初级英语听力（新） lesson 18

—Cigarette?
—No, thanks. Not before lunch.
—Please have one. It's a new brand.
—I honestly don't feel like one at the moment, thanks.


—I believe you take in foreign students.
—Yes, if you don't mind sharing.
—How much is it?
—Nine pounds per week including heating¹.
—Do you think I could have a look at it, please?
—We're having it decorated at the moment. Will Friday do?


—I wonder whether the dentist could fit me in early tomorrow.
—I'm afraid there's nothing before midday.
—How about 12:45?
—Sorry, but that's taken, too.


—I was wondering whether you needed any part-timers.
—What were you thinking of?
—A hotel job of some sort.
—Have you ever done anything similar?
—Not so far, no.
—There's nothing at present, but look back in a week.


—How do you want it, sir?
—Just a trim², please.
—Would you like it washed?
—No, thank you. Just leave it as it is.


—Are you being served?
—No. What have you got in the way of brown suede³ jackets, size forty-two?
—Sorry, but we're sold right out.
—Are you likely to be getting any more in?
—I should think so, yes. If you leave your phone number, I'll ring you.


—Eastbourne 54655.
—Hello. John here. Can I speak to Mary, please?
—Hold the line, please.
—OK.
—Sorry, but she's out.
—Would you tell her I rang?
—I'd be glad to.


—4864459.
—Hello. David Black speaking. May I have a word with June?
—I'll just see if she's in.
—Right you are.
—I'm afraid she's not here.
—Could you take a message?
—Yes, of course.


(Elina Malinen was in fact invited for an interview at the "Bon Appetit Restaurant". Here is part of the interview.)
Johnson: Good evening, Miss Malinen. Won't you sit down?
Elina: Good evening. Thank you.
Johnson: Now, I notice you left the Hotel Scandinavia in l980. What are you now doing in England?
Elina: I'm spending a few months brushing up my English and getting to know the country better.
Johnson: And you want to work in England too. Why?
Elina: I'm keen⁴ on getting some experience abroad, and I like England and English people.
Johnson: Good. Now, I see from the information you sent me that you've worked in your last employment⁵ for nearly four years. Was that a large restaurant?
Elina: Medium-size for Finland, about forty tables.
Johnson: I see. Well, you'd find it rather different here. Ours is much smaller, we have only ten tables.
Elina: That must be very cosy⁶.
Johnson: We try to create a warm, intimate⁷ atmosphere. Now, as to the job, you would be expected to look after five tables normally⁸, though we get in extra staff for peak periods.
Elina: I see.
Johnson: I'm the Restaurant Manager and Head Waiter, so you'd be working directly under me. You'd be responsible for bringing in the dishes from the kitchen, serving the drinks, and if necessary looking after the bills. So you'd be kept pretty busy.
Elina: I'm used to that. In my last position we were busy most of the time, especially in summer.
Johnson: Good. Now, is there anything you'd like to ask about the job?
Elina: Well, the usual question—what sort of salary were you thinking of paying?
Johnson: We pay our waiters forty pounds a week, and you would get your evening meal free.
Elina: I see.
Johnson: Now, you may have wondered why I asked you here so late in the day. The fact is, I would like to see you in action, so to speak. Would you be willing to act as a waitress here this evening for half-an-hour or so? Our first customer will be coming in, let me see, in about ten minutes' time.
Elina: Well, I'm free this evening otherwise.
Johnson: Good. And in return perhaps you will have dinner with us? Now, let me show you the kitchen first. This way, please ...


Tom: Well, what's the forecast? Are we going to have more snow? And ... is your mother awake?
Helen: Hang on, Dad. The first answer is 'yes' and the second is 'no'. Let's have a cup of tea.
Tom: That's a good idea. ... Where's Jean? Where's your mother? Jean, how about some breakfast?
Helen: Shh. Mother's still asleep, as I've told you.
Tom: And what about the twins? Where are Peter and Paul?
Helen: They were sick all night. That's why Mum is so tired today. And ... they're having a birthday party tomorrow. Remember?
Tom: Another birthday? Helen, look at the clock. It's 8:45. Let's go. We're going to be late.


—Me, officer? You're joking!
—Come off it, Mulligan. For a start, you spent three days watching the house. You shouldn't have done that, you know. The neighbors got suspicious⁹ and phoned the police ...
—But I was only looking, officer.
—... and on the day of the robbery¹⁰, you really shouldn't have used your own car. We got your number. And if you'd worn a mask, you wouldn't have been recognized.
—I didn't go inside!
—Ah, there's another thing. You should've worn gloves, Mulligan. If you had, you wouldn't have left your fingerprints¹¹ all over the house. We found your fingerprints on the jewels, too.
—You mean ... you've found the jewels?
—Oh yes. Where you ... er ... 'hid' them. Under your mattress¹².
—My God! You know everything! I'll tell you something, officer—you shouldn't have joined the police force. If you'd taken up burglary, you'd have made a fortune!


