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钻石还是那么恒久远吗(下)
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另一个问题出现在实验室。实验室正在生产人造钻石，通过对碳施加压力而不是从地下挖掘来制造钻石，而且肉眼无法区分人造钻石和天然钻石。
双语精读
Another problem is emerging from laboratories. They are producing artificial gems, which are made by applying pressure to carbon, rather than digging stones from the ground, and are identical to the naked eye.
另一个问题出现在实验室。实验室正在生产人造钻石，通过对碳施加压力而不是从地下挖掘来制造钻石，而且肉眼无法区分人造钻石和天然钻石。
Such stones have been available since the 1980s, but even as recently as 2018 made up a tiny fraction of the market, at just a few percentage points. In the years since, more lab-grown jewels have entered the market-and their market share has risen to around a tenth.
人造钻石在20世纪80年代就可以买到了，但直到2018年，这类钻石在市场中所占的比例也很小，只有几个百分点。此后的几年里，更多的人造宝石进入了市场，它们的市场份额上升到了大约十分之一。
De Beers may have inadvertently hastened this transition. The company began to sell lab-grown diamonds at rock-bottom prices in 2018, when such stones fetched about 80% of the price of mined ones.
戴比尔斯可能无意中加速了这一转变。该公司在2018年开始以最低价出售人造钻石，当时这类钻石的价格约为天然钻石价格的80%。
The goal was to differentiate between the two types of gems, in order to diminish the appeal of lab-grown stones. The Clear Cut, a New York-based purveyor of engagement rings, has adopted guerrilla marketing tactics to make the same point.
这一举动的目的是区分这两种类型的钻石，以降低人造钻石的吸引力。总部位于纽约的订婚戒指供应商Clear Cut采取了游击营销策略来表达同样的观点。
It offers customers who buy a ring worth $10,000 or more a free lab-grown alternative, which can be used as a "travel ring" when visiting dubious places. Many lab-grown stones now fetch just 20-30% of the price of similar mined stones.
这家公司为购买价值1万美元及以上戒指的顾客免费赠送一个人造钻石替代品，当要去不太安全的地方时，可以把替代品用作"旅行戒指"。现在许多人造钻石的价格只有天然钻石的20%-30%。
De Beers argues that, as the supply of lab-grown gems accelerates, the price gap between the two types of stone will continue to widen, making the newcomers unappealing for engagements.
戴比尔斯认为，随着人造钻石的供应加速，这两种钻石之间的价格差距将继续扩大，让新出现的人造钻石对订婚者失去吸引力。
If recent price movements are anything to go by, though, the tactic appears likely to backfire-after all, mined prices are plunging in the wake of lab-grown ones.
然而，根据最近的价格走势看，这一策略可能适得其反，毕竟出现了人造钻石之后，天然钻石的价格正在暴跌。
Admittedly, this may not be entirely the result of a structural shift in the market. American couples date for about three years before getting engaged, and thanks to covid-19 very few people were out and about meeting potential husbands or wives in 2020. An unusually small number of people are probably getting engaged this year.
诚然，这可能并不完全是市场结构性转变的结果。美国情侣大约交往三年后才会订婚，又因为新冠肺炎，2020年很少有人会外出，与自己可能的未来丈夫或妻子相遇。因此今年订婚的人可能会异常少。
But this is the sort of fluctuation an all-powerful diamond cartel would have been able to smooth out by reducing supply. Slashing prices instead is a clear indication of diminished market power.
但对于这种波动，这个一手遮天的钻石企业联盟可以通过减少供应来将其平息。大幅降价反而是市场力量减弱的明显迹象。
That is good news for those looking to pop the question or acquire a new trinket. It is rather less appealing for those considering investing in the gems.
