ACT 2-1 “这里的房子的价格对你们来讲太高了。”

【故事梗概】

在房地产经纪人办公室里，Marilyn和丈夫Richard正在同房地产经纪人Virginia Martinelli 谈房子的事。Virginia Martinelli是Stewart家的老朋友，她坦诚的告诉他们，以他们的经济情况是无法购买位于Riverdale的房子的。

Virginia: I remember your parents' first house very well. It was on Spring Avenue, near the park.
Richard: I grew up in that house.
Virginia: Yes, and you were such a cute baby.
Marilyn: I've seen pictures of him. He had blond hair.
Virginia: I've been friendly with the Stewart family for a long time, so it's my pleasure to help you find a house now.
Richard: Well, we're not sure we can afford one.
Marilyn: But we'd like to find out about the possibilities.
Virginia: That's a good idea. I love your house on Linden Street. I sold your father that house seventeen years ago.
Marilyn: Really?
Richard: Yes, Mom was pregnant with Robbie then, and they needed the extra room.
Virginia: I hear you're expecting a baby, Mrs. Stewart.
Marilyn: Mmm-hmm. So we will be needing more room.
Virginia: Oh, so you don't need something immediately?
Richard: No. But in five or six months…
Marilyn: And time passes so quickly.
Virginia: Yes, it does. Well, when you called, you gave me enough information about your salaries and your savings. So I have a good idea about your financial situation. Let me show you some pictures of houses.
Marilyn: With two bedrooms?
Virginia: Yes, I think I can show you some. Of course, they won't be in Riverdale. The cost of housing's too high for you here.
Richard: Haven't thought about living anywhere else. We've always lived in this area.

【语言点精讲】

1. I've been friendly with the Stewart family for a long time, so it's my pleasure to help you find a house now.
我同Stewart一家人熟识很久了，现在我感到很高兴能帮助你们找一所房子。
be friendly with sb.: 与某人很友好，对某人很友好，和某人友好相处。
It’s my pleasure to…: 做……是我的荣幸，我感到很高兴能……。

2. I hear you're expecting a baby.
我听说你们快要有小孩了。
You are expecting a baby. : 你有孕了，你快要有孩子了。这里可以省去“ a baby”，只说“You’re expecting. ”其它同意的说法还有“ be pregnant”和“ be in the family way”。

3. So we will be needing more room.
因此我们将需要更多的地方。
will be needing: 将需要。这是一个将来进行式的句子，表示将要发生的事。
room: 在这里指空间、地方，是不可数名词。

4. Well, when you called, you gave me enough information about your salaries and your savings.
好，你们打电话来的时候，已经把你们的工资收入和储蓄存款情况都谈了。
salary: 薪水。
savings: 存款，储蓄。注意，这个词当存款讲时，多为复数形式。

5. So I have a good idea about your financial situation.
因此我对于你们的经济情况相当了解。
have a good idea of…: 对……有较透彻的理解。相当于“know enough information about…”。类似的用法还有“have no idea of…”（不知道，不明白），“have some idea of…”（略有所知），“have little idea of…”（所知甚少）。
financial: 经济的，财政的。

6. Let me show you some pictures of houses.
我拿些房子的照片给你们看看。
在美国，买房子一般都要通过房地产经纪人处。房地产经纪人一般掌握很多要出售的房子的情况，如坐落地点。建筑样式、新旧状况及价格。他们根据客户的要求，先向他们展示房子的图片，给他们提供信息和建议，就像Virginia Martinelli 这样。

7. The cost of housing's too high for you here.
这里的房子的价格对你们来讲太高了。
the cost of sth.: 某物的 价钱，某物的价格。