賴(lài)世雄高級(jí)17課
Hi, everyone, welcome again to Radio English on Sunday.
This is Bruce,
/ and this is Peter,
/ Today we present to you unit seventeen, Precious and semi-precious stones.
/ ..
/ Right, 半寶, will be "semi-precious, ", we explain in today's article. When we see the word "semi", we think something which is "half" or "partial". But firstly we have to understand really what a precious stone means exactly in the industry of precious stones and jewelry. So today we're going to learn about these very special stones and jewelry, and the jewelry business.
/ Shall we tell our listeners that actually this is topic you specially like ..
/ Well, it's a...one I am learning and I have a great interest in, there's nothing more beautiful to me on this planet than the natural precious stones.
/ ...
/ And don't forget the one in my nose. :D
Ohh...whoo...
/ He is kidding!
Ok, let's read the introductory paragraph and get started.
"My! What a beautiful ring you are wearing!" This compliment never fails to flatter and honor the lucky wearer of the ring, or other pieces of jewelry bedcked with precious or semi-precious stones. Most of people know the names of only some of these natural treasures. Many people are surprised to learn that all semi-precious stones can be bought inexpensively, not to mention that the precious stones can also be had for far less than one imagined. However, as with everything else in life, you have to pay for the best quality. This lesson will give the reader both information and tips on gem stones and their purchase.
Gem stone, you can see on the last line here, is another way to say "precious" or "semi-precious" stones. Many people enjoy jewelry, in fact, as long ago as tens of thousands of years ago, we have found graves throughout the world where people were wearing things like rings and bracelets and necklaces. Jewelry seems to be part of human condition. Long before ancient Egypt or ancient China, people were already wearing jewelry, so it's like clothing; it seems to be part of our human condition.
/ jewelry, 不可數(shù)，但 jewel, 卻是可數(shù)的名詞，one jewel, two jewels.
He bought a lot of jewelry,
/ Right. You can't say "jewelries. "
Well let's find out what precious and semi-precious stones really refer to in the industry in our next paragraph.
Just what are precious and semi-precious stones? The word "semi" refers to anything which is half or only partial. Thus semi-precious stones are not precious, by definition. Actually, some high quality precious stones are far more expensive than some low grade precious stones. So the terms "precious" and "semi-precious" when applied to stones, do not refer necessarily to their cost.
This paragraph gives us what we call a negative definition. It's definition which tells us what something is not, and when we see the terms "precious" or "semi-precious"; when we are talking about gem stones, we are not necessarily talking about their price. And we give some examples of this in the next couple of paragraphs, so I am not going to give you any more tips or hints about that right now, but just remember, if someone says, "here is the diamond, give me a million US dollars for it, " wow, look at the quality first. The quality will determine the price, not the type of stones.
/ .., by definition, 根據(jù)...的定義， define, v, to define A as B,
The teacher asked us not to use that word, because he thought that it was a vulgar word, so he defined that word as a vulgar word.
/ "Vulgar" means rude or low class.
/ "partial," 1, 部分的，2，偏心的，偏愛(ài)的，
The teacher is partial to Bruce, but he is prejudiced against me. "Bruce, mmm, you are good. " "Bruce, I like him very much."
to be partial to someone, to be prejudiced against someone,
Good, let's go ahead to the third paragraph now and find out exactly what the precious stones are. 0659
_________bedck, v, v.裝飾
_________bracelet, n, 手鐲，necklace, n,
_________opal, 貓兒眼，
All authorities on gems agree that the diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald are precious stones. Some of these experts include the opal as a fifty precious stone while others consider the pearl in this class. The latter may surprise the reader, but on reflection, pearls are also a kind of stone, though organically produced by certain shellfish rather than by geologic forces.
Well, the short point of the whole paragraph is that there are four stones which everyone agrees are called "precious stones": the diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. But there is a fifth precious stone, but that depends on whom you are talking to. Some will tell you it's the opal, and others the pearl. Well, you don't have to worry about that. That is something for gemologists to debate.
/ gemologist, 寶石專(zhuān)家
/ It actually has two spellings. "Gemmologist," other spell it with only one "m", "gemologist".
