大學英語自學教程 unit 13

[00:00.00]Unit 13 text A [00:04.60]Insurance [00:06.07]保險 [00:07.55]An insurance agent called me this morning. [00:09.98]今天早上一們保險代理人給我打電話, [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]而下一位打電話來的保險代理人 [00:26.02]my health insurance,or fire protection for my home and furniture. [00:29.81]則對我的壽險,健康險,我的住宅和家具 的防火險感興趣. [00:33.59]The American consumer often feels constantly disturbed by insurance agents [00:38.57]美國消費都時常感覺到不斷受到保險代理人的打擾. [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,有時甚至還直闖我們的家門. [00:56.95]These insurance agents are always friendiy, well dressed, [01:00.63]這些保險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]然而沒有幾個美國人真正喜歡這些 [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]他們從來就不是我們真正的朋友,充其量也不過是我們不愿見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]我們不愿意談論保險,有三條理由. [01:44.65]First of all, insurance is expensive. [01:47.78]首先,保險太貴. [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數(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]事實上,他們買保險的錢和汽車的錢一樣多. [02:28.85]Health insurance that pays for modern medical miracles [02:32.23]美國人為健康保險, [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)學的各種特效成果而支付的健康保險也多達2000美元. [02:43.16]Adequate insurance is expensive; [02:45.80]購買足夠的保險昂貴, [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]保險還提醒我們是生活在一個不安全的世界里. [03:03.33]We are human and we must face the possibilities of illness,injury [03:07.96]我們是人,必須面對疾病,受傷, [03:12.60]death, and financial loss. [03:15.12]死亡和經(jīng)濟損失的種種可能性. [03:17.64]Our rational minds recognize the many unfortunate events that can occur, [03:21.67]理智使我們認識到很多不幸事件會發(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]嚴重受傷或死亡并不是我們高興談論或甚至愿意考慮的問題. [03:43.32]We are afraid; we would rather talk about football or the weather [03:47.89]我們覺得害怕,因此更愿意談談足球,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,保險是一個困難,復雜的話題. [04:05.29]No one understands it completely and only a few insurance professionals [04:09.82]沒有人完全明白它,只有少數(shù)的專業(yè)保險人員 [04:14.35]really feel comfortable in a discussion [04:16.99]能真正游刃有余地談論投保汽車, [04:19.63]of automobile, life,and major medical coverages. [04:22.71]人壽和主要的醫(yī)療險別. [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,所以想逃避談論保險,以掩飾我們的無知. [04:35.75]Yet these three reasons for not discussing insurance provide three excellent reasons: [04:40.99]然而,這三個不談論保險的理由恰恰是 [04:46.22]why we should learn more about it. [04:48.55]為什么我們應該更多地了解保險的極好理由. [04:50.87]Insurance is expensive. [04:53.41]保險很貴, [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上的錢和買房的錢一樣多. [05:05.37]If we are to spend our money, intelligently, [05:08.15]如果我們想花錢花得明智, [05:10.94]we need information about the products and services available. [05:14.27]就需要了解關于現(xiàn)有產(chǎn)品及服務的信息. [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]當我們買車,購房,添置衣物時, [05:30.42]Neither should we depend entirely on the agent when we buy insurance. [05:34.15]同樣,買保險時我們也不應完全依賴代理 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者,我們就須掌握保險險別的基本知識. [05:46.51]The intelligent consumer look problems in the face. [05:50.20]聰明的顧客能正視問題. [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]我們對聯(lián)這些情形作出計劃,找到應付它們的方法, [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能遠離我們要好得多. [06:22.46]Although insurance can be complex, [06:25.33]雖然保險是復雜的, [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,也并非學不會. [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]那些愿意學習的人就能理解保險的基本原理. [06:47.98]Serious study provides knowledge. [06:50.96]經(jīng)過認真的學習才能得到知識. [06:53.94]The study of insurance is an effectiveproven method of dealing with the insurance ignorance faced [06:58.91]學習保險是解決許多美國家庭面臨的保險無知的一種辦法, [07:03.89]by many American families. [07:06.32]這種辦法是行之有效和經(jīng)過實踐驗證了的. [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]事實上,你也許已經(jīng)認為自己是這個問題的專家了. [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]如果你聽說經(jīng)濟學家 [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]關于什么是貨幣及如何 衡量它有許多爭議,你可能會很驚訝. [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,價值的標準, [08:07.97]a standard of deferred payment, and a store of value. [08:11.94]延期付款的標準和價值的儲存手段. [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]即一個物品與另一個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]因為它要求買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]一個賣都有某商品出售或服務提供, [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]因為貨幣被廣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]拿錢買肉或別的他想要的任何東西. [09:23.15]A Standard of Value. [09:24.88]價值的標準. [09:26.62]Money provides a unit of account [09:28.66]貨幣作為衡量價值的標準, [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]某一物品的價值可用一個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]到夏威夷度假兩個星期你要花費多少? [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]就可能這樣回答問題, [09:54.08]by valuing the vacation in dollars-- [09:56.36]即以貨幣計算這個度假的開銷---- [09:58.65]say $2,000--rather than in terms of other things (like your car). [10:02.28]比如說2000美元,而不是用別的東西,如你的汽車作為計算單位. [10:05.91]Whether or not you're conscious of it, [10:08.04]不管你意識到與否, [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值. [10:14.71]As a standard of value, [10:16.40]作為價值的標準 [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等的價值. [10:30.39]The concept of GNP is useless [10:32.57]沒有如美元這樣的貨幣單位作為價值的標準, [10:34.75]without a standard of valuesuch as the dollar. [10:37.13]國民生產(chǎn)總值的概念是毫無用處的. [10:39.50]A Standard of Deferred Payment. [10:41.88]延期付款的標準. [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]延期償清債務的結算單位也是貨幣. [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,只有某貨幣的購買力在整個一段時間內(nèi)保持相對穩(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]如果物價上漲, [11:27.15]the future purchasing power of moneyover time will go down. [11:29.93]貨幣的購買力在將來一段時間后就會下降. [11:32.72]Similarly,a decrease in the price level will increase the futurepurchasing power of money, [11:36.49]同樣,物價下跌,未來的貨幣購買力就要增加. [11:40.26]A Store of Value. [11:41.84]價值的儲存手段. [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值的儲存手段, [11:48.00]that can he quickly converted to goods and services. [11:50.33]它能迅速轉換成商品及服務. [11:52.67]Money as the actual medium of exchange is completely liquid, [11:55.55]貨幣作為實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換為商品和服務, [12:03.70]without any inconvenience or cost. [12:05.67]沒有任何不便也無須花費. [12:07.64]Other assets that serve as stores of value must first be sold [12:10.72]別的作為價值儲存的資產(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)時總須花費,也不方便. [12:26.63]Holding money as a store of value [12:28.51]因此,持幣作為價值儲存手段 [12:30.39]thus can reduce the transaction costsinvolved in everyday business. [12:33.62]可以減少日常商務活動中的交易成本.

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