Lesson 51 Predicting the future预测未来

Predicting the future is notoriously difficult.

• Relieving the problem of overpopulation is notoriously difficult.^{众所周知，缓解人口过剩问题非常困难。}
• Giving up a deep-seated bad habit is notoriously difficult. ^{众所周知，改掉一个根深蒂固的坏习惯非常困难。}
• The traffic congestion in Beijing is notoriously serious.^{众所周知，北京的交通拥堵问题非常严重。}

Who could have imagined, in the mid 1970s, for example, that by the end of the 20th century, computers would be as common in people's homes as TV sets?

Who could have imagined, in the mid 1970s（插入语）, for example（插入语）, that（that… 宾语从句） by the end of the 20th century（时间状语）, computers would be as common in people's homes as TV sets?

could have done ^{used to say that something was a possibility in the past, but did not actually happen 有可能会发生，但是并没有真的发生}

• I could have been killed.
• He could have escaped, but he chose to stand and fight. 

mid ^{adj.中央的，中间的，中部的}

• from mid July to mid August
• mid-morning coffee 
• Mid-Autumn Festival ^中秋节
• a young woman in her mid-twenties 
• midsummer / midwinter 
• on Midsummer Eve 

Who could have imagined, in the mid 1990s, for example, that after a mere decade, mobile phones would be as common in China as watches? ^{比方说，有谁能在 20 世纪 90 年代中期想象到，仅仅十年之后，手机在中国和手表一样常见？}

In the 1970s, computers were common enough, but only in big business, government departments and large organizations.

business ^{[C] 公司}

• They don't know how to run a business.
• The company began as a small family business.
• Owners of small businesses will be hit hardest by these tax changes. 

big business ^{n. [U] large and powerful companies in general （固定搭配，总称）大公司}

• Does big business have more control over our everyday lives than our elected governments? 

These were the so-called mainframe machines.

so-called ^{adj. 含义1. commonly called 所谓的（通常被称为的）}

• They've found the flight recorder, the so-called black box.

so-called ^{adj. 含义2. incorrectly called 所谓的（错误地被称为的）}

• His so-called friends betrayed him.

mainframe ^{n. 英文解释：a large powerful computer that can work very fast and that a lot of people can use at the same time 主机，大型机}

• The network has a gateway into the hospital mainframe. ^{该网络有一个网关连接医院主机。}
• Most have slavishly copied the design of IBM's big mainframe machines. ^{绝大多数公司都一味模仿IBM大型主机的设计。}
• I downloaded the whole thing into the hospital mainframe before I left work today. ^{我今天下班前把全部内容下载到了医院的主机上。}

Mainframe computers were very large indeed often occupying whole air-conditioned rooms, employing full-time technicians and run on specially-written software.

Mainframe computers were very large indeed, often occupying whole air-conditioned rooms（非谓语）, employing full-time technicians（非谓语） and run（过去分词） on specially-written software（非谓语）.

indeed ^{adv. used with ‘very’ and an adjective or adverb to emphasize a statement or description 的确，确实}

• Most of the essays were very good indeed. 
• Thank you very much indeed.

air-conditioned ^{adj. 装空调的}

• The building provides about 25,500 sq. ft. of air-conditioned offices. ^{这座建筑提供大约2.55万平方英尺的空调办公室。}
• The new buses are air-conditioned, comfortable and easy for elderly and disabled passengers to get on and off. ^{新的公共汽车装有空调，也很舒适，方便老人和残疾乘客上下车。}
• Cool, air-conditioned apartments became furnaces. ^{凉爽、有空调的公寓变成了火炉。}

run ^{v. if you run a machine or engine, you make it operate 操作，使机器运转}

• I often run the washing machine more than once a day.
• They have gathered the best statistics they can find and run them through their own computers. ^{他们已经搜集了他们所能找到的最佳数据并将其在他们自己的电脑里运行。}
• Do you want to run to Canada? ^润~

Though these large machines still exist, many of their functions have been taken over by small powerful personal computers, commonly known as PCs.

Though these large machines still exist（让步状语从句）, many of their functions have been taken over by small powerful personal computers, commonly known as PCs（后置定语,修饰personal computers）.

take over sth. ^{接管…，代替…}

• Military leaders took over the government.
• Computers can thus be built to take over almost any job where a series of actions are repeated over and over again.
• I'm going to take over the company one day. ^{我总有一天会接管这家公司。}

be known as … ^被称为…

• He soon made a name for himself and came to be known to the Italians as Giovanni Acuto. 

