VOA标准英语2011--US Debt Debate Worries Gold Buyers, Sell

US Debt Debate Worries Gold Buyers, Sellers in Asia

The political wrangling¹ in the United States over the national debt ceiling has helped push the dollar to record lows, and the price of gold above $1,600 an ounce, double where it was two years ago.
In Asia, where gold is not just an ornament², but also a trusted investment, demand remains³ brisk. But with prices expected to continue rising, especially if the U.S. debt fight drags on, consumers and gold sellers say sales are going to be affected⁴.
These one-kilogram gold bars sell for about $50,000 each. In Bangkok's Chinatown, the center of the Thailand's gold trade, record prices are prompting some shoppers to shift from ornaments⁵ to bars.
Despite the crowd of shoppers in this jewelry⁶ store, gold traders are worried.
Tanarat Pasawongse is managing director of Hua Seng Heng Gold Futures⁷. He is watching the U.S. political debate over the debt limit. "If they cannot cut the spending and be able to increase the debt limit, the problem can become the default, which will lead to a higher pricing in gold," he said.
And that, he and other gold traders say, will mean lower sales.
In India, where gold jewelry is traditionally given to brides at weddings, buying patterns already are changing.
"It's an Indian wedding. So you can't do without gold. You can't do without diamonds. So I have to give. But yes, the amount will definitely get reduced," said one woman.
At least one company sees promise in gold prices: Gold to Go is a German company that sells automatic teller⁸ machines that dispense⁹ gold bars. It says sales are looking up.

1 wrangling   

v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. 双方大部分时间都在围绕程序问题争论不休。 来自辞典例句
• The children were wrangling (with each other) over the new toy. 孩子为新玩具（互相）争吵。 来自辞典例句

2 ornament   

v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物

参考例句：

• The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
• She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。

3 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

5 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

7 futures   

n.期货，期货交易

参考例句：

• He continued his operations in cotton futures.他继续进行棉花期货交易。
• Cotton futures are selling at high prices.棉花期货交易的卖价是很高的。

8 teller   

n.银行出纳员；(选举)计票员

参考例句：

• The bank started her as a teller.银行起用她当出纳员。
• The teller tried to remain aloof and calm.出纳员力图保持冷漠和镇静。

9 dispense   

vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施

参考例句：

• Let us dispense the food.咱们来分发这食物。
• The charity has been given a large sum of money to dispense as it sees fit.这个慈善机构获得一大笔钱，可自行适当分配。