特材料，样式美观并且坐在上面也很舒服。
mrs. smith: i like the design, but it doesn't match the color of our room.
史密斯太太：我喜欢这样的设计，但是颜色和我们房间不搭配。
seller: what about that color?
卖家：那种颜色怎么样？
mrs. smith: oh, it looks fine. it's on sale,isn't it?
史密斯太太：嗯，看起来不错。这套正在打折，是吗？
seller: yes. the price has been reduced by 40%. it's a real bargain.
卖家：是的。价格降低了40%。真的很划算。
mrs. smith: okay, let us look around a little before we decide.
史密斯太太：好的。我们四处看看再作决定。
notes
1. fabric ['f?brik] n. 结构；织物，布料；构造
2. suite [swi:t] n.（一批）随员；（一套）家具；套房；套，组
3. on sale 出售，廉价出售
小贴士
1. what style of furniture do you like, traditional ones or modern ones?
你喜欢什么式样的家具，传统的还是现代的？
2. what do you think of this lamp?
你觉得这个台灯怎么样？
3. traditional furniture would be out of place in the house.
在房子里摆设传统式样的家具很不谐调。