Sony reviews China plans_阅读理解

Sony reviews China plans

文章来源：文章作者：发布时间：2009-06-23 06:48 字体： [大中小]　进入论坛

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Japanese electronics giant Sony Corp is reviewing its China operations amid a global layoff¹ plan that will see 16,000 people lose jobs.

Sony China said it will "actively² cooperate with the initiative" by its headquarters in Japan, the largest workforce³ reduction by a Japanese company since the start of the global economic crisis.

The global slump⁴ has also forced Sony to close at least five factories and curb⁵ worldwide investment.

Hou Li, an analyst⁶ at Essence Securities, said he believed that Sony layoffs⁷ in China are set to happen as the demand for consumer electronics products is slowing both in China and globally.

China is Sony's major manufacturing center and one of its key markets. The firm employs about 48,000 people in China, more than one quarter of its global headcount.

Amid the slowdown, consumers will be reluctant to buy consumer electronics gadgets⁸, which are usually "not must-buy products", which could significantly hurt Sony, Hou said.

China's consumer electronics market has long been plagued by price wars, which have produced razor-thin margins⁹ for some products.

Despite the possible layoff wave, Sony said it remains¹⁰ committed to the China market.

In 2007, Sony China generated $5.1 billion in sales, recording¹¹ 20 percent annual growth for the third consecutive¹² year.

"Despite the slowing demand and intensifying¹³ competition, China is the company's largest growth potential market and also the most important part in the operation value chain," Sony China said in a statement.

Sony China said the company has implemented¹⁴ several measures to fend¹⁵ off the slowing economy, including adjusting portfolio¹⁶, lowering inventory¹⁷ levels and reducing operational expenses.

If Sony decides to curb investment in China, it could also affect many of its partners, said Hou.

"Hundreds of small-sized local companies (along the supply chain) will also be forced to cut jobs," he said.

Questions:

1. How many jobs is Sony Corp considering cutting?

2. How many factories has Sony Corp been forced to close since the current financial crisis began?

3. Which country is Sony’s largest potential growth market?

Answers:

1. 16,000.

2. 5 factories.

3. China.

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收听单词发音

1 layoff
n.临时解雇，操作停止，活动停止期间，失业期
参考例句：
Finally, prepare an explanation about what led to your layoff.最后，要准备好一套说辞来解释你被解雇的原因。 Workers were re-employed after the layoff.在暂时解雇不久后工人们又被再度雇用了。

2 actively
adv.积极地，勤奋地
参考例句：
During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。 We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

3 workforce
n.劳动大军，劳动力
参考例句：
A large part of the workforce is employed in agriculture.劳动人口中一大部分受雇于农业。 A quarter of the local workforce is unemployed.本地劳动力中有四分之一失业。

4 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。

5 curb
n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制
参考例句：
I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。 You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

6 analyst
n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家
参考例句：
What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务？ The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。

7 layoffs
临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )；停工，停止活动
参考例句：
Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。 Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

8 gadgets
n.小机械，小器具（ gadget的名词复数）
参考例句：
Certainly. The idea is not to have a house full of gadgets. 当然。设想是房屋不再充满小配件。来自超越目标英语第4册 This meant more gadgets and more experiments. 这意味着要设计出更多的装置，做更多的实验。来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

9 margins
边( margin的名词复数 )；利润；页边空白；差数
参考例句：
They have always had to make do with relatively small profit margins. 他们不得不经常设法应付较少的利润额。 To create more space between the navigation items, add left and right margins to the links. 在每个项目间留更多的空隙，加左或者右的margins来定义链接。

10 remains
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。 The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

11 recording
n.录音，记录
参考例句：
How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？ I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

12 consecutive
adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的
参考例句：
It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。 The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

13 intensifying
v.（使）增强，（使）加剧( intensify的现在分词 )；增辉
参考例句：
The allies are intensifying their air campaign. 联军部队正加大他们的空战强度。来自辞典例句 The rest of the European powers were in a state of intensifying congestion. 其余的欧洲强国则处于越来越拥挤的状态。来自英汉非文学 - 历史

14 implemented
v.实现( implement的过去式和过去分词 )；执行；贯彻；使生效
参考例句：
This agreement, if not implemented, is a mere scrap of paper. 这个协定如不执行只不过是一纸空文。来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 The economy is in danger of collapse unless far-reaching reforms are implemented. 如果不实施影响深远的改革，经济就面临崩溃的危险。来自辞典例句

15 fend
v.照料（自己），（自己）谋生，挡开，避开
参考例句：
I've had to fend for myself since I was 14.我从十四岁时起就不得不照料自己。 He raised his arm up to fend branches from his eyes.他举手将树枝从他眼前挡开。

16 portfolio
n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位
参考例句：
He remembered her because she was carrying a large portfolio.他因为她带着一个大公文包而记住了她。 He resigned his portfolio.他辞去了大臣职务。

17 inventory
n.详细目录，存货清单
参考例句：
Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。 We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

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