Vocabulary:
1.HBO: Home Box Office, is an American premium cable and satellite television network that is owned by Time Warner through its respective flagship company Home Box office,Inc, which is the oldest and longest continuously operating pay television service (basic or premium) in the United States, having been in operation since November 8, 1972
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HBO
2.almond: Noun, the flat pale sweet nut of the almond tree used in cooking and to make almond oil 杏仁
E.g. Almonds are pale oval nuts. They are often used in cooking.
3.....and speakers linked to avirtual voice-activated assistandthat can control, among other things, your lamps andsprinkler.
virtual:|ˈvɜ:tʃuəl; 美 ˈvɜ:rtʃ-| adj :
** made to appear to exist by the use of computer software, for example on the Internet 虚拟的，模拟的E.g. New technology has enabled development of an online ‘virtual library ’. 新技术已经使在线“虚拟图书馆”的发展成为可能。
**almost or very nearly the thing described, so that any slight difference is not important 实际的，实质上的E.g. The company has a virtual monopoly in this area of trade.这家公司实质上已经垄断了这种贸易
Voice-activated: 声控的E.g.voice activated intercom 语音对讲机
sprinkler：Noun, is a device used to spray water. Sprinklers are used to water plants or grass, or to put out fires in buildings.(浇花草的)洒水器;喷水灭火装置
4.premise: noun, a statement or an idea that forms the basis for a reasonable line of argument 前提；假定E.g. His reasoning is based on the premise that all people are equally capable of good and evil.他的推理是以人可以为善亦可以为恶为前提的
5.capitalisation: noun. an estimation of the value of a business .
E.g. a market capitalication 市场资本.
Now they are ranked first, second and third worldwide in terms of market capitalisation. 现在按市值计算,这些银行已经占据了全球前三位
6.that is because investors anticipate both an extraordinary rise in revenue. .......
anticipate:预期;预料;预计If you anticipate an event, you realize in advance that it may happen and you are prepared for it.
E.g.They anticipate moving to bigger premises by the end of the year.
revenue:noun.the money that a government receives from taxes or that an organization, etc. receives from its business 财政收入，税收收入，收益
E.g. a slump in oil revenues 石油收入的下跌
The company's annual revenues rose by 30%公司的年收入增加了30%
7.Ground for scepticism does not come much more fertile than this .....
令人怀疑的理由从来没有像这现样这样充足.......
8. it is easy to tick off some of the pit falls. Rivals will not stand still. 这样很容易埋下一些隐患，对手不会固步自封。
tick off :If you tick off items on a list, you write a tick or other mark next to them, in order to show that they have been dealt with 在此译为打勾，勾勒 ？
pitfalls: a danger or difficulty, especially one that is hidden or not obvious at first 危险；困难；（尤指）陷阱，隐患
9.exceptionally :used before an adjective or adverb to emphasize how strong or unusual the quality is（用于形容词和副词之前表示强调）罕见，特别，非常
10 striking: interesting and unusual enough to attract attention 引人注目的；异乎寻常的；显著的Synonymy : marked.E.g.She bears a striking resemblance to her older sister她酷似她姐姐
11.unprecedentedgoals: 前所未有的目标
unprecedented: adj. that has never happened, been done or been known before前所未有的；空前的；没有先例的
E.g. The situation is unprecedented in modern times.这种情况在现代还没有出现过
12. a new sort of basket-case: 根据笃师讲解，可理解为一种颠覆过去的新模式
basket case:a person or a thing regarded as useless or unable to cope.
另一种解释：[idiomatic,slang, potentially offensive) one made powerless or ineffective,as by nerves,panic,stress or exhaustion.( synonyms : emotional cripple )
E.g. She was a completebasket casethe morning of her wedding.
延伸：emotional cripple: someone who finds it difficult to have or express feelings.
