2018年吉林自考《商務英語閱讀》復習試題及答案

　　China produces more than 90 per cent of the world’s rare earths, which refer to 17 elements used in hybrid cars, fluorescent lights and many high- technology applications.中國稀土產量占全球總產量的90%以上。稀土是17種元素的總稱，它們用于混合動力汽車、熒光燈和許多高技術應用。

　　A recent crackdown by Beijing on rare earth mines and restrictions on exports have caused chaos in some of these markets.北京方面近期對稀土礦的整治以及對稀土出口的限制，已在其中一些稀土市場引發混亂。

　　Japan and the US, the world’s biggest importers of rare earths, have repeatedly voiced concerns to China, while complaints from industrial users of rare earths have been growing. Last year, China cut rare earth exports by 40 per cent and temporarily banned exports to Japan during a political dispute.日本和美國是全球兩大稀土進口國，這兩個國家已再三向中國表示關切，與此同時，工業界稀土用戶的抱怨聲越來越響亮。去年，中國將稀土出口減少40%，并在一起政治爭端期間暫停對日本出口。

　　Rare earth prices have already been rising sharply this year, but the recent price spike has puzzled Chinese analysts, who blamed it largely on hoarding by companies who expect prices to rise further.今年稀土價格本來已經在快速上漲，但近期的井噴式漲價令中國分析師們困惑，他們在很大程度上將其歸咎于預期價格將進一步上漲的企業囤積居奇。

　　Heavy rare earths have been the most affected. The price for terbium oxide, used in hybrid cars and sonar systems, has risen to Rmb20,000 ($3,000) per kilogramme from Rmb8,750 per kg less than three weeks ago.重稀土受到最大影響。用于混合動力汽車和聲納系統的氧化鋱的價格已從不到三周前的每公斤8750元人民幣，漲至每公斤2萬元人民幣(合3000美元)。

　　“It’s a bubble, it’s got to be, there is no end use that can stand that price,” one European trader of rare earths said.“這是一個泡沫，肯定是，沒有哪一種最終用途能夠承受那樣的價位，”一名歐洲稀土交易員表示。

　　In recent testimony to Congress, General Electric, which uses rare earths for train engines, wind turbines and CAT scan equipment, urged Washington to take action to ensure domestic supplies of rare earths in the US.通用電氣(GE)在鐵路機車、風力發電機和CT掃描設備中采用稀土。該公司最近在美國國會作證時，敦促華盛頓方面采取行動，確保美國國內的稀土供應。

　　Some observers believe the US and EU may bring a case against China’s rare earth policies to the World Trade Organisation, which is reviewing Chinese export restrictions on other raw materials.一些觀察人士認為，美國和歐盟可能針對中國的稀土政策在世界貿易組織(WTO)提起訴訟，世貿組織正在審議中國對其它原材料的出口限制。

　　Chinese officials said environmental concerns are the main driver behind a restructuring on the industry, which will close illegal mines and reduce output. China began a stockpiling programme last year that could eventually store up to 200,000 tonnes of rare earths, nearly twice the country’s annual production, analysts said.中國官員表示，環境憂慮是整治稀土產業的主要推動因素，整治行動將關閉非法稀土礦，降低產量。分析師們表示，中國在去年啟動一個稀土儲備計劃，最終可能儲備至多20萬噸稀土，接近全國年產量的兩倍。

　　Traders said that in recent weeks “hot money” and speculation have driven up prices of rare earths inside China, while transaction volumes have fallen.交易員們表示，近幾周來“熱錢”和投機行為推高了中國境內的稀土價格，同時交易量已有所下降。

　　Yin Jianhua, analyst at state-owned consultancy Antaike, said China’s biggest producer of rare earths sold only 1,000 tonnes of rare earth oxides in the first quarter of this year, compared with an annual output of more than 50,000 tonnes.國有咨詢公司安泰科(Antaike)分析師殷建華表示，中國最大稀土生產商今年首季僅售出1000噸稀土氧化物，而該公司的年產量超過5萬噸。

　　Beijing’s controls spurred global miners to accelerate rare earth production outside China and some analysts think the industry could be oversupplied in a few years time as a result.北京方面的出口限制推動全球礦商加速中國以外的稀土開采，一些分析師認為，該行業可能因此在幾年后出現供過于求。