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Suzanna： Hey， Harold. Congratulations on graduating！
Harold： Hey， Suzanna！ Thanks， and same to you！
Suzanna： So， do you know where you’re going yet？ Got any good job leads？
Harold： Leads？ I’ve got better than that. ①I’ve got a real， bona-fide offer！
Suzanna： Congratulations！ You always were one step ahead of the rest of the class. So where are you off to？
Harold： ②None other than Beijing！ The company’s headquarters is in the CBD.
Suzanna： Company headquarters？ Beijing？ CBD？ ③You’re in the big leagues now！
Harold： Not really. It’s just an entry-level position， so I haven’t “arrived” just yet. And besides， Beijing comes with its own set of difficulties， like paying the rent.
Suzanna： Yeah， I’ve heard the housing situation is pretty competitive over there. Have you found an apartment？
Harold： Not yet. There are some nice places near my new job， but they’re all out of my price range.
Suzanna： ④Housing prices have been creeping up lately. Have you looked at the suburbs？
Harold： I don’t think I want a long 1）commute. I hear Beijing’s transportation is pretty crowded.
Suzanna： It’s 2）legendary. I remember seeing videos of hundreds of people squeezed into trains like 3）sardines.
Harold： If I live way out in the suburbs then it will be easier to get on the subway， maybe even get a seat. But then I’d be on the train for over two hours every day， which is not something I’m willing to put up with.
Suzanna： You could bring a book. Two hours of reading time every day sounds like a pro， not a con. Your commute doesn’t have to be wasted time， you know！
Harold： We can’t all be as cultured as you， Sue. ⑤I’d be bored to tears.
Suzanna： What about getting a roommate？ Sharing an apartment can make it more affordable.
Harold： It could. ⑥The problem is， I don’t know anybody in Beijing， and I don’t want to get locked into a lease with some stranger who could turn out to be my worst nightmare.
Suzanna： Point taken.
Harold： I wish I’d started looking earlier. I hear that prices are better around the new year， when everybody leaves the city and goes home.
Suzanna： Really？ You mean you can get a better price just for renting at a specific time of year？
Harold： It’s unbelievable， isn’t it？ Makes me wonder why the prices are this high to begin with. I’m afraid that no matter where I live， I’ll still be getting 4）fleeced. Suzanna： ⑦That’s the price you pay for living in the big city， I guess. What if you tried to find a landlord directly， instead of going through an agent？
Harold： I’d love to. ⑧These agents all seem like used car salesmen. Problem is， I’ve never been to Beijing， so I’m stuck with what I can find online.
Suzanna： Well， you could go there without an apartment， and just stay in a hotel until you get things figured out.
Look for local ads in grocery stores or on bulletin boards. Living with students， or close to a university is a good way to find cheap housing.
Harold： Aw， man. And here I thought I was ready to move on from the university lifestyle！
Suzanna： One step at a time， big guy！
