【Why Olympic Curling Stones Are So Expensive 为什么奥运会冰壶石头如此昂贵？】#英语晨读[超话]# A single curling stone certified for the Olympics costs over $600. That makes a full set of 16 stones worth $9,600. Since 2006, every stone used in the Olympic Winter Games has come from Kays of Scotland. The company has produced curling stones since 1851. But making these stones isn’t easy. For every stone it makes, Kays uses granite from one tiny island off the coast of Scotland called Ailsa Craig. By combining Ailsa Craig’s common green and blue hone granites, Kays produces the only stones allowed in World Curling Federation contests and the Winter Olympics.一块为奥运会认证的冰壶石头的价格超过600美元。这样一来，一整套16块石头就价值9600美元。自2006年以来，冬季奥运会使用的每一块冰壶石都来自苏格兰Kays公司。该公司自1851年以来一直生产冰壶石。但是制造这些石头并不容易。Kays公司生产的每一块石头都使用来自苏格兰海岸边一个叫Ailsa Craig的小岛上的花岗岩。通过结合Ailsa Craig常见的绿色和蓝色磨砂花岗岩，Kays生产出世界冰壶联合会比赛和冬季奥运会唯一允许使用的石头。