【原版杂志阅读】Day 21:《The economist》Elon Musk’s empire

Elon Musk’s empire

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The entrepreneur’s finances are asjaw-dropping, inventive and combustible as his space rockets

LIKE most technology tycoons, ElonMusk exudes disdain for finance. Convertible bonds and lease accounting areproblems for Wall Street, while the visionaries in California focus ondriverless cars and space travel. Yet while he might be loth to admit it, MrMusk has become America’s most audacious corporate financier as well as itsbest-known entrepreneur. In just over a decade he has created an empire valuedat a cool $44 billion despite its heavy losses (see chart). A blend offinancial laboratory, corporate labyrinth and buttock-clenching thrill ride,Musk Inc has pushed the boundary of what was thought possible.

As has been the case for a decade, MrMusk’s businesses face a difficult struggle to sustain their market valuationsover the next 18 months, and to bolster confidence he is expected to unveil newfinancial measures and also new products over the next few weeks. Mr Musk hasrepeatedly defied the odds. But the stakes have got bigger now thatshareholders, creditors and counterparties have tens of billions of dollars atrisk. Tesla, an electric-car manufacturer, must ramp up production quickly andalso meet the threat from new electric models designed by traditional carfirms. Mr Musk wants to merge two of his firms, Tesla and SolarCity, a companywhich installs rooftop solar panels. Both firms burn up cash. He already has aplace in American business history, but whether as a cautionary or inspiringtale will soon become clear.

一、    词汇部分

1.       combustible/kəmˈbʌstəbəl/ adj. 易燃的，可燃的

英文释义：able to burn easily

搭配：combustible material/gas etc

词汇助记：

1)   前缀：com- 全部

2)   词根：bust- 表示burn

3)   后缀：-ible 形容词后缀

4)   扩展：combustion n. 燃烧，烧毁

2.       disdain/dɪsˈdeɪn/v. 鄙视，蔑视

英文释义：a complete lack of respect that you show for someone orsomething because you think they are not important or good enough

搭配：

She watched me with disdain. 

a look of complete disdain

词汇助记：

1)   前缀： dis- 否定

2)   词根：dain- 尊严

3.       audacious  /ɔːˈdeɪʃəs $ ɒː-/ adj. 大胆的

英文释义：showing great courage or confidence in a way that is impressive or slightly shocking

词汇助记：

1)   词根：aud- 表示大胆bold

2)   后缀: -acious 形容词后缀

3)   扩展：rapacious adj. 贪婪的，掠夺的

4.       exude /ɪɡˈzuːd/ v. 渗出，流出

英文释义： if you exude aparticular quality, it is easy to see that you have a lot of it 

词汇助记：

1)   对比：exude/include

2)   前缀：ex- 向外

5.       sustain/səˈsteɪn/v. 维持

英文释义：to make something continue to exist orhappen for a period of time 

搭配： 

She found it difficult to sustain the children’sinterest. 

词汇助记：

1)   前缀：sus- 向下

2)   词根：tain- 拿

二、    句子理解

As hasbeen the case for a decade, Mr Musk’s businesses face a difficult struggle to sustain their market valuations over the next 18 months, and to bolster confidence he isexpected to unveil new financial measures andalso new products over thenext few weeks.

1) 知识点：as 引导定语从句

原句：As hasbeen the case for a decade

常见：As is known to all, Jay Chouis one of the most successful singers in China.

3)  知识点：后置定语

典型结构：名词 ＋ 不定式做后置定语。

原句：struggle to sustain their market valuations over the next 18 months

4)  知识点：并列句子

and to bolster confidence he isexpected to unveil new financial measures and also new products over the nextfew weeks.

5)   并列结构：and

原句：new financialmeasures and also new products

参考翻译：这如十年来的情况一样，马斯克的企业要在未来18个月维持其股指，面临重重苦难。为提升市场信心，估计他将在未来几周公布新的财务方案及推出新产品。

三、    段落领读

LIKE most technology tycoons, ElonMusk exudes disdain for finance. Convertible bonds and lease accounting areproblems for Wall Street, while the visionaries in California focus ondriverless cars and space travel. Yet while he might be loth to admit it, MrMusk has become America’s most audacious corporate financier as well as itsbest-known entrepreneur. In just over a decade he has created an empire valuedat a cool $44 billion despite its heavy losses (see chart). A blend offinancial laboratory, corporate labyrinth and buttock-clenching thrill ride,Musk Inc has pushed the boundary of what was thought possible.

1)   tycoon n. 大亨

2)   exude distain for finance 流露出对金融的不屑

3)   be loth to 对…很厌烦

4) he has created an empire valued at a cool $44 billion

四、    片段翻译

像大多数技术大亨一样，埃隆 马斯克时时流露出对财务的鄙夷之情。可转换债券及租赁会计是留给华尔街去思考的问题，在加州，具有远见卓识的技术先锋专注的是无人驾驶汽车及太空旅行。然而，马斯克除了是美国最知名的企业家外，也成了最大胆敢为的金融家，虽然他可能不愿承认。在仅仅十多年的时间里，他已经创建了一个价值高达440亿美元的商业帝国，尽管在严重亏损（见图表）。作为金融实验室、企业迷宫及刺激过山车的混合体，马斯克的商业帝国突破了人们对可为与不可为的认知界限。

这如十年来的情况一样，马斯克的企业要在未来18个月维持其股指，面临重重苦难。为提升市场信心，估计他将在未来几周公布新的财务方案及推出新产品。马斯克曾经多次成功扭转乾坤。但如今股东、债权人及交易对手面对的是数以百亿美元的风险，赌注大大增加。电动车制造公司特斯拉必须迅速提高产量，并应对传统汽车企公司推出新电动车型带来的威胁。马斯克希望将旗下的两家公司合并；特斯拉和安装屋顶太阳能电池板的SolarCity。两者都是烧钱的企业。马斯克已在美国商业史上占据一些之地，但究竟是警示反例还是鼓舞人心的榜样，答案即将揭晓。