大學(xué)英語(yǔ)自學(xué)教程 unit 13

[00:00.00]Unit 13 text A [00:04.60]Insurance [00:06.07]保險(xiǎn) [00:07.55]An insurance agent called me this morning. [00:09.98]今天早上一們保險(xiǎn)代理人給我打電話, [00:12.41]This particular agent wanted to discuss my automobile coverage, [00:15.58]想和我討論給我汽車承保的問(wèn)題, [00:18.76]but the next agent to call might be interested in my life insurance program [00:22.39]而下一位打電話來(lái)的保險(xiǎn)代理人 [00:26.02]my health insurance,or fire protection for my home and furniture. [00:29.81]則對(duì)我的壽險(xiǎn),健康險(xiǎn),我的住宅和家具 的防火險(xiǎn)感興趣. [00:33.59]The American consumer often feels constantly disturbed by insurance agents [00:38.57]美國(guó)消費(fèi)都時(shí)常感覺(jué)到不斷受到保險(xiǎn)代理人的打擾. [00:43.55]Many agents selling many different policies [00:46.52]很多推銷各種不同保險(xiǎn)的代理人 [00:49.50]call us by phone and sometimes even come to our doors. [00:53.22]給我們打電話,有時(shí)甚至還直闖我們的家門(mén). [00:56.95]These insurance agents are always friendiy, well dressed, [01:00.63]這些保險(xiǎn)代理人通常都彬彬有禮,衣冠楚楚, [01:04.31]and eager to be of help. [01:06.59]一副樂(lè)于效勞的樣子. [01:08.86]Yet few Americans really enjoy visiting with these eager helpful men and women. [01:13.55]然而沒(méi)有幾個(gè)美國(guó)人真正喜歡這些 [01:18.24]We are not happy when they call us; [01:20.81]迫切要幫助我們的男男女女的拜訪 [01:23.38]we are on guard when they visit our homes [01:26.32]我們也懷有戒心. [01:29.26]They are never really our friends;at best, they are a necessary evil. [01:32.98]他們從來(lái)就不是我們真正的朋友,充其量也不過(guò)是我們不愿見(jiàn)到而又缺少不了的人. [01:36.71]Three reasons why we are unwilling to discuss insurance can be suggested [01:40.68]我們不愿意談?wù)摫ｋU(xiǎn),有三條理由. [01:44.65]First of all, insurance is expensive. [01:47.78]首先,保險(xiǎn)太貴. [01:50.92]A young father who purchases a fairly small life insurance policy [01:54.44]一位年青的父親買了一分?jǐn)?shù)額挺小的保單, [01:57.97]agrees to pay a sum of $200 every year for 40 years-a total of $ 8,000. [02:04.04]同意40年內(nèi)每年支付200美元共8000美元. [02:10.12]Many college students pay $ 800 to $1,000 per year for car insurance. [02:15.25]很多大學(xué)生每年花800美元到1000美元給汽車投保. [02:20.38]In effect,they pay as much for the insurance as they do for the car itself [02:24.61]事實(shí)上,他們買保險(xiǎn)的錢(qián)和汽車的錢(qián)一樣多. [02:28.85]Health insurance that pays for modern medical miracles [02:32.23]美國(guó)人為健康保險(xiǎn), [02:35.61]often costs Americans as much as $2,000 every year. [02:39.39]每年因采用現(xiàn)代醫(yī)學(xué)的各種特效成果而支付的健康保險(xiǎn)也多達(dá)2000美元. [02:43.16]Adequate insurance is expensive; [02:45.80]購(gòu)買足夠的保險(xiǎn)昂貴, [02:48.44]it is a major item for most families, [02:51.47]是大部分家庭的一筆主要支出. [02:54.50]Insuranee also reminds us that we live in an unsafe world [02:58.91]保險(xiǎn)還提醒我們是生活在一個(gè)不安全的世界里. [03:03.33]We are human and we must face the possibilities of illness,injury [03:07.96]我們是人,必須面對(duì)疾病,受傷, [03:12.60]death, and financial loss. [03:15.12]死亡和經(jīng)濟(jì)損失的種種可能性. [03:17.64]Our rational minds recognize the many unfortunate events that can occur, [03:21.67]理智使我們認(rèn)識(shí)到很多不幸事件會(huì)發(fā)生, [03:25.69]but in our hearts we hope that we might be spared. [03:29.62]但在心里我們卻希望能得以幸免. [03:33.55]Serious injury or death is not a pleasant subjectto discuss or even consider. [03:38.44]嚴(yán)重受傷或死亡并不是我們高興談?wù)摶蛏踔猎敢饪紤]的問(wèn)題. [03:43.32]We are afraid; we would rather talk about football or the weather [03:47.89]我們覺(jué)得害怕,因此更愿意談?wù)勛闱?