/ Out of curiosity I am going to ask you this question, line three we have this word "include the opal", 但是德國(guó)有一個(gè)汽車(chē)也叫opal?
/ No, no, that's OPEL.
/ Do they have any relationship?
/ Uhh, my German isn't that good, but it wouldn't surprise me if the german spelling for the same stone is OPEL.
/ Ohh...
/ Maybe I can check that in the next week report back to our audience.
/ OK.
/ Let's go ahead now to find out what the semi-precious stones are.
Semi-precious stone include all other stones considered worthy of use in jewelry. The list of these stones is very long; suffice it to say that there are several hundred such stones, though most people are aware of only a couple of dozen of their names, and few people can readily recognize more than a couple of any type of stones at all.
Well, what are the semi-precious stones then? This is easier; any stone that isn't a precious stone is called the semi-precious stone, if it is used in jewelry. We don't have room to write all these names although we do mention one important semi-precious stone later in the program; it's specially important to the Chinese. Now these stones are softer stones than the harder diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald, which are very tough and hard. Semi-precious stones are also softer, not only usually cheaper than precious stones.
/ Mmm. The line three, "suffice it to say that ...", it's very useful phrase. Can I say this way?
Peter is versatile; suffice it to say that he can eat.
/ Haha, :D No no no no. "Versatile" will mean he can do many things. So, we would change that sentence to:
Peter is very versatile; suffice it to say that he can eat, sleep and watch TV. :P
/ ...光說(shuō)..就夠了，就足以說(shuō)明問(wèn)題了。
Suffice it to say that he can draw, draw pictures; he can dance, ...
/ sing, cook,
Alright. Let's go ahead now and find out more about precious stones. This is probably what you are waiting to hear.
Diamonds, and the colored stones, ruby, sapphire and emerald, are often considered the most expensive among all stones. This is generally true though quality is more important than stone type on price. One can buy "a real sapphire" for US ten dollars, but it would be considered not much better than junk to a jeweler. These professionals consider several features of stones before assessing their value. Carat size, for the weight of the stone, one carat equals two hundred miligrams, is one such feature. The cut of the stone is another. Some styles of cut are considered more costly than others. Besides, in the technical cutting of the gem from the rough stone, great care must be taken not to cut into or scratch the surface of the finished stone. The color is also important. Rubies, sapphires and emeralds, for instance, in order to fetch the highest prices, must be solid colored throughout. Finally, clarity or translucence, with neither streaking nor a cloudy inner appearance, also determines the final price. Gems with these qualities are far and few between, commanding nearly astronomical prices. A good jeweler will advise you of these characteristics and how to look for and evaluate them yourself. Also remember that for a gem ring or pendant, roughly seventy percent of the value of the piece of jewelry is in the primary stone, with the rest in labor and metal.
This paragraph.。.now really gives us some understanding of how to value a stone. The size is important, and here we use the word "carat", which is used in the industry, one carat is two hundred milligrams. A five-carat stone is a rather large stone, and that will be just one gram in weight. But we also have to look at the cut, or color. Now for diamonds it would be the absence of color, but for rubies, sapphires and emeralds, it would be how clear the color is, and how even the color is. There are many of these qualities of the stones that a good jeweler will teach you. If a jeweler says, here, buy this ring, that's not a good jeweler; if a jeweler teaches you about how to buy stones, he or she is probably a good jeweler. And we say this in the industry, if you don't know your stones, know your jeweler.
/ ...gems with these qualities are far and few between.
to be far and few between, 少之又少，這個(gè)詞組的主語(yǔ)通常是復(fù)數(shù)的。象比得這樣的人呢真是少之又少啊，
/ Thank God that people like Peter are far and few between. :P
/ scratch, 這個(gè)字還有一個(gè)名詞的用法，to start from scratch, v, 從起跑線(xiàn)開(kāi)始，從頭開(kāi)始，白手起家，什么都沒(méi)有的時(shí)候開(kāi)始從頭來(lái)，
/ Oh.
His wealth was created from scratch; he started his business from scratch.
That's a fun expression.
