You have been driving around the city for several weeks visiting open houses. Finally you come across a sign that says OPEN HOUSE: SALE BY OWNER. The owner greets you, hands you a fact sheet and invites you to look through the house.
A: Here's an information sheet on the house.
B: Thanks. How old is this house?
A: It's 30 years old, but it was renovated and updated only a year ago. We've put on vinyl siding, changed all the windows to double-glazed, and expanded the kitchen to create an adjacent sun-room.
B: What about the heating system? Do you use oil, gas or electricity?
A: We have a gas furnace.
B: That's good. Is the roof in good condition?
A: Yes, we put on a new duroid roof last year.
B: What are you asking for the house?
A: We're asking $299,000, but we're open to offers.
B: Does the asking price include all appliances?
A: It only includes the light fixtures, drapes, carpets, fridge and stove. The micro-wave, washing machine and dryer are not included in this price, but they're negotiable.
B: May I look around?
A: Please feel free to do so.
專為《加拿大都市報》讀者而設的優惠!凡於《星島日報》緬街辦事處購買《新移民英語》自學課程一套, 可獲贈簡體字版英英.英漢雙解《朗文當代高級英語辭典》一本 。數量有限,送完即止。
你連續幾星期在城內駕車到處參觀待售房子,最後你看到一寫“房子公開參觀:屋主自售”的牌。屋主路你打過招呼後交給你一份關於房子的資料,並請你入屋看看。
甲:這張紙列有這房子的資料。
乙:謝謝。這房子有多少年了?
甲:這房子已有三十年了,但去年才翻新及加上些現代化的設備。我們鋪了塑膠外壁板,所有的窗都轉為雙層的了,而廚房擴闊後,多建了一個連接廚房的有蓋陽台。
乙:那麼暖氣系統呢?你們用油、煤氣,還是電呢?
甲:我們有一個煤氣發熱爐。
乙:那很好。屋頂的狀況怎樣。
甲:屋頂沒有問題。我們去年才換上了新的特耐屋頂。
乙:這房子你們賣少錢呢?
甲:我們要廿九萬九千,但最後的售價大家還可以商量的。
乙:售價是否包括所有屋內裝置呢?
甲:售價只包括固定裝置的燈、落地窗簾、地氈、電櫃和煮食爐;微波爐、洗衣機、洗碗機和干衣機不包括在這價錢內,不過這些都是可以商量的。
乙:我們可以四周看看嗎?甲:請隨便吧!
Language Notes 註解:
(1) Open House——公開給人參觀的待售房子。在加拿大房屋出售時,屋主或會將房子開放任人參觀,大多在週末下午開放,也有要預約時間看屋的。
(2) Information Sheet——印有房子資料的單張。開放供人參觀的待售房子內通常有一此類的資料供人取閱。
(3) Renovation——翻新。
(4) Update=加上現代化的設備。
(5) Vinyl Siding——塑膠外壁板。
(6) Double glazed——雙層玻璃窗,這類窗可加強保暖作用。
(7) Adjacent——相連的。
(8) Furnace——發熱爐。
(9) Duroid——一種用來鋪屋頂的合成塑膠板。
(10)Open to offers——慣用語,解有商量余地。
(11)Appliances——通常指家居用的電器,例如洗衣機、干衣機、煮食爐等。
(12)Fixture——固定的裝置。
(13)Drapes——落地厚窗簾。
(14)Dryer(=drying machines)——干衣機。
(15)Negotiable——可商量的。
(16)Feel free to do so——歡迎參觀。這裏歡迎你隨便看。