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Gold Steadies Amid Oil Shock and Fed Debate — episode cover art
6:57

黄金价格稳定与中东石油危机

Gold Steadies Amid Oil Shock and Fed Debate

About this story

Gold stays stable while Iran tensions, the Strait of Hormuz, and a Middle East oil crisis shake the global market. HSK 3 Chinese listening practice.

This is an HSK 3-4 Chinese listening episode that runs about 7 minutes. The full Mandarin script is shown with tap-for-pinyin and a line-by-line English translation, so you can listen and read at once — comprehensible input in the sense of Stephen Krashen's i+1 theory. It teaches 12 key vocabulary words such as 市场、稳定、保护 and walks through 4 grammar patterns, each explained in English with examples. The same news story is retold at 4 difficulty levels — use the level selector above to find the version that is challenging but still understandable for you.

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原文

Read the complete story in Chinese. Reveal pinyin and English only when you need them.

说到最近的金融市场,我们来看看黄金的价格。
最近黄金的价格非常稳定。
买卖黄金的人都在认真观察市场。
现在黄金的价格很高。
一盎司黄金的价格超过了五千美元。
虽然前几天价格有一点点下降。
但是很快又回到了五千美元上面。
为什么黄金的价格一直这么高呢?
因为很多人心里觉得不安全。
在金融市场里,黄金就像是一个安全的房子。
如果外面的天气很好,大家可能会去买别的。
但是如果外面刮风下雨,大家就会把钱换成黄金。
现在市场上的风雨是什么呢?
主要有两个很大的问题。
第一个问题是物价上涨。
也就是我们常说的通货膨胀。
第二个问题是石油的供应出现了困难。
我们先来说说第一个问题。
现在很多国家的东西都变得比以前贵了。
不管是吃的还是用的,价格都在涨。
如果物价一直涨,你手里的钱就不值钱了。
这时候,聪明的人就会把钱拿去买黄金。
因为黄金的价值是很稳定的。
它不但能保护财富,而且还能让人安心。
然后我们再来看看石油的问题。
石油对我们的生活太重要了。
汽车需要加汽油,飞机也需要用石油。
工厂生产东西同样需要石油。
如果石油少了,石油的价格就会变贵。
最近中东地区发生了一些战争。
这让全世界的石油供应出现了很大的麻烦。
伊朗攻击了一些很重要的能源设施。
这些设施都在波斯湾附近。
波斯湾是全世界出产石油最多的地方。
很多国家的石油都是被船从那里运出来的。
如果那里的设施被破坏了。
石油就很难顺利地运出来。
所以,最近石油的价格一直在往上涨。
虽然中间有一天下跌了。
但是很快又开始往上涨了。
因为大家发现问题并没有被解决。
中东还有一个非常重要的地方。
这个地方叫霍尔木兹海峡。
它就像是石油运输的大门。
全世界很多运石油的大船都要从这里经过。
但是现在,这个大门几乎被关上了。
因为那里非常不安全。
运油的大船都不敢从那里走了。
这让做生意的人非常担心。
如果石油运不出来,很多国家就没有石油用了。
为了解决这个问题,美国开始想办法了。
美国准备拿出他们存起来的紧急石油。
每个国家都会把一些石油存在巨大的罐子里。
这些石油平时是不能用的。
只有在遇到大麻烦的时候才会拿出来。
美国现在把这些紧急石油拿出来。
就是为了让市场上的石油多一点。
如果石油多了一点,价格可能就不会涨得太快。
另外,美国总统特朗普也提出了要求。
他希望别的国家也能来帮忙。
他觉得大家应该一起保护那个重要的海峡。
如果大家一起派船去保护。
运石油的大船可能就敢从那里经过了。
但是,这不是一件容易的事情。
因为那里的情况非常复杂。
不是一天两天就能解决的。
所以,市场上的担心并没有减少。
大家还在看接下来的情况会怎么发展。
如果别的国家不愿意帮忙怎么办?
如果战争变得更严重了怎么办?
这些都是大家每天在想的问题。
我们把这些事情连起来看一看。
因为中东有战争,所以石油运不出来。
因为石油运不出来,所以石油比以前贵了。
如果石油变贵了,运东西的成本就高了。
比如说,超市里的苹果可能也要涨价。
因为把苹果运到超市需要用大卡车。
大卡车需要加更贵的汽油。
所以最后,所有的东西都会变得更贵。
这就是我们刚才说的物价上涨。
大家看到物价上涨,就会更加担心手里的钱。
他们不想让自己的钱变少。
所以他们决定去买更多的黄金。
这就是为什么黄金的价格现在这么稳定。
即使美元的价格有时候会发生变化。
黄金还是能稳稳地站在五千美元上面。
做交易的人每天都在计算这些风险。
他们一边看着中东的石油供应。
一边看着全世界的物价变化。
他们要把所有的消息都放在一起比较。
如果石油的问题变得更严重。
黄金的价格可能还会继续往上走。
如果石油的问题解决了。
大家可能就不会这么需要买黄金了。
但是目前来看,石油的麻烦还在继续。
我们可以想象一下交易员的每一天。
他们坐在电脑前面,看着各种各样的数据。
红色的数字和绿色的数字一直在跳动。
他们不但要关心美国的政策。
还要关心世界上每一个角落的新闻。
比如说,今天美国放出了多少紧急石油。
明天中东又发生了什么新的冲突。
每一个小小的消息,都会影响他们的决定。
其实,这不只是金融市场的事情。
这些数字和我们的生活也有很大的关系。
虽然我们可能不买黄金,也不做石油生意。
但是石油价格的变化会把影响带给每一个人。
如果我们去加油站加油,马上就能感觉到变化。
如果我们去买菜,也能发现价格的不同。
所以,了解这些国际上的大事是很有用的。
它能帮助我们明白世界是怎么运转的。
也能让我们知道为什么有些东西变贵了。
现在,所有的目光都在看着中东。
大家都在等一个新的结果。
看看那个重要的海峡什么时候能重新打开。
看看石油的船什么时候能安全地开出来。
English transcript reference

