閱讀識字 English Reading Made Easy

全民英檢 | 學測/指考 | 國中會考

   


With a one-cent rate hike coming, Forever stamps popular

source: By Diane C. Lade | South Florida Sun-Sentinel February 14, 2008

郵資即將漲價一分;「永遠的郵票」燒滾滾

Related article: Stamps of Wild Approval


Consumers apparently still believe a penny saved is a penny earned, as many rushed this week to buy Forever stamps that will help them avoid a pending 1-cent rate hike in first-class postage .

消費者顯然還是認為「省一文錢等於掙一文錢」,所以大家趕著在平信基本郵資即將調漲1分美金之前去買這種「永遠的郵票」。

"a penny saved is a penny earned" 能省一分錢便是賺到一分錢。 "rush to" 趕著去。"Forever stamps" 以自由鐘為圖的「永遠」郵票,見上圖。"pending" 迫近的。 "rate"在此指的是郵資; "rate hike" 郵資調漲。"first-class postage" 第一類郵資,即一般信件的基本郵資,其郵資決定於郵件的形狀與重量。


The U.S. Postal Service announced this week that the price of mailing a standard letter will rise from 41 to 42 cents beginning May 12. But Forever stampsso named because they are good indefinitely at the price purchased, no matter how much prices go upallow postal customers to lock in the lower rate.

美國郵政總局本周宣佈,自2008年5月12日開始,一般平信的郵資將從41分漲到42分美金;但是郵局顧客可以利用「永遠的郵票」而永遠不受郵資增加的影響。

"standard letter" 是指重量不超過一盎司、信件機器可以處理的標準信封之平信。"Forever stamps" 是在2007年4月12日首度發行,當時票值41分,這種郵票顧客隨時都可購買,買價即是當時standard letter的郵資;之後不管郵資調漲多少,顧客寄standard letter時永遠都可使用這種郵票。"lock in" 鎖定。


Forever prices will rise a penny if purchased from May 12 on, however, as the stamp's value is tied to the first-class letter rate.

"tied to" 綁在一起、同步。"no faster than" 不快過、不超過。Consumer Price Index (CPI) 是政府用來量度物價與通貨膨脹的指數。


A 2006 law allows the postal service to raise rates only once a year, in May, and prices can rise no faster than the Consumer Price Index. About 5 billion Forever stamps have been sold since they were first offered, and another 5 billion will be in stock before May.

因為「永遠的郵票」其郵資是跟著第一類平信之郵資走,所以在5月12日後採購這種郵票時,就得多付一分錢了。在2006年時訂有一條法律,規定郵局一年只能在5月時漲一次價,且漲幅不得超過「消費者物價指數」。「永遠的郵票」在首度發行之後,已經賣了約50億張之多;在5月之前會再庫存50億張。

"tied to" 綁在一起、同步。"no faster than" 不快過、不超過。Consumer Price Index (CPI) 是政府用來量度物價與通貨膨脹的指數。