苹果下一步要干嘛？

苹果下一步要干嘛？

苹果公司（Apple）在中国面临激烈的市场竞争，不过，它计划在中国开设一个新的研发中心，集中所有的研发工程师。

测试中可能遇到的词汇和知识：

bolster 支持；支撑['bəʊlstə]

tough 艰苦的，困难的[tʌf]

crackdown 镇压['krækdaʊn]

fiscal year 财务年度

阅读马上开始，建议您计算一下阅读整篇文章所用的时间，对照下方的参考值就可以评估出您的英文阅读水平。

如果您读完全文用时为： 那么，您的阅读速度相当于 每分钟阅读的英文单词数

4分52秒 母语为英语者的朗读速度 140

2分24秒 母语为英语的中学生的阅读速度 250

1分9秒 母语为英语的大学生的阅读速度 350

0分6秒 母语为英语的速读高手 1000

Apple to open first R&D centre in China（662words）

By Tim Bradshaw in San Francisco

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Apple plans to open its first research and development centre in China later this year, the latest in a series of steps to bolster its presence in a vital region as sales slow down.

Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, revealed the plans to increase investment in local R&D during a meeting this week with Zhang Gaoli, China’s vice premier.

The move comes after Apple reported that revenues fell one-third in the latest quarter in Greater China, where Apple faces growing competition from local smartphone makers such as Huawei and Oppo as well as tougher economic conditions.

The new R&D centre will be made up of both new and existing staff. Apple already has 9,000 staff in China, roughly half of whom work in its 42 retail stores in the country. Over the past four years Apple has doubled the number of corporate offices in China to 45.

“We look forward to expanding our operations in China with a new research and development centre as we continue to grow our talented team here,” Apple said, without specifying the scale of staffing or financial investment in the effort.

“The centre will open later this year, bringing together our engineering and operations teams in China as we develop advanced technologies and services for our products, both for our customers in China and around the world,” Apple added.

Even as revenues slide, Apple is increasing its investment in future products and international expansion. Last month, the US tech group revealed a 26 per cent increase in its quarterly R&D spending to $2.6bn, a record 6 per cent of revenues. Its annual R&D spending is now approaching $10bn.

In May, Apple invested $1bn in Didi Chuxing, a Chinese car-hailing service — an unusual move for a company that has typically favoured much smaller deals. As well as providing a strategic partnership as a secretive Apple team works on developing its own car, the investment was widely seen as an attempt to build goodwill with the Chinese government after a series of setbacks in the region.

Earlier this year, Apple’s iTunes movies and iBooks services were blocked in China as part of a wider crackdown on foreign content. Apple also lost a patent case in Beijing that threatened to block sales of the iPhone 6.

“The new centre is also aimed at strengthening relationships with local partners and universities as we work to support talent development across the country,” Apple said.

In last month’s earnings call Mr Cook stressed the “long-term opportunity” in China, where sales grew 55 per cent to $40bn during the first three quarters of Apple’s fiscal year. Revenues from its books and movies stores in China were “less than $1m” before they were blocked, he added.

请根据你所读到的文章内容，完成以下自测题目：

1. Which one is not right about Apple?

A. open its first R&D centre in China

B. have 800 staff in China

C. revenues fell one-third in the latest quarter

D. compete with Huawei and Oppo

2. How many corporate offices in China that Apple has?

A. 26

B. 42

C. 45

D. 90

3. When will the R&D centre open in China?

A. open middle of this year

B. open in 2017

C. open later this year

D. open beginning of 2018

4. How much does Apple invest in Didi Chuxing?

A. $1bn

B. $10bn

C. $2.6bn

D. $40bn

[1] 答案 B. have 800 staff in China

解释：苹果在中国有着9000名员工。

[2] 答案 B. 42

解释：苹果在中国的办事处有42个。

[3] 答案 C. open later this year

解释：苹果在中国的第一家研发中心预计在2016后半年开放。

[4] 答案 A. $1bn

解释：苹果为滴滴出行投资了十亿。