VOA常速英语2007年-Oil Prices Rise as US Supplies Drop

By VOA News
07 November 2007
 

The U.S. Energy Department says oil supplies fell by 800,000 barrels last week, as prices continue to climb toward $100 a barrel.

Crude oil prices rose above $98 a barrel during trading in New York Wednesday as the dollar weakened and investors¹ anticipated the drop in U.S. stockpiles.

Industry experts say it is inevitable² that oil will reach the $100 mark.

Investors have been buying oil to counter the risks of inflation posed by the weak dollar.  As the dollar declines in value, oil becomes cheaper for foreign investors.

A report from the International Energy Agency, IAEA, Wednesday says oil costs will continue to rise through the year 2030, as demand rises, particularly in China and India.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

1 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

2 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。