L6-U1-P4-1 Listening : Buying a House 1?買房 1

John and Linda are worried about their future.

約翰和琳達(dá)擔(dān)心他們的未來。

They both have good jobs, but they are concerned about the economy.?

他們倆都有不錯(cuò)的工作，但他們擔(dān)心經(jīng)濟(jì)狀況。

Of the two of them, Linda is the most worried.?

他們兩人中，琳達(dá)最為擔(dān)憂。

She wants the security of owning her own home.?

她想要擁有自己房子的安全感。

Her husband disagrees.?

她的丈夫不同意。

As a result, they often fight about money.?

結(jié)果，他們經(jīng)常為錢爭吵。

They live in a nice apartment, but the rent goes up every year.?

他們住在一套不錯(cuò)的公寓里，但租金每年都在漲。

So now they are trying to decide whether or not to buy a house.?

所以現(xiàn)在他們正試圖決定是否要買房。

(1) John and Linda are worried about their future.

(2) They both have good jobs, but they are concerned about the economy.

(3) Of the two of them, Linda is the most worried.

(4) She wants the security of owning her own home.

Linda wants to buy a house, but John is against the idea.

琳達(dá)想買房子，但約翰反對這個(gè)想法。

He thinks prices are too high, and he doesn't want to be trapped.?

他認(rèn)為房價(jià)太高，不想被套牢。

If they owned a house, it would be more difficult to move somewhere else if things changed.?

如果他們擁有了房子，一旦情況有變，搬到別處就更困難了。

For example, what would happen if he lost his job??

例如，如果他失業(yè)了會(huì)發(fā)生什么？

If he lost his job, they might want to move to another city or country.?

如果他失業(yè)了，他們可能想搬到另一個(gè)城市或國家。

If they owned a home or flat, it would be more difficult to move.?

如果他們擁有住房或公寓，搬家會(huì)更困難。

If they decided to move, they would probably have to sell.?

如果他們決定搬家，他們很可能得賣掉房子。

If prices had risen, they would be okay.?

如果價(jià)格上漲了，那還好。

In fact, they might even make a profit.?

事實(shí)上，他們甚至可能賺一筆。

However, if prices were down when they had to sell, they would lose money.?

然而，如果他們不得不賣時(shí)房價(jià)下跌了，他們就會(huì)虧錢。

What might make it more difficult to relocate if he lost his job? ----Owning a home .

(1) ?If they owned a house, it would be more difficult to move somewhere else if things changed.

(2) For example, what would happen if he lost his job?

(3)?If he lost his job, they might want to move to another city or country.

(4) If they decided to move, they would probably have to sell.

They live in an apartment but the rent goes up every year.

If they owned a home or flat, it would be more difficult to move.

Owning a home could make it more difficult to move to another location.

L6-U1-P4-2 Listening : Buying a House 2 買房2

Last week John got some bad news.

上周約翰得到了一個(gè)壞消息。

His company is downsizing and moving its head office to another city.?

他的公司正在裁員，并將總部遷往另一個(gè)城市。

It's moving because it can no longer afford to do business where they are now.?

公司搬遷是因?yàn)闊o力承擔(dān)在現(xiàn)址的經(jīng)營成本。

Expenses are too high, especially salaries, so it's more difficult to compete with other companies.?

開銷過高，特別是薪資，導(dǎo)致與其他公司競爭更加困難。

In fact, several other companies will be moving out too.?

事實(shí)上，其他幾家公司也將搬離。

Office space is expensive in the area, along with the cost of living for employees.?

該地區(qū)辦公空間昂貴，員工生活成本也高。

As a result, it's becoming more difficult to hire good employees.?

因此，招聘優(yōu)秀員工變得越來越困難。

Nobody wants to live there unless their salary can support a good standard of living.?

除非薪資能支撐體面的生活水平，否則沒人愿意在此居住。

What is his company doing to deal with its rising expenses？---- It's downsizing and planning to relocate its head office to a less expensive area.

What are some factors that affect the cost of living in an area ？---- Housing costs, food prices, and energy costs are all important .

His company is downsizing and moving its head office to another city.

It's downsizing and relocating its head office to a less expensive area.

Last week John got some bad news.

With all of these changes, John thinks there's a good chance that he will be transferred to the new head office.

面對所有這些變化，約翰認(rèn)為自己很有可能被調(diào)到新的總部。

This could happen fairly soon.?

這可能很快發(fā)生。

If so, it would be foolish to buy a house at this time.?

如果這樣，現(xiàn)在買房就太愚蠢了。

Linda still disagrees about buying a house, but she is willing to wait a year to see what happens.?

