在房地產經紀人辦公室里，Marilyn 和丈夫Richard 正在同房地產經紀人Virginia
Martinelli談房子的事。Virginia Martinelli 是Stewart 家的老朋友，她坦誠
的告訴他們，以他們的經濟情況是無法購買位于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.

    「語言點精講」

    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 一家人熟識很
久了，現在我感到很高興能幫助你們找一所房子。

    be friendly with sb.：與某人很友好，對某人很友好，和某人友好相處。

    It‘s my pleasure to…：做……是我的榮幸，我感到很高興能……。

    2. I hear you're expecting a baby.我聽說你們快要有小孩了。

    You are expecting a baby. ：你有孕了，你快要有孩子了。這里可以省去
“ a baby ”，只說“You ‘re expecting. ”其它同意的說法還有“ be pregnant”
和“ be in the family way ”。

    3. So we will be needing more room. 因此我們將需要更多的地方。

    will be needing ：將需要。這是一個將來進行式的句子，表示將要發生的
事。

    room：在這里指空間、地方，是不可數名詞。

    4. Well ， when you called， you gave me enough information about
your salaries and your savings. 好，你們打電話來的時候，已經把你們的工
資收入和儲蓄存款情況都談了。

    salary：薪水。

    savings ：存款，儲蓄。注意，這個詞當存款講時，多為復數形式。

    5. So I have a good idea about your financial situation.因此我對于
你們的經濟情況相當了解。

    have a good idea of …：對……有較透徹的理解。相當于“know enough
information about …”。類似的用法還有“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 ：經濟的，財政的。

    6. Let me show you some pictures of houses. 我拿些房子的照片給你們
看看。

    在美國，買房子一般都要通過房地產經紀人處。房地產經紀人一般掌握很多
要出售的房子的情況，如坐落地點。建筑樣式、新舊狀況及價格。他們根據客戶
的要求，先向他們展示房子的圖片，給他們提供信息和建議，就像Virginia Martinelli
這樣。

    7. The cost of housing's too high for you here. 這里的房子的價格對
你們來講太高了。

    the cost of sth.：某物的價錢，某物的價格。