天氣 [03:52.46]or what we had for lunch. [03:54.95]或午飯吃了什么. [03:57.43]Finally, insurance is a difficult, complex subject. [04:01.36]最后,保險(xiǎn)是一個(gè)困難,復(fù)雜的話題. [04:05.29]No one understands it completely and only a few insurance professionals [04:09.82]沒(méi)有人完全明白它,只有少數(shù)的專業(yè)保險(xiǎn)人員 [04:14.35]really feel comfortable in a discussion [04:16.99]能真正游刃有余地談?wù)撏侗Ｆ? [04:19.63]of automobile, life,and major medical coverages. [04:22.71]人壽和主要的醫(yī)療險(xiǎn)別. [04:25.80]We feel inadequate and try to hide our ignorance by avoiding discussions of insurance. [04:30.77]我們感到知之不足,所以想逃避談?wù)摫ｋU(xiǎn),以掩飾我們的無(wú)知. [04:35.75]Yet these three reasons for not discussing insurance provide three excellent reasons: [04:40.99]然而,這三個(gè)不談?wù)摫ｋU(xiǎn)的理由恰恰是 [04:46.22]why we should learn more about it. [04:48.55]為什么我們應(yīng)該更多地了解保險(xiǎn)的極好理由. [04:50.87]Insurance is expensive. [04:53.41]保險(xiǎn)很貴, [04:55.94]In a lifetime,many of us spend as much on insurance as we do on the purchase of a home. [05:00.66]我們很多人一生中花在買保險(xiǎn)上的錢(qián)和買房的錢(qián)一樣多. [05:05.37]If we are to spend our money, intelligently, [05:08.15]如果我們想花錢(qián)花得明智, [05:10.94]we need information about the products and services available. [05:14.27]就需要了解關(guān)于現(xiàn)有產(chǎn)品及服務(wù)的信息. [05:17.60]We don't depend entirely on salespeople when we buy a car [05:21.18]我們并不完全依賴銷售人員. [05:24.75]a house, or a suit of clothes. [05:27.59]當(dāng)我們買車,購(gòu)房,添置衣物時(shí), [05:30.42]Neither should we depend entirely on the agent when we buy insurance. [05:34.15]同樣,買保險(xiǎn)時(shí)我們也不應(yīng)完全依賴代理 人. [05:37.87]We need a basic knowledge of insurance coverages if we are to be intelligent consumers. [05:42.19]如果想做明智的消費(fèi)者,我們就須掌握保險(xiǎn)險(xiǎn)別的基本知識(shí). [05:46.51]The intelligent consumer look problems in the face. [05:50.20]聰明的顧客能正視問(wèn)題. [05:53.88]Although accident, illness, and death are not pleasant subjects, [05:57.67]雖然事故,疾病和死亡不是令人愉快的事情, [06:01.46]each of us knows we face these possibilities. [06:04.70]但每個(gè)人都知道我們面臨著這些可能性. [06:07.93]It is better that we plan for these situations by finding means to deal with them [06:12.01]我們對(duì)聯(lián)這些情形作出計(jì)劃,找到應(yīng)付它們的方法, [06:16.08]than to just hope that they will somehow go away. [06:19.27]這就比僅僅希望這些厄運(yùn)能遠(yuǎn)離我們要好得多. [06:22.46]Although insurance can be complex, [06:25.33]雖然保險(xiǎn)是復(fù)雜的, [06:28.21]its basic conceptsare neither difficult nor impossible to learn. [06:31.93]但其基本概念并不困難,也并非學(xué)不會(huì). [06:35.65]Quite the opposite. [06:37.78]相反, [06:39.91]Insurance fundamentals can be understood by those willing to study them. [06:43.94]那些愿意學(xué)習(xí)的人就能理解保險(xiǎn)的基本原理. [06:47.98]Serious study provides knowledge. [06:50.96]經(jīng)過(guò)認(rèn)真的學(xué)習(xí)才能得到知識(shí). [06:53.94]The study of insurance is an effectiveproven method of dealing with the insurance ignorance faced [06:58.91]學(xué)習(xí)保險(xiǎn)是解決許多美國(guó)家庭面臨的保險(xiǎn)無(wú)知的一種辦法, [07:03.89]by many American families. [07:06.32]這種辦法是行之有效和經(jīng)過(guò)實(shí)踐驗(yàn)證了的. [07:08.75]Text