聽讀英文 – 人文與社會:比特幣:數位貨幣的神秘 Bitcoin: The Enigma of Digital Currency (音)|貝塔語測
聽讀英文 – 人文與社會:比特幣:數位貨幣的神秘 Bitcoin: The Enigma of Digital Currency (音)

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By  Quentin Brand

Script 閱讀文本

In the realm of modern finance, one name reigns supreme: Bitcoin. This digital currency has captured the imagination of investors, technologists, and everyday users alike since its inception. But what exactly is Bitcoin, and why does it hold such allure? 

At the heart of the Bitcoin saga lies a mystery. Its creator, who goes by the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, remains shrouded in anonymity. Despite numerous investigations and theories, Nakamoto’s true identity remains elusive. Some speculate that it may be the work of a single individual, while others suggest it could be a group effort. Regardless, Nakamoto’s anonymity adds an aura of intrigue to Bitcoins narrative, fueling curiosity and speculation about the motivations behind its creation. 

Bitcoin operates on a decentralized network known as blockchain. Think of blockchain as a digital ledger that records all transactions across a vast network of computers. Each transaction is verified and added to a “block” by miners, who solve complex mathematical puzzles to confirm the validity of the transaction. Once a block is verified, it is added to the existing chain, creating a chronological and immutable record of transactions. But what sets Bitcoin apart is its revolutionary concept of digital scarcity. Unlike traditional currencies controlled by central authorities like governments or banks, Bitcoin is decentralized. There’s no central authority controlling its supply, issuance, or distribution. Instead, new Bitcoins are created through a process called mining, where miners compete to solve complex mathematical puzzles. This process not only verifies transactions but also releases new Bitcoins into circulation at a predictable rate, mimicking the scarcity of precious metals like gold. 

One of the most intriguing aspects of Bitcoin is its paradoxical combination of anonymity and transparency. While Bitcoin transactions are pseudonymous, meaning they are recorded on the blockchain under cryptographic addresses rather than real names, the entire transaction history is publicly available for anyone to view. This transparency ensures the integrity of the system while providing users with a degree of privacy. 

However, its essential to note that Bitcoins anonymity is not absolute. While it offers privacy to a certain extent, its not entirely immune to scrutiny. Sophisticated techniques and tools can be used to trace transactions back to their origins, making it challenging but not impossible to remain anonymous. 

As Bitcoin continues to gain traction, its impact extends far beyond the realm of finance. Advocates praise its potential to democratize access to financial services, empower individuals in the digital economy, and challenge the existing financial infrastructure. Critics, on the other hand, raise concerns about its volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and environmental impact due to energy-intensive mining operations. Regardless of where one stands on the Bitcoin debate, its rise marks a significant milestone in the evolution of money and technology. Whether it fulfills its promise as the currency of the future or remains a speculative asset subject to market whims, one thing is certain: Bitcoin has forever changed the way we think about money, anonymity, and the power of decentralized networks. And as we navigate the uncharted waters of this digital frontier, one can’t help but wonder what the future holds for the enigmatic creation of Satoshi Nakamoto.

Translation 中文翻譯
在現代金融領域中,有一個名字稱霸一切:比特幣。自從誕生以來,這種數字貨幣就吸引了投資者、技術專家和普通用戶的想像力。但比特幣到底是什麼,為什麼有如此大的吸引力? 
比特幣故事的核心是一個謎。它的創造者以假名「中本聰 (Satoshi Nakamoto)」而聞名,但他的真實身份仍然神秘。儘管進行了許多調查和理論推測,但中本聰的真實身份仍然難以捉摸。有人推測它可能是單一個人的作品,而有人則認為可能是一個團隊的努力。無論如何,中本聰的匿名為比特幣的敘事增添了神秘感,助長了對其創造動機的好奇和猜測。 
比特幣運作在一個稱為區塊鏈的去中心化網絡上。把區塊鏈想象成一個數字帳本,記錄了在大量電腦組成的網絡上的所有交易。每筆交易由礦工進行驗證,並被添加到一個「區塊」中,這些礦工通過解決複雜的數學難題來確認交易的有效性。一旦一個區塊被驗證,它就會被添加到現有的鏈上,創建一個按時間順序和不可變的交易記錄。但比特幣的與眾不同之處在於其革命性的數位稀缺概念。與由政府或銀行等中央機構控制的傳統貨幣不同,比特幣是去中心化的。沒有中央機構控制其供應、發行或分配。相反,新的比特幣是透過挖礦的過程,礦工們競相解決複雜的數學難題。這個過程不僅驗證交易,還以可預測的速度將新的比特幣釋放到流通中,模仿黃金等貴金屬的稀缺性。 
比特幣最引人注目的一個方面是其匿名性和透明性的矛盾結合。雖然比特幣交易是匿名的,也就是說,它們是以加密地址而不是真實姓名記錄在區塊鏈上的,但整個交易歷史是公開可查的。這種透明性確保了系統的完整性,同時為用戶提供了一定程度的隱私。 
然而,值得注意的是,比特幣的匿名性並不是絕對的。儘管它在一定程度上提供了隱私,但並不完全免於審查。複雜的技術和工具可以用來追蹤交易的來源,這使得保持匿名變得困難,但並非不可能。 
隨著比特幣繼續吸引人們的注意,它的影響超出了金融領域。支持者讚揚它有潛力使金融服務的訪問民主化,賦予個人在數字經濟中的權力,並挑戰現有的金融基礎設施。然而,批評者則對其波動性、監管不確定性和由於能源密集型的挖礦操作而產生的環境影響表示擔憂。無論人們對比特幣的論點持何種立場,它的崛起都標誌著貨幣和技術發展的一個重要里程碑。無論它履行了作為未來貨幣的承諾,還是仍然是一種受市場波動影響的投機資產,有一件事是肯定的:比特幣永遠改變了我們對金錢、匿名性和去中心化網路力量的看法。當我們在這個數字前沿的未知水域中航行時,人們不禁想知道中本聰的神秘創造的未來會怎樣。        
※ Quentin老師閱讀文本外,另有補充對於本篇主題的個人觀點與讀者分享,請仔細聆聽,並思考自己的想法。※
CHECK THIS OUT 學習知識點
In the last paragraph, you will see the phrase ‘gain traction’. This phrase means something is gaining in popularity. We use it to describe things that are becoming more widely used and available. Here are some more sentences with the phrase. 
‘The new smartphone model has started to gain traction among consumers due to its innovative features and sleek design.’ 
‘The concept of sustainable living has been gaining traction in recent years as people become more aware of environmental issues.’
在最後一段中,你會看到片語「gain traction」,意指某事物正在變得越來越受歡迎。我們用它來描述那些正在變得更廣泛使用和可得到的事物。以下是一些含有此片語的句子: 
「由於其創新的功能和時尚的設計,新款智慧手機已經開始受到消費者的青睞。」 
「隨著人們對環境問題的認識增加,可持續生活的概念近年來開始受到越來越多的關注。」
IRT 作題評量,診斷學習強弱
本篇文章提供學習測驗
Quiz

Q1: What is the main topic of the article?

A. money

B. the future of money


C. bitcoin

 

Q2: In the first paragraph what does the word ‘allure’ mean?

A. promise

B. temptation


C. problems

 

Q3What is the most intriguing aspect of bitcoin?

A. we don’t know who the creator was

B. its combination of transparency and anonymity


C. it’s not like real money

Answers: 
Q1: C Q2: B Q3: B

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