苏珊娜：嘿，哈罗德，恭喜你毕业了！哈罗德：嘿，苏珊娜！谢谢，你也是！苏珊娜：那么，你知道自己要去哪儿没有？有找到好工作的机会吗？
哈罗德：机会？我不只是有机会，我找到一份货真价实的好工作！
苏珊娜：恭喜你！你总是比班里的其他人快走一步。那么你要去哪儿呢？
哈罗德：当然是北京啊！那家公司的总部就在北京的中央商务区。
苏珊娜：公司总部？北京？中央商务区？你现在加入高大上企业了！
哈罗德：还不是呢。只是个入门的职位，所以我还没有进那个圈子呢！另外，在北京也有一系列的困难，像租房。
苏珊娜：嗯，我听说那边的住房竞争很激烈。你找到公寓了吗？
哈罗德：还没呢。我新工作地点附近有一些很好的住房，但它们都超出了我能支付的范围。
苏珊娜：最近房价一直在慢慢上涨。你有去郊区找找吗？
哈罗德：我不想往返工作要那么长的时间。我听说北京的交通很拥挤。
苏珊娜：这已经是家喻户晓了。我记得曾看过一个录像，成百上千的人像沙丁鱼那样挤进地铁。
哈罗德：如果我住在郊区，那么上地铁会容易很多，也许还能有一个座位，但是这样我每天就要在地铁耗上两个多小时的时间，这是我不能忍受的。
苏珊娜：你可以带一本书。每天两个小时的阅读时间听起来有利而无一害啊。你往返上下班的路程就不会浪费时间，你懂的！
哈罗德：我们不能像你这样文艺，苏，这样我会闷死的。
苏珊娜：那么找一个室友呢？合租一个公寓能够让你更容易负担得起。
哈罗德：是可以。但问题是，我在北京一个人也不认识，我不想跟一个可能会成为我噩梦的陌生人绑在一起。
苏珊娜：有道理。
哈罗德：我要是能早点找房子就好了。听说临近新年时房价形势会稍微好些，因为人人都离开城市返乡了。
苏珊娜：真的吗？你意思是你能在一年的一个特定时间租到好一点价格的房子？
哈罗德：很不可思议，对吧？这让我好奇为什么房价一开始要定这么高，恐怕不管我住在哪儿，我都会被宰。
苏珊娜：我想，这就是你住在大城市所要付出的代价。那么如果你直接去找个房东，而不是去找中介呢？
哈罗德：我也想这样。这些中介看起来都像二手车销售员一样不可靠。问题是，我从来没有去过北京，所以我不知
道能在网上找到什么。
苏珊娜：好吧，你到那儿可以先不租房，先在酒店待一段时间，直到你想到办法。在杂货店或者公告栏找一些当地的广告。和学生一起住，或者住得离学校近一点，都是能找到廉价房子的好方法。
哈罗德：啊，天啊。我还以为我即将脱离大学生活，迈向社会了！
苏珊娜：一步一步来，大个子！
Smart Sentences
① I’ve got a real， bona-fide offer！ 我找到一份货真价实的好工作！
bona-fide： authentic； genuine， real（真正的，真诚的）。例如：Look at Ray’s sales figures. He is a bona-fide superman.
看看雷的销售数据，他可是一个真正的超人啊。
② None other than Beijing！ 当然是北京啊！
none other than sb./sth： used to emphasize the person or thing is the only possibility（用以强调某人或某事是惟一的可能）。例如：
The colossal mistake was made by none other than Mr. Carelessness， John Thompson！
犯下这个严重的错误的当然是粗心先生——约翰·汤姆森！
③ You’re in the big leagues now！ 你现在加入高大上企业了！ the big league： the highest level of one’s profession or field of activity（某个领域里的高大上）。例如：
Why are you so excited？ It’s not like you got an offer from one of the companies in the big league.
你激动啥？你找到的工作又不是什么高大上企业。
④ Housing prices have been creeping up lately. 最近房价一直在慢慢上涨。
creep up： advance stealthily or unnoticed（不知不觉中发展）。例如：
The price of food is creeping up these days， but our salary has remained the same.
这一阵子，食物价格慢慢地上涨了，但我们的工资却没变过。
⑤ I’d be bored to tears. 这样我会闷死的。
bored to tears： extremely bored（非常无聊）。例如：
As Mr. Randall went on and on with the technicalities of the new product， everyone was bored to tears.
兰度先生滔滔不绝地在讲新产品的技术细节，所有人都烦透了。
⑥ The problem is， I don’t know anybody in Beijing， and I don’t want to get locked into a lease with some stranger who could turn out to be my worst nightmare.但问题是，我在北京一个人也不认识，我不想跟一个可能会成为我噩梦的陌生人绑在一起。
get locked into： bonded to sth. and cannot escape easily（受某事约束，不能轻易解脱）。例如：
You should not get your mortgage locked into a high interest rate.
你不应该让你的房贷锁定在高息上。
⑦ That’s the price you pay for living in the big city， I guess. 我想，这就是你住在大城市所要付出的代价。
pay the price： the negative consequences sb. has to suffer for doing sth.（做某事的代价）。例如：
Losing good employees is usually the price you pay when you restructure a business.
一家企业如果要重组，代价常常会是失去好的员工。
⑧ These agents all seem like used car salesmen. 这些中介看起来都像二手车销售员一样不可靠。
used car salesman： sb. who is a smooth talker， but not very honest or reliable（能说会道，却不太诚实、可靠之人）。例如：
—Why did you dump the new boyfriend so fast？
你怎么这么快就把新男朋友甩了？
—Oh God， he talked like a used car salesman. Not my type.
