英语听力精选进阶版 7176

Background: 一个带着粉红色钻石项链的芭比娃娃在纽约的拍卖会上以高达30.25万美元的价格被拍卖，成为全世界价格最贵的芭比。拍卖的收入将用于慈善事业。

In the packed auction¹ room the bidding was brisk for lot 358, a Barbie doll quite unlike any you have ever seen before. This version of the all-American blonde toy was dressed in a black strapless evening dress, with a pink diamond necklace matching her pink peeptoe stiletto heels.

It was the diamonds which drove Barbie's price up to US$302,500. Who bought her? An anonymous² bidder³. The price was at the lower end of the estimates that Christie's, the auction house, had put.

The jewellery designer Stefano Canturi, who created this Barbie and her necklace, says investors⁴ are taking refuge in rare gems⁵ right now because of uncertain economic times. The prices of diamonds and coloured jewels have gone up 20% over the past year, according to the auction house Christie's.

The proceeds from the sale of the bejewelled Barbie will go to Breast Cancer Research.

Glossary⁶ 词汇表

packed 拥挤不堪的 

bidding （拍卖中的）出价，喊价 

brisk 快的 

lot 拍卖品 

all-American 十足美国的 

strapless 无背带的

matching 搭配，相称 

stiletto heels 细高跟 

anonymous 匿名的 

refuge （比喻）用…躲避投资风险 

gems 宝石 

uncertain 不确定的

Questions and Answers

True or False: There was considerable interest in buying the doll. 

True. The room was full of people and there were a large number of offers to buy the doll over a short period of time.

True or False: The doll was dressed in black and had a pink diamond on its shoes. 

False. The pink diamond was on the doll's necklace.

True or False: Christie's was surprised with the high price paid for the doll. 

False. Based on its calculations, the doll could have fetched a higher price.

According to the necklace's creator, what attracted the buyers? 

The price of diamonds has gone up 20% over the past year.

1 auction   

n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖

参考例句：

• They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
• They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。

2 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

3 bidder   

n.(拍卖时的)出价人，报价人，投标人

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder.电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。
• The bidder withdrew his bid after submission of his bid.投标者在投标之后撤销了投标书。

4 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

5 gems   

growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长

参考例句：

• a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。

6 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。