VOA标准英语2011--Want to Buy the Empire State Building?

Want to Buy the Empire State Building?

Selling the Brooklyn Bridge in New York refers to an American expression about gullible¹ individuals who would buy it from scam artists offering bogus shares in the publicly-owned landmark². But shares in another of the city’s iconic structures, the Empire State Building, might become a reality.

The Empire State Building stood as the world’s tallest structure for more than 40 years after its construction in 1931. The Malkin family has owned it since a decade ago, paying more than $57 million for the iconic landmark. But this week, the Malkins filed papers with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, indicating that they might turn the property into a publicly-traded real estate company.

The details are sketchy³. But Teresa Martin, founder⁴ of the Real Estate Investment Association in New York, welcomes the opportunity, even as she wonders why the Malkins might be going public.

“It may be that they’re in trouble and need to raise some funds," she said. "But it may just mean that they want to expand and need investment dollars to actually do what they foresee in their vision to do.”

People with offices in the Empire State Building declined to comment on camera about the possible stock offering. But off camera, several complained about poor elevator service, inadequate⁵ restroom facilities and other services in the 80-year-old building. The Malkin family have spent about $500 million on renovations, including replacement⁶ of more than 6,500 windows for improved energy efficiency.

Teresa Martin sees the Empire State Building as an opportunity for people to diversify⁷ their investment portfolios⁸.

“If you’re telling me I can get it at $10 a share, let’s say, would I get 100 shares? Yes. Would I get like 200,000? Probably not," she said. "But I would get a piece.”

The building is often bathed in colored lights at night to commemorate⁹ various events or causes. The New York Times newspaper quotes a person familiar with the deal as saying that most people expect the building to be illuminated¹⁰ in green, the color of U.S. currency, if stocks in the Empire State Building are sold to the public.

1 gullible   

adj.易受骗的；轻信的

参考例句：

• The swindlers had roped into a number of gullible persons.骗子们已使一些轻信的人上了当。
• The advertisement is aimed at gullible young women worried about their weight.这则广告专门针对担心自己肥胖而易受骗的年轻女士。

2 landmark   

n.陆标，划时代的事，地界标

参考例句：

• The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
• The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。

3 sketchy   

adj.写生的，写生风格的，概略的

参考例句：

• The material he supplied is too sketchy.他提供的材料过于简略。
• Details of what actually happened are still sketchy.对于已发生事实的详细情况知道的仍然有限。

4 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

5 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

6 replacement   

n.取代，替换，交换；替代品，代用品

参考例句：

• We are hard put to find a replacement for our assistant.我们很难找到一个人来代替我们的助手。
• They put all the students through the replacement examination.他们让所有的学生参加分班考试。

7 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

8 portfolios   

n.投资组合( portfolio的名词复数 )；（保险）业务量；（公司或机构提供的）系列产品；纸夹

参考例句：

• Price risk arises in non-trading portfolios, as well as in trading portfolios. 价格风险中出现的非贸易投资，以及在贸易投资组合。 来自互联网
• How do we fatten our portfolios and stay financially healthy? 我们怎样育肥我们的投资结构和维持财政健康呢？ 来自互联网

9 commemorate   

vt.纪念，庆祝

参考例句：

• This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。
• We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

10 illuminated   

adj.被照明的；受启迪的

参考例句：

• Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
• the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市