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[by:]恒星英语学习网
[00:05.90]Chapter Three
[00:29.73]PART Two
[00:31.16]INTERVIEW 1
[00:34.76]In this section you will hear everything ONCE ONLY.
[00:38.59]Listen carefully and then answer the questions that follow.
[00:42.41]Questions 1 to 5 are based on an interview.
[00:45.26]At the end of the interview,
[00:47.11]you will be given 10 seconds to answer each of the following 5 questions.
[00:52.00]Now listen to the interview.
[00:54.06]M: For years, people are trying to keep up with the Joneses,
[00:59.49]but instead of competing with your neighbors,
[01:01.76]how about actually trying to get along with them?
[01:04.51]Joining us for some simple tips on how to deal with those likable
[01:08.22]and not so likable neighbors is Betty Wang.
[01:11.91]She is executive editor of Family Circle Magazine. Good morning, Betty.
[01:15.84]W: Good morning. John.
[01:17.05]M: Well, in an ideal world,
[01:19.00]I guess we would all get along well with our neighbors, wouldn't we?
[01:22.75]W: Right, right, you hope so.
[01:24.58]M: But why is it important to have good relationships with them?
[01:28.63]W: Well, you know your home is your sanctuary,
[01:31.94]and how you get along with your neighbors really plays a large part in your health,
[01:37.63]well-being and happiness. Because your neighbors really kind of make your home,
[01:43.06]so it is important to at least establish a good,
[01:46.45]cordial or at least polite relationship with your neighbors.
[01:50.71]M: How do we establish that? When you move into a new neighborhood,
[01:55.52]should you reach out to the neighbors? Or should they be reaching out to you?
[01:59.57]W: I think it can work either way, I mean, if they don't reach out to you,
[02:04.82]don't assume that they are being rude or unfriendly.
[02:08.11]They just might hold back because they think you're too busy,
[02:12.15]unpacking and settling in.
[02:13.78]If they don't make the first step, after a few days, go ahead and introduce yourself.
[02:19.79]Because I think once you are on a first name basis with your neighbors,
[02:24.83]it’s much easier to combat problems later on,
[02:28.24]or maybe call them for a favor down the road
[02:31.50]when you are on vacation and you need them to water your plants.
[02:36.10]It's much easier when you know them personally.
[02:39.28]M: Yea, neighbors can be really helpful but, of course they can also be annoying,
[02:44.95]for example, loud music?
[02:47.15]W: Loud music is one of those top complaints, and I think, for most reasonable people,
[02:53.52]they probably aren't even aware they are causing problems for their neighbors
[02:58.00]and I think if you bring it up to your neighbors' attention,
[03:01.81]they will be more than happy to fix it.
[03:04.45]But, you can take that “it is not you, it is me” approach;
[03:08.83]you can say something like, I'm kind of a really light sleeper,
[03:13.00]or I suffer from migraines,
[03:15.50]can you help me out by turning down the music during those evening hours,
[03:19.54]or early morning, or come up with a compromise that work for both of you...
[03:24.03]M: Don't just call the police. That's what a lot of people do.
[03:28.73]So, that's a common complaint, loud music, but also sometimes we can have smells,
[03:33.98]or other things that disturb our senses.
[03:37.17]W: Yea, that's a tough one, that's really a sensitive situation,
[03:41.10]because if you want to live in the comfort of your own home
[03:45.58]and not have to deal with unpleasant smells,
[03:49.29]then your neighbor is just as entitled to cook
[03:53.39]whatever she likes in the comfort of her own home.
[03:56.34]So, I would approach her, by saying, I am not sure if you realize what's happening,
[04:02.15]but, you know, I can smell something coming from your kitchen,
[04:05.86]would you mind opening your window or maybe using your exhaust fan.
[04:11.00]You try to approach them politely, reasonably,
[04:14.05]and if that doesn't work, you can also just talk to the management,
[04:18.45]and maybe there is something wrong with the building's ventilation system.
[04:23.15]If something is coming into your apartment,
[04:26.31]that might be a quick fix without having that uncomfortable conversation.
[04:30.46]M: What is the thing you said, in this month’s Family Circle,
[04:34.55]is it there is power in numbers? Right?
[04:38.16]So, when you are approaching your neighbor, what should you do?
[04:41.55]W: Yeah, I mean sometimes it does help to gather up some troops and,
[04:46.60]just to get some support from your fellow neighbors,
[04:49.46]but you have to be sensitive that you are not ganging up on your next door neighbor.
[04:55.90]Right, you don't want to be in an intervention or something like that.
[05:00.71]M: What about nosy neighbors? I mean somebody,
[05:03.93]you know you feel they are always coming around, checking out your every move.
[05:08.52]W: Well, I think a lot of the time people must mistake some behavior
[05:14.05]for being nosey or pokey when the neighbor is trying to be friendly
[05:19.63]or maybe the person is lonely. So, you just have to see what the motive is,
[05:25.44]and oftentimes, if you are a little distant, or you just don't answer their questions,
[05:31.54]they often take the hint and back off.
[05:33.68]M: And the neighbors that come to visit and won't go away?
[05:37.83]W: Well, I think, there might be some,
[05:40.71]but the neighbor can just be really lonely and want a friend, you know, oftentimes,
[05:47.27]I think the rule is a 5-to-10 minute visit is fine.
[05:52.20]Because, that way you are not breaking up a person's schedule or their personal plans
[05:57.99]but you don't have to be best friends with your neighbors at all and you can just be civil,
[06:03.42]polite, and say hello in the morning as you come and go,
[06:07.04]and that makes everybody's relationship so much better.
[06:10.54]M: That's so important, Betty Wang, thanks so much for the tips,
[06:15.26]we appreciate that for Family Circle Magazine.
