02 科学技术

发明创造

dialogue

carl feels pitiful that steve jobs died of disease.

史蒂夫·乔布斯因病去世，卡尔为此觉得很遗憾。

carl: it's really a great pity about the death of steve jobs. he is such an outstanding man.

卡尔：史蒂夫·乔布斯的离世真是一个很大的遗憾，他是一位如此杰出的人！

henry: as the ceo and one of the cofounders of apple, he had made great contributions to the world.

亨利：作为苹果公司的首席执行官和创始人之一，他对世界做出了很大的贡献。

carl: have you got the apple's products?

卡尔：你用过苹果的产品吗？

henry: yes, i bought an ipod last year. it is very good. the tone quality is excellent.

亨利：是的，我去年买了一个ipod。它很好，音质非常出色。

carl: the iphone 4s is on the market now. the functions of this mobile phone are rather powerful. there's no need of a pc any more if you have this. i'm eager to get one. but i just got a cell phone several months ago.

卡尔：iphone 4s现在已经上市了，这部手机的功能相当强大。如果有了它，就用不着电脑了。我很想要一个，但是我几个月前刚买了一个手机。

henry: the ipad is good as well, very portable and easy to operate.

亨利：ipad也很不错，便于携带，操作也很简单。

carl: i'm waiting for the unveiling of the ipad 3.

卡尔：我在等ipad 3的问世呢。

henry: yes, it is worth expecting. but jobs's death may have some influences to this new product.

亨利：嗯，很值得期待。但是乔布斯的去世可能会对这个新产品造成一些影响。

carl: maybe, hoping the ipad 3 also can be designed following jobs' theory.

卡尔：也许会，希望ipad 3也能按照乔布斯的理念来设计。

notes

1. outstanding [aut?st?ndi?] adj. 杰出的，显著的

2. cofounder [k?u'faund?] n. 共同开办人，共同创立人

3. function [?f??k??n] n. 功能；v. 运行，起作用

4. portable [?p?:t?b?l] adj. 便于携带的，手提式的，轻便的

5. operate [??p?reit] v. 操作，运转；动手术；经营

6. unveil [??n?veil] v. 揭露

小贴士

i believe apple's brightest and most innovative days are ahead of it. and i look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role.

——steven jobs

我相信，苹果的未来将更加光明，更具创造力。我期待未来苹果的成功，也将为此尽自己的绵薄之力。

——史蒂夫·乔布斯

基因问题

dialogue

dan meets across kent in a street.

丹在街上遇到了肯特。

kent: what did you do at your weekend?

肯特：你周末干什么了？

dan: i watched a movie last night, really exciting. the title is the sixth day.

丹：我昨晚看了一部电影，非常令人兴奋，片名叫《第六日》。

kent: the sixth day? who's the starring? what's the plot?

肯特：《第六日》？是由谁主演的？什么情节？

dan: the hero is acted by schwarzenegger. it is mainly about the problems caused by clone technology.

丹：男主角是由施瓦辛格扮演的。主要是关于克隆技术引发的问题。

kent: it must be very cool and fantastic. i really love this muscle man. was schwarzenegger be cloned?

肯特：那一定酷毙了，我非常喜欢这个肌肉男。施瓦辛格被克隆了吗？

dan: you are right. he found a man in his house who was the same with him one evening. then he was confused and tried to dig this out.

丹：你说对了。一天晚上他发现有一个和他一模一样的人在他家里，他很困惑，决心把一切搞明白。

kent: did he kill the clone man in the end?

肯特：他最后把那个克隆人杀死了吗？

dan: no, they became friends at last and they punished the wicked scientist together.

丹：没有，他们最后成为了朋友，一起惩罚了那个缺德的科学家。

kent: clone is really a complicated thing. i think i will be threatened to death if another myself stand in front of me.

肯特：克隆确实是一个很复杂的问题。如果另一个自己出现在我面前的话，我想我会被吓死的。

dan: then the world will be totally in a mass. we can't distinguish who is the original one. it is really absurd.

