Virginia Martnelli女士給Marilyn 和Richard 看了一些他們有可能負擔得
起的房子的照片。他們有了比較中意的候選，并打算周末去看看。Virginia建議
他們在多看一些照片，給自己多一些選擇。

    Marilyn ： Where should we look for a house ， Mrs. Martinelli？

    Virginia： Well ， we have an office in Mount Kisco. It's a lovely
area， and it's only about an hour's drive from here. Here. I have a book
with photos of some homes in that area. Now ， let's see. Here. This is
a lovely two-bedroom house in your price range. Marilyn ： It's pretty，
but I prefer a two-story home. Richard： I do ， too. I don't care for
a ranch type. Virginia： OK. Oh ， this is a wonderful house. I know it
well. I sold it to the present owners. Richard： It looks wonderful. Virginia
： This is a two-bedroom， two-bath house. It has a full basement ， and
it is on a half- acre lot. You can probably afford this one. Marilyn：
I like this house. Richard： So do I. Virginia： And the price is right.
Would you like to go and see it ？

    Richard ： Yes. We're planning to talk to someone at the bank next
week. Perhaps we could see the house this weekend. Virginia ： If someone
doesn't buy it before then. But let's keep looking. Just to get an idea
of some other possibilities. Richard： This is very helpful ， Mrs. Martinelli.
Virginia： Here. This is a wonderful example of Spanish style architecture.
Richard ： Oh ， I love the roof tiles on a Spanish-style house. Marilyn
： It looks like the houses in Hollywood. Virginia： It's interesting.
A house like this in Riverdale costs double the price.

    「語言點精講」

    1. Where should we look for a house ？

    我們究竟應該在哪兒找房子呢？

    通常情態動詞是不需要重讀的，但這里Marilyn 重讀了情態動詞should，有
強調的意味，可以傳達出她很急切地想知道買哪兒的房子的心情。

    2. Well ， we have an office in Mount Kisco. It's a lovely area ，
and it's only about an hour's drive from here. Mount Kisco：紐約市北面
的一個城鎮。

    an hour's drive ：駕車一小時的路。在美國，經常用開車所用的時間來描
述距離。

    3. This is a lovely two-bedroom house in your price range.這是在你
們支付能力范圍以內的一所很漂亮的兩臥室的住宅。

    two-bedroom house ：有兩間臥室的房子。bedroom 是名詞，但數詞+ 連詞
符+ 名詞（如這里的two-bedroom ）則成為復合形容詞，此時不能在bedroom 后
加s. in your price range：在你們支付能力范圍內，在你們能負擔的范圍內。

    4. It's pretty， but I prefer a two-story home. 它很美，可是我更喜
歡兩層的房子。

    two-story home：兩層樓房。story ，樓層，這是美式英語的拼法，英式英
語中多拼做storey.two-story是復合形容詞，注意這里的story 不能使用復數。
請參見條目3 下面的解釋。

    5. I don't care for a ranch type. 我不喜歡平房型的。

    care for：在這里的意思是“喜愛，對…中意”。

    ranch ：平房。

    6. This is a two-bedroom， two-bath house. It has a full basement ，
and it is on a half- acre lot.這是一所兩臥室、兩浴室的住宅。它有全房大
的地下室，地皮是半英畝。

    two-bath house：有兩間盥洗室的房子。

    a full basement ：全間的地下室（即地下室面積與一樓相同）。

    lot ：這里用作名詞，指一塊地。

    7. And the price is right.而且價格也合適。

    right ：適當的，合適的。

    8. This is a wonderful example of Spanish style architecture. 這是
西班牙式建筑的美妙的例子。

    architecture：這里指（某一國家或歷史時期的）建筑樣式。