Speaking of the recent financial markets, let's take a look at the price of gold.

Recently, the price of gold has been very stable.

People who buy and sell gold are carefully observing the market.

Currently, the price of gold is very high.

The price of one ounce of gold has exceeded five thousand dollars.

Although the price dropped a little bit a few days ago.

It quickly returned to above five thousand dollars again.

Why has the price of gold remained so high?

Because many people feel insecure in their hearts.

In the financial market, gold is like a safe house.

If the weather outside is good, people might go buy other things.

But if it's windy and rainy outside, people will exchange their money for gold.

What are the 'wind and rain' in the market right now?

There are mainly two big problems.

The first problem is the rise in prices.

That is what we commonly call inflation.

The second problem is that difficulties have appeared in the oil supply.

Let's talk about the first problem first.

Now, things in many countries have become more expensive than before.

Whether it's food or items for use, prices are rising.

If prices keep rising, the money in your hand will become less valuable.

At this time, smart people will take their money to buy gold.

Because the value of gold is very stable.

It can not only protect wealth, but also give people peace of mind.

Then let's look at the problem of oil.

Oil is too important to our lives.

Cars need gasoline, and airplanes also need oil.

Factories also need oil to produce things.

If there is less oil, the price of oil will become expensive.

Recently, some wars have occurred in the Middle East.

This has caused great trouble for the world's oil supply.

Iran attacked some very important energy facilities.

These facilities are all near the Persian Gulf.

The Persian Gulf is the place that produces the most oil in the world.

The oil of many countries is transported out from there by ship.

If the facilities there are destroyed.

It will be difficult for oil to be transported out smoothly.

Therefore, the price of oil has been rising recently.

Although it fell for one day in between.

But it quickly started to rise again.

Because everyone discovered that the problem had not been solved.

There is another very important place in the Middle East.

This place is called the Strait of Hormuz.

It is like the gateway for oil transportation.

Many large oil tankers in the world have to pass through here.

But now, this gateway is almost closed.

Because it is very unsafe there.

Large oil tankers dare not go through there anymore.

This makes business people very worried.

If oil cannot be transported out, many countries will have no oil to use.

To solve this problem, the United States has started to find a way.

The United States is preparing to take out the emergency oil they have stored.

Every country stores some oil in huge tanks.

This oil is usually not allowed to be used.

It is only taken out when encountering big trouble.

The United States is taking out this emergency oil now.

It is just to make a bit more oil available on the market.

If there is a bit more oil, the price might not rise too fast.

In addition, US President Trump also made a request.

He hopes other countries can also come to help.