天啊，那家伙满嘴跑火车，根本不适合我。
Harold： Hey， Suzanna！ Thanks， and same to you！
Suzanna： So， do you know where you’re going yet？ Got any good job leads？
Harold： Leads？ I’ve got better than that. ①I’ve got a real， bona-fide offer！
Suzanna： Congratulations！ You always were one step ahead of the rest of the class. So where are you off to？
Harold： ②None other than Beijing！ The company’s headquarters is in the CBD.
Suzanna： Company headquarters？ Beijing？ CBD？ ③You’re in the big leagues now！
Harold： Not really. It’s just an entry-level position， so I haven’t “arrived” just yet. And besides， Beijing comes with its own set of difficulties， like paying the rent.
Suzanna： Yeah， I’ve heard the housing situation is pretty competitive over there. Have you found an apartment？
Harold： Not yet. There are some nice places near my new job， but they’re all out of my price range.
Suzanna： ④Housing prices have been creeping up lately. Have you looked at the suburbs？
Harold： I don’t think I want a long 1）commute. I hear Beijing’s transportation is pretty crowded.
Suzanna： It’s 2）legendary. I remember seeing videos of hundreds of people squeezed into trains like 3）sardines.
Harold： If I live way out in the suburbs then it will be easier to get on the subway， maybe even get a seat. But then I’d be on the train for over two hours every day， which is not something I’m willing to put up with.
Suzanna： You could bring a book. Two hours of reading time every day sounds like a pro， not a con. Your commute doesn’t have to be wasted time， you know！
Harold： We can’t all be as cultured as you， Sue. ⑤I’d be bored to tears.
Suzanna： What about getting a roommate？ Sharing an apartment can make it more affordable.
Harold： It could. ⑥The problem is， I don’t know anybody in Beijing， and I don’t want to get locked into a lease with some stranger who could turn out to be my worst nightmare.
Suzanna： Point taken.
Harold： I wish I’d started looking earlier. I hear that prices are better around the new year， when everybody leaves the city and goes home.
Suzanna： Really？ You mean you can get a better price just for renting at a specific time of year？
Harold： It’s unbelievable， isn’t it？ Makes me wonder why the prices are this high to begin with. I’m afraid that no matter where I live， I’ll still be getting 4）fleeced. Suzanna： ⑦That’s the price you pay for living in the big city， I guess. What if you tried to find a landlord directly， instead of going through an agent？
Harold： I’d love to. ⑧These agents all seem like used car salesmen. Problem is， I’ve never been to Beijing， so I’m stuck with what I can find online.
Suzanna： Well， you could go there without an apartment， and just stay in a hotel until you get things figured out.
Look for local ads in grocery stores or on bulletin boards. Living with students， or close to a university is a good way to find cheap housing.
Harold： Aw， man. And here I thought I was ready to move on from the university lifestyle！
Suzanna： One step at a time， big guy！
苏珊娜：嘿，哈罗德，恭喜你毕业了！哈罗德：嘿，苏珊娜！谢谢，你也是！苏珊娜：那么，你知道自己要去哪儿没有？有找到好工作的机会吗？