Well, let's turn the page and continue. 1718
_____assess, --->evaluate,
v.tr.
as.sessed; as.sess.ing; as.sess.es;
To estimate the value of (property) for taxation.
估價(jià)為征稅估定（財(cái)產(chǎn)）的價(jià)值
To set or determine the amount of (a payment, such as a tax or fine).
確定金額確定或決定（某項(xiàng)付費(fèi)，如稅或罰款）的金額
To charge (a person or property) with a special payment, such as a tax or fine.
征稅對(duì)（某人或財(cái)產(chǎn)）征收特殊費(fèi)用，如稅或罰款
To determine the value, significance, or extent of; appraise.
評(píng)價(jià)評(píng)估某事物的價(jià)值，意義或程度；評(píng)估
See: estimate
vt.
估定(財(cái)產(chǎn), 價(jià)值等)
確定(稅款、罰款、賠款)的數(shù)額
征收(稅款、會(huì)費(fèi)等)
評(píng)估(人物、工作等)
assessa tax on sb.'s property
對(duì)某人的財(cái)產(chǎn)征稅
assess sb.'s efforts
評(píng)價(jià)某人的工作
The annual income of school teachers in this place was assessed at＄900.
這地方的學(xué)校教師的收入為900美元。
Damages were assessed at 1000 RMB.
損失估計(jì)達(dá)一千元人民幣。
_____pendant,
n.
懸重物, 重[懸]飾, 鉤[耳]環(huán), 掛鉤, 吊燈
Specific names of semi-precious stones are too numerous to mention, but jade is well known to Chinese. The finest jade, apple green in color, commands very high bids at auction. The trouble with semi-precious stones is that they are not so hard as precious stones. So they far more easily scratch, crack or chip. If this happens, the value of the semi-precious stones plummets. Diamonds, the hardest natural stone, and rubies and sapphires, the second hardest, are actually rather hard to deface.
Now we pay some attention to semi-precious stones, but we give you the name of only one. Because 玉 is so important in Chinese culture. Well, we learn in this paragraph that, jade can command very high bids at auction, this means that jade is sold at a very very high prices, but like everything it has to be the highest quality jade. And we also learn something else about semi-precious stones is that they break much more easily than diamonds, rubies, and sapphires in particular; those are the three hardest natural stones. If you drop your diamond ring, or you hit your diamond ring, even against medal, it won't break, chip, or crack. Unfortunately jade will. So, if you have a good piece of jade, take very good care of it.
_____plummet, v,
n.
A plumb bob.
鉛錘
Something that weighs down or oppresses; a burden.
壓抑物，壓迫感壓下來(lái)或壓迫的事物；負(fù)擔(dān)
plummet
v.intr.
plum.met.ed; plum.met.ing; plum.mets;
To fall straight down; plunge.
垂直落下垂直落下來(lái)；一頭扎下
To decline suddenly and steeply:
驟降，爆跌突然和大幅度地降低：
Stock prices plummeted.
股票價(jià)格暴跌
vi.
垂直落下; 驟然失落
The damaged aircraft plummeted down to earth.
損壞的飛機(jī)垂直墜落于地上。
_____deface,
vt.
破壞表面, 使失面子
涂銷(xiāo), 蓋銷(xiāo)(郵票等)
磨損
deface a desk by marking on it
在桌面上亂畫(huà)而把桌面弄壞
deface an inscription
磨損碑文
v.tr.
de.faced; de.fac.ing; de.fac.es;
To mar or spoil the appearance or surface of; disfigure.
破壞外觀損傷…的外貌或表層；使變丑
To impair the usefulness, value, or influence of.
破損損害…的功用、價(jià)值或影響
Now let's finish with the final paragraph. 19:04
Don't let anyone sell you a good deal on a gem on the street. Go to several professional jewelers before committing yourself and your money to a piece of jewelry with precious or semi-precious stones. Part of the value of that good piece of jewelry is the fact that it can be handed down generation after generation with increasing value. People in all cultures never seem to tire of the brilliance of gems.