琳達(dá)在買房問題上仍然持不同意見，但她愿意等一年看看情況如何。

She hopes that they won't have to move, but they may have to unless John is willing to change companies.?

她希望他們不必搬家，但除非約翰愿意換公司，否則他們可能不得不搬。

She would prefer not to move, because she doesn't want to lose her job.?

她更希望不搬家，因?yàn)樗幌胧プ约旱墓ぷ鳌?/p>

Why it would be foolish for them to buy a house at this time? ---There's a good chance they'll have to move.

With all of these changes, John thinks there's a good chance that he will be transferred to the new head office. This could happen fairly soon. If so, it would be foolish to buy a house at this time. Linda still disagrees about buying a house, but she is willing to wait a year to see what happens. She hopes that they won't have to move, but they may have to unless John is willing to change companies.

Now they have to consider what they'll do if he's transferred.

現(xiàn)在他們必須考慮如果他真的被調(diào)走，該怎么辦。

John has to decide whether or not he should begin to look for a new company.?

約翰必須決定是否應(yīng)該開始尋找新的公司。

If he could find another job in the area, it would put less stress on his wife.?

如果他能在本地找到另一份工作，他妻子的壓力就會(huì)小一些。

If they stay and can wait for a while, maybe housing prices will begin to come down.?

如果他們留下來，并且能等上一段時(shí)間，也許房價(jià)會(huì)開始下降。

If prices don't come down, then he and his wife will continue to disagree about buying a house.?

如果房價(jià)不降，那么他和他的妻子將繼續(xù)在買房問題上意見不合。

Sooner or later they are going to have to make a decision and stop fighting about it.?

遲早他們得做出決定，停止為此爭吵。

What will he have to do? he's transferred? — He'll have to decide whether or not to stay with the company.

John has to decide whether or not he should begin to look for a new company. If he?could?find another job in the area, it?would?put?less stress on his wife. If they stay and can wait for a while, maybe housing prices will begin to come down. If prices don't come down, then he and his wife will continue to disagree about buying a house.

She would prefer not to move, because she doesn't want to lose her job.?

It would be foolish because there's a good chance that they will have to move fairly soon.

If he's transferred, he'll have to decide whether or not to stay with the company.

L6-U1-P4-3 Dialogue : AI Girlfriend?AI 女友

A: Are you having any luck finding a new girlfriend?

甲：你找新女友有進(jìn)展嗎？

B: No, I'm not.?

乙：沒有。

B: I haven't found anyone I like.?

乙：我還沒遇到喜歡的人。

B: So far they are all after my money and a fancy lifestyle.?

乙：到目前為止，她們都是沖著我的錢和奢華生活方式來的。

B: What will happen to real love??

乙：真愛會(huì)變成什么樣呢？

A: I don't know.?

甲：我不知道。

A: The same thought has occurred to me lately.?

甲：最近我也有同樣的想法。

A: I'm afraid I'm becoming a bit of a cynic.?

甲：恐怕我變得有點(diǎn)憤世嫉俗了。

What kind of girls has he found so far ？----They have all been after his money and fancy lifestyle .

B: I was just reading about some new robots called AIs.

乙：我剛讀到一些叫AI的新機(jī)器人。

B: They have artificial intelligence or AI.?

乙：它們擁有人工智能，簡稱AI。

A: Yes, AIs.?

甲：是的，AI。

A: I've heard about it, and they've been in some movies too.?

甲：我聽說過，它們也出現(xiàn)在一些電影里。

B: Evidently, these new AIs can be very attractive companions.?

乙：顯然，這些新型AI可以成為非常有吸引力的伴侶。

B: What do you think about that??

乙：你怎么看？

A: You must be kidding!?

甲：你一定在開玩笑吧！

A: Relating to a smart robot??

甲：跟智能機(jī)器人談戀愛？

A: It sounds sick to me.?

乙：我覺得這聽起來很病態(tài)。

B: I don't know, maybe not.?

乙：我不知道，也許不會(huì)吧。

B: I wonder what it would be like to have an AI girlfriend.?

乙：我很好奇有個(gè)AI女友會(huì)是什么感覺。

B: Maybe you could program it to be like your dream woman.?

乙：也許你可以把它編程成你夢想中的女人那樣。

What sounded sick to him ?---- The idea of relating to an AI as a companion .

?I wonder what it would be like to have an AI girlfriend.

Maybe you could program it to be like your dream woman.?

The same thought has occurred to me lately.

A: A dream woman, hoho.

甲：夢想中的女人，嚯嚯。

A: Well, it's an interesting idea but hard to imagine the reality.?