丹：那这个世界就会完全混乱了。我们分不清楚哪个才是真人，那真是太荒唐了。

kent: i also think so. it is against the law of natural reproduction.

肯特：我也这么想。这是违背自然繁衍规律的。

dan: hope this is just a science fiction and would never happen in real world.

丹：希望这只是一部科幻小说，永远不要在现实世界发生。

notes

1. title [?taitl] n. 题目；称号；片名

2. plot [pl?t] n. 故事情节；密谋

3. clone [kl?un] n. 无性繁殖，克隆；复制品；v. 克隆

4. confused [k?n'fjuzd] adj. 困惑的，惶惑的；混乱的，乱七八糟的，杂乱的

5. fantastic [f?n?t?stik] adj. 奇异的；极好的；不现实的

6. wicked [?wikid] adj. 邪恶的，恶劣的，缺德的；淘气的

7. absurd [?b?s?:d] adj. 荒谬的，荒唐的

8. reproduction [?ri:pr??d?k??n] n. 繁育，生殖；复制

小贴士

the advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified food:

转基因食品的利弊：

advantages: it can increase crop output per unit of area to reduce producing cost.the transgenic technology can increase the pest-resistant and antiviral ability of the crop. it can also improve the storability of the agricultural products, and extend the refreshing time.

优点：可增加作物单位面积产量；可以降低生产成本；通过转基因技术可增强作物抗虫害、抗病毒等的能力；提高农产品的耐贮性，延长保鲜期。

disadvantages: a number of studies show that genetically modified foods will damage the immune function of mammals.

弊端：多项研究表明，转基因食品对哺乳动物的疫功能造成伤害。

航天技术

dialogue

it's time for lunch. kim and matt are talking while walking to the dining hall.

该吃午饭了。金和马特在去餐厅的路上边走边聊。

kim: it is said that the shenzhou-8 manned spaceship launched in november.

金：据说神州八号在11月份发射升空了。

matt: yeah, i've heard of it. the aeronautical technology of our country is developing at a very fast speed now. the tiangong-1 have just launched successfully in september.

马特：是啊，我听说过了。我们国家的航天技术现在发展得非常快，天宫一号9月份刚刚发射成功。

kim: tiangong-1 is the first unmanned space module in china. it is really a breakthrough.

金：天宫1号是中国第一艘无人太空舱。这真是一个突破。

matt: yes, it is worth memorizing. and the shenzhou-8 and the tiangong-1 completed the first space docking.

马特：对，很值得纪念。神州八号和天宫一号完成了第一次太空对接。

kim: i think it is very amazing and fantastic. how can two objects which are far away from earth can complete different actions as precisely as we wish?

金：我觉得这真是太巧妙太不可思议了，两个离地球如此遥远的物体怎么能够如此确地按照人类的意愿完成各种动作。

matt: this is the power of knowledge. people are awesome.

马特：这就是知识的力量。人类是了不起的。

kim: maybe one day we would reach out of the solar system and search the outer space.

金：也许有一天我们能够走出太阳系，探索外太空。

matt: yes, and then we can cross the universe and visit different planets easily.

马特：嗯。那我们就能很容易地穿越宇宙，去拜访其他星球。

kim: it will come true one day, i think.

金：我想总有一天会实现的。

notes

1. spaceship [?speis??ip] n. 宇宙飞船

2. launch [?l?:nt?] v. 发动；推出；发射；n. 发射；下水；投产

3. aeronautical [,??r?'n?:tik?l] adj. 航空的；飞行术的

4. module [?m?dju:l] n. 组件，模块，模件；（航天器）舱

5. memorize [?mem?raiz] v. 记住，熟记

6. dock [d?k] v. 使（船）进港，进港；n. 码头；被告席

7. precisely [pri?saisli] adv. 确地；刻板地

8. awesome [??:s?m] adj. 令人叹为观止的，很棒的，了不起的

9. planet [?pl?nit] n. 行星

小贴士

1. our country has made remarkable progress on aerospace technology.

