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Unit 2-1 listening退休和投资

Walter wants to retire within the next few years. He has been working at the same company for over 15 years as an accountant. During that time, he’s been saving his money and paying off that debt. However, even with his savings and investments, he isn’t sure that he will have enough money for retirement. If it doesn’t, he will have to keep on working, which depends on the company. For now, the company is ok. But it’s no longer growing as fast as it used to. Whether or not he can keep on his working will also depend on his health. Fortunately, he is in good health. But he knows that that could change in any time. If he fell down or had a stroke, it could force him to stop working. If that happened, he would have to rely on his savings and other assets to survive. Soon or later, he knows his health will decline and he will have to stop working. So he needs to prepare. Most of his wealth is in the form of company stock and the value of his home. Both of these are at risk. The company stock may go down and the value of his home may also fall. The company he works for is a pharmaceutical(制药的) company. It develops new drugs which is risky business and sells them worldwide. It’s expensive to develop new drugs and it can take a very long time to get a new drug approved. Without government approval, it can’t be sold, which can result in a huge loss.Another threat the company comes from foreign competition, which is getting stronger. The company has also started to move some of its researches and production facilities oversees. Salary level is lower there, and the quality of the foreign workers is getting better. As a result, the company has to reduce its local hiring and it’s no longer giving large bonuses.

One thing he is considering, is to sell his share in the company. He could begin to sell a little at a time and reinvest the money in somewhere else. But where would he invest? He doesn’t know much about investing and several of his friend have lost a lot by making a bad investment. Investing in real restate or the stock market could be very risky. In the best case, he will make a lot of money. If that happened, he could finally retire and enjoy a comfortable life. On the other hand, in the worst case, his investments could result in a huge loss. If that happened, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy his retirement. He wouldn’t be able to travel or do any of things that he’s dreamed about doing. So now he has to decide what he should do. Should he begin to sell his stock in the company or should he wait until he actually needs the money. If he sold now, he will have to decide what to do with the money. His investment could turn out well or it could turn out to be a disaster. On the other hand, if you decide to wait, anything will depend on his company. The one advantage he has with this options is he’s being on the inside of the company. With his insider information, he can predict the company’s shot-term future. This is especially true because as an account, he has an access to the company’s financial data. If things start to go badly, he can begin to sell his stock and avoid a big loss. Otherwise, it’s probably safer to keep the stock and hope that the company does well even if its growth rate declines. So for now, that is probably what he should do. If you were he, what would you do?

Unit 2-1 dialogue非洲和巴黎旅行

So, where should we go on our vacation. What about Africa? Africa, no, that’s not for me. Why do you want to go the Africa?

I’d like to get out and see the wildlife, the drama of nature! We could see some of the great migrations.

Wow, you are adventurer. What about food and diseases? What about terrorism. Sure something that could happen. But if we never take any risks, we won’t have an interesting life. I don’t want to have a boring life. So, you think I’m boring then, right.

Well, you’re certainly not the most exciting person. What plays thing safe and secure. Idon’t mind take a few risks but it’s got to beworth it. Watching animals migrate is something I could see in a documentary. And I don’t like the idea of being around predators(肉食动物), like lions and hyenas(鬣狗). Ok, my brave man. What would you like to do?

Well, I’ve been thinking about it. I think it’s nice to go to Paris in the fall and visit some museums. We can go to a concert and go to see a ballet.

Ah, we’ve been to Paris before. That’s exciting about it and I’m tired of museums. Any other ideas?

One place that might be interesting is in South America, Machu Picchu. It’s an abandoned city way up in the mountain Peru.