购物英语口语-装潢住房

CARL: I think we should do the floors before we work on the curtains and walls.
SUE¹: Why? It doesn't make sense.If we do the floors first, and then paint the walls,we will get paint all over our new floor.
CARL: Hmm. Maybe you're right. But I can't stand all this green carpet in here.And besides, I know how to paint. I will just cover everything with drop cloth.I won't get anything on the floor.
SUE: Are you sure?
CARL: Yes, I'm sure. I've done a lot of house painting in my life.And my mother was very picky.If I got even a tiny drop of paint on her furniture, she would get furious².So I learned³ to be very careful.
SUE: Alright. Then maybe we can do the floor first.These wood floors under this carpet are beautiful.And me too--I can't wait to get all this old carpet out of here.But how can we get it out? Do we have to hire someone?
CARL: Absolutely not. We can remove the carpet ourselves.
Carpet is held down with carpet nails⁴. You just need to pull it hard and it comes up.
SUE: Great.Then, after we remove the carpet, we need to restain all the wood floors. Right?
CARL: Yes. But we should hire someone for that.That will probably be expensive. And it has to be done right.
SUE: And then, after the floors are done, we can start to move our furniture in. CARL: Sure. If we can get an appointment with someone to do thefloors,we should probably be able to have the furniture in here after a week or so.I can get all the carpet out this weekend.
SUE: So, after the floors are done, and after the furniture is in,we need to redo the curtains and paint all the walls and ceilings⁵.
CARL: I'm the painter.You can be in charge of going to curtain shops to choose curtains.That will probably be pretty expensive too. Having good curtains made isn't cheap.
SUE: You mean we can't just buy curtains already made?
CARL: Absolutely not.The windows must be measured, and then the curtains need to be made professionally⁶.So that will take awhile. Maybe a month or so.
SUE: While the curtains are being made, I can start having people look at the kitchen.I can't stand that old kitchen. I won't be able to cook in there.I don't want to use that electric stove.
CARL: We will need to find an interior⁷ decorating company do redo the kitchen.I believe in Portland there are shops that specialize⁸ in kitchen renovation⁹.I will look in the Yellow Pages. I'd like a kitchen mostly in ivory¹⁰ and light green.
SUE: I agree. The colors must be soft and pleasant.You should feel comfortable when you cook our dinners.
CARL: Me? Cook our dinners? Hah! You will be cooking, dear. You will cook.
SUE: No, I don't think so. I'll be too busy having tea in our new tea room.
CARL: Well, I suppose we'll have to hire a cook then.So you won't be able to afford any clothes next year.
SUE: And you'll have to sell your motorcycle¹¹. And your cameras. Right?
CARL: Maybe I'll cook once or twice a week. How is that?
SUE: Four times might be enough. Not once or twice.
卡尔：我想在开始着手弄窗帘和墙壁前，我们应该先来弄地板。
苏：为什么？不太合理。如果我们先弄地板，然后再油漆墙，我们会把新地板弄得到处是漆。
卡尔：也许你是对的，但是我不能忍受这里的绿色地毯。此外，我知道怎么油漆，我会用塑胶布铺好一切，不会让地板沾上任何东西的。
苏：你确定吗？　　卡尔：是的，我确定。我这辈子已经做过很多次的房屋油漆，而且我妈还颇挑剔的。如果我在她的家具上沾上一小滴油漆，她就会大发雷霆，所以我学会很小心。苏：好吧，那也许我们可以先弄地板。这些在地毯下的木制地板蛮美的，我也是等不及要把这旧的地毯弄走。但是，怎么把它弄出去呢？我们要请人吗？
卡尔：绝对不用，我们可以自己移动地毯。地毯是用地毯钉固定的，你只需要用力地拔，它就出来了。
苏：太棒了。我们搬完地毯后，需要维修所有的木制地板，对不对？
卡尔：是的，但是我们要雇用别人来做。可能会很贵，而且要做对才行。
苏：然后，地板弄完后，我们可以开始搬进家具。
卡尔：好啊。如果我们和人约好要弄地板，大概可以在一周后把家具放好。我在这个周末会把地毯弄出去。
苏：那么，地板弄完，家具放好后，我们需要重做窗帘和油漆所有的墙壁及天花板。
卡尔：我是油漆工，你可以负责去窗帘店挑窗帘。那可能也会很贵，要订做好的窗帘不可能便宜。
苏：你是说我们不可以买已经做好的窗帘？
卡尔：绝对不行。必须先量好这些窗户，再特地制作窗帘，这可能会花上一段时间，也许要一个月左右。
苏：当窗帘做好后，我可以开始请人来勘查厨房。我受不了那个老旧的厨房，我没法在里面烹煮东西，我不想用那个电炉。
卡尔：我们必须找一家室内装潢公司来整修厨房。我相信在波特兰会有一些专门整修厨房的店，我会翻一下电话簿。我想要一间全是象牙色和浅绿色的厨房。　　苏：我同意。颜色必须柔和愉悦，弄晚餐时你要觉得舒服才好。
卡尔：我？弄晚餐？喂，亲爱的，你才要煮，你煮啦。
苏：不，我不认为。我会在新的茶室忙着品茶。
卡尔：好吧，我想我们请个厨子好了。然后你明年就买不起任何衣服了。
苏：而且你必须卖掉你的摩托车，还有你的摄影机，是不是？
卡尔：也许我一周煮一两次，怎么样？
苏：四次才够，不只是一两次。