13. In an era whenexecutivesroutinelywhinge aboutpressure to produce short-term results, Amazon isresolutelyfocused on the distant horizon.....
executives:a person who has an important job as a manager of a company or an organization （公司或机构的）经理，主管领导，管理人员 ,在此统称高管
whinge： ~ (about sb/sth) to complain in an annoying way 絮絮叨叨地抱怨
E.g.She's always whingeing about how unfair everything is.她总是嘟囔着说一切都太不公平了
resolutely :having or showing great determination to do sth.坚决地，毅然地
synonyms: determinedly
E.g.He resolutely refused to speak English unless forced to除非迫不得已，否则他坚决不说英语
14.propel:verb. to move, drive or push sth forward or in a particular direction 推动；驱动；推进
15.lure:(disapproving) to persuade or trick sb to go somewhere or to do sth by promising them a reward 劝诱；引诱；诱惑synonyms : entice
E.g. Young people are lured to the city by the prospect of a job and money年轻人希望打工赚钱，从而被诱惑到城市
延伸：
entice: ~ sb (into doing sth) to persuade sb/sth to go somewhere or to do sth, usually by offering them sth 诱使；引诱
16.streaming video and music 视频音乐流量 ？
17.A thridvirtuouscircleis starting towhirlaround Alexa, the firm's voice-activated assistant...
virtuous circle ：(formal) a series of events in which each one seems to increase the good effects of the previous one 良性循环
virtuous:(disapproving,or humorous) claiming to behave better or have higher moral standards than other people 自命不凡的；自命清高的,自以为了不起
E.g.He was feeling virtuous because he had finished and they hadn't. 因为他完成了而他们没有，他自以为了不起
whirl:give sth a whirl, (informal) to try sth to see if you like it or can do it 试一试
18. ...Amazon'sheadyvaluationresemblesaself-fulfilling prophecy.
Heady:adj . having a strong effect on your senses; making you feel excited and confident 强烈作用于感官的；使兴奋的；使有信心的Synonyms : intoxicating
E.g. the heady days of youth 令人陶醉的年轻时代
a heady mixture of desire and fear 既期待又害怕的复杂心情
resembles:verb. (not used in the progressive tenses 不用于进行时) to look like or be similar to another person or thing 看起来像；显得像；像E.g. So many hotels resemble each other.许多酒店看上去都差不多
self-fulfilling prophecy :a self-fulfilling prophecy is one that becomes true because people expect it to be true and behave in a way that will make it happen （预言等）自我应验的，自我实现的E.g. If you expect to fail, you will fail. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy.你如果预期失败，就会失败。这是一种自我应验的预测
19.sustain: If something sustains you, it supports you by giving you help, strength, or encouragement 支持，支撑E.g.I am sustained by letters of support and what people say to me in ordinary daily life...这些支持的信件和人们每天对我的鼓励一直支撑着我
20.debacle : noun.an event or a situation that is a complete failure and causes embarrassment 大败；崩溃；垮台；灾祸E.g. Many men were shot or captured in the debacle. 败军在溃逃时有很多人被击毙或俘虏.
21.crank out :(informal) to produce a lot of sth quickly, especially things of low quality 大量地快速制造；（尤指）粗制滥造synonyms: turn out
E.g.We have to crank out publications in order to receive funding
22.quadruple: verb.to become four times bigger; to make sth four times bigger （使）变为四倍
E.g.Sales have quadrupled in the last five years. 过去五年中，销售额已增长至以前的四倍
23. the sheer breadth of activities :经营范围之广
the sheer breadth： scope or range, especially of knowledge or skill; the breadth of something is its quality of consisting of or involving many different things
24.wingspan: noun. the distance between the end of one wing and the end of the other when the wings are fully stretched 翼展；翼幅
25.reminiscent: adj. ~ of sb/sth reminding you of sb/sth 使回忆起（人或事）E.g.The way he laughed was strongly reminiscent of his father他笑的样子让人很容易想起他的父亲
26. conglomerate :noun . a large company formed by joining together different firms 联合大公司；企业集团E.g. a media conglomerate 大众传媒联合体
27.bloated:adj. full of liquid or gas and therefore bigger than normal, in a way that is unpleasant 膨胀的；肿胀的；臃肿的
28.conglomerate discount: 多元化集团折扣
29.air-freight hub: 航空运输枢纽
30.It is testing technology in stores to let consumersskip the cash registeraltogether, andexperimentingwithdrone deliveriesto the home. 它正在商店测试一种技术，让消费者完全跳过收银机，并尝试无人机送货到家
skip:
** skip it (informal) used to tell sb rudely that you do not want to talk about sth or repeat what you have said （粗暴地表示不想谈论或重复说）别提这事儿，不说这个了E.g. What were you saying? Oh, skip it! 你刚才说什么来着? 噢，不提了
No, thanks. We'll skip aperiti. 不, 谢谢, 饭前酒免了吧!