Why do people play football? It's a stupid game, and dangerous too. Twenty-two men fight for two hours to kick a ball into a net. They get more black eyes than goals. On dry, hard pitches they break their bones. On muddy ones they sprain¹³ their muscles. Footballers must be mad. And why do people watch football? They must be mad too. They certainly shout and scream like madmen. In fact I'm afraid to go out when there's a football match. The crowds are so dangerous. I'd rather stay at home and watch TV. But what happens when I switch on? They're showing a football match. So I turn on the radio. What do I hear? 'The latest football scores.' And what do I see when I open a newspaper? Photos of footballers, interviews with footballers, reports of football matches. Footballers are the heroes of the twentieth century. They're rich and famous. Why? Because they can kick a ball around. How stupid! Everyone seems to be mad about football, but I'm not. Down with football, I say.

Mrs. Brink¹⁴: Come in. Oh, it's you again, Tom. What have you done this time?
Tom: I've cut my finger and it's bleeding a lot.
Mrs. Brink: Let me see, Tom ... Hmmm, that is a bad cut. I can clean it and put a plaster¹⁵ on it, but you'll have to see the doctor.

1 heating   

n.加热，供暖，暖气装置；adj.加热的，供暖的

参考例句：

• They will install a heating and lighting system in our house.他们将在我们家装上供热供电系统。
• If the pressure is too low,the heating system will act up.如果压力太低，供暖系统就会出毛病。

2 trim   

vt.修剪；装饰；n.修剪；adj.修长的；整齐的

参考例句：

• We shall have to trim our spending down to fit our income.我们只得削减开支以使收支平衡。
• You must trim your costs if you want to make bigger profits.如果你想获得更大的利润，就必须削减开支。

3 suede   

n.表面粗糙的软皮革

参考例句：

• I'm looking for a suede jacket.我想买一件皮制茄克。
• Her newly bought suede shoes look very fashionable.她新买的翻毛皮鞋看上去非常时尚。

4 keen   

adj.热心的；敏锐的；激烈的；锋利的

参考例句：

• There is keen competition between the two motorcar firms.两家汽车公司之间存在着激烈的竞争。
• The children are mad keen to go to the zoo.孩子们非常想去动物园。

5 employment   

n.雇用；使用；工作，职业

参考例句：

• A large office requires the employment of many people.一个大办事处需要雇用好多人员。
• The state of employment in this city is improving.这个城市就业状况正在改善。

6 cosy   

adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的

参考例句：

• We spent a cosy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。
• It was so warm and cosy in bed that Simon didn't want to get out.床上温暖而又舒适，西蒙简直不想下床了。

7 intimate   

adj.亲密的，密切的；个人的，私人的；v.暗示、提示、宣布、通知

参考例句：

• The two of them were as intimate as sisters.她们俩处得好像亲姐妹一样。
• I can't tell them my intimate thoughts.我不能告诉他们我内心深处的想法。

8 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

9 suspicious   

adj.可疑的，容易引起怀疑的，猜疑的，疑心的

参考例句：

• A man was hanging about the house in a suspicious manner.一个男人在房子周围可疑地荡来荡去。
• He's so suspicious he would distrust his own mother.他这个人疑心太重，连自己的母亲也不相信。

10 robbery   

n.抢劫；抢劫案

参考例句：

• A man is being questioned in connection with the robbery.一名男子就那起抢劫案接受查问。
• The police are offering a big reward for information about the robbery.警方出大笔赏金要求提供那起抢劫案的破案线索。

11 fingerprints   

n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Everyone's fingerprints are unique. 每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
• They wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind (them). 他们戴着手套，以免留下指纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 mattress   

n.床垫，床褥

参考例句：

• The straw mattress needs to be aired.草垫子该晾一晾了。
• The new mattress I bought sags in the middle.我买的新床垫中间陷了下去。

13 sprain   

n.扭伤,扭筋

参考例句：

• He got a foot sprain in his ankle. 他脚踝受了严重的扭伤。
• The sprain made my ankle swell up. 我的脚踝扭伤肿了起来。

14 brink   

n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿

参考例句：

• The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
• The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。

15 plaster   

n.石膏，灰泥，膏药；v.涂以灰泥，敷以膏药，使...平

参考例句：

• He mixed up some plaster to repair the wall.他和了一些灰泥去补墙。
• She applied the plaster on his shoulder.她将膏药贴在他的膀子上。