一起租房的日子

相信大多數走出校園、走上工作崗位的人都有過租房的經歷。而且有人為了減輕租金的壓力，或者為了有個伴互相照應，而找人合租，個中的苦與樂只有租房者才能深刻地體會到。然而租房的日子記錄著我們青春年少時的奮斗歷程，也讓我們學會了獨立生活。等將來擁有自己第一套房子時，回想那些日子，會覺得那些經歷也是一筆財富。現在，你還過著租房的日子嗎？

Part 1

Getting the Boot

由于房東要收回房子，Kevin很快就要搬離舊居所，所以他急需尋找新的住處。但是好一些的房子租金都相當昂貴，Sarah為他出謀獻策，建議他找個室友合租，分擔租金……

Sarah: Hey， Kevin! Haven’t seen you around in a while. How’s it goin’?

Kevin: Hey， Sarah. Well， not so good. I just got kicked out of my place.

Sarah: No way! 1)Evicted? From that awesome flat up on 45th Street?

Kevin: That’s the one， I’m afraid. Man， am I gonna miss that 2)killer lake view.

Sarah: You said it! That place was really chill. So， what brought this on?

Kevin: Well， my landlord’s kid is moving back to town. He needs a place to stay and he 3)digs my flat， so they’re not gonna let me sign a new 4)lease after this one is up.

Sarah: Man， that kid sounds like a real spoiled mama’s boy.

Kevin: Kinda， but can you blame him for wanting the place?

Sarah: I guess not! The only thing wrong with your place…

Kevin: ...is that it’s TOO good! That’s right.

Sarah: ①So， you need a place to crash for a while?

Kevin: Nah， ②they can’t give me the boot until my lease is up next month. What I REALLY need is a lead on a new place， and fast!

Smart Sentences

Sarah: That might not be easy to do. What are you looking for?

Kevin: Central location， a lot of space， a great view， and…

Sarah: Don’t tell me: a good price!

Kevin: Haha， you got it! I guess everybody’s looking for the same thing.

Sarah: ③And finding it is like looking for a needle in a 5)haystack! These days， every half-decent 6)pad costs twice what they’re worth. ④The housing market’s gone bananas!

Kevin: Geez， don’t remind me! If only there was a way to cut the price down a little bit. Hey， wait a second…

Sarah: Yeah， what if you got a roommate!

Kevin: ⑤You took the words right out of my mouth!

Sarah: Great minds must think alike， then!

Kevin: But， on second thought， ⑥it’s too little too late. I need to move in just a couple of weeks. How can I find a roommate so quickly?

Sarah: Maybe you should check out some social networking websites. You can’t be the only person out there looking for someone to split rent with.

Kevin: Yeah， but I don’t think I could trust someone I met online. Maybe they’re OK， but how would I know? I don’t wanna 7)get stuck with some 8)wacko.

Sarah: I guess you’re right. You really need to know the 9)lowdown on somebody if you’re gonna be under the same roof.

Kevin: ⑦Looks like I’m down to word-ofmouth， then. If a friend could recommend somebody to me， I’d be much more comfortable.

Sarah: Oh my gosh! How could I forget? My

④ The housing market’s gone bananas! 房地產市場在瘋漲！

go bananas: act crazily（發瘋，瘋狂的）。例如：

People usually go bananas with continuous humid and cold weather.

持續的濕冷天氣常常讓人們抓狂。

⑤ You took the words right out of my mouth! 你說出了我想說的話！

take the words out of sb.’s mouth: say what’s on sb.’s mind， same as “that’s what I wanted to say”（某人說出某人的想法，等同于“that’s what I wanted to say”）。例如：

—Mr. James should give up the idea of winning everyone’s respect and concentrate on his own work.

詹姆斯先生應該放棄讓所有人都尊重他的想法，集中精力做好自己的工作。

—You just took the words out of my mouth. How did you know that?

這正是我想說的，你是怎么知道的？

⑥ It’s too little too late. 已經無濟于事了。

too little too late: an idea or solution that is not enough or not soon enough to solve a problem（不足以解決問題，無濟于事）。例如：

It’s very kind of you all to help， but it’s too little too late.