** skip off/out E.g. to leave secretly or suddenly 溜走；突然离去
**skip out on sb (North Amercian English) to leave sb, especially when they need you （尤指不顾某人而）离开，溜走
drone: an aircraft without a pilot, controlled from the ground 无人驾驶飞机
31.presumably: used to say that you think that sth is probably true 很可能；大概；想必是
E.g. Presumably this is where the accident happened.这大概就是事故现场
32....become a new kind ofutility: one that provides theinfrastructureof commerce, from computing power to payments to logistics.
utility:|ju:ˈtɪləti|
** noun:a service provided for the public, for example an electricity, water or gas supply 公用事业;(formal) the quality of being useful 实用；效用；有用 synonyms: usefulness.
** adj: `that can be used for several different purposes 多用途的；多效用的；多功能的E.g.an all-round utility player全面型选手
infrastructure:the basic systems and services that are necessary for a country or an organization to run smoothly, for example buildings, transport and water and power supplies （国家或机构的）基础设施，基础建设
【派生词】infrastructural adj |ˌɪnfrəˈstrʌktʃərəl|E.g. infrastructural development 基础设施的发展
33 .fulfilling:
adj.causing sb to feel satisfied and useful 让人感觉有意义的；令人满足的E.g. a fulfilling experience.有成就感的经历。
verb.1. If something fulfils you, or if you fulfil yourself, you feel happy and satisfied with what you are doing or with what you have achieved. 满足，使满意
2. To fulfil a task, role, or requirement means to do or be what is required, necessary, or expected. 实行，执行。
3.If you fulfil something such as a promise, dream, or hope, you do what you said or hoped you would do. 履行;实现;使应验
34....it will attract the attention of regulators...
regulators：a person or an organization that officially controls an area of business or industry and makes sure that it is operating fairly （某行业等的）监管者，监管机构
35.For now, Amazon is unlikely to trigger antitrust action....
unlikely :~ (to do sth) | ~ (that…) not likely to happen; not probable 不大可能发生的
If you say that something is unlikely to happen or unlikely to be true, you believe that it will not happen or that it is not true, although you are not completely sure.
E.g. The project seemed unlikely to succeed 这个项目似乎难以成功
trigger: verb.[动词 + 名词短语]~ sth (off) to make sth happen suddenly 发动；引起；触发
synonyms: set off.E.g.Nuts can trigger off a violent allergic reaction 坚果可以引起严重的过敏反应
antitrust: adj. preventing companies or groups of companies from controlling prices unfairly 反托拉斯的；反垄断的E.g.Our antitrust laws have been too severe 我们的反垄断法太严格了
延伸：antitrust enforce反垄断执法（下文中出现）
antitrust grounds反垄断理由
36.Seen through thislens, Amazon apprearspristine.透过这个棱镜来看，亚马逊看起来还是一片净土。
pristine：not developed or changed in any way; left in its original condition 未开发的；处于原始状态的，纯朴的
37.Harris Poll: 哈里斯民意调查The Harris Poll has been running since 1963 and covers a broad variety of topics.[14]In 1997, Harris Interactive began developing an on-line version of The Harris Poll. It has also developed several Internet-based polls in conjunction with other companies.
