Lesson 11_口语技巧
is he a good neighbour?
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you and your family have been living in the same six-family apartment building for eight years. the landlord's family also lives there, and, generally speaking,all the tenants get along fairly well with each other. recently, however, there was a change in the apartment next to yours.
a nice, quiet old couple used to live there. the old lady would sometimes bring over some cookies or small cakes she had made, and your mother in return would give them some food or help the old woman with her shopping. unfortunately, the old lady died last month. her husband couldn't live alone, so his grandson moved in with him.
the grandson, who is about twenty, has become a problem to your family. the walls of the building are thin and he is noisy. you are used to peace and quiet, but the grandson likes to listen to his radio late at night. sometimes friends of his visit, and they make a lot of noise. everyone in your family is bothered by your new neighbor and as a result is becoming more irritated.
your mother once politely asked the old man if he was able to sleep well at night , but apparently he didn't get the hint. if he did understand your mother's intention and did speak to his grandson about it, the grandson apparently didn't listen, since things haven't changed any. everyone in your family agrees that something has to be done, but no one wants to hurt the old man's feelings or cause him any problems.
what do you think should be done?
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