英语听力精选进阶版 7085

Background: 日本电子制造商索尼公司将在全球裁减大约5%员工，并关闭10%的生产线。日本的经济状况比设想要糟，最新数字显示上一季度日本经济以每年1.8%的速度大幅衰退。

Sony said that 8000 job cuts are necessary in order to save the company around a billion dollars 十亿美元 (大约 6.85 billion yuan) per year.

It’s already warned that its profits 利润 will be less than half of those a year ago despite 尽管 heavy promotion¹ 促销 of its flat screen TVs 纯平电视 and PlayStation 3 computer games machine.

Many other large companies have also seen their profits decimated 大幅度下降 by a slump² in sales 销售暴跌 and a rise in the value of the yen³.

Small businesses are faring even worse with bankruptcy⁴ 破产/倒闭 levels on the rise.

GLOSSARY⁵ 词汇表

a billion dollars 十亿美元

despite 尽管

promotions⁶ 促销

flat screen TVs 纯平电视

decimated 大幅度下降

a slump in sales 销售暴跌

bankruptcy 破产/倒闭

Questions and Answers

1. Why is Sony cutting staff?

To save a billion dollars a year.

2. True or False? Sony predicts that its profit will be 50% less than a year ago.

True.

3. Why do you think large companies have lost big profits?

Because of a slump in sales and a rise in the value of yen.

4. What businesses are more likely to go bankrupt, big companies or small companies?

Small companies.

1 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

2 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

3 yen   

n. 日元；热望

参考例句：

• He wanted to convert his dollars into Japanese yen.他想将美元换成日币。
• He has a yen to be alone in a boat.他渴望独自呆在一条船上。

4 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

5 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。

6 promotions   

促进( promotion的名词复数 )； 提升； 推广； 宣传

参考例句：

• All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
• He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。