我们国家的航天技术已经取得了长足的进步。

2. more than one hundred years have past since the wright brothers invented the first plane in the world.

距离莱特兄弟发明飞机至今已经过去100多年了。

3. the boeing company is still the giant in aerospace engineering.

波音公司依然在航空技术领域独占鳖头。

4. the space travel will not be just a fantasy any more.

星际旅行将不再是一个梦想。

5. the american scientists plan to invent an unmanned space vehicle to explore the mars.

美国科学家计划发明一个无人飞行器去探索火星。

6. modern life needs the services of the applied satellites circling the earth on a large scale.

现代生活在很大程度上离不开环绕地球的应用卫星的服务。

7. the aerospace technology is a high-tech subject which depends on the support of many other subjects.

航空航天技术是一门高技术的学科，需要很多其他学科的支持。

建筑工程

dialogue

owen just came back from his business trip to hong kong.

欧文刚刚从香港出差归来。

mike: when did you come back from your business to hong kong?

迈克：你什么时候从香港出差回来的？

owen: i came back the day before yesterday. it was a cheerful journey.

欧文：我前天回来的。真是一次愉快的旅行。

mike: you must have a good time there,right?

迈克：你一定在那儿玩得很开心，对吧？

owen: of course, hong kong is a wonderful city. the beautiful scenery of seaside, and the towering buildings, everything there makes me linger on without any thought of leaving.

欧文：当然，香港是一个充满魅力的城市。海边的美丽风光，高耸入云的建筑，那里的一切都让我流连忘返。

mike: can you tell me something about your experience?

迈克：可以给我讲一下你的见闻吗？

owen: ok, the spot of hong kong which impressed me most was the zhongyin building. it looks like a bamboo. it is said that it represents the sprit of power, vitality and enterprise.

欧文：好的，香港最令我印象深刻的景点就是中银大厦。它就像一根竹子，据说它代表着力量、生机、和进取的神。

mike: really nice. i have heard the international finance center in hong kong. is it good enough, too?

迈克：真是太棒了。我听说过香港的国际金融中心，那也不错吧？

owen: absolutely. it is the tallest building in hong kong. the outer wall of its base is just like the style of the great wall, which represents china.

欧文：绝对，它是香港最高的建筑。楼基的外墙就像长城的风格一样，代表着中国。

mike: it's an ingenious design. hong kong is always a part of the motherland.

迈克：真是个绝妙的设计。香港从来都是祖国的一部分。

owen: there are also many buildings of ancient style. st john's cathedral is the oldest church building in hong kong. you can feel the profound culture and history of hong kong by visiting the cathedral.

欧文：也有许多古老风格的建筑。圣约翰教堂是香港最古老的教堂。去圣约翰教堂游玩，可以让你感受到香港的历史和文化。

mike: i have been attracted deeply now. i will visit hong kong by myself one day for sure.

迈克：我已经动心了。总有一天我要亲自游览香港。

notes

1. cheerful [?t?i?ful] adj. 欢乐的；令人高兴的，使人感到愉快的

2. linger [?li?g?] v. 逗留，留恋徘徊，继续停留；缓慢消失

3. vitality [vai?t?liti] n. 活力，生命力；效力

4. enterprise [?ent?praiz] n. 进取心；（艰巨的）事业

5. ancient [?ein??nt] adj. 古代的；古老的，年老的

6. profound [pr??faund] adj. 深度的，深远的；见解深刻的，深奥的

小贴士

burj al arab, dubai

迪拜帆船酒店

burj al arabis a 5-star（often misleadingly referred to as 7-star）luxury hotel located in dubai, united arab emirates. it's 321 meters high（1,053 ft）, and it is the fourth tallest hotel in the world. burj al arab stands on an artificial island 280 meters（920 ft）out from jumeirah beach, and is connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. it is designed as a sailing ship.

burj al arab was designed by british architect tom wright. the design and construction were accomplished by canadian engineer rick gregory.