First we advise you always go to a professional jeweler, or two, or three. Just as in (bine sterial) equipment, or clothing, shop around. But won't you find the jeweler you like and you trust, they will probably value your business and your friendship, you'll probably be ok to stay with the same jeweler. But at first, shop around. Second, remember that gems can be given or handed down to the next generation and then the next generation and so on, with increasing value. Because that piece of jewelry will also increase not because of the jewel but because it becomes antique, since jewelry fascinates everybody throughout cultures and throughout time. Maybe, if you are lucky, you can afford a nice piece of jewelry in your lifetime.
/ ...commit yourself to, commit oneself to, what does this mean?
/ Well, for example, in marriage, when you decide to marry someone, you commit yourself to the other person; you promise yourself to; you obligate yourself to another person. 對(duì)。。。表示忠心，表示義務(wù)，把自己交付給某人，委身于，
Now let's go back for our final rereading of Precious and Semi-precious Stones.
/ ..seem to tire of the brilliance of gems, ---> seem to get tired of the brilliance of gems.
Well, join us next week.
___________________Pan. 2003. 9. 26
***********************************************************************************************
Lesson 17, Precious and Semi-precious Stones 寶石和半寶石
"My! What a beautiful ring you're wearing!" This compliment never fails to flatter and honor the lucky wearer of the ring or other pieces of fewelry bedcked with precious or semi-precious stones. Most people know the names of only some of these natural treasures. Many people are surprised to learn that all semi-precious stones can be bought inexpensively, not to mention that the precious stones can also be had for far less than one imagined. However, as with everything else in life, you have to pay for the best quality. This lesson will give the reader both information and tips on gem stones and their purchase.
Just what are precious and semi-precious stones? The word semi refers to anything which is half or only partial; this, semi-precious stones are not precious, by definition. Actually, some high-quality semi-precious stones are far more expensive than some low-grade precious stones, so the terms "precious" and "semi-precious" when applied to stones do not refer necessarily to their cost.
All authorities on gems agree that the diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald are precious stones. Some of these experts include the opal as a fifth precious stone while others consider the pearl in this class. The latter may surprise the reader, but on reflection, pearl are also a kind of stone, though organically produced by certain shellfish rather than by geologic forces.
Semi-precious stones include all other stones considered worthy of use in jewelry. The list of these stones is very long; suffice it to say that there are several hundred such stones, though most people are aware of only a couple of dozen of their names, and few people can readily recognize more than a couple of any type of stone at all.
Diamonds and the colored stones ruby, sapphire, and emerald are often considered the most expensive among all stones. This is generally true, though qualityis more important than stone type on price. One can buy a "real sapphire" for US $10, but it would be considered not much better than junk to a feweler. These professionals consider several features of stones before assessing their value. Carat size, or the weight of the stone (one carat= 200 miligrams) is one such feature. The cut of the stone is another. Some styles of cuts are considered more costly than others; besides, in the technical cutting of the gem form the rough stone, great care must be taken not to cut into or scratch the surface of the finished stone. The color is also important. Rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, for instance, in order to fetch the highest prices, must be solid colored throughout. Finally, clarity or translucence, with neither streaking nor a "cloudy" inner appearance, also determines the final price. Gems with these qualities are far and few between, commanding nearly astronomical prices. A good fewleler will advise you of these characteristics and how to look for and evaluate them yourself. Also remember that for a gem ring or pendant, roughly 70% of the value of the piece of jewelry is in the primary stone(s), with the rest in labor and metal.
Specific names of semi-precious stones are too numerous to mention, but jade is well known to Chinese. The finest jade (apple agree in color) commands very high bids at auction. The trouble with semi-precious stones is that they are not so hard as precious stones so they far more easily scratch, crack, or chip. If this happens, the value of the semi-precious stones plummets. Diamonds, the hardest natural stone, and rubies and sapphires, the second hardest, are actually rather hard to deface.
Don't let anyone well you a "good deal on a gem" on the street. Go to several professional jewelers before committing yourself---and your money ---to a piece of jewelry with precious or semi-precious stones. Part of the value of that good piece of fewelry is the fact that it can be handed down generation after generation with increasing value. People in all cultures never seem to tire of the brilliance of gems.
