西工大新編英語教程5Unit8

1、 Unit Eight TEXT I Why Nothing Works 為何什么都沒用為何什么都沒用II. Dictionary work1. savant (l. 1): a man of learning, especially a person with detailed knowledge in some specialized fieldwork學(xué)者，專家學(xué)者，專家2. corollary (l. 2): an immediate inference from a proved proposition推論；必然的結(jié)果推論；必然的結(jié)果3. forestall (l. 7): defe

2、at; prevent by prior measure防止；防止；先發(fā)制人；預(yù)先阻止先發(fā)制人；預(yù)先阻止 4. commitment (l. 8): a pledge to follow certain beliefs or a certain course of action; devotion (to a duty, etc.)承諾；保證；承擔(dān)義務(wù)承諾；保證；承擔(dān)義務(wù)5. artifact (l. 16): a usually small object (as a tool or ornament) showing human workmanship that has special hi

3、storical interest人工制品；手工藝品人工制品；手工藝品6. evoke (l. 28): bring to mind引起；喚起；博得引起；喚起；博得7. projectile point (l. 32): the tip of a weapon that is thrust forward; spear or arrowhead矛或箭頭矛或箭頭9. barter (l. 36): trade by exchanging one commodity for another易貨貿(mào)易；物物交換易貨貿(mào)易；物物交換10. alienation (l. 58): a withdrawing

4、 or separation of a person from an object or position o f former attachment; a feeling of not belonging to or being part of ones surroundings疏遠(yuǎn)疏遠(yuǎn)V. Key Points of the TextParagraph 11. attribute to regard sth as belonging to, caused by or produced by認(rèn)為某事物屬于某人；認(rèn)為某事物由某認(rèn)為某事物屬于某人；認(rèn)為某事物由某人引起或產(chǎn)生人引起或產(chǎn)生e.g.

5、This play is usually attributed to Shakespeare. 這個(gè)劇本通常認(rèn)為是莎士比亞作的。這個(gè)劇本通常認(rèn)為是莎士比亞作的。2. savant a person have great knowledge of some subject 專家，學(xué)者，博學(xué)之士專家，學(xué)者，博學(xué)之士3. corollary an idea, an argument, or a fact that naturally follows sth else必然的結(jié)果，自然的結(jié)果必然的結(jié)果，自然的結(jié)果e.g. Neither of them knew about it, and the co

6、rollary of that is that someone else revealed the secret. 他們兩人并不知道這回事，因此一定是另外有人泄漏他們兩人并不知道這回事，因此一定是另外有人泄漏了秘密。了秘密。Paraphrase:Corollary to Murphys Law suggest themselves as clues to the shoddy goods problem.From Murphys Law we may find answers to the problem of sorely made goods.4. shoddy of poor quali

7、ty or badly made劣質(zhì)的；粗制劣質(zhì)的；粗制濫造的濫造的e.g. shoddy workmanship劣等工藝劣等工藝5. until a decent interval has elapsed until a sufficient long period of time has passed. The basic meaning of decent is “proper, socially acceptable”. e.g. decent behavior decent clothingIn this context, a decent interval suggests tha

8、t the amount of time should be long enough for people to accept as proper.Paraphrase:Much if human existence consists of efforts aimed at making sure that things dont go wrong, fall apart, break down, or stop running until a decent interval has elapsed after their manufacture. (ll. 5-7)People spend

9、much of their lifetime trying hard to keep things in good shape. They think a product, after leaving its factory, should last at least for a reasonably long period before ceasing to work.6. forestalling Murphys Law preventing Murphys Law from taking effect / operatingforestall prevent or defeat (a p

10、erson or his plans) by acting first（用先發(fā)制人的手段）預(yù)先阻止（用先發(fā)制人的手段）預(yù)先阻止e.g. Before he had time to explain what he proposed to do, his plan was forestalled. The police versatility the burglars attempt to break into the jewelers.7. commitment ( in this context) obligation or determination to forestall Murphys

11、 Law. Originally commitment refers to the act of pledging or devoting (oneself ) to a course of action承諾，許諾承諾，許諾e.g. The teachers commitment (responsibility) is more than imparting knowledge. A person is committed if he devotes himself to a certain course, e.g. a committed educationist（忠誠的（忠誠的教育家）教育

