(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is the Technology Report.
Africa has become a growing market for high technology products, and it may soon be a base for a lot more hi-tech companies. Experts are predicting growing competition
on the continent as it tends to meet the needs of its young and middle class populations.
DHL calls itself the "logistics company for the world," it provides transportation by train, road, sea and air. The company sees Africa as a place where its business
can expand. But for that to happen, more international companies will need to invest in the continent and set up operations there.
Sumesh Rahavendra of DHL sees that happening.
"There's quite a bit of evidence to that in terms of global companies starting to set up base in Africa. If you look at the likes of SAP or IBM or Hisense, which is
the Chinese company, all of them are setting base in Africa and looking at how specifically they can cater to the Africa market while being in Africa, as against
getting to the African market while being in Europe or the Middle East."
Sumesh Rahavendra is the company's head of marketing for African countries south of the Saharan desert. He says the area offers a lot of possibility, and in his words,
could be the next frontier for technology growth.
"I travel a fair bit around Africa and so does the rest of our team and you can see the technology boom literally across every country in Africa. People who never had
access to a desktop PC are now playing around with tablets – are now playing around with smart phones. The level and speed of adoption has been significant as more
middle class and upper middle class consumers in Africa get access to technology."
He describes the continent's one billion people as a largely untouched market for many products.
"The majority of people are young people. And with a young population that's going to adopt technology and commodities in the future, it represents a significant
potential for any international company coming to Africa."
DHL has been operating in Africa for more than 35 years. And Mr Rahavendra notes as more and more companies set up operations on the continent, business for DHL
increases. He says, there are possibilities for growth in every African country, although some appear more ready than others.
"One of the reasons why it's hard to do business in African countries is just infrastructure and logistics. Because the cost of actually getting your product to its
final place inflates significantly because there are so much infrastructural challenges that isn't getting you there. Second example is there are a fair bit of issues
with political climate in some African countries. The good news is signs all indicate towards a positive story going forward next five to ten years."
DHL says Africa is now the world's second largest mobile technology market by connections after Asia, and it is the fastest growing mobile market in the world.
And that's the Technology Report from VOA Learning English. I'm June Simms.
译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
词汇解释
1.logistics n. [军] 后勤；后勤学，物流
Logistics is now more important in our industry than technology.
物流目前在我们这一行比技术还重要。
2.frontier n. 前沿；边界；国境
The frontier town boomed when gold was discovered nearby.
当那个边疆城镇附近发现金矿时，它迅速而蓬勃发展起来。
3.literally adv. 照字面地；逐字地
He translated the passage literally.
他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
4.inflate vt. 使充气；使通货膨胀 vi. 膨胀；充气
A few bidders inflated the prices on purpose.
几个投标人故意抬高价钱。
内容解析
1.All of them are setting base in Africa and looking at how specifically they can cater to the Africa market while being in Africa.
cater to 迎合；为…服务
TV programmes should cater to all tastes.
电视节目应当迎合各种人的不同口味。
The doting husband catered to his wife's every wish.
这位宠爱妻子的丈夫总是高度满足太太的各项要求。
2.People who never had access to a desktop PC are now playing around with tablets – are now playing around with smart phones.
have access to 使用；接近；可以利用
Students at the Belfast campus have access to excellent sports facilities.
在贝尔法斯特校园的学生可以使用极好的体育设施。
Only 40% of 5-year-olds have access to preschool education.
5岁孩童中只有40%能享受学前教育。
参考译文
这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道。
非洲已成为高科技产品日益发展壮大的市场，很快就成为更多高科技公司的基地。专家预测，随着这片大陆希望满足其年轻和中产阶级人群的需要，这里的竞争将会更加激烈。
中外运敦豪公司(DHL)自称是“全世界的物流公司”，通过火车、道路、海洋和航空提供运输服务。该公司认为可以在非洲发展壮大其业务，但为了实现这一个目标，许多国际公司需要投资于
这片大陆，并在这里开展业务。
DHL公司的Sumesh Rahavendra认为这一切正在发生。
“在非洲可以看到全球公司开始建立基地的迹象，如果看下诸如思爱普、IMB和中国的海信等公司，它们都准备在非洲建立基地，并考虑相对于欧洲或中东市场，如何更具体地迎合非洲市场的
需要。”
Sumesh Rahavendra是DHL公司撒哈拉以南非洲国家的营销主管，他说该地区潜力很大，用他的话来说，这里可以成为科技发展的下一个前沿阵地。
“我走遍了非洲的很多地方，我们团队的其他人也一样，可以看到整个非洲各国的科技领域确实已经繁荣。以前根本接触不到台式机的人现在在玩平板电脑和智能手机。随着非洲更多中产阶
级和上层中产阶级消费者获得科技产品，其应用的水平和速度也相当高。”
他说这片有着10亿人口的大陆对很多产品来说实际上是未开发的处女地。
“大多数人口是年轻人，而年轻人未来会使用科技和产品，这对任何即将来到非洲的国际公司来说都是巨大的潜力。”
DHL在非洲开展业务已经35年多了，Rahavendra指出，随着越来越多的公司在这里开展业务，DHL的业务也在增加。他说，每个非洲国家都有发展的潜力，而且有的国家似乎比其他的更容易开
发。
“在非洲做生意难的一个原因是基础设施和物流，因为存在着很多基础设施方面的问题，很难以抵达，这样将产品运输到最终目的地的成本会大大增加。第二个方面是，一些非洲国家的政治
环境存在很大问题。好的消息是，各方面的迹象显示未来5到10年会朝着积极方面发展。”
DHL说非洲目前是全世界继亚洲后第二大手机技术市场，是全世界手机发展最快的市场。
这里是美国之音慢速英语科技报道，我是琼·西姆斯。