你們能伸出援手，讓人很感動，但無濟于事。

⑦ Looks like I’m down to word-of-mouth， then. 看來我只能通過口口相傳把我的需要散播開去。

down to sth.: sth. is the last option（唯一選擇）。例如：I’ve used up all of my savings and maxed out my credit cards in order to save my sister from leukaemia， and I’m now down to selling the house.

為了治我妹的白血病，我已經花完所有的積蓄，刷爆所有的信用卡，現在只剩下賣房子了。

word-of-mouth: information shared through people telling each other rather than through being printed（口傳，口碑）。例如：

The unique quality of the new， small-budget film has been made known by word-of-mouth.

這部小預算新電影的獨特之處通過口口相傳而為人所知。

⑧ Catch you later， Kevin! 遲些見，凱文！

catch you later: an informal phrase used at bidding goodbye， same as “see you later” or “talk to you later”（分手時用語，等同于“see you later”或者“talk to you later”）。例如：

—I’ll let you know how things go.

friend Cooper is moving to town in a couple days. He’s a real 10)solid guy， and he’ll need to find a place to live， too. Think you’d be interested in pairing up with him?

Kevin: If our personalities 11)mesh， it could be a great idea!

Sarah: Perfect! I’ll set you two up for coffee， then.

Kevin: I’m looking forward to it! Look， Sarah， I gotta go get packing now， but thanks for the 12)hookup!

Sarah: Sure thing! ⑧Catch you later， Kevin!

Part 2

The First Meeting

由Sarah牽線搭橋，介紹Kevin和Cooper認識。在初次見面的聊天中，他們發現彼此有很多共同點，應該會相處得很好，并且約定周末一起去看房子。

Cooper: Hey， excuse me， but are you Sarah’s friend Kevin?

Kevin: Yeah! And you must be Cooper. Sarah’s told me all about you.

Cooper: Only the good stuff， I hope!

Kevin: Haha， well， you know her! Anyway，

Smart Sentences

① That makes two of us… 彼此彼此……

make two of us: used to tell someone that you have an opinion or situation in common（表示你與對方的想法相同，或與對方處于相同境況）。例如：

—This will be a very tough year for new graduates in my field.

thanks for meeting me here.

Cooper: No problem. Actually， I should be thanking you! I’m new around here， and I don’t know the first thing about finding a house in these parts.

Kevin: ①That makes two of us… well， almost. I did manage to find a few leads， ②but I’m not sold on any of them yet.

Cooper: At least a few leads is better than none， am I right? What have you found so far?

Kevin: Well， there’s one really sweet place on the north side of town. It’s pretty roomy， it’s got a good view， and most importantly， the asking price is pretty nice.

Cooper: Sounds perfect to me! What’s the catch?

Kevin: When I say it’s “on the north side of town，” I mean it’s REALLY on the north side of town!

Cooper: Ouch! That far out， huh?

Kevin: Yeah. The commute would be deadly.

Cooper: I’m not sure I could deal with that. Speaking of commutes， what do you do， anyway?

Kevin: I mostly do 1)freelance writing for magazines or local papers.

Cooper: Ah， freelancing! I used to do that kind of stuff before I found a steady job down here.

Kevin: Doing what?

Cooper: Being a clerk at First Bank. It’s 2)mind-numbing， but at least it pays the bills.

Kevin: I hear ya on that!

Cooper: But wait， if you’re freelancing， can’t you just do that at home and forget the commute?

Kevin: If only! ③I always have to go into town to rub shoulders with the newspaper people or research some local event. I spend more time on the road than at my writing desk.

Cooper: I see. ④So， a long commute is definitely out of the picture. What else is out there?

Kevin: Well， there’s one place that’s all but perfect， but it’s just a little pricey.

Cooper: That doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. A decent flat is worth the price， especially if it’s split two ways.

Kevin: We’ll see about that. The apartment looks nice on paper，⑤but I haven’t had a chance to poke my head in and see for myself.

Cooper: I haven’t started my job yet， so I’ve got nothing but time! You free this weekend?

今年對于我這個領域的應屆畢業生來說太不容易了。

—That makes two of us.

我也有同感。

② But I’m not sold on any of them yet. 但都不是我的心水之選。

to be sold on sth.: convinced that sth. is good; convinced of sth.（相信某事的價值或優點；相信某事）。例如：

Gary was sold on the idea that 3D is the future for television.

