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。