Most arguments at the end of a lease are about cleaning. Tenants think the flat looks fine; landlords point at the kitchen. The 11 problem is usually the cooker, where months of cooking leave a 12 layer that a quick wipe cannot remove. Bathrooms come second, because warm, damp corners let 13 grow. Experts suggest breaking the job into small tasks over a week, which makes it far more 14 than one exhausting day. Take photographs when you finish; if a landlord later disagrees, an image with a date is worth more than any 15 you could give.
Questions 11–15
11
Aprincipal
Bidle
Cshallow
Dteenage
✔ 正確答案：(A) principal
解析the ____ problem 指「主要的 principal」問題。shallow 淺的、idle 閒置的、teenage 青少年的皆不合。
Cheap old flats hide costs that no advertisement mentions. In a 16 winter, water inside an outdoor pipe can 17 and split it open. Drains that are already narrow 18 in the first cold week, and the bill arrives before the landlord answers the phone. Ask two questions before you sign. Is the building 19 enough to have survived the last big earthquake without repair? And does the lease say who pays when a pipe fails? A tenant who asks looks difficult for five minutes; a tenant who does not may pay for months. That is a 20 many people learn too late.
Shared flat, third floor, five minutes from Green Line MRT
Room A — larger, window facing the street. NT$11,000 / month
Room B — smaller, quieter inner room. NT$9,000 / month
Both rooms are fully furnished: bed, desk, wardrobe. The kitchen, bathroom and washing machine are shared; the three tenants split the electricity bill each month.
The building has no lift and no parking. Sorry, no pets.
One month's deposit. Minimum stay six months. Viewings on weekday evenings only — message 0912-345-678.
全文中譯
合租公寓，三樓，距綠線捷運五分鐘
A 房——較大，窗戶面向街道。每月新台幣 11,000 元
B 房——較小，是較安靜的內側房間。每月新台幣 9,000 元
兩間房皆附全套傢俱：床、書桌、衣櫃。廚房、浴室與洗衣機共用；三位房客每月分攤電費。
本棟無電梯，也沒有停車位。抱歉，不可養寵物。
押金一個月。最短租期六個月。看房僅限平日晚間——請簡訊 0912-345-678。
Questions 21–24
21What is the difference between Room A and Room B?
ARoom A is quieter
BRoom A is larger and costs more
CRoom B faces the street
DRoom B has its own bathroom
✔ 正確答案：(B) Room A is larger and costs more
中譯A 房和 B 房的差別是什麼？
解析Room A 較大且 11,000 元，高於 Room B 的 9,000 元。
22What do the tenants share the cost of?
AElectricity
BParking
CFurniture
DInternet
✔ 正確答案：(A) Electricity
中譯房客共同分攤什麼費用？
解析the three tenants split the electricity bill each month。
23Which of the following does the building NOT have?
AA washing machine
BA shared kitchen
CA lift
DA bathroom
✔ 正確答案：(C) A lift
中譯這棟建築沒有下列何者？
解析The building has no lift。
24When can someone view the rooms?
AAny time
BSaturday mornings
CWeekday evenings
DOnly on the first of the month
✔ 正確答案：(C) Weekday evenings
中譯何時可以看房？
解析Viewings on weekday evenings only。
EMAIL
A Question Before Signing
Dear Mr. Chang,
Thank you for showing me Room B yesterday. I would like to take it from 1 September, but I have one question first.
You mentioned that the tenants divide the electricity bill equally. As I will be away for work about ten days each month, would it be possible to fit a separate meter for my room instead? I am happy to pay for the meter myself.
If that is not possible, I still want the room — I would just like to know before I sign.
I can transfer the deposit as soon as you confirm.
解析would it be possible to fit a separate meter for my room。
26Why does she make this request?
AShe wants a bigger room
BShe is often away for work
CShe thinks the rent is too high
DShe uses no electricity
✔ 正確答案：(B) She is often away for work
中譯她為何提出這個要求？
解析As I will be away for work about ten days each month。
27Who would pay for the meter?
AInes herself
BIt is free
CThe other tenants
DThe landlord
✔ 正確答案：(A) Ines herself
中譯電表費用由誰支付？
解析I am happy to pay for the meter myself。
28What will Ines do if the answer is no?
ALook for another flat
BAsk for a lower deposit
CStill rent the room
DMove in later
✔ 正確答案：(C) Still rent the room
中譯如果答案是否定的，伊內絲會怎麼做？
解析If that is not possible, I still want the room。
ARTICLE
Why Moving House Is So Tiring
Anyone who has moved knows the strange exhaustion of the first night in a new place. Researchers say the cause is not only the load you carried up the stairs.
Every day at home runs on habits: your hand finds the light switch without looking. A new flat cancels all of them at once. For about two weeks the brain must think about actions it used to do automatically, and that costs energy.
The advice is simple. Unpack the kitchen and the bathroom first, not the books. Once you can make coffee and take a shower without searching, the rest of the flat stops feeling like someone else's.