Hi, everyone, welcome again to Radio English on Sunday.
This is Bruce,
/ and this is Peter,
/ Today we present to you unit seventeen, Precious and semi-precious stones.
/ ..
/ Right, 半寶, will be "semi-precious, ", we explain in today's article. When we see the word "semi", we think something which is "half" or "partial". But firstly we have to understand really what a precious stone means exactly in the industry of precious stones and jewelry. So today we're going to learn about these very special stones and jewelry, and the jewelry business.
/ Shall we tell our listeners that actually this is topic you specially like ..
/ Well, it's a...one I am learning and I have a great interest in, there's nothing more beautiful to me on this planet than the natural precious stones.
/ ...
/ And don't forget the one in my nose. :D
Ohh...whoo...
/ He is kidding!
Ok, let's read the introductory paragraph and get started.
"My! What a beautiful ring you are wearing!" This compliment never fails to flatter and honor the lucky wearer of the ring, or other pieces of jewelry bedcked with precious or semi-precious stones. Most of people know the names of only some of these natural treasures. Many people are surprised to learn that all semi-precious stones can be bought inexpensively, not to mention that the precious stones can also be had for far less than one imagined. However, as with everything else in life, you have to pay for the best quality. This lesson will give the reader both information and tips on gem stones and their purchase.
Gem stone, you can see on the last line here, is another way to say "precious" or "semi-precious" stones. Many people enjoy jewelry, in fact, as long ago as tens of thousands of years ago, we have found graves throughout the world where people were wearing things like rings and bracelets and necklaces. Jewelry seems to be part of human condition. Long before ancient Egypt or ancient China, people were already wearing jewelry, so it's like clothing; it seems to be part of our human condition.
/ jewelry, 不可數(shù)，但 jewel, 卻是可數(shù)的名詞，one jewel, two jewels.
He bought a lot of jewelry,
/ Right. You can't say "jewelries. "
Well let's find out what precious and semi-precious stones really refer to in the industry in our next paragraph.
Just what are precious and semi-precious stones? The word "semi" refers to anything which is half or only partial. Thus semi-precious stones are not precious, by definition. Actually, some high quality precious stones are far more expensive than some low grade precious stones. So the terms "precious" and "semi-precious" when applied to stones, do not refer necessarily to their cost.
This paragraph gives us what we call a negative definition. It's definition which tells us what something is not, and when we see the terms "precious" or "semi-precious"; when we are talking about gem stones, we are not necessarily talking about their price. And we give some examples of this in the next couple of paragraphs, so I am not going to give you any more tips or hints about that right now, but just remember, if someone says, "here is the diamond, give me a million US dollars for it, " wow, look at the quality first. The quality will determine the price, not the type of stones.
/ .., by definition, 根據(jù)...的定義， define, v, to define A as B,
The teacher asked us not to use that word, because he thought that it was a vulgar word, so he defined that word as a vulgar word.
/ "Vulgar" means rude or low class.
/ "partial," 1, 部分的，2，偏心的，偏愛(ài)的，
The teacher is partial to Bruce, but he is prejudiced against me. "Bruce, mmm, you are good. " "Bruce, I like him very much."
to be partial to someone, to be prejudiced against someone,
Good, let's go ahead to the third paragraph now and find out exactly what the precious stones are. 0659
_________bedck, v, v.裝飾
_________bracelet, n, 手鐲，necklace, n,
_________opal, 貓兒眼，
All authorities on gems agree that the diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald are precious stones. Some of these experts include the opal as a fifty precious stone while others consider the pearl in this class. The latter may surprise the reader, but on reflection, pearls are also a kind of stone, though organically produced by certain shellfish rather than by geologic forces.
Well, the short point of the whole paragraph is that there are four stones which everyone agrees are called "precious stones": the diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald. But there is a fifth precious stone, but that depends on whom you are talking to. Some will tell you it's the opal, and others the pearl. Well, you don't have to worry about that. That is something for gemologists to debate.
/ gemologist, 寶石專(zhuān)家
/ It actually has two spellings. "Gemmologist," other spell it with only one "m", "gemologist".
