VOA慢速英语--由于冠状病毒爆发，苹果降低了销售目标

Computer maker¹ Apple is warning investors² that it will not meet its three-month financial goal because of the coronavirus outbreak in China.

The company said Monday that all of its iPhone factories are outside Hubei province, where the outbreak began. It also said that all of the factories have reopened, but production is moving slowly.

"The health...of every person who helps make these products possible is our...priority³," Apple said in a statement.

The number of people who died from the virus reached at least 1,770 by Monday. The new coronavirus causes a disease called COVID-19.

Apple says demand for iPhones has fallen in China because many of Apple's 42 stores there have been closed or have reduced hours. China is Apple's third largest market for iPhones, after the United States and Europe.

One person told the Reuters News Agency that Apple's supply chain was affected⁴ by the outbreak. Apple's suppliers and other smart phone makers⁵ are expected to face financial difficulties in the future.

"If one...factory stays closed and they're the only supplier, then everyone has to stop and wait. And if there are two suppliers and one is shut down, then we need the other to do more," said the person who did not have permission to speak about the company and did not want to be identified.

Stacy Rasgon is a financial expert with Bernstein, a business advising company. He said Apple's problems also mean fewer chips will be sold for cell phones because most chips are made in China.

The research company Canalys estimates that Apple and competitor Huawei receive 99 percent of their production from China.

"Every electronic supply chain runs through China in a big way," Rasgon said.

Outside of China, Apple said iPhone demand has been strong. The company expects to meet its sales goals for the rest of the world, but it is unclear if difficulties with supplies will affect sales in the future.

Late last month, Apple said it expected revenue⁶ between $63 and $67 billion for the three-month period ending on March 30.

Words in This Story

outbreak - n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease

priority - n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first

chip - n. a very small piece of hard material (called silicon) in a computer or other device that contains many electronic circuits

revenue - n. money that is made by or paid to a business or an organization

supply chain - n. the movement of goods from one factory to another

1 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 priority   

n.优先处理的事，居先，优先（权）

参考例句：

• The development of the national economy is a top priority.发展国民经济是应予以最优先考虑的事。
• Things should be taken up in order of priority.办事应有个先后次序。

4 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。

5 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》

6 revenue   

n.总收入，财政收入，税收；税务局

参考例句：

• The country diminished the revenue by reducing tax.这个国家通过减税而使税收减少了。
• A government's revenue and expenditure should be balanced.政府的财政收入和支出要平衡。