对于那些想求婚或购买新饰品的人来说，这是个好消息。对于那些考虑投资钻石的人来说，钻石反而变得没那么有吸引力了。
词汇预习
shift [高考]
美[ʃɪft] | 英[ʃɪft]
v. 移动；改变；换挡；字型转换 n. 轮班；变化；移动；计谋；轮班职工
entirely [高考]
美[ɪnˈtaɪərli] | 英[ɪnˈtaɪəli]
adv. 完全地；全部地
transition [高考]
美[trænˈzɪʃn] | 英[trænˈzɪʃn]
n. 转变；过渡
widen [高考]
美[ˈwaɪdn] | 英[ˈwaɪdn]
vt. 加宽；使变宽；扩大 vi. 变宽
indication [高考]
美[ˌɪndɪˈkeɪʃn] | 英[ˌɪndɪˈkeɪʃn]
n. 指示；表示；迹象
tactic [高考]
美[ˈtæktɪk] | 英[ˈtæktɪk]
n. 战略；策略
fraction [高考]
美[ˈfrækʃn] | 英[ˈfrækʃn]
n. 小部分；少许；分数；片段
engagement [高考]
美[ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt] | 英[ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt]
n. 约会；约定；订婚；婚约；雇用；交战；(机器零件等)啮合
naked [高考]
美[ˈneɪkɪd] | 英[ˈneɪkɪd]
adj. 裸体的；无掩饰的；明白的；无覆盖的
potential [高考]
美[pəˈtenʃl] | 英[pəˈtenʃl]
adj. 潜在的；可能的 n. 潜力；潜能 n. 电位；电势
appeal [高考]
美[əˈpiːl] | 英[əˈpiːl]
n. 恳求；呼吁；上诉；吸引力 n. (体育比赛中)诉请裁决 v. 呼吁；有吸引力；求助；诉请
alternative [高考]
美[ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv] | 英[ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv]
adj. 两者择一的；供选择的；非主流的 n. 二者择一；供替代的选择
percentage [高考]
美[pərˈsentɪdʒ] | 英[pəˈsentɪdʒ]
n. 百分比，百分率；部分，比例；利润分成，提成；[非正式]利益，好处
artificial [高考]
美[ˌɑːrtɪˈfɪʃl] | 英[ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃl]
adj. 人造的；虚伪的；武断的
acquire [高考]
美[əˈkwaɪər] | 英[əˈkwaɪə(r)]
vt. 获得；学到；取得
diamond [高考]
美[ˈdaɪəmənd] | 英[ˈdaɪəmənd]
n. 钻石；金刚石；菱形；方块牌 adj. 菱形的；金刚钻的 vt.镶钻石于；用钻石装饰
in order [高考]
美[ɪn 'ɔːrdər] | 英[ɪn 'ɔːdə]
整齐；秩序井然；按顺序
gap [高考]
美[ɡæp] | 英[ɡæp]
n. 缺口；裂缝；差距；空白
identical [高考]
美[aɪˈdentɪkl] | 英[aɪˈdentɪkl]
adj. 同一的；相同的
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
unusually [四级]
美[ʌnˈjuʒʊəlɪ] | 英[ʌnˈju:ʒuəli]
adv. 异乎寻常地；显著地；非常
structural [四级]
美[ˈstrʌktʃərəl] | 英[ˈstrʌktʃərəl]
adj. 结构的；构造的；建筑的；建筑用的
diminish [四级]
美[dɪˈmɪnɪʃ] | 英[dɪˈmɪnɪʃ]
vt. 减少；减损；贬低 vi. 变少；逐渐变细
dubious [四级]
美[ˈduːbiəs] | 英[ˈdjuːbiəs]
adj. 怀疑的；可疑的；不确定的
fluctuation [四级]
美[ˌflʌktʃʊˈeɪʃn] | 英[ˌflʌktʃʊ'eɪʃn]
n. 波动；起伏
in the wake of [四级]
美[ɪn ðə weɪk əv] | 英[ɪn ðə weɪk əv]
紧紧跟随； 随着 ... 而来； 作为 ... 的结果
smooth out [四级]
美[smʊð aʊt] | 英[smuːð aʊt]
vi. 弄平(消除)
marketing [四级]
美[ˈmɑːrkɪtɪŋ] | 英[ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ]
n. 市场营销；行销
appealing [四级]
美[əˈpiːlɪŋ] | 英[əˈpiːlɪŋ]
adj. 引起兴趣的；动人的；恳求的
considering [四级]
美[kənˈsɪdərɪŋ] | 英[kənˈsɪdərɪŋ]
prep. 鉴于； 考虑到 conj. 就 ... 而言
differentiate [专四]
美[ˌdɪfəˈrenʃieɪt] | 英[ˌdɪfəˈrenʃieɪt]
vt. 区分；使差异；求导数 vi. 区别；产生差别；区别对待
tactics [专四]
美[ˈtæktɪks] | 英[ˈtæktɪks]
n. 策略；战术
trinket [专八]
美[ˈtrɪŋkɪt] | 英[ˈtrɪŋkɪt]
n. 廉价的小装饰品；不值钱的珠宝
grown [专八]
美[groʊn] | 英[grəʊn]
adj. 长大的；成年的；长满某物的
backfire [专八]
美[ˈbækˌfaɪr] | 英[ˌbækˈfaɪə(r)]
v. (指内燃机等)逆火；适得其反；产生事与愿违的结果 n. 逆火；后爆的巨大响声
重点讲解
Another problem is emerging from laboratories. They are producing artificial gems, which are made by applying pressure to carbon, rather than digging stones from the ground, and are identical to the naked eye.
