家庭装饰和布置的改进

Ethabella and Amber¹ go to Jack²'s house for dinner Friday evening. Conversation centers on home decoration and improvement. Jack talks about the common problems every house owner encounters, and then how he'd like to spruce up the house sometime in the near future. Ethabella, who studied Western-style interior decoration as a hobby, offers some suggestions for his home. Is she good at it?

　　Ethabella:You have a lovely house, Jack.

　　Jack:Thank you. Yeah, it's home, but a number of things have been going wrong lately.

　　Amber:That's too bad. What problems are you having?

　　Jack:Oh, the whole house needs re-painting, for starters. The carpet in the living room is worn out, and I'd like to put in new wall-to-wall carpeting. Last week, I had to call the plumber³ to fix the toilet. Anyway, all par⁴ for the course when you own a house, I guess. I think I'm going to hire an interior decorator to look the place over.

　　Ethabella:I've studied Western home decoration as a hobby. Could I make some suggestions?

　　Jack:Go right ahead.

　　Ethabella:Well, I think a crystal chandelier would look great in your living room, and maybe some new drapes for the windows. Also, a grandfather clock would look great in the den⁵. Perhaps you could buy some potted plants for the dining room.

　　Jack:Wow! You really do have a talent for this, Ethabella. Thanks for your suggestions.

　　Ethabella:Your welcome, Jack. Glad to be of help.

　　星期五晚上，Ethabella和Amber一起去Jack的家吃晚饭。他们的话题集中在家庭装饰和布置的改进上。Jack谈了一些房子经常出现的问题，然后又谈了谈自己以后将怎样装修房子。室内装饰是Ethabella的一个爱好，以前还专门学过,于是她给了Jack一些建议。她是不是很在行呢？

　　Ethabella:Jack，你的房子真不错！

　　Jack:谢谢，是啊，这是一个家。但是最近有很多地方出了问题。

　　Amber:那可太糟了，出什么问题了？

　　Jack:哦，刚刚住进来，正间房子都需要从新粉刷，卧室里的地毯也已经很旧了，我想装一套新的。上星期，我不得不打电话找水管工来修理厕所。不管怎么说，如果你有一间房子，我觉得这都是最寻常不过的事。我看我要请一个室内工程师来看看这个地方。

　　Ethabella:我曾学过室内装饰。我能给你提一些建议吗？

　　Jack:太棒了，请讲。

　　Ethabella:啊，我觉得在卧室里装一盏水晶灯会很漂亮。另外呢，可能需要一些落地窗来装饰窗户。还有,休息室里放一盏落地灯会很漂亮的。你还可以买一些盆栽装饰饭厅。

　　Jack:哇噻！你在这方面，可真是天才啊，Ethabella.。谢谢你的建议。

　　Ethabella:不客气，Jack。很高兴能帮助你。

1 amber   

n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的

参考例句：

• Would you like an amber necklace for your birthday?你过生日想要一条琥珀项链吗？
• This is a piece of little amber stones.这是一块小小的琥珀化石。

2 jack   

n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克

参考例句：

• I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
• He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

3 plumber   

n.(装修水管的)管子工

参考例句：

• Have you asked the plumber to come and look at the leaking pipe?你叫管道工来检查漏水的管子了吗？
• The plumber screwed up the tap by means of a spanner.管子工用板手把龙头旋紧。

4 par   

n.标准，票面价值，平均数量；adj.票面的，平常的，标准的

参考例句：

• Sales of nylon have been below par in recent years.近年来尼龙织品的销售额一直不及以往。
• I don't think his ability is on a par with yours.我认为他的能力不能与你的能力相媲美。

5 den   

n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室

参考例句：

• There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
• The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。