An auction
      Before we start today's auction let me remind all participants that experts who are authoritative in their fields have authenticated each item. Tax attorneys will also be present at the end of the auction to answer all tax and audit questions. Please note that you can view close-ups of each item on the audiovisual equipment attached to walls throughout the room. Please keep the volume of the headsets just audible, however, as not to disturb your neighbor.
      I am now honored to say that all auguries for this auction are excellent. Let us begin!
      Our first item is an authentic atlas of the stars drawn by a famous astronomer in the year 1414. We were astounded to have this item be available to you all. Are there any bids? Ah yes, we start the bidding with the audacious former astronaut, Buck Williams, at $ 25,000. Any others? Thank you, sir. The bid is at $ 30,000. Now we have $ 35,000 from the famous athlete Cal Ripken. Yes sir, $ 38,000. Others? And again from Mr. Williams we have $ 40,000. Any others? Mr. Ripken you have attained the item of your choice. The atlas is yours for $ 42,000. I sense a slight asymmetry with your purchasing this item. I was sure Mr. Williams would want to augment his collection, but I guess your competitive attributes got the best of him this time. But this is not an audition for who can compete the best, Mr. Williams. Congratulations!
      Now let us move to the next item in the auction.
                                         一次拍卖
    在今天的拍卖开始之前，请允许我提醒所有来宾此次拍卖的每件物品均经过业界权威人士的鉴定。拍卖结束的时候还会有税务律师到场回答所有关于税务及审计方面的问题。请注意，你们可以通过整个房间内连接在墙壁上的视听设备看到每件物品的特写镜头，不过，请把耳机的音量保持在能听见的水平，不要打扰您旁边的人。
    现在我荣幸地告诉大家这次拍卖的兆头不错。拍卖现在开始!
    我们的第一件拍卖品是一位著名的天文学家在1414年绘制的星球地图册真迹。今天诸位可以竞拍这幅图很令我们吃惊。有人出价吗？啊，好，我们的竞价开始了，具有冒险精神的前宇航员巴克•威廉斯出价25000美元。还有其他人出价吗?谢谢您，先生，您的报价是30000美元。现在著名的运动员卡尔•里普金出价35000美元。好的，先生，38000美元。还有人出价吗？好，威廉斯再次出价40000美元。还有其他人出价吗?里普金先生，您已经得到了你想要的东西。您以42000美元的价格拍得了这幅地图。我觉得您购买这幅地图有些不对称。我以为威廉斯先生会想增加他的收藏，但是我猜是您的竞争特性使您这次击败了他。但这并不是一次看谁最能竞争的试演，威廉斯先生。恭喜您!
    现在让我们来看下一件拍卖品吧。

单词详解:

astound       v.使震惊,使大吃一惊
astronaut     n.宇航员,航天员
astronomer    n.天文学家
asymmetry     n.不对称,不均称
athlete       n.运动员,体育家;(英)田径运动员
atlas         n.地图册,图表集
attach        v.1系;帖;连接2.附加,使附属3.使喜欢,使依恋
attain        v.达到,获得;到达
attorney      n.律师
attribute     v.1.把...归因于;把...归咎于(to)
                2.认为...属于(to)
              n.1.属性,特性 2.标志,象征
auction       v./n.拍卖
audacious     a.大胆的,敢于冒险的
audible       a.听得见的
audiovisual   a.利用视觉和听觉的;视听教学的
audit         v./n.查账,审计
audition      n.1听觉,听能2.试演,视听,面试
augment       v.扩大,增加;加强,提高
augury        n.预兆,征兆
authentic     a.真的,可靠的
authenticate  v.证明...是确实的;使具有法律上的有效力
authoritative a.1权威性的,可相信的2官方的,当局的