另一个问题出现在实验室。实验室正在生产人造钻石，通过对碳施加压力而不是从地下挖掘来制造钻石，而且肉眼无法区分人造钻石和天然钻石。
emerge v.
1. （从隐蔽处或暗处）出现，浮现
【例】The swimmer emerged from the lake.
游泳者从湖水中浮出来。
2. 暴露；显现
【例】the emerging markets of South Asia 正在兴起的南亚市场
3. （从困境或苦难经历中）幸存下来，摆脱出来
【例】She emerged from the divorce.
她走出了离婚的阴影。
Such stones have been available since the 1980s, but even as recently as 2018 made up a tiny fraction of the market, at just a few percentage points. In the years since, more lab-grown jewels have entered the market-and their market share has risen to around a tenth.
人造钻石在20世纪80年代就可以买到了，但直到2018年，这类钻石在市场中所占的比例也很小，只有几个百分点。此后的几年里，更多的人造宝石进入了市场，它们的市场份额上升到了大约十分之一。
make up
1. 形成；构成
【例】Women make up 56% of the student numbers.
女生占学生人数的 56%。
2. 编造；编写
【例】I think they’re making the whole thing up.
我认为整件事情是他们编出来的。
3. 弥补，补偿
【例】I’m sorry I was late. To make up for it, let me treat you to a meal.
很抱歉我来晚了。让我请你吃饭作为弥补吧。
De Beers may have inadvertently hastened this transition. The company began to sell lab-grown diamonds at rock-bottom prices in 2018, when such stones fetched about 80% of the price of mined ones.
戴比尔斯可能无意中加速了这一转变。该公司在2018年开始以最低价出售人造钻石，当时这类钻石的价格约为天然钻石价格的80%。
hasten v.
1. 促进；使加快
【例】The treatment she received may have hastened her death.
她所接受的治疗可能加快了她的死亡。
2. 急忙进行；赶紧说（或做）
【例】I hastened to assure her that there was no danger.
我赶紧向她保证不会有什么危险。
fetch v.
1. （去）拿来；（去）请来
【例】The inhabitants have to walk a mile to fetch water.
居民得走一英里路去取水。
2. 售得，卖得（某价）
【例】The painting is expected to fetch at least $20 million.
这幅画预计至少能卖两千万美元。
【拓展】fetch up 偶然来到；意外到达
【例】I fell asleep on the train and fetched up in Glasgow.
我在火车上睡着了，竟然到了格拉斯哥。
The goal was to differentiate between the two types of gems, in order to diminish the appeal of lab-grown stones. The Clear Cut, a New York-based purveyor of engagement rings, has adopted guerrilla marketing tactics to make the same point.
这一举动的目的是区分这两种类型的钻石，以降低人造钻石的吸引力。总部位于纽约的订婚戒指供应商Clear Cut采取了游击营销策略来表达同样的观点。
diminish v.
1. 减少；（使）减弱
【例】The world's resources are rapidly diminishing.
世界资源正在迅速减少。
2. 贬低；轻视
【例】I don't wish to diminish the importance of their contribution.
我并不想贬低他们所作贡献的重要性。
It offers customers who buy a ring worth $10,000 or more a free lab-grown alternative, which can be used as a "travel ring" when visiting dubious places. Many lab-grown stones now fetch just 20-30% of the price of similar mined stones.
这家公司为购买价值1万美元及以上戒指的顾客免费赠送一个人造钻石替代品，当要去不太安全的地方时，可以把替代品用作"旅行戒指"。现在许多人造钻石的价格只有天然钻石的20%-30%。
diminish v.
1. 减少；（使）减弱
【例】The world's resources are rapidly diminishing.
世界资源正在迅速减少。
2. 贬低；轻视
【例】I don't wish to diminish the importance of their contribution.
我并不想贬低他们所作贡献的重要性。
De Beers argues that, as the supply of lab-grown gems accelerates, the price gap between the two types of stone will continue to widen, making the newcomers unappealing for engagements.
戴比尔斯认为，随着人造钻石的供应加速，这两种钻石之间的价格差距将继续扩大，让新出现的人造钻石对订婚者失去吸引力。
gap n.
1. 缺口；间隔
【例】Leave a gap between your car and the next.
在车与车之间留条道。
2. 分歧；差距
【例】the gap between rich and poor 贫富之间的差距
3. 空白，缺漏
【例】There are huge gaps in my knowledge of history.
我的历史知识有很大的欠缺。
go by
1. 流逝；过去
【例】Things will get easier as time goes by.
