读点好英文:Our Kind LandIord　我们的好房东

Our Kind LandIord　我们的好房东

·Sammy·

Two friends and I moved into a house off campus when I was a junior at Iowa State University. We were all a bit afraid of our landlord, a gruff middle-aged man.He gave us a lecture about paying the rent on time and maintaining the house and appIiances.

During the fall semester, my housemates and I threw a party. We sent invitations to many friends and told everyone to come to our house on Friday night.We drew a large crowd and everyone had a great time.The last guests left in the wee hours of the morning.

Exhausted, we decided to sleep in and clean the house and yard the next morning. Well, you guessed it！We were awakened about 7：00 a.m.by our landlord, who was knocking on the door.Sheepishly, we let him in, expecting to incur his wrath.Instead, he picked up a party invitation that had been laying on the sidewalk and asked，“Why didn't you girls invite me?”He came into the house, made a minor repair, and spent a few minutes helping us pick up trash from the yard.We weren't quite sure what to make of our unexpected luck, but we were thrilled that our landlord had been so understanding.

A few months later, I made a mathematical error while balancing my checkbook and my bank soon notified me that I had bounced a check. I was mortified when I discovered that it was my rent check and that I had to notify my landlord, I figured that he viewed my housemates and I as irresponsible after the party incident and this would prove him right.I was certain that he would evict me.Somehow, I mustered the courage to call him and explained what had happened.He said，“I have a daughter about your age, and the same thing happened to her once.Would you like to wait until next month and send a double payment then?”

I've never forgotten our landlord's kindness and understanding. He also taught me an important lesson about not judging a book by its cover.I'm proud to say that I have not bounced a check since（though I have thrown a few more parties）！

萨米

在艾奥瓦州立大学读大三时，我和两个朋友从宿舍搬出来，租了一间房子。房东是一个粗鲁的中年人，我们都有点儿怕他。他交代我们要及时交房租，保护好房子和电器。

下半学期，我和室友举办了一个聚会。我们邀请了许多朋友，让他们星期五晚上到我们家里来玩。我们一大群人玩得很尽兴，最后一个客人在天快要亮时才离开。

我们玩得筋疲力尽，决定先睡觉，第二天早上起来再清扫房子。你猜怎么着？早上七点时，我们被房东的敲门声吵醒，我们满怀歉意地请他进来，料想会遭到他的怒骂。谁知，他捡起过道边的一张宴会请柬，问道：“你们这些女孩子怎么不邀请我呢？”他走进屋子，简单清理了一下，又帮我们把院子里的垃圾清扫了。我们也不知道怎么这么走运，我们兴奋地发现房东竟如此通情达理。

数月后，由于我计算失误，账户上没有余额了。银行很快给我发了退票。我羞愧地发现那是我给房东的月租支票，而我又不得不告诉房东。那次聚会后，我想他一定以为我和室友们都是不负责任的人，现在更证实了他的看法。我想他一定会把我们赶出去的。可不知为什么，当我鼓起勇气给他打电话解释时，他说：“我有一个女儿跟你差不多大。她曾经也干过相同的事儿。要不等到下个月你付我双份月租，怎样？”

我永远都忘不了房东的善心和通情达理。他教给我一个重要的人生道理：切勿以貌取人。我自豪地说，从那以后我再也没收到银行的退票（尽管我又举办过几次聚会）。

核心单词

campus['kæmpəs]n.校园，校区

junior['dʒu：njə]adj.年纪较轻的；三年级（生）的

appIiance[ə'plaiəns]n.器具；装置，设备

notify['nəutifai]v.通知，告知；报告

evict[i（：）'vikt]v.（房客等）逐出；收回（财产等）

实用句型

WouId you Iike to wait untiI next month and send a doubIe payment then?要不等到下个月你付我双份月租，怎样？

①Would you like to……?“要不要……?”表示邀请或提出建议。这是一种很有礼貌的表达。

②double payment 双份月租，类似的表达还有double pay双倍工钱；a double room双人房；a double significance双重意义；double tongue两面派，表里不一等固定搭配。

翻译练习

1.请你把收音机声音关小一点儿好吗？（a bit）

2.你昨晚在晚会上玩儿得开心吗？（have a great time）

3.我们两人的想法不谋而合。（happen to）