/ Out of curiosity I am going to ask you this question, line three we have this word "include the opal", 但是德國(guó)有一個(gè)汽車(chē)也叫opal?
/ No, no, that's OPEL.
/ Do they have any relationship?
/ Uhh, my German isn't that good, but it wouldn't surprise me if the german spelling for the same stone is OPEL.
/ Ohh...
/ Maybe I can check that in the next week report back to our audience.
/ OK.
/ Let's go ahead now to find out what the semi-precious stones are.
Semi-precious stone include all other stones considered worthy of use in jewelry. The list of these stones is very long; suffice it to say that there are several hundred such stones, though most people are aware of only a couple of dozen of their names, and few people can readily recognize more than a couple of any type of stones at all.
Well, what are the semi-precious stones then? This is easier; any stone that isn't a precious stone is called the semi-precious stone, if it is used in jewelry. We don't have room to write all these names although we do mention one important semi-precious stone later in the program; it's specially important to the Chinese. Now these stones are softer stones than the harder diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald, which are very tough and hard. Semi-precious stones are also softer, not only usually cheaper than precious stones.
/ Mmm. The line three, "suffice it to say that ...", it's very useful phrase. Can I say this way?
Peter is versatile; suffice it to say that he can eat.
/ Haha, :D No no no no. "Versatile" will mean he can do many things. So, we would change that sentence to:
Peter is very versatile; suffice it to say that he can eat, sleep and watch TV. :P
/ ...光說(shuō)..就夠了，就足以說(shuō)明問(wèn)題了。
Suffice it to say that he can draw, draw pictures; he can dance, ...
/ sing, cook,
Alright. Let's go ahead now and find out more about precious stones. This is probably what you are waiting to hear.
Diamonds, and the colored stones, ruby, sapphire and emerald, are often considered the most expensive among all stones. This is generally true though quality is more important than stone type on price. One can buy "a real sapphire" for US ten dollars, but it would be considered not much better than junk to a jeweler. These professionals consider several features of stones before assessing their value. Carat size, for the weight of the stone, one carat equals two hundred miligrams, is one such feature. The cut of the stone is another. Some styles of cut are considered more costly than others. Besides, in the technical cutting of the gem from the rough stone, great care must be taken not to cut into or scratch the surface of the finished stone. The color is also important. Rubies, sapphires and emeralds, for instance, in order to fetch the highest prices, must be solid colored throughout. Finally, clarity or translucence, with neither streaking nor a cloudy inner appearance, also determines the final price. Gems with these qualities are far and few between, commanding nearly astronomical prices. A good jeweler will advise you of these characteristics and how to look for and evaluate them yourself. Also remember that for a gem ring or pendant, roughly seventy percent of the value of the piece of jewelry is in the primary stone, with the rest in labor and metal.
This paragraph.。.now really gives us some understanding of how to value a stone. The size is important, and here we use the word "carat", which is used in the industry, one carat is two hundred milligrams. A five-carat stone is a rather large stone, and that will be just one gram in weight. But we also have to look at the cut, or color. Now for diamonds it would be the absence of color, but for rubies, sapphires and emeralds, it would be how clear the color is, and how even the color is. There are many of these qualities of the stones that a good jeweler will teach you. If a jeweler says, here, buy this ring, that's not a good jeweler; if a jeweler teaches you about how to buy stones, he or she is probably a good jeweler. And we say this in the industry, if you don't know your stones, know your jeweler.
/ ...gems with these qualities are far and few between.
to be far and few between, 少之又少，這個(gè)詞組的主語(yǔ)通常是復(fù)數(shù)的。象比得這樣的人呢真是少之又少啊，
/ Thank God that people like Peter are far and few between. :P
/ scratch, 這個(gè)字還有一個(gè)名詞的用法，to start from scratch, v, 從起跑線(xiàn)開(kāi)始，從頭開(kāi)始，白手起家，什么都沒(méi)有的時(shí)候開(kāi)始從頭來(lái)，
/ Oh.
His wealth was created from scratch; he started his business from scratch.
That's a fun expression.