38.adjacent: adjnext to or near sth 与…毗连的；邻近的E.g. The planes landed on adjacent runways 这些飞机在毗连的跑道上降落
39.The comparative immunity from legal liability of digital platforms-for the posting of inflammatory content on Facebook, say, or the vetting of drivers on Uber-is being chipped away.
comparative:measured or judged by how similar or different it is to sth else 比较而言的；相对的 Synonyms: relative. E.g. Then he was living in comparative comfort (= compared with others or with his own life at a previous time) .他那时生活比较舒适
immunity: noun. ~ (from sth) the state of being protected from sth 受保护；豁免；免除E.g.The spies were all granted immunity from prosecution
inflammatory:adj. disapproving) intended to cause very strong feelings of anger 煽动性的；使人发怒的E.g. inflammatory remarks 煽动的言语
vetting: verb.（尤指对将要从事涉及军事或政治机密工作人员的）调查，审查，考查 If someone is vetted, they are investigated fully before being given a particular job, role, or position, especially one which involves military or political secrets.
chipped away: to keep breaking small pieces off sth 不停地削（或凿）E.g.(figurative)They chipped away at the power of the government (= gradually made it weaker) .他们不断削弱政府的权力
40.predatory pricing: the fact of a business company selling its goods at such a low price that other companies can no longer compete and have to stop selling similar goods 掠夺性定价；为挤垮对手的大削价
predatory: using weaker people for their own financial or sexual advantage （在金钱或性关系上）欺负弱小的，压榨他人的E.g. People who run small businesses are frightened by the predatory behaviour of the banks 小公司经营者被银行的掠夺行为吓坏了
41But success will bring it into conflice with an even stronger beast: government . Beast :noun. **a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
Synonyms:animal, animate being, brute, creature, fauna
** a cruelly rapacious person
Synonyms: brute, savage, wildcat, wolf
Mindmap:
神句翻译：【对比笃师版：下同】
1.The former book seller accounts for more than half of every new dollar spent on line in U.S. 美国线上每消费一美元，这家前书商都要占据一半以上。【对比笃师版： 美国新增线上交易中,书商起家的亚马逊占到一半以上份额。】
2.Since the beginning of 2015, its share price has jumped by173%,seven times quicker than in the two previous years.(and12 times faster than the S&P 500 Index) 自从2015年开始，他（亚马逊）的股价已经上涨了173%，比前两年的速度加快了七倍（比标准普尔股价指数快了12倍之多）【自2015年初起，亚马逊公司股价飙升173%，增速是前两年的七倍。（为标准普尔500指数的12倍】
3.With a market capitalization of some 400bn, it is the fifth most valuable firm in the world. 它在世界最有价值的公司中排名第五，拥有大约4000亿美元的市值。【亚马逊以约4000亿美元的市值排名全球第五.】
4.Never before has a company been worth so much for so long while making so little money: 92% of its value is due to profits expected after 2020.从来没有一家公司在很长时间内挣钱很少的情况下可以价值那么多：92%的价值是来源于2020年后的预期利润。【从未有过一家公司能在盈利如此有限的情况下，长久维持如此之高的估值：其中92%来自2020年以后的盈利预期.】
5.Walmart already has revenues nudging 500bn and is beefing up online. 沃尔玛收入已经接近5000亿美金，并且它正在加强线上业务。【沃尔玛的营收已接近5000亿，并且还在增强线上业务。】
6.Last year cash-flow (before investment) was $16bn,more than quadruple the level five years ago. 去年的现金流（投资前）是160亿美金，比五年前的水平翻了四倍之多。【沃尔玛的营收已接近5000亿，并且还在增强线上业务.】
7.If it makes as much money as investors hope, a rough calculation suggests its earnings could be worth the equivalent of 25% of the combined profits of listed Western retail and media firms.如果它真赚的如投资者期望的那么多钱，粗略估算表明它的盈利相当于西方零售业和媒介公司的利润总和的25%。【如果该公司实际业绩与投资者预期一致，据初步统计, 其利润将等同于所有西方零售和媒体上市公司利润总和的25%。】
8.Ground for skepticism does not come much more fertile than this: Amazon will have to grow faster than almost any big company in modern history to justify its valuation. 令人怀疑的土壤从来没有比这更肥沃：亚马逊将必须比现代史上任何一家大公司都发展的要快，来证明他的价值。【最强有力的质疑根据是：亚马逊的增长速度必须超过近代史上几乎任意一家大公司才能支撑其估值。】
9.In an era when executives routinely whinge about pressure to produce short-term results, Amazon is resolutely focused on the distant horizon.在一个高管们经常喋喋不休地抱怨产生短期效果带来的压力的时代，亚马逊坚定地将目光聚焦在遥远的未来。【当今时代，主管们常常抱怨实现短期目标压力太大，而亚马逊则坚定不移的聚焦长远目标。】
10.Mr.Bezos emphasizes continual investment to propel its two principal businesses.
