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0Hey guys! It's Mar 9th, 2025. Today’s story is about Skype – Have you heard of this app/software? Or are you too young to know this? It was one of the most famous instant messaging and video-calling apps two decades ago but has now quite struggled. Microsoft, the company owning it, said they are about to shut down its service.
【新闻】
Microsoft said it plans to shut down Skype on May 5th. The internet-calling service, which disrupted the landline industry when it launched in 2003, has struggled to keep up with rivals, such as Zoom and Slack. Microsoft, which bought Skype in 2011, said it will now double down on Teams, its workplace-collaboration product.
微软表示计划在5月5日关闭Skype。这项互联网电话服务于2003年推出，颠覆了固定电话行业，但现已难以跟上Zoom和Slack等竞争对手的步伐。2011年收购Skype的微软表示，现在将在其工作场所协作产品Teams上加倍投资。
【逐句解析】
Microsoft said it plans to shut down Skype on May 5th. The internet-calling service, which disrupted the landline industry when it launched in 2003, has struggled to keep up with rivals, such as Zoom and Slack.
微软表示计划在5月5日关闭Skype。这项互联网电话服务于2003年推出，颠覆了固定电话行业，但现已难以跟上Zoom和Slack等竞争对手的步伐。
Shut down: If a factory or business shuts down or if someone shuts it down, work there stops or it is no longer in business. (使) 歇业
< It is required by law to shut down banks which it regards as chronically short of capital.>
法律规定要关闭资金长期短缺的银行。
< Smaller contractors had been forced to shut down.>
一些小的承包商已被迫歇业。
Landline: n. （电话的）陆地线路，陆线， 固网
Struggle to do sth: 做某事很吃力、困难
努力做某事孩子们淘气时，我强捺住性子不发脾气。
n. a struggle to do sth: 做某事很难
Keep up with: 跟上：与他人保持相同的进度或水平，在比赛、竞争等中与他人保持平衡。
Microsoft, which bought Skype in 2011, said it will now double down on Teams, its workplace-collaboration product.2011年收购Skype的微软表示，现在将在其工作场所协作产品Teams上加倍投资。
Double down: 双倍下注；做某事更顽强，更坚定
Workplace: n. 工作场所
“collaboration”和“cooperation”都有“合作”的意思，但在用法和侧重点上有一些区别。
“collaboration”侧重于指人们为了实现某个特定的目标而共同努力，通常强调的是在较为正式、复杂或长期的项目中的合作，并且可能涉及到各方更紧密的结合和相互依赖。
“The collaboration between the two companies was very successful.”（这两家公司之间的合作非常成功。）
She wrote the book in collaboration with one of her students.她和她的一个学生合写了这本书。
“cooperation”则更侧重于指一般性的合作、协作，不一定是为了特定的复杂项目，可能只是在日常事务或一般性的活动中相互配合。
“We need your cooperation to finish this task.”（我们需要你的合作来完成这项任务。）
We would like to see closer cooperation between parents and schools.我们希望学生家长和学校有更加紧密的合作。
