VOA常速英语2018--巴黎车展10月14日将完美收官（在线收听）

For more than a century, the Paris Auto Show has been the place for car enthusiasts and manufacturers. Cars like General Motors Firebird, Renaud’s frigate, Jaguars and of course Mercedes-benz showcase cutting-edge technology for the times.

一个多世纪以来，巴黎车展一直是汽车爱好者和制造商们趋之若鹜之地。这里有很多汽车品牌，比如通用汽车、雷诺的护卫舰、捷豹，当然还有梅赛德斯-奔驰，它们都展现了时代的先进技术。

There was a type of Silicon Valley in West Paris. There were a lot of manufacturers competing in innovation to offer Parisians of fashionable, very expensive object, which will gradually become a lifestyle and would enter the daily lives of individuals, thanks to the Auto Show.

巴黎西部有一个与硅谷比肩的地方。各家汽车制造商都争相展现创意，为巴黎市民提供价格高昂的时尚物品，这将逐渐成为一种生活方式，进入每个人的日常生活中。而这一切都要归功于巴黎车展。

The first Paris Auto Show in 1898 drew about a hundred and forty thousand visitors. By 1954, that number hit a million. Manufactures from around the world took notice and showcased their cars special features from trunk space to the torpedo-like grille of the olds mobile golden rocket. But in response to soaring oil prices in the 1970s, car companies adapted output to boost a slumping automobile industry.

首次巴黎车展是在1898年，那次车展吸引了近14万人参观。1954年的时候，这一数字就突破了100万。全球各地的制造商们在注意到这一点之后，纷纷前来展示自己车型的特殊之处，从大空间的后备箱到奥兹莫比尔金火箭的鱼雷状格栅，不一而足。但为了应对上世纪70年代飙升的油价，很多汽车制造商纷纷调整了产量，来刺激疲软的汽车业。

What we see in particular, for example, when this first decade of the automobile industry crisis brought about by high oil prices, was the reduction in size of the vehicles. It was a way to urbanize the vehicle. From this point on, the car becomes integrated in this city.

我们尤其注意到的是：在当时的背景下（比如头10年居高不下的油价带来的车企危机），车辆数量的减少。这是让汽车城市化的一种做法。从那时起，汽车就融入了城市中。

International Car Shows had long been criticized for their objectification of women. Over time, the auto industry began targeting women as consumers and not just as hood ornaments.

国际车展之所以长期以来备受诟病，是因为车展一直把女性对象化了。随着时间的流逝，汽车行业开始把女性视为客户，而非只是花瓶一样的摆设。

Women are drivers. The role of women is not just to put cars in the spotlight.

女性也可以开车。女性的作用不只是将汽车暴置于聚光灯下。

In recent years, the Paris Auto Show has drawn 1.4million visitors. This year’s show runs from October 4th to the 14th.

近年来，巴黎车展已经吸引了140万访客。今年的时间是10月4日-14日。