2007年VOA标准英语-New Harry Potter Book Breaks Sales Record

By Zulima Palacio
Washington, D.C.
24 July 2007
 

The new book "Harry¹ Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is the fastest-selling book in history with record sales around the world. Producer Zulima Palacio prepared the story. Jim Bertel narrates² it.

The seventh and final book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" broke sales records in the U.S and in Britain during it first 24 hours on the market. According to the publisher, Scholastic³ Corporation, the seventh and final book of the series written by J.K. Rowling sold 8.3 million copies in the U.S. on Saturday (July 21st) and 2.65 million copies in Britain.

Children around the world waited in long lines to get a copy of the final book in the Harry Potter series. An executive from the publisher compared the excitement, anticipation⁴ and plain hysteria of the book's release to the Beatles' first visit to the U.S.

The Harry Potter series has sold more than 325 million books worldwide since 1997, making it the biggest children's book series ever, according to Bloomberg, a financial information network

The new book topped last year's "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" as the fastest-selling book in history.

The Harry Potter series of books, movies and CDs has become a multi-billion dollar franchise⁵. According to Bloomberg, a financial information network, the Harry Potter series has sold more than 325 million books worldwide since 1997, making it the biggest children's book series ever.

Nielsen BookScan says all the figures were provisional and that full and final numbers will be announced later this week. In the meantime, Potter-mania continues in bookstores around the world.

1 harry   

vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。
• Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

2 narrates   

v.故事( narrate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• It narrates the unconstitutional acts of James II. 它历数了詹姆斯二世的违法行为。 来自辞典例句
• Chapter three narrates the economy activity which Jew return the Occident. 第三章讲述了犹太人重返西欧后的经济活动。 来自互联网

3 scholastic   

adj.学校的，学院的，学术上的

参考例句：

• There was a careful avoidance of the sensitive topic in the scholastic circles.学术界小心地避开那个敏感的话题。
• This would do harm to students' scholastic performance in the long run.这将对学生未来的学习成绩有害。

4 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

5 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。