加里相信3D是電視的未來。

③ I always have to go into town to rub shoulders with the newspaper people or research some local event.我經常要到城里跟報刊人打交道或搜索一些當地事件。

rub shoulders with sb.: mix or socialize with sb. closely（與某人密切混合或交往）。例如：

Aiming to get a TA position， he makes every attempt to rub shoulders with professors.

為了獲得助教的工作，他試圖與教授們交往。

④ So， a long commute is definitely out of the picture. 那么，長距離的往返就確定不在考慮之列了。

out of the picture: not under consideration（不考慮某事）。例如：

Considering the tight budget for the annual spring trip this year， an overseas trip is basically out of the picture.

考慮到今年組織年度春游的預算不多，國外游基本上就指望不上了。

Kevin: I should be. Wanna set up an appointment to check it out?

Cooper: For sure! Here’s my number. Give me a call when you’ve got it all scheduled.

Kevin: Will do. Hey， back when you were writing for a living， what did you write about?

Cooper: Sports， of course!

Kevin: Get out! That’s just about all I focus on!

Cooper: Haha， Sarah was right; I think we just might get on pretty well.

Kevin: Here’s hoping! Anyway， I’m out—see you this weekend! Cooper: Until then!⑤ But I haven’t had a chance to poke my head in and see for myself. 但是我都沒機會親自去看看。

poke sb.’s head in (sth.): take a look (at sth.)（查看某事）。例如：

Do you want to poke our heads in Amy’s new office this afternoon?

你想不想下午去看看艾米的新辦公室？

1) freelance [?????????] n. 自由作家；自由記者

2) mind-numbing adj. 令人心煩意亂的；叫人傷透腦筋的；令人厭惡的

Part 3

Home Sweet Home

Kevin和Cooper在房產經紀人的帶領下參觀了一處房子，在商量和比較之后，他們決定合租下房子，共建溫馨的家。

1)Realtor: Ah， here we are! Have a look around. I’ll be outside if you need anything.

Kevin: Thanks!

Cooper: So， this is the place， huh?

Kevin: Yeah. It looked bigger in the pictures.

Smart Sentences① So we don’t even know if this place is up to snuff. 我們還不知道這套房子是否狀況良好。

up to snuff: up to standard; adequate（符合標準的，符合要求的）例如：

This sleeping bag is totally not up to snuff for our trip—too heavy and not waterproof.

這個睡袋完全不適合我們此次旅行——太重，而且不防水。

Cooper: Never mind—it’s still plenty big.

Kevin: That’s the truth. You could almost play football in this living room.

Cooper: Hey， that’s not a bad idea at all!

Kevin: Don’t get ahead of yourself! We haven’t even seen the other rooms yet， ①so we don’t even know if this place is up to snuff.

Cooper: Well， then， let’s have a look， shall we?

Kevin: Whoa! These bedrooms have a great view!

Cooper: You can see all the way over to the lake from here. Kevin: This reminds me of my old place. I could really get used to this window!

Cooper: Haha， look at you! ②Now who’s getting too attached?

Kevin: You’re right! ③I’ll try to hold myself back until we’ve seen everything.

Cooper: Hey， look! This bathroom is tiny.

Kevin: Well， I wasn’t planning on playing any football in there， anyway.

Cooper: 2)Touché!

Kevin: But you’re right， this bathroom isn’t ideal—though I could live with it if I had to.

Cooper: Well， I could really get used to this kitchen. Get a load of all this storage space!

Kevin: Wow， I haven’t had a proper kitchen in ages! I could really get back into cooking with a kitchen like this.

Cooper: Oh， no! Not another thing we have in common! I’m beginning to think Sarah is a 3)psychic!

Kevin: Nah， she’s just lucky! Anyway， there’s one more thing I need to 4)bug the realtor about. Excuse me， ma’am， can I ask a question?

Realtor: Of course! That’s why we’re here!

Kevin: What’s the transportation like around here?

Realtor: See that 5)intersection up there? There’s a bus stop for busses number 5， 12， 17， 86， and 103.

Cooper: Whoa， you could get all over the city from here!

Kevin: Living here could be really convenient.

Cooper: If you have enough quarters for 6)bus fare! Well， tiny bathroom aside， I think I’m sold.

Kevin: ④I think it’s winning me over， too. I can really see myself living in a place like this.

