英语听力精选进阶版 6224

Apple is Larger than Microsoft 苹果市值超过微软成为全球最大科技公司

In years to come our current era may be remembered as The Epoch¹ of Apple. The sleek², minimal³ design on their gadgets⁴ has proved a huge hit with young professionals everywhere in Britain.

In May Apple released the iPad in the UK. This is a tablet computer that attempts to combine the computing⁵ power of a laptop with the portability and usability of a smartphone. Some critics have called it a compromise, but that didn't stop Apple selling 300,000 units on the first day of trading in the US.

Now Apple have launched a new version of their successful iPhone. The new handset contains a front-facing camera for video conferencing and a gyroscope to allow users to play games by waving the device about.

The first quarter of 2010 proved to be the most successful yet for the iPhone, showing that Apple will not become a victim to a tougher economic climate.

Indeed, two weeks ago Apple's market value overtook that of its arch-rival, Microsoft, for the first time since 1989. In 2000, Microsoft was worth ￡382 billion (3.8 trillion yuan) while Apple was worth just ￡11 billion (109 billion yuan). Now both companies are worth around ￡150 billion (1.5 trillion yuan).

The economist⁶ and blogger Mark J. Perry writes that if someone who bought a $5,700 (39,000 yuan) Apple PowerBook in 1997 had spent that money on Apple stock instead, it would now be worth $321,000 (2.2 million yuan).

Many link Apple's rise to the guile⁷ and foresight⁸ of its CEO, Steve Jobs. Jobs was forced out of the company in the 1980s but he was brought back a decade later to reverse its fortunes.

It is a sign of the importance of Jobs to the company that when his health took a turn for the worse last year, Apple's share prices fluctuated.

Now Steve Jobs is fighting fit again but even he is not immune to frustrating⁹ computer problems. At the launch of the iPhone 4, he appeared in his trademark¹⁰ blue jeans and black turtleneck. When he tried to get the new gizmo to access the internet a notice appeared on the screen: "Cannot open page. Safari¹¹ cannot open the page because it is not connected to the Internet".

"Well Jeez" said Jobs, "I don't like this."

Glossary 词汇表

era 时代 

Epoch 时期，时代 

sleek 线条流畅的，造型优美的 

minimal 简洁的 

gadgets 小机械产品 

tablet computer 平板电脑 

portability 可携带，轻便 

smartphone 智能手机 

video conferencing 视频会议 

gyroscope 陀螺仪 

arch-rival 夙敌 

stock 股票 

guile 诡计，狡诈 

foresight 深谋远虑 

fluctuated 上下波动 

fighting fit 精悍善战 

immune 不受影响的 

trademark 商标，标志性的 

turtleneck 套头衫 

gizmo 小玩意儿，小发明

1 epoch   

n.(新)时代；历元

参考例句：

• The epoch of revolution creates great figures.革命时代造就伟大的人物。
• We're at the end of the historical epoch,and at the dawn of another.我们正处在一个历史时代的末期，另一个历史时代的开端。

2 sleek   

adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢

参考例句：

• Women preferred sleek,shiny hair with little decoration.女士们更喜欢略加修饰的光滑闪亮型秀发。
• The horse's coat was sleek and glossy.这匹马全身润泽有光。

3 minimal   

adj.尽可能少的，最小的

参考例句：

• They referred to this kind of art as minimal art.他们把这种艺术叫微型艺术。
• I stayed with friends, so my expenses were minimal.我住在朋友家，所以我的花费很小。

4 gadgets   

n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数 ）

参考例句：

• Certainly. The idea is not to have a house full of gadgets. 当然。设想是房屋不再充满小配件。 来自超越目标英语 第4册
• This meant more gadgets and more experiments. 这意味着要设计出更多的装置，做更多的实验。 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

5 computing   

n.计算

参考例句：

• to work in computing 从事信息处理
• Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。

6 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

7 guile   

n.诈术

参考例句：

• He is full of guile.他非常狡诈。
• A swindler uses guile;a robber uses force.骗子用诈术；强盗用武力。

8 foresight   

n.先见之明，深谋远虑

参考例句：

• The failure is the result of our lack of foresight.这次失败是由于我们缺乏远虑而造成的。
• It required a statesman's foresight and sagacity to make the decision.作出这个决定需要政治家的远见卓识。

9 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 trademark   

n.商标；特征；vt.注册的…商标

参考例句：

• The trademark is registered on the book of the Patent Office.该商标已在专利局登记注册。
• The trademark of the pen was changed.这钢笔的商标改了。

11 safari   

n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队

参考例句：

• When we go on safari we like to cook on an open fire.我们远行狩猎时，喜欢露天生火做饭。
• They went on safari searching for the rare black rhinoceros.他们进行探险旅行，搜寻那稀有的黑犀牛。