12、家）Paraphrase:If these human inputs are assited by special quality-control instruments, machines, and scientific sampling procedures, so much the better. (ll. 8-10)It the combination of human efforts and special quality-control instruments and testing devices may produce the desirable results, it is

13、well and good.8. so much the better / worse 甚至更好（更壞）甚至更好（更壞）e.g. The result is not very important to us, but if we do win, (then) so much the better. 輸贏對(duì)我們并不十分重要，但假如我們真贏了，輸贏對(duì)我們并不十分重要，但假如我們真贏了，（那）就更好了。（那）就更好了。9. do the trick (informal) to fulfill ones purpose or intention（口）有效，達(dá)到目的（口）有效，達(dá)到目的e.g. This

14、 medicine ought to do the trick (= cure the disease.) I took four sleeping pills but even that wouldnt do the trick. 我吃了四片安眠藥，但盡管這樣也還是沒有效果。我吃了四片安眠藥，但盡管這樣也還是沒有效果。Paraphrase: But gadgets and sampling alone will never do the trick since these items are also subject to Murphys Law. (ll. 10-11)Quality-co

15、ntrol instruments and testing devices are also governed by Murphys Law, so they are not reliable.10. maintenance the act of keeping in good order / condition by regular checking ite.g. You may be able to afford a second hand automobile, but its maintenance may cost you a lot.Paragraph 2Paraphrase:A

16、single visit to a museum which displays artifacts used by simple pre-industrial societies is sufficient to dispel the notion that quality is dependent on technology. (ll. 16-18)Look at the artifacts of the pre-industrial era exhibited in a museum and you will see that technology is not the factor th

17、at decides the quality of these items.11. artifact an object that is made by man, such as a tool or decoration, especially one that is of historical intereste.g. Various artifacts of prehistoric times were discovered during the excavation.12. dispel remove (false belief, doubt, fear) by proving them

18、 wronglye.g. His encouraging words dispelled all my doubts about my own inability.13. we honor the label “handmade” (l. 20) we show respect for / think much of the tag which says that the article is made by handParagraph 314. seaworthy (of a ship) in good condition and fit for a sea voyageParaphrase

19、:In unskilled or uncaring hands a handmade basket or boat can fall apart as quickly as baskets or boats made by machine. (ll. 25-27)If a handmade basket or boat is made by an inexperienced or irresponsibly worker, it may break down as easily as machine-made baskets or boats. 15. evoke bring forth, c

20、all up, cause sth to be remembered or expressede.g. The songs evoked memories of my school days.Paraphrase:I rather think that the reason we honor the label “handmade” is because it evokes not a technological relationship between producer and product but a social relationship between producer and co

21、nsumer. (ll. 27-29)My opinion is that it is the social relationship between producer and consumer rather than the technological relationship between producer and product that makes “handmade” items so highly regarded.Paraphrase:Throughout the prehistory it was the fact that producers and consumers w

22、ere either one and the same individuals or close kin that guaranteed the highest degree of reliability and durability in manufactured items. (ll. 29-31)Throughout the prehistory it was the close link between producers and consumers that guaranteed the quality of the manufactured goods.16. one and th

23、e same用以加強(qiáng)語氣，表示用以加強(qiáng)語氣，表示“同一個(gè)；同一個(gè)；完全一樣，完全一回事完全一樣，完全一回事”。e.g. One and the same idea occurred to each of them. 他們都產(chǎn)生同樣的想法。他們都產(chǎn)生同樣的想法。Paraphrase:A man is not likely to fashion a spear for himself whose point will fall off in mid-flight; nor is a woman who weaves her own basket likely to make it out of r

24、otted straw. (ll. 39-41)As the man who will not make a bad quality spear for himself, the woman will not make a self-used basket of rotted straw.17. fashion 形成，造形成，造e.g. He fashioned the clay into a jar. 他用粘土做成一個(gè)陶土罐子。他用粘土做成一個(gè)陶土罐子。 18. make sth out of 用用制造，與制造，與makeof的意思相的意思相同。同。makeout of常用語口語。常用語口語