随着时间的推移情况会有所改善。
2. 遵循（或依照）某事；以某事来判断
【例】If past experience is anything to go by, they'll be late.
凭以往的经验看，他们会迟到的。
in the wake of 随…之后而来；跟随在…后
【例】There have been demonstrations on the streets in the wake of the recent bomb attack.
在近来的爆炸之后，大街上随即出现了示威游行。
If recent price movements are anything to go by, though, the tactic appears likely to backfire-after all, mined prices are plunging in the wake of lab-grown ones.
然而，根据最近的价格走势看，这一策略可能适得其反，毕竟出现了人造钻石之后，天然钻石的价格正在暴跌。
gap n.
1. 缺口；间隔
【例】Leave a gap between your car and the next.
在车与车之间留条道。
2. 分歧；差距
【例】the gap between rich and poor 贫富之间的差距
3. 空白，缺漏
【例】There are huge gaps in my knowledge of history.
我的历史知识有很大的欠缺。
go by
1. 流逝；过去
【例】Things will get easier as time goes by.
随着时间的推移情况会有所改善。
2. 遵循（或依照）某事；以某事来判断
【例】If past experience is anything to go by, they'll be late.
凭以往的经验看，他们会迟到的。
in the wake of 随…之后而来；跟随在…后
【例】There have been demonstrations on the streets in the wake of the recent bomb attack.
在近来的爆炸之后，大街上随即出现了示威游行。
Admittedly, this may not be entirely the result of a structural shift in the market. American couples date for about three years before getting engaged, and thanks to covid-19 very few people were out and about meeting potential husbands or wives in 2020. An unusually small number of people are probably getting engaged this year.
诚然，这可能并不完全是市场结构性转变的结果。美国情侣大约交往三年后才会订婚，又因为新冠肺炎，2020年很少有人会外出，与自己可能的未来丈夫或妻子相遇。因此今年订婚的人可能会异常少。
smooth out
1. 弄平，把…弄平整
【例】They smoothed out the map on the table.
他们在桌上摊平地图。
2. 缓和，平息
【例】Sometimes central banks intervene to smooth out price fluctuations.
有时候中央银行会出面干预以平息物价波动。
slash v. & n.
1. 作动词
（1）（用利器）砍，劈
【例】Someone had slashed the tyres on my car.
有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
（2）大幅度削减；大大降低
【例】to slash costs/prices 大幅度降低成本/价格
2. 作名词：（长而窄的）伤口，砍痕；斜线符号
【例】a slash across his right cheek 他右脸上的一道刀伤
But this is the sort of fluctuation an all-powerful diamond cartel would have been able to smooth out by reducing supply. Slashing prices instead is a clear indication of diminished market power.
但对于这种波动，这个一手遮天的钻石企业联盟可以通过减少供应来将其平息。大幅降价反而是市场力量减弱的明显迹象。
smooth out
1. 弄平，把…弄平整
【例】They smoothed out the map on the table.
他们在桌上摊平地图。
2. 缓和，平息
【例】Sometimes central banks intervene to smooth out price fluctuations.
有时候中央银行会出面干预以平息物价波动。
slash v. & n.
1. 作动词
（1）（用利器）砍，劈
【例】Someone had slashed the tyres on my car.
有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
（2）大幅度削减；大大降低
【例】to slash costs/prices 大幅度降低成本/价格
2. 作名词：（长而窄的）伤口，砍痕；斜线符号
【例】a slash across his right cheek 他右脸上的一道刀伤
That**** is**** good**** news**** for those looking to**** pop the question**** or**** acquire a new trinket.**** It**** is**** rather**** less**** appealing for those considering investing in**** the gems****.****
对于那些想求婚或购买新饰品的人来说，这是个好消息。对于那些考虑投资钻石的人来说，钻石反而变得没那么有吸引力了。
课后练习
What can be learned about lab-grown diamonds?
A. Their quality is poorer than natural diamonds.
B. Their market share has increased since 2018.
C. Their price is the same as that of natural diamonds.
D. Their market share has exceeded that of natural diamonds.
The Clear Cut offers free lab-grown diamonds to ____.
A. attract more customers
B. make engagement rings more affordable
C. diminish the value of lab-grown diamonds
D. grab more market share
The prices of natural diamonds have plunged partly because of ____.
A. the lower costs of diamond production
B. the increasing supply of natural diamonds
C. the declining popularity of engagement rings
D. the decreasing number of engaged couples
The influence of the price fluctuation is that ____.
A. diamond cartels might increase the supply
B. consumers might hesitate about making the purchase
C. the value of diamonds for investment might decrease
D. the jewelry industry might suffer a loss of earnings