B [07:11.62]What Is Money and What Are Its Functions? [07:14.25]什么是貨幣及它有些什么功能 [07:16.87]Money is something you've been familiar with through out your life. [07:19.41]貨幣是你一生都熟悉的東西. [07:21.94]In fact, you may already consider yourself an expert on the subject. [07:24.97]事實(shí)上,你也許已經(jīng)認(rèn)為自己是這個(gè)問(wèn)題的專家了. [07:28.00]You regularly use money to measure the value of things you own. [07:30.82]你經(jīng)常用貨幣衡量你擁有的財(cái)產(chǎn). [07:33.64]You also have some of it in your pocket and in bank accounts. [07:36.37]你在口袋里,銀行賬戶上也有一定數(shù)量的貨幣. [07:39.10]It might surprise you to learn [07:40.88]如果你聽(tīng)說(shuō)經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家 [07:42.65]that there's a great deal of disagreement among economists about what money is and how to measure it. [07:46.43]關(guān)于什么是貨幣及如何 衡量它有許多爭(zhēng)議,你可能會(huì)很驚訝. [07:50.20]Money serves a number of functions, [07:52.24]貨幣有很多功能, [07:54.28]and any definition of money must consider all of its functions. [07:57.17]任何關(guān)于貨幣的定義都必須考慮它所有的功能 . [08:00.05]The four major functions of money [08:02.02]貨幣的四大功能是: [08:04.00]are as a medium of exchangea standard of value, [08:05.98]交換的媒介,價(jià)值的標(biāo)準(zhǔn), [08:07.97]a standard of deferred payment, and a store of value. [08:11.94]延期付款的標(biāo)準(zhǔn)和價(jià)值的儲(chǔ)存手段. [08:15.91]A Medium of Exchange. [08:17.63]交換的媒介. [08:19.36]As a generally accepted medium of exchange, [08:21.64]作為一個(gè)被廣泛接受的交換媒介, [08:23.93]money rules out the need for barter, [08:25.90]貨幣排除了物物交換, [08:27.87]the direct exchange of one item for another. [08:30.25]即一個(gè)物品與另一個(gè)物品直接交換的必要性. [08:32.63]Barter is a very inconvenient means of trading [08:35.11]易貨是一種非常不便的貿(mào)易手段, [08:37.59]because it requires the double coincidence of wants. [08:40.08]因?yàn)樗筚I賣雙方的要求完全吻合. [08:42.58]A seller with a good or service to offer [08:44.94]一個(gè)賣都有某商品出售或服務(wù)提供, [08:47.31]must search for a buyerwho has exactly what the seller desires. [08:50.55]必須尋找恰好有他希望要的東西方的買者. [08:53.79]For example, if a baker wants meat, [08:56.07]例如,面包師想要肉, [08:58.36]he must search for a person [09:00.42]就要在以貨易貨制度下 [09:02.48]who sells meatand wants bread under a barter system. [09:05.28]找一個(gè)賣肉眼并且需要面包的人. [09:08.08]Because money is generally accepted as payment for any purchase, [09:10.80]因?yàn)樨泿疟粡V泛接受為任何買賣的支付手段, [09:13.53]a baker who sells bread for money [09:15.42]賣面包掙錢(qián)的面包師傅可以 [09:17.30]can use the money to buy meator anything else he wants. [09:20.22]拿錢(qián)買肉或別的他想要的任何東西. [09:23.15]A Standard of Value. [09:24.88]價(jià)值的標(biāo)準(zhǔn). [09:26.62]Money provides a unit of account [09:28.66]貨幣作為衡量?jī)r(jià)值的標(biāo)準(zhǔn), [09:30.70]that serves as a standard to measure value [09:32.97]可作為記帳的單位. [09:35.24]The value of an item is a measure of what a person will sacrifice to obtain it. [09:38.57]某一物品的價(jià)值可用一個(gè)人為獲得該物品需要支付貨幣的多少不衡量. [09:41.90]How much is a two week vacation in Hawaii worth to you? [09:44.39]到夏威夷度假兩個(gè)星期你要花費(fèi)多少? [09:46.87]If you're like most people, [09:48.50]如果你和大多數(shù)人一樣, [09:50.13]you'll probably respond to such a question [09:52.10]就可能這樣回答問(wèn)題, [09:54.08]by valuing the vacation in