Cooper: Well， then， here we are! Home sweet home!② Now who’s getting too attached? 現在是誰太依賴感覺了？

get attached (to sth./sb.): become bound emotionally to sth. or sb.（喜愛，依戀）。例如：

I got so attached to that dress I saw in Macy’s that I finally went back and bought it.

我實在是太喜歡在梅西百貨看到的那條裙子了，最后還是回去買了下來。

③ I’ll try to hold myself back until we’ve seen everything.我要盡量克制自己直到我們參觀完整套房子。

hold oneself back: restrain oneself（抑制，自制）。例如：

She tried to hold back her disappointment when the bad news came.

她在聽到那個壞消息時，極力不表現出失望之色。

④ I think it’s winning me over， too. 我想我也喜歡。

win sb. over: make sb. to believe in sth.（說服某人，爭取某人）。例如：

He’s not sure about the idea at the moment， but I’m sure we’ll win him over in the end.

他現在對這個想法還不確定，但我肯定我們最后能說服他。

Part 1租約期滿

薩拉：嘿，凱文！有段時間沒看到你了。最近怎樣？凱文：你好，薩拉。嗯，不太好，我剛被趕出住所。薩拉：不可能！被趕出來？從四十五街的漂亮公寓里？

凱文：恐怕就是那里。哎，我多么懷念那美不勝收的湖景呀！

薩拉：你說得對。那地方簡直美呆了。那么，發生什么事了？

凱文：我房東的小孩要搬回城里住，他需要地方落腳，而且喜歡我的公寓，所以等合同期滿，他們就不再打算跟我續約了。

薩拉：哎，那孩子聽起來像是被媽媽寵壞了。

凱文：是有點，但你也不能因為他需要這個房間而去責怪他，是吧？

薩拉：我想不能！你的住所唯一的缺點就是……

凱文：就是地方太好了！說得沒錯。

薩拉：那么你這段時間需要個棲身之所了？

凱文：不用，到下個月合同期滿前，他們還不能把我趕走。我真正需要的是要找到一些租房信息，而且要快！

薩拉：那恐怕不太容易找到。你想找什么樣的？

凱文：市中心，大空間，無敵美景，而且……

薩拉：不要告訴我是：很優惠的價格！

凱文：哈哈，你說對了！我想每個人都想找像這樣條件的。

薩拉：找這樣的就像海底撈針呀！最近，每個稍微像

樣些的房子價格都翻了一倍。房地產市場在瘋漲！

凱文：天啊，不要提醒我！要是有辦法把價格降低點就好了。嘿，等等……

薩拉：是啊，如果你有個室友會怎樣？

凱文：你說出了我想說的話！

薩拉：英雄所見略同！

凱文：但是仔細想想，已經無濟于事了。我幾個星期后就要搬進去，我哪能那么快就找得到室友呢？

薩拉：或者你可以到社交網站上查一查，你肯定不是唯一一個想找人分擔租金的人。

凱文：是啊，但是我覺得自己不可能相信網上找的人。可能他們是合適人選，我又怎樣知道呢？我不想遇到瘋子。

薩拉：我想你是對的。如果你要跟別人同住一個屋檐下，真的需要了解這個人的真實情況。

凱文：看來我只能通過口口相傳把我的需要散播開去。如果有朋友向我推薦室友，我會舒服很多。

薩拉：哦，我的天呀！我怎么能忘記呢？我的朋友庫珀過幾天要搬到城里。他是個很可靠的人，而且他也需要找地方住。你覺得有興趣跟他合租嗎？

凱文：如果我們的個性合得來，這個主意會很棒！

薩拉：太好了！那我就把你們倆約一起喝咖啡了。

凱文：我很期待。聽著，薩拉，我現在要去打包行李了，但是謝謝你的牽線搭橋。

薩拉：當然啦！遲些見，凱文！

