新西兰英语 739 House Prices
英语课
Average house prices have increased by 6.7% in the last 12 months in New Zealand. However, the increase in Auckland central city was 11%. The reason for the increase was partly because mortgage rates are low at the moment, around 6%. There is also a shortage of houses, because of migrants and others moving to Auckland. The Auckland City Council wants to increase the density 1 of housing instead of letting the city expand in area. The city is on a narrow strip of land between two harbours. Any increase in housing means expanding the city north and south. That creates problems with infrastructure 2 – water, sewage and storm water pipes, as well as transport infrastructure such as roads, buses and rail.
In Auckland the average house price is more than $500,000.
Christchurch also has a housing shortage because of the earthquake nearly 2 years ago. Those people who live in the red zone have to move out of their house and find a new one. Also many tradesmen are needed for rebuilding the city and they need a place to live. House prices in the city and surrounding areas are now much higher than ever before. The average house price in Christchurch is now just over $400,000.
Vocabulary
?average – add all the house prices and divide by the number of houses
?mortgage – money borrowed from the bank to buy a house
?shortage (n); short (adj) – not enough
?migrants – people who move here from another country; immigrants
?density – more people for every square kilometre
?expand – grow, get bigger
?narrow – not wide
?infrastructure – system of facilities and services so that a city can function
?sewage – pipes to carry waste from the bath, toilet etc
?tradesmen – e.g. builders, electricians, plumbers 3
?rebuilding – building the city again
?surrounding – all around
?red zone – area damaged by earthquakes
n.密集，密度，浓度
- The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
- The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。
n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施
- We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
- We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。