1 sue   

vt.控告，起诉；vi.请求，追求，起诉

参考例句：

• If you don't pay me the money,I'll sue you.如果你不付给我钱，我就告你。
• The war criminals sue for peace.战犯求和。

2 furious   

adj.狂怒的，暴怒的，强烈的，激烈的

参考例句：

• I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
• His wife was furious with him.他妻子对他大发雷霆。

3 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

4 nails   

n.钉子( nail的名词复数 )；钉状物；指甲；趾甲v.钉住( nail的第三人称单数 )；抓住；证明…不属实；揭露

参考例句：

• Stop biting your nails! 别咬指甲！
• He joined up the two pieces of wood together with nails. 他用钉子把两块木头接起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 ceilings   

n.天花板( ceiling的名词复数 )；最高限度；高度；云幕高度

参考例句：

• The ceilings are supported by oak beams. 房顶用橡木横梁支撑。 来自辞典例句
• The rooms were spacious, with tall windows and high ceilings. 房间很宽敞，窗户和天花板都很高。 来自辞典例句

6 professionally   

adv.职业地；专业地

参考例句：

• You need a complete change,both professionally and personally.你需要在工作上和自身两方面有彻底的改变。
• A professionally installed alarm will cost from about ￡500.请专业人员安装的警报器要花费至少500英镑。

7 interior   

adj.在内的，内部的，内地的，国内的；n.内部

参考例句：

• There is water in the interior of the cave.在山洞的内部有水。
• They went into the interior room.他们进了内室。

8 specialize   

v.专化，特化 ；(in)专攻；专门研究

参考例句：

• What did you specialize in?你的主修科目是什么？
• After his first degree he wishes to specialize.获得学士学位之后，他希望专攻某科。

9 renovation   

n.革新，整修

参考例句：

• The cinema will reopen next week after the renovation.电影院修缮后，将于下星期开业。
• The building has undergone major renovation.这座大楼已进行大整修。

10 ivory   

n.象牙，乳白色；adj.象牙制的，乳白色的

参考例句：

• My grandmother has some jewelry made of ivory.我祖母有一些象牙首饰。
• It is carved from ivory.它是用象牙雕成的。

11 motorcycle   

n.摩托车，机车

参考例句：

• Tom went there by motorcycle.汤姆乘摩托车去的那儿。
• He was also the first person in town to buy a motorcycle.他也是镇里第一个买摩托车的人。