甲：嗯，這是個(gè)有趣的想法，但很難想象現(xiàn)實(shí)會(huì)怎樣。

A: I guess it could be fun for a while, but then it would get boring, don't you think??

甲：我想一開始可能有趣，但之后會(huì)變得無聊，你不覺得嗎？

B: For sure, no real emotion.?

乙：當(dāng)然，沒有真實(shí)的情感。

B: Everything would be mechanical and artificial, even the language!?

乙：一切都是機(jī)械和人為的，甚至語言！

B: There wouldn't be a soul inside, just an empty machine.?

乙：里面不會(huì)有靈魂，只是一個(gè)空洞的機(jī)器。

A: Well, not necessarily.?

甲：嗯，不一定。

A: That would depend on how intelligent it is.?

甲：那取決于它有多智能。

A: There are some who say that AIs are going to be more intelligent than we are!?

甲：有人說人工智能會(huì)比我們更聰明！

B: Hmm, I've heard of that too.?

乙：嗯，我也聽說過。

B: In fact, they may even be a threat to us, right??

乙：事實(shí)上，它們甚至可能對我們構(gòu)成威脅，對吧？

A dream woman! Well, it's an?interesting?idea but hard?to imagine?the reality. I?guess?it?could?be fun for a?while, but then it would get?boring, don't you think?

A: Anyway, if it were possible, would you want a woman you could control?

甲：不管怎樣，如果可能的話，你會(huì)想要一個(gè)你能控制的女人嗎？

B: A woman I could control??

乙：一個(gè)我能控制的女人？

B: No, I can't imagine it.?

乙：不，我無法想象。

B: Most of the women I've been with have tried to control me!?

乙：我交往過的大部分女人都試圖控制我！

A: Well, that's one of the differences between men and women.?

甲：嗯，這就是男女之間的差異之一。

A: We see things differently.?

甲：我們看待事物的方式不同。

B: We never measure up to their standards! hahaha.?

乙：我們永遠(yuǎn)達(dá)不到她們的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)！哈哈哈。

What can cause stress between a man and a woman??— They see things differently.

Well, it's an interesting idea but hard to imagine the reality.

In fact, they may even be a threat to us, right??

A: However, if there is real love, the bonds between two people can be very deep.

甲：然而，如果存在真愛，兩個(gè)人之間的紐帶可以非常深厚。

A: It may not happen very often, but I've seen it.?

甲：這可能不常發(fā)生，但我見過。

B: Yes, that's what I'm looking for!?

乙：是的，那正是我在尋找的！

B: I hope it's not just a dream.?

乙：我希望這不僅僅是個(gè)夢想。

A: If that's what you want you are probably not going to find her in the bar.?

甲：如果那是你想要的，你可能不會(huì)在酒吧里找到她。

However, if there's real love, the bonds between two people can be very deep.

I hope it's not just a dream.

Yes, that's what I'm looking for!

However, if there's?real?love, the?bonds?between two people can be very?deep.

B: Maybe I'll just let people know I'm looking for someone nice.

乙：也許我就直接讓大家知道我在找個(gè)好人。

A: Be sure they don't tell her you're rich.?

甲：務(wù)必確保他們別告訴她你很有錢。

A: Maybe I can help you find someone.?

甲：也許我能幫你找到合適的人。

B: You have my permission.?

乙：我準(zhǔn)許了。

B: And just for fun, I'll start checking out some of those smart robots!?

乙：為了好玩，我也要去研究一下那些智能機(jī)器人！

B: It sounds crazy, but I'm curious!?

乙：聽起來很瘋狂，但我很好奇！

A: With all the lonely people out there, it may turn out to be a huge business!?

甲：有這么多孤獨(dú)的人，這說不定會(huì)成為一個(gè)巨大的商機(jī)！

What may turn out to be a huge business??— AIs for lonely people

It sounds crazy, but I'm curious!

That would depend on how intelligent it is.

They are both worried that real love has gone out of fashion .

L6-U1-P4-4 Reading : Mysteries of the Mona Lisa?蒙娜麗莎之謎

Without a doubt, one of the world's most recognizable pieces of art is the Mona Lisa. Painted in the 16th Century by Leonardo da Vinci, it continues to attract?crowds of people who are?captivated?by the?mysterious woman in the portrait. Her enigmatic?smile and?penetrating gaze reach out through the ages as if she were?alive?today.

Critics and art lovers still argue about her identity. One theory is that the way she posed suggests that she was with child. Another theory argues that her hairless face - no brows or lashes - indicates that she was a prostitute.