He thinks everyone should protect that important strait together.

If everyone sends ships to protect it together.

Large oil tankers might dare to pass through there.

But, this is not an easy thing.

Because the situation there is very complex.

It cannot be solved in a day or two.

Therefore, the worry in the market has not decreased.

Everyone is still watching how the situation will develop next.

What if other countries are unwilling to help?

What if the war becomes more serious?

These are questions everyone is thinking about every day.

Let's look at these things together in connection.

Because there is war in the Middle East, oil cannot be transported out.

Because oil cannot be transported out, oil is more expensive than before.

If oil becomes expensive, the cost of transporting things becomes high.

For example, apples in the supermarket might also increase in price.

Because transporting apples to the supermarket requires large trucks.

Large trucks need to use more expensive gasoline.

So in the end, everything will become more expensive.

This is the price increase we just mentioned.

When people see prices rising, they will worry more about the money in their hands.

They don't want their money to become less.

So they decide to buy more gold.

This is why the price of gold is so stable now.

Even if the price of the US dollar sometimes changes.

Gold can still stand firmly above five thousand dollars.

Traders are calculating these risks every day.

They are looking at the Middle East oil supply on one hand.

And looking at global price changes on the other.

They have to put all the news together to compare.

If the oil problem becomes more serious.

The price of gold might continue to go up.

If the oil problem is solved.

People might not need to buy gold so much.

But as it stands currently, the oil trouble is continuing.

We can imagine every day of a trader.

They sit in front of the computer, looking at all kinds of data.

Red numbers and green numbers are constantly jumping.

They not only have to care about US policies.

But also care about news from every corner of the world.

For example, how much emergency oil the US released today.

What new conflict happened in the Middle East tomorrow.

Every tiny bit of news will affect their decisions.

Actually, this is not just a matter for the financial markets.

These numbers also have a great relationship with our lives.

Although we might not buy gold or do oil business.

Changes in oil prices will bring impact to everyone.

If we go to the gas station to refuel, we can feel the change immediately.

If we go to buy groceries, we can also find the difference in prices.

Therefore, understanding these major international events is very useful.

It can help us understand how the world operates.

It can also let us know why some things have become more expensive.

Now, all eyes are on the Middle East.

Everyone is waiting for a new result.

To see when that important strait can reopen.

To see when the oil ships can safely sail out.

Listen again

Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.

What vocabulary does this episode teach?

词汇
shìchǎngmarket

A place where trade and business occur. Commonly used in '金融市场' (financial market).

wěndìngstable

Steady and not likely to change. Used to describe both prices and situations.

bǎohùto protect

To keep something safe from harm or loss.

fùzácomplex

Complicated or consisting of many different parts.

dānxīnto worry

To feel anxious or concerned about something.

guójiācountry

HSK 1-3. country.

jīnróngfinance/financial

Refers to the management of large amounts of money, especially by governments or companies.

tōnghuò péngzhànginflation

A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.

hǎixiástrait

A narrow passage of water connecting two seas or two other large areas of water.

shèshīfacilities

Buildings, equipment, or services provided for a particular purpose.

àngsīounce

A unit of weight used for precious metals.

jiāoyìyuántrader

A person who buys and sells goods, currency, or shares.

* beyond level超纲词

What grammar patterns appear in this episode?

语法
不但...而且...↗

Used to express 'not only... but also...', adding further information to a point.

它不但能保护财富,而且还能让人安心。

他们不但要关心美国的政策,还要关心世界上每一个角落的新闻。

不管...都...↗

Meaning 'no matter' or 'regardless of'. It indicates that the result remains the same under any condition.

不管是吃的还是用的,价格都在涨。

如果...就...↗

A standard conditional structure meaning 'if... then...'.

如果外面刮风下雨,大家就会把钱换成黄金。

如果石油少了,石油的价格就会变贵。

如果那里的设施被破坏了,石油就很难顺利地运出来。

一边...一边...↗

Indicates two actions happening simultaneously.

他们一边看着中东的石油供应,一边看着全世界的物价变化。

Proper nouns

专有名词
中东ZhōngdōngThe Middle East伊朗YīlǎngIran波斯湾Bōsī WānPersian Gulf霍尔木兹海峡Huò'ěrmùzī HǎixiáStrait of Hormuz美国MěiguóUnited States特朗普TèlǎngpǔTrump

Sources

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