Question

【题目】 The iPhone once was called a magical product (产品) because of it success over the years. However, now the iPhone seems to lose its attraction (吸引力).

Apple got only 84.3 billion dollars for the company’s first quarter (季度) of 2019. It’s the company’s worst sale result in the recent ten years. Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, explained that the decline (下降) was mainly because of the weaker need in China.

However, people believe that Apple itself is largely responsible (有责任的) for the decline. For example, an iPhone Xs Max, one of the company’s newest smart phones, costs 1,450 dollars in the US, while other phones usually cost no more than 500 dollars. This made people feel not so necessary to change their old phones for the newest ones.

On the other hand, Huawei, the biggest competitor (竞争者) against Apple, is always improving the technology (技术) in its phones. For example, Huawei put a triple-lens (三镜头) camera on its P20Pro in 2018 and a foldable (可折叠的) phone Mate X in 2019. However, Apple did worse in this part.

“It’s true that the technology in Chinese phones is getting better and better and more and more Chinese people would like to buy a Huawei phone. I’m one of them.” said FengYin, a 32-year-old engineer in China.

In fact, it’s not just Chinese customers that trust in Chinese smart phone brands (品牌). Tom from London bought his eighth Huawei phone in 2018. He also advised his 56-year-old aunt to buy one. “I wasn’t really worried about the fact that it was a Chinese brand, because we know that China is now making wonderful products with high technology.” Tom told New York Times about his Huawei phone.

【1】Did Apple have a good sale result during the first quarter of 2019?

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【2】How much does an iPhone Xs Max cost in the US?

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【3】Why do people believe that Apple itself is largely responsible for the decline?

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【4】Do you like a Chinese brand or a foreign brand better when you choose a product? Why?

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Answer 1

【答案】

【1】No, it didn't.

【2】An Phone Xs Max is 0dollars.

【3】Apple company’s price is high and Apple doesn’t improve the technology in its phones.

【4】Chinese phones. Because Chinese phones is getting better and better.

【解析】

本文讲述了iPhone曾经被称为一个神奇的产品因为它成功，但是现在iPhone似乎失去吸引力。苹果公司的首席执行官蒂姆库克解释说是因为中国需求量降低，但是人们认为iPhone价格过高，而且没有华为公司手机功能强。iPhone这才是销售量下降的重要原因。

【1】句意：苹果在2019年第一季度的销售业绩好吗?

根据“Apple got only 84.3 billion dollars for the company’s first quarter (季度) of 2019. It’s the company’s worst sale result in the recent ten years.” 这是该公司近十年来最糟糕的销售业绩。故答案为No, it didn't.

【2】句意：iPhone Xs Max在美国的售价是多少?

根据“For example, an iPhone Xs Max, one of the company’s newest smart phones, costs 1,450 dollars in the US”售价是1450美元，故答案为An Phone Xs Max is 1450dollars.

【3】句意：为什么人们认为苹果公司要对销量下降负主要责任?

根据“For example, an iPhone Xs Max, one of the company’s newest smart phones, costs 1,450 dollars in the US, …This made people feel not so necessary to change their old phones for the newest ones”，“On the other hand, Huawei, the biggest competitor (竞争者) against Apple, is always improving the technology (技术) in its phones.”可知，此处是价格高和不提高技术，故答案为Apple company’s price is high and Apple doesn’t improve the technology in its phones.

【4】句意：当你选择产品时，你更喜欢中国品牌还是外国品牌?为什么?

根据“It’s true that the technology in Chinese phones is getting better and better and more and more Chinese people would like to buy a Huawei phone” 中国手机的技术越来越好，越来越多的中国人想买华为手机，故答案为Chinese phones. Because Chinese phones is getting better and better.