1. Living with roommates
opposite n. 相反的人或物 (a person or thing that is completely different from another)
e.g.  It sometimes happens that persons opposite in
temper and mind become united. 
negative adj. 消极的 (harmful, unpleasant, or not wanted)
e.g. You can’t learn anything with a negative attitude.
positive adj. 积极的 (good or useful)
e.g. You’ll have to make a positive decision, not just let
things slide.
spill v. 使溅出；使溢出 (cause to flow out of a container)
e.g. Put the cap back on the bottle, otherwise the juice
will spill. 

2. Key
1. Students living in college dorms ______.
C) often encounter interpersonal problems
2. Students have unhappy relationships with their
roommates partly because ______.
A) they tend to focus on someone’s negative aspects
3. Living in a college dorm, you can find out ______.
B) the best and the worst in your roommates
4. Students living in college dorms are more likely to
______.
D) talk about their unhappy moments
5. To enjoy better relationships with your roommates, you
must ______.
B) view them as people

3. How to get along with roommates?
Being open, honest and constant communication are the keys
to successful roommate relationships. Take some time to talk
about the things you’re comfortable with and not.
You’d better set ground rules up front. For example: When is
the rent check due? Who will clean the living room? Is it
acceptable to bring a boyfriend/girlfriend back to the room?
Accept the fact that you’ll have to make compromises.
It’s a good idea to divide the chores as making beds, dusting,
washing dirty dishes and taking out the trash.
You’ll have a better time being together if you can be
considerate. If you see your roommate studying, turn down
the volume. Don’t take things without permission. Wash the
dishes after you use them, especially if the dishes aren’t
yours.

4. Tips for living with roommates
Don’t expect to be best friends with your roommate, just
settle for not killing each other. The fact that someone’s
been your best friend since elementary school doesn’t
mean he or she will make a great roommate.
Often living together can destroy even a close
friendship.
You have to know what you want in a roommate and
what you won’t tolerate. If you know your limits and your
rights, then you’re less likely to run into trouble with
each other. Say, will you accept a roommate who
smokes/drinks a lot? Will you live with someone of the
opposite sex? What about cleanliness? Pets? Morning
person vs. night owl?
(To be continued)

5. Try to know as much as possible about the people you’ll
(Continued)
Try to know as much as possible about the people you’ll
be living with.
Be as honest as possible with your potential roommates
and put your best foot forward.
It’s important to communicate with your roommate. If
something is bothering you, don’t expect your
roommate to figure it out. Just tell him/her what it is and
try to work it out so that it isn’t bothering you anymore.
It’s useful to agree in advance that there will be house
rules.
You don’t have to change your personality to get along
with another person but try to be considerate and be
prepared to compromise.

6. Interviewing a rental agent
rental n. 租赁；出租 (act of renting)
e.g. You are expected to go by the rules of your rental
agreement. 
agency n. 代理处；中介 (a business that makes money by bringing people into touch with others or the products of others)
e.g. For a modest fee, you can use the services of an
agency.
furnishings n. 家具；室内陈设 (such things as furniture, carpet, and curtains in a room)
e.g. The furnishings in the room imparted an air of
elegance. 

7. Key
Apartment
One (1)________, one (2)_________, with a bathroom and a (3)_______.
Furnishings: (4)____.
Floors: (5)_________.
Windows: large and (6)_________.
Transportation
Buses go onto (7)_______, or into (8)______.
Rent
(9)$____ per month.
Deposit
(10)____ months’ rent
bedroom
living room
kitchen
new
hardwood
in the front
campus
the city
650
Two

8. Watch a video clip. Work in groups to discuss the following questions.

9. 1. What is the possible relationship between the two
speakers?
2. What are the advantages of the house according to the
landlady?
3. Does the tenant accept the landlady’s suggestion? Why
or why not?
4. Do you prefer to live on campus or rent an apartment off
campus? Give your reasons.

10. How much for a season pass?
address v. 向(某人)讲话 (give
a speech to)
e.g.  I esteem it an honor to 
address this audience.
co-ed adj. 男女同校的 (of a system in which students of
both sexes are educated together)
e.g. Girls seem to perform better academically in all-
girls schools as opposed to co-ed ones. 

11. Key
1. When did the dean address the students?
On the first day of college.
2. How long are co-ed dormitories open to visitors of the opposite sex Sundays through Thursdays?
From 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
3. What happens to the female dormitory beyond visiting times?
It is off limits to all male students.
4. How will the students be punished for breaking the rule the first time?
Anybody caught breaking this rule will be fined $20 the first time.
5. Why did the student ask, “How much for a season pass?”
He was kidding.

12. Roommates wanted outgoing adj. 开朗的 (eager to mix with others)
e.g. Their breezy, outgoing personalities were strong and
attractive. 
hookup n. 连接 (a link to a power supply or central system)
e.g. Astronauts did some wiry and hookup TV cameras
outside the station.
balcony n. 阳台 (a raised flat surface built out from the upstairs wall of a building)
e.g. You can see the sea from our balcony.
microwave n. 微波炉 (also microwave oven, a type of oven using microwaves to cook)
e.g. We cooked the fish in the microwave oven.

13. Key
Hello! I am a (1)__________ college student looking to find (2)____ roommates to share a new (3)______ ________ and two-bath apartment. Twenty-something college students (4)________. Looking for (5)__________, clean, outgoing and (6)_________ individuals. The apartment is new, close to the (7)_____ entrance of the school, and within (8)______________ to the subway station. Equipped with (9)______ bedroom, cable hookup, closet, telephone hookup, (10)_____________, balcony, (11)__________ Internet, microwave, parking, and yard. (12)____ per month, (13)______ not included.
20-year-old
two
three-
bedroom
preferred
responsible
respectful
north
walking distance
private
air conditioning
high-speed
$275
utilities