帆船酒店坐落在阿拉伯联合酋长国迪拜市内，是一家五星级的奢华酒店（也常常被人误认为七星级）。高321米，是世界第四最高酒店。它矗立在离朱美拉海滩280米的一个人造岛上，通过一座私人的拱桥与陆地相连。整座酒店的设计就像一艘正在航行的帆船。

酒店由英国建筑师汤姆·赖斯设计。设计和构造由加拿大工程师瑞克·瑞格里所完成。

又见ufo

dialogue

ufo is always the topic people are glad to discuss. john and david are talking about this topic.

不明飞行物一直是人们乐于讨论的话题。约翰和戴维就在讨论这一话题。

john: it has been many years since america's first landing on the moon. i'm wondering why there's no second moon landing plan by any country till now.

约翰：美国第一次登陆月球已经过去很多年了。不知道为什么直到现在也没有任何国家进行第二次登月行动。

david: i have read some adventure records books about the moon landing. it seemed that the astronauts had encountered the ufo on the moon.

戴维：我读过一些关于月球登陆纪实的探险纪录书籍。好像是宇航员在月球上遇到不明飞行物了。

john: oh, it is one piece of the movie transformers 3. maybe it is the megatons.

约翰：噢，这是电影《变形金刚3》的一个片段。或许是威震天吧。

david: the film is just based on a fiction.but i think ufo do exist. the aliens must have visited the earth for many times.

戴维：电影只是根据小说创作的。但是我认为不明飞行物的确存在。外星人一定造访过地球很多次了。

john: i agree with you. many people have witnessed the ufo in many places around the world. some of them are illusions. but i don't think all of them are just unreal.

约翰：我也这样觉得。世界很多地方都有人目击过不明飞行物。一些目击事件是错觉，但我认为不是所有的情况都是假的。

david: have you heard of the crop circles?

戴维：你听说过麦田怪圈吗？

john: yes, i've watched a tv programme about it. it seems that even the scientists couldn't explain the reason of that.

约翰：是的，我看过一个关于麦田怪圈的电视节目。好像连科学家都无法解释原因。

david: some people claimed that they had seen ufo near these circles. maybe we can communicate with the aliens directly with our technology one day.

戴维：一些人声称曾在麦田怪圈附近看到过不明飞行物。或许有一天我们可以依靠科技和外星人直接交流。

notes

1. wonder [?w?nd?] v. 感到疑惑（好奇），想知道；n. 惊奇；奇迹

2. record [?rek?:d] n. 记录，唱片；履历；v. 记录，写下

3. astronaut ['?str?n?:t] n. 宇航员

4. witness [?witnis] n. 目击者；证据；v. 目击；作证

5. illusion [i'lu??n] n. 幻想，错误的假象，幻觉；错误，假象

小贴士

crop circle

a crop circle is a sizable pattern created by the flattening of a crop such as wheat, barley, rye, maize, or cole. crop circles are also referred to as crop formations, because they are not always circular in shape. while the exact date crop circle began to appear is unknown, the documented cases have substantially increased from the 1970s to current times. approximately ten thousand crop circles appeared in the last 30 years of the 20th century. ninety percent of those were located in southern england. many of the formations appeared near the historecal remains, such as stonehenge. according to one study, nearly half of all circles found in the uk in 2003 were located within a 15 km（9.3 miles）radius of avebury.

麦田怪圈

麦田怪圈是指在农田如小麦、大麦、黑麦、玉米、油菜等农田上通过某种力量把农作物压平而产生出几何图案。麦田怪圈也称农作物阵型，因为他们并不总是圆的形状。麦田怪圈的出现并没有一个确切的时间。有资料记载的此类现象出现于20世纪70年代。在20世纪的最后30年内大约出现了一万个麦田怪圈，而90％的麦田怪圈发生在英国南部。许多阵型都出现在古文明遗迹附近，如史前巨石阵。一项研究指出，2003年英国大约有一半的麦田怪圈在埃夫伯里周围15千米范围内的地区被发现。