英语博客:The Home show

Every year in Wenatchee, there is a home show. It takes place in a large convention center that is called the Town Toyota Center. This place hosts concerts, sporting events, and any kind of large function that involves lots of people. It is a great, new facility for our area. The home show includes many exhibits of products that are used to either build, furnish, or decorate the home. So, you can imagine, there are ton(nes) of items being displayed. It's all about networking, really. The NCHBA stands for the North Central Home Builder's Association. It was established in 1993, is non-profit, and has over 600 members. As far as the general public is concerned, the home show provides an exciting view of all that goes into making a home. Also, if you happen to be looking for a general contractor¹, a sub-contractor, a realtor, or a craftsman², then this is a good place to start. Their association agrees on standards of quality. They also petition for or against legislation that affects the building industry. 'Our membership is united and committed to promoting and protecting affordable³ housing, so that families can achieve the American dream of owning their own home.' That is one of the goals of the association, as well as to increase business. There are posters all over town advertising⁴ the event which will last for three days. It is really quite an eye opener to go and see all that is involved in home ownership. I think that January is the ideal time to have the show here, as the cold weather keeps most people at home with little to do. This attracts those people, gets them out of the house, and provides a kind of entertainment, or, at least, interest. It is one of those areas of life that is easy to take for granted, especially if you have never built your own home.

Grammar notes.

Present continuous plus new vocabulary: to host, facility, general contractor, electrician, realtor, craftsman.

1. The new convention center in town is a fantastic facility: it is always hosting great concerts.

2. We are hiring a general contractor to be in charge of the building project.

3. The electricians and plumbers⁵ are sub-contractors. They are working under the general contractor.

4. I am conducting an interview with Mr. Brown. He is the most successful realtor in town, and sells houses really fast.

5. He is quite a craftsman; his company is growing rapidly.

 

1 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

2 craftsman   

n.技工，精于一门工艺的匠人

参考例句：

• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。
• The craftsman is working up the mass of clay into a toy figure.艺人把一团泥捏成玩具形状。

3 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

4 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

5 plumbers   

n.管子工，水暖工( plumber的名词复数 )；[美][口]（防止泄密的）堵漏人员

参考例句：

• Plumbers charge by the hour for their work. 水管工人的工作是以小时收费的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Plumbers, carpenters, and other workmen finished the new house quickly. 管道工、木工及其他工匠很快完成了这幢新房子。 来自辞典例句