It seems?that in 16th Century Italy women?working?in the world's oldest?profession?had hairless?faces in?order?to make themselves more sexually?arousing. There is, however,?evidence?that at one time the woman in the portrait had thick eyebrows. Perhaps they were inadvertently?erased?when the painting was?cleaned. Nobody knows?for sure.

The painting itself has an interesting history. With the death of Leonardo, it went to his friend King Francois , and then to Louis XV and the Palace of Versailles. It wasn't until 300 years after its completion that it was recognized as a masterpiece. For a time, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte hung it in his bedroom.Eventually, it found a permanent home when it was?added?to the collection of the Louvre in Paris. In 1911 it was?stolen?by a museum?employee?and two?accomplices. This?theft?made the painting famous all over the world. During World War II it was taken away and?hidden from the Nazis, as were many important works of art. Today the painting residesat the Louvre,captivating a whole new?generation.Whoever she was, the?mysteries?surrounding the Mona Lisa continue to engage?our imaginations.

This article was written to be ----informative and engaging.

From where was the painting stolen in 1911 ？---- the Louver in Paris

Something is enigmatic, if it is ----mysterious and difficult to understand.

To penetrate something means to ----forcibly enter it.

Painted in the 16th Century by Leonardo da Vinci, it continues to attract?crowds of people who are?captivated?by the?mysterious woman in the portrait. Her enigmatic?smile and?penetrating gaze reach out through the ages as if she were?alive?today.

For a time, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte hung it in his bedroom.Eventually, it found a permanent home when it was?added?to the collection of the Louvre in Paris. In 1911 it was?stolen?by a museum?employee?and two?accomplices. This?theft?made the painting famous all over the world. During World War II it was taken away and?hidden from the Nazis, as were many important works of art.?

It wasn't until 300 years after its completion that it was recognized as a masterpiece.

This article was written in a style to keep the mystery alive.

In 1911 it was stolen by a museum employee and two accomplices.

L6-U1-P4-5 Reading : Mr.G and Jellybean? G先生和果凍豆

This is the story of a donkey named Jellybean and a goat named Mr.G. For ten years they lived together on a farm owned by a woman who loved animals but could barely care for herself. She had dozens of animals, but the living conditions for all of them were deplorable. Finally, an animal rescue organization came and took the animals away, relocating them to animal sanctuaries.

Throughout their years at the farm, Jellybean and Mr.G had been inseparable. Wherever the donkey was, the goat was never far away. For some reason, they had bonded, and nobody suspected how strong the bond had become.

When Jellybean was taken to a local animal?rescue?center, Mr.G was moved to a center far away. When he arrived, he?refused?to eat. Not only did?he refuse to eat, but?he refused to get up or move around. He?spent his days?lying?in a corner of the barn, barely lifting?his head. The?staff?at the center tried feeding him treats, including apples and sweets, but nothing?worked.

As the days went by, he continued to weaken. The staff had to move him physically to ensure he didn't spend too long lying down. Worried that he was ill, they gave him a series of health examinations, but none showed anything wrong. Finally, they realized that he was depressed and mourning the loss of his best friend.

With his condition getting worse, drastic measures were required. A volunteer at the center?offered?to make the 14-hour round-trip?journey?to fetch Jellybean so the two could be?reunited.

Once Jellybean arrived and the goat?sensed?his presence, he?rose?to his feet, breathed in deeply and?rushed?to his friend's side. Shortly after that, he began to eat,?moving?the entire staff to?tears. Such a beautiful reunion was?inspiring- an amazing?testimonial?to the depth of?nonhuman?emotions.

Since the video of the?reunion?was?posted?on the Internet, it?has?been?viewed?by millions. and from now on, the two friends will?remain?together.

What this story teaches is that---not only humans form deep, emotional bonds.

What would have happened to Mr G had they not brought jelly bean to be with him?? he would have died.

If conditions are deplorable ,they are ---far less than adequate .

To suspect that something is true means --- to have a feeling but no strong evidence or proof .

With his condition getting worse, drastic measures were required. A volunteer at the center?offered?to make the 14-hour round-trip?journey?to fetch Jellybean so the two could be?reunited.

When Jellybean was taken to a local animal?rescue?center, Mr.G was moved to a center far away. When he arrived, he?refused?to eat. Not only did he refuse to eat, but he refused to get up or move around. He spent his days?lying?in a corner of the barn, barely?lifting?his head. The?staff?at the center tried feeding him?treats, including apples and sweets, but nothing?worked.

Throughout their years at the farm, jellybean And Mr G had been inseparable.?

As the days went by, he continued to weaken.

The animals were taken away because their living conditions?were deplorable .