A Chinese podcast · Same story, 4 levels
iPhone Duo 起价1999美元，10月23日开卖
iPhone Duo Starts at $1,999; On Sale Oct 23
About this story
Apple revealed iPhone Duo with 5.4-inch and 7.6-inch displays. Its $1,999 price and October dates turn a rumor into a purchase decision. HSK 3 Chinese listening practice.
This is an HSK 3-4 Chinese listening episode that runs about 2 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 10 key vocabulary words such as 手机、消息、吸引 and walks through 2 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.
English transcript reference
A phone that isn't even on sale yet already has a number that makes people stop: one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine dollars.
On September 9, Apple announced its first foldable phone, and this time it finally has an official name and price.
In the past it was just rumors, but now the name and price finally come from Apple itself.
When folded, you can use the outer screen; when opened, you can use the large inner screen.
The outer screen is 5.4 inches, and the inner screen is 7.6 inches.
You can imagine checking messages on the go with it folded, and once you sit down, opening it to read articles.
This 'one phone, two sizes' way of using it is exactly what makes the foldable design appealing.
However, announcing it doesn't mean it's already on sale.
Apple says pre-orders start on October 16.
Official sales start on October 23, covering more than 70 countries and regions including China.
In other words, today you still can't walk into a store and take it home.
What really needs deciding is whether the large screen is worth the starting price of one thousand nine hundred ninety-nine dollars.
Some people often read long articles or watch videos on their phones, and would want to try the large screen when opened.
Others already like their current phones and think this price is too high.
This time Apple has given clear facts: the official name, the sizes of the two screens, the price, and the dates.
As for whether it's good to use once you get it, we still have to wait for people to answer after it goes on sale.
Would you look at its screen when opened first, or at the price tag first?
Listen again
Try it without the transcript and notice what sounds clearer.
What vocabulary does this episode teach?
词汇The product being announced.
An everyday use for the outer screen.
Why the foldable design appeals to some buyers.
The launch covers many countries.
The price is already known.
The dates mark when ordering and sales start.
A phone that opens to a bigger display.
The 5.4-inch display used when closed.
The 7.6-inch display used when opened.
Ordering before the official sale.
* beyond level超纲词
What grammar patterns appear in this episode?
语法……不等于……
Separates two events that are often confused.
不过，发布不等于已经开卖。
至于……
Introduces a question to be answered later.
至于拿到手以后好不好用，还要等上市后的人来回答。
Proper nouns
专有名词Sources
来源Free account
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