万花筒 2012-10-14&10-16 丰田汽车：屋漏偏逢连夜雨

 Big headache for one of the world's big automakers,Toyota recalling 7.4 million motors around the globe due to the malfuncitoning windows switches. Cars affected² include some of Toyota's most popular motors: Vios,Corolla and Yaris. The biggest number of recalls will be in the key US market and more than a million in Europe,but 1.4 million vehicles recalled in China,the world's fastest growing car market.Paul Newton says the risk is more theoretical than dangerous. 

This is really quite minor³ in terms that the risk is theoretical, it affects a lot of vehicles, but nobody has been hurt and there is no reported incidents of fires or anything else.

The news is double trouble for Toyota,now struggling in China on the back of rising political tensions with Japan.Toyato sales in China nearly halved⁴ in September while other foreign car makers¹ such as BMW gained attraction. China accounts for over 10% of Toyota sales.

The spat⁵ between Japan and China is really quite serious and we're actully working on our next forecast with a view to Chinese sales for the Japanese automakers,really,you know,seriously down on where we thought they would be because of this.   

After an excellent start to the year,the company share price have wobbled in the past 6 month. With its quality control called further into question,Toyato could face a sad tune⁶ in China and beyond.

1 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 minor   

adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修

参考例句：

• The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
• I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。

4 halved   

v.把…分成两半( halve的过去式和过去分词 )；把…减半；对分；平摊

参考例句：

• The shares have halved in value . 股价已经跌了一半。
• Overall operating profits halved to $24 million. 总的营业利润减少了一半，降至2，400 万元。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 spat   

n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声

参考例句：

• Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
• There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。

6 tune   

n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整

参考例句：

• He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
• The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。