dollars-- [09:56.36]即以貨幣計(jì)算這個(gè)度假的開(kāi)銷---- [09:58.65]say $2,000--rather than in terms of other things (like your car). [10:02.28]比如說(shuō)2000美元,而不是用別的東西,如你的汽車作為計(jì)算單位. [10:05.91]Whether or not you're conscious of it, [10:08.04]不管你意識(shí)到與否, [10:10.17]you're constantly valuing items in dollars. [10:12.44]你經(jīng)常有貨幣確定物品的價(jià)值. [10:14.71]As a standard of value, [10:16.40]作為價(jià)值的標(biāo)準(zhǔn) [10:18.08]money allows the addition of values of many different itemsas automobiles, repairs, [10:22.16]貨幣使我們可以累加許多不同物品,如汽車,修理, [10:26.23]and all other goods and services. [10:28.31]和所有別的物品以及服務(wù)等的價(jià)值. [10:30.39]The concept of GNP is useless [10:32.57]沒(méi)有如美元這樣的貨幣單位作為價(jià)值的標(biāo)準(zhǔn), [10:34.75]without a standard of valuesuch as the dollar. [10:37.13]國(guó)民生產(chǎn)總值的概念是毫無(wú)用處的. [10:39.50]A Standard of Deferred Payment. [10:41.88]延期付款的標(biāo)準(zhǔn). [10:44.26]Many contracts involve promises to pay sums of money in the future. [10:47.38]很多合同涉及到將來(lái)付款的承諾. [10:50.50]The unit of account for deferred payment of debts is also money. [10:53.28]延期償清債務(wù)的結(jié)算單位也是貨幣. [10:56.07]If you borrow money to buy a car, [10:58.00]如果你借錢(qián)買車, [10:59.93]the loan contract specifies how much you must pay back every month [11:02.80]貸款協(xié)議明確規(guī)定每月你必須償還的錢(qián)數(shù) [11:05.68]and the number of months required to satisfy your obligation. [11:08.32]以及要求你履行債務(wù)的月數(shù). [11:10.95]However, money serves its function as a standard of deferred paymerit [11:14.04]但是,只有某貨幣的購(gòu)買力在整個(gè)一段時(shí)間內(nèi)保持相對(duì)穩(wěn)定, [11:17.12]only if its purchasing power remains fairly constant over time. [11:20.40]該貨幣才能起到延期付款的功能. [11:23.68]If the price level rises, [11:25.41]如果物價(jià)上漲, [11:27.15]the future purchasing power of moneyover time will go down. [11:29.93]貨幣的購(gòu)買力在將來(lái)一段時(shí)間后就會(huì)下降. [11:32.72]Similarly,a decrease in the price level will increase the futurepurchasing power of money, [11:36.49]同樣,物價(jià)下跌,未來(lái)的貨幣購(gòu)買力就要增加. [11:40.26]A Store of Value. [11:41.84]價(jià)值的儲(chǔ)存手段. [11:43.43]Money can also serve as a store of value [11:45.71]貨幣還可以作為一種價(jià)值的儲(chǔ)存手段, [11:48.00]that can he quickly converted to goods and services. [11:50.33]它能迅速轉(zhuǎn)換成商品及服務(wù). [11:52.67]Money as the actual medium of exchange is completely liquid, [11:55.55]貨幣作為實(shí)際的交換媒介完全是可變的, [11:58.42]meaning it can immediately be converted to goodsand services [12:01.06]意思是它可以馬上被轉(zhuǎn)換為商品和服務(wù), [12:03.70]without any inconvenience or cost. [12:05.67]沒(méi)有任何不便也無(wú)須花費(fèi). [12:07.64]Other assets that serve as stores of value must first be sold [12:10.72]別的作為價(jià)值儲(chǔ)存的資產(chǎn)必須先出售 [12:13.81]to be converted into a generally accepted medium of exchange. [12:16.64]轉(zhuǎn)換成一種能廣泛接受 的交換媒體. [12:19.47]There are often costs and inconvenience associatedwith liquidating other assets. [12:23.05]這些資產(chǎn)變現(xiàn)時(shí)總須花費(fèi),也不方便. [12:26.63]Holding money as a store of value [12:28.51]因此,持幣作為價(jià)值儲(chǔ)存手段 [12:30.39]thus can reduce the transaction costsinvolved in everyday business. [12:33.62]可以減少日常商務(wù)活動(dòng)中的交易成本.

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