In 1975, a primitive machine called the Altair, was launched in the USA.

primitive ^{adj. 含义1：of or at an early stage of social development 原始的，上古的}

• primitive culture / customs / tribes ^原始的…

primitive ^{adj. simple and not modern 简单的，简陋的}

• The local hospital care is primitive and unreliable.

launch ^{v. to make a new product, book etc available for sale for the first time 推出新产品，新书等}

• The company hopes to launch the new drug by next October. 
• The new model will be launched in July.
• He is going to launch his latest novel.

It can properly be described as the first 'home computer' and it pointed the way to the future.

describe … as … ^{把…描述成 …}

• He described it as 'a very agreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of which flowed a great river.'
• The old lady thought he was a fussy creature, but since the porter agreed with him, she rang up her daughter and asked for her help in what she described as a little spot of bother.

point the way (to …) ^{v. to show how something could change or develop successfully 指明了（…… 的）方向}

• It can properly be described as the first 'home computer' and it pointed the way to the future. 
• Recent medical discoveries are already pointing the way to more efficient vaccines.

This was followed, at the end of the 1970s, by a machine called an Apple.

This was followed, at the end of the 1970s（插入语，次要信息）, by a machine called an Apple（重要信息）.

In the early 1980s, the computer giant, IBM produced the world's first Personal Computer.

giant ^{n. a very large and powerful organization 特大机构，大公司，巨头}

• the multinational oil giants 
• Japanese electronics giant Sony

This ran on an 'operating system' called DOS, produced by a then small company named Microsoft.

DOS (Disk Operating System) ^{the basic software in a computer that makes it work and allows you to use a program. It is usually used only in older computers. 磁盘操作系统}

• Where do I find the instructions to load DOS programs from Windows 98? ^{我在哪里可以找到在视窗98系统下加载磁盘操作系统的说明？}
• Apple DOS 3.1 disks used 13 sectors of data per disk track.^{苹果 DOS 3.1 每个磁盘条使用13个扇区的数据。}
• This lesson will teach the disk operating system-DOS.^{本期为第二讲，讲授磁盘操作系统——DOS。}

The IBM Personal Computer was widely copied.

copy = imitate ^{v. to behave or do sth. in the same way as sb. else 模仿}

• She copies everything her sister does.
• Their tactics have been copied by other terrorists.

From those humble beginnings, we have seen the development of the user-friendly home computers and multimedia machines which are in common use today.

From those humble beginnings（介词短语做状语）, we have seen the development of the user-friendly home computers and multimedia machines which are in common use today（定语从句）.

humble ^{adj. 含义1. 谦虚的}

• He was a genuinely humble man. 
• He gave a great performance, but he was very humble. ^{他的表演很精彩，但他却很谦逊。}

humble ^{adj. 含义2. 地 位 卑 微 的 men of humble birth}

• a humble occupation
• Spyros Latsis started his career as a humble fisherman in the Aegean. ^{斯派罗斯·拉齐斯最初的职业是爱琴海的一名地位低微的渔夫。}

humble ^{adj. 含义3. simple and with only basic equipment or features 简单的，简陋的}

• They lived in a humble two-roomed apartment.
• There are restaurants, both humble and expensive, that specialize in noodles. ^{既有普通的也有昂贵的专营面条的餐馆。}

be in use ^{a machine, place etc. that is in use is being used（机器，场所等）在使用，得到使用}

• Electric vehicles built in 1920 were still in use in the 1950s.
• I'll be glad to see the building in use again.

Considering how recent these developments are, it is even more remarkable that as long ago as the 1960s, an Englishman, Leon Bagrit, was able to predict some of the uses of computers which we know today.

Considering（介词短语做状语） how recent these developments are（宾语从句）, it（形式主语） is even more remarkable that（that...主语从句） as long ago as the 1960s（时间状语）, an Englishman, Leon Bagrit, was able to predict some of the uses of computers which we know today（定语从句）.

considering ^{prep. & conj. in view of (the fact that); taking into consideration  考虑到…，鉴于…}

• Considering  the amount she paid, he was dear in more ways than one!
• Considering (that) he's only just started, he knows quite a lot about it.

as long ago as … = as early as … ^{早在…就…}

• As long ago as the fourteenth century, an Englishman, Sir John Hawkwood, made the remarkable discovery that people would rather pay large sums of money than have their life work destroyed by gangsters.

