听一分钟英文：Neighbors-邻居

Neighbours are very hit and miss. Sometimes you hit the jackpot and get neighbours who become great friends. Other times you get the short straw¹ and have nightmare² neighbours. I’ve had good and bad neighbours. I’m not sure why some neighbours are so bad. It’s really not that difficult to be a good neighbour. All you have to do is be polite, don’t play loud music late at night, and don’t park in front of their house. It sounds easier than it is. I think a long time ago there was a lot of neighbourliness. Families lived near each other for generations. It’s different today. New families come and go. They never get to know each other. Everyone keeps their distance. This is not always a good thing.

1 straw   

n.稻草，麦杆，吸管；adj.用稻草做的，用来作稻草的，麦杆色的，无价值的，象稻草人的，非正式民意测验所发现的

参考例句：

• The old peasant is twisting pieces of straw into a rope.这位老农民正把稻草搓成绳子。
• May I have a straw for my drink?给我一根喝饮料的吸管好吗？

2 nightmare   

n.恶梦，可怕的事物，无法摆脱的恐惧

参考例句：

• I was glad to awake from such a nightmare.我庆幸终于从噩梦中醒来了。
• I had a nightmare last nightand,lost sleep.昨夜我作了个恶梦，失眠了。