25、。e.g. They make bottles out of glass. 他們用玻璃做瓶子。他們用玻璃做瓶子。 The box is made out of cedar wood. 這盒子是用杉木做的。這盒子是用杉木做的。Paragraph 519. the intimate sentimental and personal bonds the close / familiar emotional and person-to-person relationship / connection20. wither become weaker or shrinke.g. Plants, trees

26、, flowers may all wither, and so may ones hope, when one becomes hopeless. The flowers will wither if you dont put them in water. 這些花不放在水里，就要枯死了。這些花不放在水里，就要枯死了。 Their hopes gradually withered away. 他們的希望逐漸破滅了。他們的希望逐漸破滅了。21. alienation a feeling of not belonging to or being a part of ones surrounding

27、se.g. The foremans haughtiness caused alienation from work among the workers.22. sabotage intentional damage to machines, buildings, etc. carried out secretly to weaken a government, an enemy, or as a proteste.g. All attempts at sabotage must be mercilessly crushed. Text IIThe Plot Against People與人為

28、敵與人為敵I Organization of the Text1. Classification of inanimate objects into three major categories and the basis of the classification. (Paras. 1-2)2. Detailed discussion of the three major categories. (Paras. 3-14)A. Those that break down (Paras. 3-4)B. Those that get lost (Paras. 5-10)C. Those that

29、 do not work (Paras. 11-14)II Key Points of the TextParagraph 2As a general rule in most cases; in general, usually一般一般（或總的）說來；大體上；從總體上看（或總的）說來；大體上；從總體上看Paragraph 3Cunning cleverness, especially in deceiving狡猾；狡詐狡猾；狡詐e.g. He has the cunning of the secret drinker who hides bottles. 他是個(gè)詭詐的酒徒，偷偷喝酒，然后有把

30、酒瓶藏掉他是個(gè)詭詐的酒徒，偷偷喝酒，然后有把酒瓶藏掉的本領(lǐng)。的本領(lǐng)。 Paragraph 4In league (with) working together (with), often secretly or for a bad purpose（與（與）聯(lián)合；）聯(lián)合； （與（與）聯(lián)盟；）聯(lián)盟； （與（與）勾結(jié)）勾結(jié)e.g. They were all in league against him. 他們都聯(lián)合起來反對(duì)他。他們都聯(lián)合起來反對(duì)他。 The police officer is privately in leagure with some crooks. 那警官暗中和一些無賴勾結(jié)。那警

31、官暗中和一些無賴勾結(jié)。Paragraph 6In the act (of doing) while doing; at the moment of doinge.g. I was in the act of shooting him when I recognized him. She was caught in the act of cheating on the exam.Plausible (of a statement, argument, etc) seeming to be true or reasonable貌似有理的；貌似真實(shí)的；花言巧語的貌似有理的；貌似真實(shí)的；花言巧語的e.

32、g. a plausible excuse貌似有理的借口貌似有理的借口 a plausible plot貌似真實(shí)的情節(jié)貌似真實(shí)的情節(jié) a plausible commentator (liar)花言巧語的評(píng)論員（說花言巧語的評(píng)論員（說謊大王）謊大王）Locomotion movement; ability to moveParagraph 7Burrow move ahead or as if by digging鉆進(jìn)（或鉆入）鉆進(jìn)（或鉆入）某處；偷偷打入某組織；如擁進(jìn)般前進(jìn)某處；偷偷打入某組織；如擁進(jìn)般前進(jìn)e.g. The train was burrowing through valley

33、s. 火車在群谷中穿行。火車在群谷中穿行。 We burrowed a path through the crowd. 我們從人群中拱出我們從人群中拱出 一條路來。一條路來。Couch sofa長沙發(fā)長沙發(fā)Paragraph 10Conciliatory tending or intending to conciliate安撫的；安撫的；調(diào)和的；調(diào)解的；謀求好感的調(diào)和的；調(diào)解的；謀求好感的e.g. a conciliatory 安撫性的行動(dòng)安撫性的行動(dòng) a conciliatory policy 和解政策和解政策 a conciliatory spirit 和解精神和解精神 He has been conciliatory about that small and backward city. 他對(duì)那座又小又落后的城市沒有怨言。他對(duì)那座又小又落后的城市沒有怨言。 Paragraph 12Working order the state of working well, wit