英语听力精选进阶版 7176（在线收听）

Background: 一个带着粉红色钻石项链的芭比娃娃在纽约的拍卖会上以高达30.25万美元的价格被拍卖，成为全世界价格最贵的芭比。拍卖的收入将用于慈善事业。

In the packed auction room the bidding was brisk for lot 358, a Barbie doll quite unlike any you have ever seen before. This version of the all-American blonde toy was dressed in a black strapless evening dress, with a pink diamond necklace matching her pink peeptoe stiletto heels.

It was the diamonds which drove Barbie's price up to US$302,500. Who bought her? An anonymous bidder. The price was at the lower end of the estimates that Christie's, the auction house, had put.

The jewellery designer Stefano Canturi, who created this Barbie and her necklace, says investors are taking refuge in rare gems right now because of uncertain economic times. The prices of diamonds and coloured jewels have gone up 20% over the past year, according to the auction house Christie's.

The proceeds from the sale of the bejewelled Barbie will go to Breast Cancer Research.

Glossary 词汇表

packed 拥挤不堪的 

bidding （拍卖中的）出价，喊价 

brisk 快的 

lot 拍卖品 

all-American 十足美国的 

strapless 无背带的

matching 搭配，相称 

stiletto heels 细高跟 

anonymous 匿名的 

refuge （比喻）用…躲避投资风险 

gems 宝石 

uncertain 不确定的

Questions and Answers

True or False: There was considerable interest in buying the doll. 

True. The room was full of people and there were a large number of offers to buy the doll over a short period of time.

True or False: The doll was dressed in black and had a pink diamond on its shoes. 

False. The pink diamond was on the doll's necklace.

True or False: Christie's was surprised with the high price paid for the doll. 

False. Based on its calculations, the doll could have fetched a higher price.

According to the necklace's creator, what attracted the buyers? 

The price of diamonds has gone up 20% over the past year.