[originaltext]M: Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m Mr. Smith. I called you a little wh

M: Good afternoon, ma’am. I’m Mr. Smith. I called you a little while ago about the apartment for rent.
W: Oh, right, Mr. Smith. Come in. Let me show you the place. [11] The two rooms are upstairs.
Come with me.
M: You have a very nice house.
W: Thanks. Here we are. Both are simply furnished with a bed, a desk and a cupboard.
M: This is not bad. How’s the hot water? [10] That’s very important. I’m asking because where I live now keeps running out of hot water. I can’t tell you how many cold showers I’ve had to take. In fact, I had to take one just this morning. I can’t stand taking cold showers any more.
W: Don’t worry. You can shower to your heart’s content in here.
M: How much is the rent?
W: [11] Well, how about $250 a month for each room? That includes water, electricity and gas.
M: Well, that sounds quite reasonable. Did you say quite a few people are waiting for these two rooms?
W: Right. [12] But you have no children. I’d like to put you up higher on the list.
M: Well, thank you very much. I’ll consult with my wife and contact you as soon as we make up our minds. It’s really very nice talking with you.
W: Thank you. I’m glad you like the rooms.
Questions 9 to 12 are based on the conversation you have just heard.
9. What are the two speakers talking about?
10. Which of the following does the man pay more attention to?
11. How much will the man pay each month for the two rooms?
12. Why would the woman like to rent these two rooms to the man?