Well, let's turn the page and continue. 1718
_____assess, --->evaluate,
v.tr.
as.sessed; as.sess.ing; as.sess.es;
To estimate the value of (property) for taxation.
估價(jià)為征稅估定（財(cái)產(chǎn)）的價(jià)值
To set or determine the amount of (a payment, such as a tax or fine).
確定金額確定或決定（某項(xiàng)付費(fèi)，如稅或罰款）的金額
To charge (a person or property) with a special payment, such as a tax or fine.
征稅對(duì)（某人或財(cái)產(chǎn)）征收特殊費(fèi)用，如稅或罰款
To determine the value, significance, or extent of; appraise.
評(píng)價(jià)評(píng)估某事物的價(jià)值，意義或程度；評(píng)估
See: estimate
vt.
估定(財(cái)產(chǎn), 價(jià)值等)
確定(稅款、罰款、賠款)的數(shù)額
征收(稅款、會(huì)費(fèi)等)
評(píng)估(人物、工作等)
assessa tax on sb.'s property
對(duì)某人的財(cái)產(chǎn)征稅
assess sb.'s efforts
評(píng)價(jià)某人的工作
The annual income of school teachers in this place was assessed at＄900.
這地方的學(xué)校教師的收入為900美元。
Damages were assessed at 1000 RMB.
損失估計(jì)達(dá)一千元人民幣。
_____pendant,
n.
懸重物, 重[懸]飾, 鉤[耳]環(huán), 掛鉤, 吊燈
Specific names of semi-precious stones are too numerous to mention, but jade is well known to Chinese. The finest jade, apple green in color, commands very high bids at auction. The trouble with semi-precious stones is that they are not so hard as precious stones. So they far more easily scratch, crack or chip. If this happens, the value of the semi-precious stones plummets. Diamonds, the hardest natural stone, and rubies and sapphires, the second hardest, are actually rather hard to deface.
Now we pay some attention to semi-precious stones, but we give you the name of only one. Because 玉 is so important in Chinese culture. Well, we learn in this paragraph that, jade can command very high bids at auction, this means that jade is sold at a very very high prices, but like everything it has to be the highest quality jade. And we also learn something else about semi-precious stones is that they break much more easily than diamonds, rubies, and sapphires in particular; those are the three hardest natural stones. If you drop your diamond ring, or you hit your diamond ring, even against medal, it won't break, chip, or crack. Unfortunately jade will. So, if you have a good piece of jade, take very good care of it.
_____plummet, v,
n.
A plumb bob.
鉛錘
Something that weighs down or oppresses; a burden.
壓抑物，壓迫感壓下來(lái)或壓迫的事物；負(fù)擔(dān)
plummet
v.intr.
plum.met.ed; plum.met.ing; plum.mets;
To fall straight down; plunge.
垂直落下垂直落下來(lái)；一頭扎下
To decline suddenly and steeply:
驟降，爆跌突然和大幅度地降低：
Stock prices plummeted.
股票價(jià)格暴跌
vi.
垂直落下; 驟然失落
The damaged aircraft plummeted down to earth.
損壞的飛機(jī)垂直墜落于地上。
_____deface,
vt.
破壞表面, 使失面子
涂銷(xiāo), 蓋銷(xiāo)(郵票等)
磨損
deface a desk by marking on it
在桌面上亂畫(huà)而把桌面弄壞
deface an inscription
磨損碑文
v.tr.
de.faced; de.fac.ing; de.fac.es;
To mar or spoil the appearance or surface of; disfigure.
破壞外觀損傷…的外貌或表層；使變丑
To impair the usefulness, value, or influence of.
破損損害…的功用、價(jià)值或影響
Now let's finish with the final paragraph. 19:04
Don't let anyone sell you a good deal on a gem on the street. Go to several professional jewelers before committing yourself and your money to a piece of jewelry with precious or semi-precious stones. Part of the value of that good piece of jewelry is the fact that it can be handed down generation after generation with increasing value. People in all cultures never seem to tire of the brilliance of gems.
