2016.5.31
news from BBC
VW profit tumbles 20% in wake of emissions scandal
1. Volkswagen profit has tumbled 20% in the first three months of 2016 as it continues to grapple with fallout from the diesel emissions scandal.
Volksweagen 大众汽车
tumble 【ˈtʌmbl】 跌倒，倒塌
diesel 【di:zl】 柴油，柴油机
emission 【iˈmɪʃn】 排放，辐射
scandal 【ˈskændl】 丑闻
grapple 【ˈgræpl】 搏斗，抓住
2. Pre-tax profit fell to €3.2bn (£2.4bn) in the first quarter, down from €3.97bn in the same period a year ago.
pre-tax 税前
bn = billion 十亿
3. The company maintained its forecast of a 5% fall in 2016 sales revenue compared with last year, "depending on economic conditions - particularly in South America and Russia - and exchange rate developments as well as against the backdrop of the diesel issue".
exchange rate 汇率
backdrop 【ˈbækdrɒp】 背景
4. "2016 will be a transitional year for Volkswagen... we remain confident that our operating business will again record solid growth this year," Mr Mueller added.
transitional 【træn'sɪʃənl】 过渡期的，转变的
Micro Bit computer becomes a commercial product
The BBC Micro Bit, the tiny computing device designed to get children coding, is going on sale to the general public.
1. The firm says it will only sell them in batches of 90.
batch 【bætʃ】 一批
2. Element 14 （英国一家电子公司） is part of Premier Farnell, one of the distributors of the very successful Raspberry Pi （树莓派） barebones computer. Richard Curtin, strategic alliance director at element 14, is expecting a similar reception for the Micro Bit.
alliance 【əˈlaɪəns】 联盟，结盟
3. Element 14 tells me it is paying a licensing fee for the use of the BBC and Micro Bit brands - but that all of that money will be going to a charitable trust with the aim of providing an educational legacy.
charitable 【ˈtʃærətəbl】 仁慈的，仁慈的
legacy 【ˈlegəsi】 遗产
North Korea missile test launch off east coast 'fails'
North Korea has attempted to fire a ballistic missile off its east coast but the launch appears to have failed, South Korean military officials say.
1. It is unclear what type of missile it was, but it follows three failed tests of the medium-range "Musudan" missile in April.
missile 【ˈmɪsaɪl】 导弹
2. The North is banned by the UN from using any ballistic missile technology.
ballistic 【bəˈlɪstɪk】 弹道学的
3. Tensions have run high in the region after Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test in January and numerous missile tests.
numerous 【ˈnju:mərəs】 数不清的，很多的
4. Also on Tuesday, the newly promoted vice-chairman of North Korea's ruling Workers Party, Ri Su-yong, arrived in China for what South Korean media said was an unannounced official visit.
vice-chairman 【vaɪs】 副主席
promote 【prəˈməʊt】 提升
5. China is North Korea's closest ally and trading partner, but ties have been strained by the nuclear test and weapons activity.
ally 【ˈælaɪ】 联盟