Part 2初見室友

庫珀：嘿，打擾下，你是薩拉的朋友凱文嗎？

凱文：是的，你一定是庫珀了。薩拉把你的情況都告訴我了。

庫珀：希望她只是講了我好的方面！

凱文：哈哈，嗯，你真了解她。無論如何，謝謝你來這里見我。

庫珀：不客氣。事實上，我應該謝謝你！我對這里很陌生，還不知道找房子首先要做些什么。

凱文：彼此彼此……情況差不多。我倒是找到了一些租房信息，但都不是我的心水之選。

庫珀：至少有房源信息好過一點都沒有，我說得對嗎？那么你找到的是怎樣的？

凱文：嗯，城北有一處真的很不錯的房子，空間很大，景色很美，而且最重要的是開價很合理。

庫珀：對我來說太完美了！有什么附加條件嗎？

凱文：當我說它位于城北的時候，我的意思是真的在城市的北端。

庫珀：哎喲！很遠很遠，是吧？

凱文：是啊，往返的問題很要命。

庫珀：我不確定能否應付得來，說到上下班交通，你

是做什么工作的？

凱文：我主要是雜志或當地報紙的自由撰稿人。

庫珀：啊，自由撰稿人！我在這里找到一份固定工作之前也是做類似的工作。

凱文：現在做什么工作？

庫珀：是第一銀行的職員。很傷腦筋的工作，但是至少可以維持生計。

凱文：我同意你的說法。

庫珀：但是等等，如果你是自由撰稿人，是不是就可以在家里工作，省卻往返的煩惱了？

凱文：要是這樣就好了！我經常要到城里跟報刊人打交道或搜索一些當地事件。我在路上花的時間比在寫字臺上多。

庫珀：我明白。那么，長距離的往返就確定不在考慮之列了，你還有些什么資料？

凱文：有個地方近乎完美，就是價格有點貴。

庫珀：那也未必不能成交。好一點的公寓值這個價錢，尤其是它能分成兩份。

凱文：我們得去看看，在宣傳單上公寓看著很不錯，但是我都沒機會親自去看看。

庫珀：我還沒開始上班，所以我有大把的時間！你這個周末有空嗎？

凱文：我應該有。你想約一起去看看房子嗎？

庫珀：當然！這是我的電話號碼。你安排好時間就打給我。

凱文：一言為定。嘿，說回你以寫作為生的日子，你那時寫些什么？

庫珀：當然是體育方面了！

凱文：太巧了！我也是專攻這方面的題材！

庫珀：哈哈，薩拉是對的，我想我們會相處得很好。凱文：但愿如此！對了，我要外出，我們周末見！

庫珀：再見！

Part 2合租溫馨的家

房產經紀人：就是這里了！你們到處看看。有什么需要就找我，我就在屋外。

凱文：謝謝你！

庫珀：就是這個地方了，是嗎？

凱文：是啊，似乎沒有圖片上看起來的大。

庫珀：沒關系——也還是挺大的了。

凱文：確實如此。你幾乎可以在客廳踢足球了。

庫珀：嘿，這個主意不錯！

凱文：別高興得太早，還沒看其他房間呢，我們還不知道這套房子是否狀況良好。

庫珀：那么我們到處看看，好嗎？

凱文：哇！這些臥室面朝著開闊的景觀。

庫珀：從這里你可以一直看到湖的那邊。

凱文：這讓我想起了我的舊居所，我真的很快就能適應這扇窗！

庫珀：哈哈，看看你！現在是誰太依賴感覺了？

凱文：你說得對，我要盡量克制自己直到我們參觀完整套房子。

庫珀：嘿，看，這間浴室好小。

凱文：嗯，然而我沒打算在那里踢足球。

庫珀：說得沒錯。

凱文：你是對的，這浴室不太理想——但是如果一定

要住，我可以忍受的。

庫珀：嗯，我真的會很適應這個廚房，那里有好多儲物空間。

凱文：哇，我已經好多年沒有過像樣的廚房了。在這樣的廚房里，我真的可以找回烹飪的感覺。

庫珀：哦，不！這不是我們的又一共同點嗎？我開始覺得薩拉是個通靈的人。

凱文：不是，她只是碰巧而已！另外，我還有個問題要問問房產經紀人。打擾下，小姐，我可以問個問題嗎？

房產經紀人：當然可以！這是我們來這里的原因。

凱文：這里附近有什么交通工具嗎？

房產經紀人：看到那邊的十字路口了嗎？那個站臺有5路、12路、17路、86路和103路公交車經過。

庫珀：哇，從這里可以前往市區的各個方向。

凱文：住在這里真的很方便。

庫珀：只要你有足夠的坐車錢！除了浴室小些外，我想我喜歡這里。

凱文：我想我也喜歡，我可以想象自己住在這里的情景了。

庫珀：那么，就這樣定了，我們溫馨的家！