哈罗德：机会？我不只是有机会，我找到一份货真价实的好工作！
苏珊娜：恭喜你！你总是比班里的其他人快走一步。那么你要去哪儿呢？
哈罗德：当然是北京啊！那家公司的总部就在北京的中央商务区。
苏珊娜：公司总部？北京？中央商务区？你现在加入高大上企业了！
哈罗德：还不是呢。只是个入门的职位，所以我还没有进那个圈子呢！另外，在北京也有一系列的困难，像租房。
苏珊娜：嗯，我听说那边的住房竞争很激烈。你找到公寓了吗？
哈罗德：还没呢。我新工作地点附近有一些很好的住房，但它们都超出了我能支付的范围。
苏珊娜：最近房价一直在慢慢上涨。你有去郊区找找吗？
哈罗德：我不想往返工作要那么长的时间。我听说北京的交通很拥挤。
苏珊娜：这已经是家喻户晓了。我记得曾看过一个录像，成百上千的人像沙丁鱼那样挤进地铁。
哈罗德：如果我住在郊区，那么上地铁会容易很多，也许还能有一个座位，但是这样我每天就要在地铁耗上两个多小时的时间，这是我不能忍受的。
苏珊娜：你可以带一本书。每天两个小时的阅读时间听起来有利而无一害啊。你往返上下班的路程就不会浪费时间，你懂的！
哈罗德：我们不能像你这样文艺，苏，这样我会闷死的。
苏珊娜：那么找一个室友呢？合租一个公寓能够让你更容易负担得起。
哈罗德：是可以。但问题是，我在北京一个人也不认识，我不想跟一个可能会成为我噩梦的陌生人绑在一起。
苏珊娜：有道理。
哈罗德：我要是能早点找房子就好了。听说临近新年时房价形势会稍微好些，因为人人都离开城市返乡了。
苏珊娜：真的吗？你意思是你能在一年的一个特定时间租到好一点价格的房子？
哈罗德：很不可思议，对吧？这让我好奇为什么房价一开始要定这么高，恐怕不管我住在哪儿，我都会被宰。
苏珊娜：我想，这就是你住在大城市所要付出的代价。那么如果你直接去找个房东，而不是去找中介呢？
哈罗德：我也想这样。这些中介看起来都像二手车销售员一样不可靠。问题是，我从来没有去过北京，所以我不知
道能在网上找到什么。
苏珊娜：好吧，你到那儿可以先不租房，先在酒店待一段时间，直到你想到办法。在杂货店或者公告栏找一些当地的广告。和学生一起住，或者住得离学校近一点，都是能找到廉价房子的好方法。
哈罗德：啊，天啊。我还以为我即将脱离大学生活，迈向社会了！
苏珊娜：一步一步来，大个子！
Smart Sentences
① I’ve got a real， bona-fide offer！ 我找到一份货真价实的好工作！
bona-fide： authentic； genuine， real（真正的，真诚的）。例如：Look at Ray’s sales figures. He is a bona-fide superman.
看看雷的销售数据，他可是一个真正的超人啊。
② None other than Beijing！ 当然是北京啊！
none other than sb./sth： used to emphasize the person or thing is the only possibility（用以强调某人或某事是惟一的可能）。例如：
The colossal mistake was made by none other than Mr. Carelessness， John Thompson！
犯下这个严重的错误的当然是粗心先生——约翰·汤姆森！
③ You’re in the big leagues now！ 你现在加入高大上企业了！ the big league： the highest level of one’s profession or field of activity（某个领域里的高大上）。例如：
Why are you so excited？ It’s not like you got an offer from one of the companies in the big league.
你激动啥？你找到的工作又不是什么高大上企业。
④ Housing prices have been creeping up lately. 最近房价一直在慢慢上涨。
creep up： advance stealthily or unnoticed（不知不觉中发展）。例如：
The price of food is creeping up these days， but our salary has remained the same.
这一阵子，食物价格慢慢地上涨了，但我们的工资却没变过。
⑤ I’d be bored to tears. 这样我会闷死的。
bored to tears： extremely bored（非常无聊）。例如：
As Mr. Randall went on and on with the technicalities of the new product， everyone was bored to tears.
兰度先生滔滔不绝地在讲新产品的技术细节，所有人都烦透了。
⑥ The problem is， I don’t know anybody in Beijing， and I don’t want to get locked into a lease with some stranger who could turn out to be my worst nightmare.但问题是，我在北京一个人也不认识，我不想跟一个可能会成为我噩梦的陌生人绑在一起。
get locked into： bonded to sth. and cannot escape easily（受某事约束，不能轻易解脱）。例如：
You should not get your mortgage locked into a high interest rate.
你不应该让你的房贷锁定在高息上。
⑦ That’s the price you pay for living in the big city， I guess. 我想，这就是你住在大城市所要付出的代价。
pay the price： the negative consequences sb. has to suffer for doing sth.（做某事的代价）。例如：
Losing good employees is usually the price you pay when you restructure a business.
一家企业如果要重组，代价常常会是失去好的员工。
⑧ These agents all seem like used car salesmen. 这些中介看起来都像二手车销售员一样不可靠。
used car salesman： sb. who is a smooth talker， but not very honest or reliable（能说会道，却不太诚实、可靠之人）。例如：
—Why did you dump the new boyfriend so fast？
你怎么这么快就把新男朋友甩了？
—Oh God， he talked like a used car salesman. Not my type.
天啊，那家伙满嘴跑火车，根本不适合我。