why nothing works 1

1、Unit 5 Why Nothing WorksGroup 1 & Group 2Summary This article mainly tells us the relationship between producers and consumers has become less intimate. By comparing different qualities of handmade among the masterpieces of prehistoric, preindustrial and present ones, it leads to the result that

2、 the Murphys law takes effect everywhere. In the end the author expresses his concern and warns us the necessity to improve the relationship between manufacturers and consumers in todays industrial society. .Vocabularyattributed to(line 1):if people in general attribute a particular statement, paint

3、ing, piece of music etc to someone, they believe that person said it, painted it etc 認(rèn)為是某人所說/所畫等attribute sth to sb/sth例：The play is attributed to Shakespeare. 此劇被認(rèn)為是莎士比亞所作。savant(line 1):n. Someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field博學(xué)之士，專家，學(xué)者例：A computer savant, Heap learned h

4、is first programming language in fourth grade. 西普是個電腦專家，在四年級的時候他學(xué)會了第一種程序語言。 svnt, s:v =scholar/ expertcorollary(line 2):n. A corollary of something is an idea, argument, or fact that results directly from it. (必然的、自然的）結(jié)果 正式例：The number of prisoners increased as a corollary of the governments determi

5、nation to combat violent crime. 政府決心打擊暴力犯罪，其后果是囚犯數(shù)量增加了。krlrshoddy(line 2):adj. Shoddy work or a shoddy product has been done or made carelessly or badly. 粗制濫造的例：Im normally quick to complain about shoddy service. 我通常會迅速地投訴劣質(zhì)的服務(wù)。d Murphys law : If there are two or more ways to do something, and one o

6、f those ways can result in a catastrophe , then someone will do it. elapsed(line 7):vt. when time elapses, it passes.（時間）消逝，過去（ elapse-elapsed-elapsed）e.g., three weeks / four months / two years have elapsed.例：Forty-eight hours have elapsed since his arrest. 從他被捕至今已經(jīng)過去48小時了。lpstforestall(line 7):vt.

7、 If you forestall someone, you realize what they are likely to do and prevent them from doing it. 預(yù)先阻止例：Large numbers of police were in the square to forestall any demonstrations. 大批警察在廣場上以預(yù)先阻止任何游行示威。fstlcommitment (line 7)n. refers to the act of pledging or devoting (oneself) to a course of action

8、(承諾，許諾,責(zé)任感).e.g., a committed educationist (忠誠的教育家)gadgets(line 10): g,dets n. A gadget is a small machine or device which does something useful. You sometimes refer to something as a gadget when you are suggesting that it is complicated and unnecessary.小器具；精巧的小玩意例：They become obsessed with trying t

9、o equip their vehicles with gadgets to deal with every possible contingency. 他們變得癡迷于給自己的車輛裝備小配件，以應(yīng)付可能出現(xiàn)的各種緊急情況。do the trick(line 10):spoken If something does the trick, it solves a problem or provides what is needed to get a good result.例：A bit more flour should do the trick. 再來一點面粉應(yīng)該就可以了。E.g.: This

10、 medicine ought to do the trick (= cure the disease).primitive design(line 17):adj. belonging to a simple way of life that existed in the past and does not have modern industries and machines 原始的，遠(yuǎn)古的something that is primitive is very simple and does not have extra modern parts that would make it fa

11、ster，better，more comfortable etc 老式的，簡陋的例：a primitive society 原始社會 The primitive surgery of those days left him virtually deaf in one ear. 那時候簡陋的外科手術(shù)讓他一只耳朵幾乎失聰。 prmtv Dwindle (line 17):dwnd()l v. (away) (to nothing): become gradually less or smaller減少、變少 e.g. The number of deficits has significantly

12、 dwindled since new tax policies were adopted last year.seaworthiness(line 23):n. Fitness to traverse the seas 適航性，航海性例：This had to enaure the vehicle good seaworthiness and ability to take off and hand on water with waves up to 0.7m. 這些為飛機(jī)提供了良好的水上適航性，并且能夠在浪高0.7米的海面上起飛。si,wns evoke(line 26):vt. To e

13、voke a particular memory, idea, emotion, or response means to cause it to occur. 喚起 (記憶); 引起 (想法、情感、反應(yīng)) 正式例：These extraordinary scenes in Tunis and Cairo, evoke those of Berlin and Prague in 1989. 在突尼斯和開羅，這些非凡的場景喚起1989年柏林和布拉格的那些記憶。projectile(line 31): pr()dektal; -tlan object or weapon that is shot

14、forward, especially from a gun, or that shoots itself forward 拋射體，射彈；拋射的 e.g. projectile point 拋擲武器 fashion(line 31):n. make out of components (often in an improvising manner)制作，做成的形狀例：She fashioned a tent out of a sheet and a few sticks. 她用一張紙和幾根棍子做成了一個帳篷fashion A from B 用B制作Abarter (line35)n. U ex

15、change of goods for other goods without using money作物物交換, 以貨換貨 e.g. In some African tribes, people are still practicing barter. the state of the art(line41): the level of development (as of a device, procedure, process, technique or science ) reached at any particular time 工藝水平personal bonds(line 45

16、):n. a bond between people is a strong feeling of friendship, love, or shared beliefs and experiences that unites them.（情感的）紐帶，契合，關(guān)系例：The experience created a very special bond between us. 這種經(jīng)歷使我們之間產(chǎn)生了一種很特殊的關(guān)系。the intimate sentimental and personal bonds 親密感情與個人間關(guān)系wither away(line 46):wither:vi. If s

17、omeone or something withers, they become very weak. 變虛弱例：To see my body literally wither away before my eyes was exasperating. 看著我的身體在自己的眼前日漸虛弱真是讓人惱火。w Wither away 逐漸消失；逐漸失去生氣；逐漸失去價值.alienation from(line 55):n. When someone becomes less friendly, understanding, or willing to give support as the result of something that happens or is done例：This temporary alienation from God is ultimately repaired