2006年VOA标准英语-Google Profits Soar in 2nd Quarter

By George Dwyer
Washington, D.C.
24 July 2006
 
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Google Inc., the U.S.-based web search firm, announced last week its profits have more than doubled in the most recent quarter. The company has managed to avoid the seasonal¹ slump² that has hit its rivals, Yahoo and eBay.

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Last week's earnings³ figures significantly beat market expectations, and sent shares of Google up nearly two percent in after hours trading on Thursday. Google's revenue rose 77 percent to $2.46 billion, with its second-quarter net income up sharply to $721 million.

Dr. Eric Schmidt, Google CEO  
  
Google CEO Eric Schmidt said, "I think this shows that the model is working -- that the structure, the innovation, and the focus that we have on our business, and especially on our end-users, is really delivering good financial returns for everyone."

Rival firm Yahoo posted second quarter profits this week as well, but those were modest and more in line with market expectations. Word that Yahoo had postponed⁴ a planned upgrade to an advertising⁵ system designed to compete with Google is believed to have contributed on Tuesday to Yahoo's biggest one-day percentage decline ever. By contrast, Google confirmed it plans to increase its investment in upgraded hardware and improved networks.

"Google is focused as being the innovator⁶ on the Internet, and end-users have a right to have products that scale, that work, that are simple and that work everywhere," said the company's CEO. "Google is building that platform. Google is building those solutions. We have a lot more coming."

One of the firm's latest initiatives, called Google Checkout⁷, has caught on fast with online shoppers and sellers. It provides single source "log-in for purchase capability⁸" by identifying secure places to shop within online search results.

"We are very happy with Google Checkout so far for our end users. The end users can now get their products even more quickly, and even more reliably, and Google checkout makes that happen that much faster," said Schmidt.

Google's current growth rates are now three-to-four times higher than those of its closest competitors.  But industry analysts⁹ are debating when -- or even whether -- the current slow growth in the industry will affect Google as it has its rivals.

1 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

2 slump   

n.暴跌，意气消沉，（土地）下沉；vi.猛然掉落，坍塌，大幅度下跌

参考例句：

• She is in a slump in her career.她处在事业的低谷。
• Economists are forecasting a slump.经济学家们预言将发生经济衰退。

3 earnings   

n.工资收人；利润，利益，所得

参考例句：

• That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
• Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。

4 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

5 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。

6 innovator   

n.改革者；创新者

参考例句：

• The young technical innovator didn't lose heart though the new system was not yet brought into a workable condition. 尽管这种新方法尚未达到切实可行的状况，这位青年技术革新者也没有泄气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Caesar planned vast projects and emerged as a great innovator. 恺撒制定了庞大的革新计划。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史

7 checkout   

n.（超市等）收银台，付款处

参考例句：

• Could you pay at the checkout.你能在结帐处付款吗。
• A man was wheeling his shopping trolley to the checkout.一个男人正推着购物车向付款台走去。

8 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。

9 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。