Emphasis(12)

Akiko is retired so she often spends her free time traveling.After she comes home she tells her English teacher Jeremy about her trips.Recently 、she paid a visit to her hometown,which she hadn’t visited for several years.

Jeremy:Akiko, I heard that you visited your hometown over the break.
How was it?

Akiko: It was marvelous.Not having been there for over four years, I was
really surprised to see all of the changes that had been made.

Jeremy:Is that so? Was it really different from how you remembered it?

Akiko: Yes,but in a good way. The ratty old theater had been torn down
and it had been replaced with a shopping mall.There was a
fifty-year-old-hotel downtown.　It had been turned into a
casino.　Also,the woods near my house had been cut down and
replaced with a small amusement park! The only thing that
　disappointed me was that my favorite ballroom dance club had
　been demolished to make way for a boring library.

Jeremy:Well,gee,Akiko,that doesn’t sound so good to me.　It sounds like
　　　　　　your quaint little hometown is suddenly becoming completely
　　　　　　urbanised.I mean,didn’t you feel even bit disappointed that those
　　　　　　 nice old buildings had been torn down?

Akiko:　Hmm.Now that you mention it,I did feel sad they had torn down 　　　　　　 the old lighthouse.I used to go there all the time when I was a
kid.

Jeremy:　And surely the library can’t be that bad,can it?

Akiko:　Well it does have a very nice atmosphere.The problem is,now
　　　　　　there’s nowhere else in town for me to go dancing!

ratty=shabby
make way for=clear the space
gee=へえっ、Ｊｅｓｕｓの遠回しの表現
quaint=attractively unusual,esp.in an old-fashioned style