Mr.Bezos 总着重于持续投资来推动它的两个主要业务。【贝索斯先生重视两大核心业务的持续投资以促进发展。】
11.A third virtuous circle is starting to whirl around Alexa, the firm’s voice-activated assistant:
第三个良性循环围绕着公司的声控助理Alexa已经开始运转。【第三个良性循环是围绕Alexa的，即该公司声控助手。】
12.So long as shareholders retain their faith in this model, Amazon’s heady valuation resembles a self-fulfilling prophecy.只要股东们保持对这个模式的信心，亚马逊那令人陶醉的价值看起来像是一个会自我应验的预言。【只要股东对这一模式保持信念，那么亚马逊的超高估值就类似于自我实现预言】
13.Their faith is sustained byAmazon’s record.他们的信心由亚马逊的记录支撑着。
14.It has had its failures—its attempt to make a smart-phone was a debacle.But the business is starting to crank out cash. 它也有它的失败--之前对智能手机的尝试就是一个崩溃。不过公司现在开始带来现金。【Business作可数名词时，在此代指公司，企业】
15.If Amazon’s approach to time-frames is unusual,so too is the sheer breadth of its activities.
如果说亚马逊对时间框架的勾勒方法不寻常，同样它涉及的范围广度也是不寻常。
16.A wingspan this large is more reminiscent of a conglomerate than a retailer, which makes Amazon’s share price seem even more bloated: stockmarkets typically apply a“conglomerate discount”to reflect their in-efficiencies. （亚马逊的）翼幅之大使人更容易联想到一个企业集团而不是一家零售商，这会使亚马逊的股价看起来更臃肿：股票市场通常采用”多元化集团折扣“来反射他们的低效率。
17.Seen through this lens, Amazon appears pristine.透过这个棱镜来看，亚马逊似乎还是一片净土。
18.Consumers applaud it; it is the most well-regarded company in America,according to a Harris poll.据哈里斯民意调查显示，消费者称赞它是美国最受好评的公司。
19.If it gets anywhere close to fulfilling them, it will attract the attention of regulators. 如果它能够在任何地方趋于实现自我满足的成就，它必然会引起监管机构的注意。
20.But as it grows,so will concerns about its power.但是随着它的成长，它的为量也会引起担忧。
21.Investors value Amazon’s growth over pro-fits;that makes predatory pricing more tempting. 投资者评估亚马逊的增长是看利润，这就使得掠夺性定价更为诱人。
Summary:
做这篇最大的感悟就是翻译了，信达雅是何其难以到达的高度，往往我们弄懂了文意，理解了作者的意思，却无法用自己的母语贴切地表达出来。感谢笃师出这样的题目，自己也在一遍遍揣摩中重新复习了对文章的理解，更新了之前误解的地方。
做思维导图时，我一直对Amazon的unprecedented goals找不到准确的描述，很想从文中找出总结性的phrase来做为一个点去展开，还好今天看到另外一篇相关文章，思维清晰了很多，也否定了之前导图的一些分类。
当听完今天的讲解后，我在想，经济学人的这篇算不算对亚马逊的公关文？他的股票要上涨了吧?(笑）怎么说来呢，我不太喜欢亚马逊上的retailer，同样类似于京东和当当上的第三方卖家，物流和服务都比较差，用这些电子网站时，我更愿意去找本站销售的产品。如果的京东在物流上已经远超淘宝天猫这些，如果刘强东有马云的眼界，我觉得他应该会走得路子更宽吧。不小心回到那个命题，掌握英语打开另一个世界。跟随甘比跟随笃师去打开更好看的世界吧，期待后面的路程。