First we advise you always go to a professional jeweler, or two, or three. Just as in (bine sterial) equipment, or clothing, shop around. But won't you find the jeweler you like and you trust, they will probably value your business and your friendship, you'll probably be ok to stay with the same jeweler. But at first, shop around. Second, remember that gems can be given or handed down to the next generation and then the next generation and so on, with increasing value. Because that piece of jewelry will also increase not because of the jewel but because it becomes antique, since jewelry fascinates everybody throughout cultures and throughout time. Maybe, if you are lucky, you can afford a nice piece of jewelry in your lifetime.
/ ...commit yourself to, commit oneself to, what does this mean?
/ Well, for example, in marriage, when you decide to marry someone, you commit yourself to the other person; you promise yourself to; you obligate yourself to another person. 對(duì)。。。表示忠心，表示義務(wù)，把自己交付給某人，委身于，
Now let's go back for our final rereading of Precious and Semi-precious Stones.
/ ..seem to tire of the brilliance of gems, ---> seem to get tired of the brilliance of gems.
Well, join us next week.
___________________Pan. 2003. 9. 26
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Lesson 17, Precious and Semi-precious Stones 寶石和半寶石
"My! What a beautiful ring you're wearing!" This compliment never fails to flatter and honor the lucky wearer of the ring or other pieces of fewelry bedcked with precious or semi-precious stones. Most people know the names of only some of these natural treasures. Many people are surprised to learn that all semi-precious stones can be bought inexpensively, not to mention that the precious stones can also be had for far less than one imagined. However, as with everything else in life, you have to pay for the best quality. This lesson will give the reader both information and tips on gem stones and their purchase.
Just what are precious and semi-precious stones? The word semi refers to anything which is half or only partial; this, semi-precious stones are not precious, by definition. Actually, some high-quality semi-precious stones are far more expensive than some low-grade precious stones, so the terms "precious" and "semi-precious" when applied to stones do not refer necessarily to their cost.
All authorities on gems agree that the diamond, ruby, sapphire, and emerald are precious stones. Some of these experts include the opal as a fifth precious stone while others consider the pearl in this class. The latter may surprise the reader, but on reflection, pearl are also a kind of stone, though organically produced by certain shellfish rather than by geologic forces.
Semi-precious stones include all other stones considered worthy of use in jewelry. The list of these stones is very long; suffice it to say that there are several hundred such stones, though most people are aware of only a couple of dozen of their names, and few people can readily recognize more than a couple of any type of stone at all.
Diamonds and the colored stones ruby, sapphire, and emerald are often considered the most expensive among all stones. This is generally true, though qualityis more important than stone type on price. One can buy a "real sapphire" for US $10, but it would be considered not much better than junk to a feweler. These professionals consider several features of stones before assessing their value. Carat size, or the weight of the stone (one carat= 200 miligrams) is one such feature. The cut of the stone is another. Some styles of cuts are considered more costly than others; besides, in the technical cutting of the gem form the rough stone, great care must be taken not to cut into or scratch the surface of the finished stone. The color is also important. Rubies, sapphires, and emeralds, for instance, in order to fetch the highest prices, must be solid colored throughout. Finally, clarity or translucence, with neither streaking nor a "cloudy" inner appearance, also determines the final price. Gems with these qualities are far and few between, commanding nearly astronomical prices. A good fewleler will advise you of these characteristics and how to look for and evaluate them yourself. Also remember that for a gem ring or pendant, roughly 70% of the value of the piece of jewelry is in the primary stone(s), with the rest in labor and metal.
Specific names of semi-precious stones are too numerous to mention, but jade is well known to Chinese. The finest jade (apple agree in color) commands very high bids at auction. The trouble with semi-precious stones is that they are not so hard as precious stones so they far more easily scratch, crack, or chip. If this happens, the value of the semi-precious stones plummets. Diamonds, the hardest natural stone, and rubies and sapphires, the second hardest, are actually rather hard to deface.
Don't let anyone well you a "good deal on a gem" on the street. Go to several professional jewelers before committing yourself---and your money ---to a piece of jewelry with precious or semi-precious stones. Part of the value of that good piece of fewelry is the fact that it can be handed down generation after generation with increasing value. People in all cultures never seem to tire of the brilliance of gems.