Bagrit dismissed the idea that computers would learn to 'think' for themselves and would 'rule the world', which people liked to believe in those days.

Bagrit dismissed the idea that（that... 同位语从句） computers would learn to 'think' for themselves and would "rule the world", which people liked to believe in those days（非限定性定语从句）.

dismiss ^{v. 含义1. to remove someone from their job 解雇，辞退}

• The poor girl was dismissed instantly.

dismiss ^{v. 含义2. to refuse to consider sb’s idea, opinion etc, because you think it is not serious, true, or important对…不予理会，对…不屑一顾}

• The government has dismissed criticisms that the country's health policy is a mess.

do sth. for oneself ^{亲自…，独立…}

• The following example of 'sick humour' will enable you to judge for yourself.
• So great is our passion for doing things for ourselves, that we are becoming increasingly less dependent on specialized labour.

in those days ^{在当年，在当初}

• In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for Prize money. 

Bagrit foresaw a time when computers would be small enough to hold in the hand, when they would be capable of providing information about traffic jams and suggesting alternative routes, when they would be used in hospitals to help doctors to diagnose illnesses, when they would relieve office workers and accountants of dull, repetitive clerical work.

Bagrit foresaw a time when computers would be small enough to hold in the hand（定语从句1）, when they would be capable of providing information about traffic jams and suggesting alternative routes（定语从句2）, when they would be used in hospitals to help doctors to diagnose illnesses（定语从句3）, when they would relieve office workers and accountants of dull, repetitive clerical work（定语从句4）.

foresee ^{vt. (foresaw, foreseen) 预见 ……} 

• The disaster could not have been foreseen.
• Few analysts foresaw that oil prices would rise so steeply.

traffic jams = traffic congestion  ^交通堵塞

• People are fed up with all these traffic jams. ^{人们厌烦这么多的交通堵塞。}
• I got stuck in the mother of all traffic jams. ^{我被困在最严重的一次大塞车之中。}
• The plan should ease traffic congestion in the town. ^{这项计划对城里的交通拥挤状况应该有所缓解。}
• The problems of traffic congestion will not disappear in a hurry. ^{交通堵塞问题不会很快消失。}

diagnose ^{v. 诊断}

• The test is used to diagnose a variety of diseases. ^{此项化验可用于诊断多种疾病。}
• How did they diagnose you? ^{他们怎么给你的诊断的？}
• It could also help doctors diagnose illnesses. ^{它也能协助医生诊断病情。}

relieve sb. of sth. ^{to help sb. by taking sth. heavy or difficult from them 替某人做某事，使某人免于……}

• Let me relieve you of some of your bags.
• The new secretary will relieve us of some of the paperwork.

clerk ^{n. 含义1. person employed in an office, a shop, etc to keep records, accounts, etc. 文书；办事员；事务员}

• She was offered a job as a clerk with a travel agency. ^{她找到了在一家旅行社做文书的工作。}

clerk ^{n. 含义2. (AmE) assistant in a shop 店员，售货员}

• Now Thomas was working as a clerk in a shop that sold leather goods. ^{现在托马斯在一家卖皮革品的店里做售货员。}

All these computer uses have become commonplace.

commonplace ^{adj.happening or existing in many places, and therefore not special or unusual 寻常的，司空见惯的，不足为奇的}

• Car thefts are commonplace in this part of town. 
• Computers are now commonplace in primary classrooms. 

Of course, Leon Bagrit couldn't possibly have foreseen the development of the Internet, the worldwide system that enables us to communicate instantly with anyone in any part of the world by using computers linked to telephone networks.

Of course, Leon Bagrit could not possibly have foreseen the development of the Internet, the worldwide system that enables us to communicate instantly with anyone in any part of the world by using computers linked to telephone networks（介词短语引导方式状语）. （that ...定语从句，修饰system）

can’t / couldn’t possibly … ^{used to emphasize that you cannot do sth., or that sth. cannot or could not happen or be done（强调）不能或不可能……}

• I can't possibly allow you to go home in this weather. 
• She couldn't possibly have heard what was said.

possibly ^{经常与 can / could 连用以表示“尽全力”的意思，后跟动词时常用can / could possibly + 动词，后省略动词时常用 possibly can / could}

• No matter what the conditions were, he believed that a car should be driven as fast as it could possibly go. ^{（前后动词不一致，不可省略）}
• She's done everything she could possibly think of to help. ^{（前后动词不一致，不可省略）}
• We shall be contributing as much as we possibly can to the campaign. 
• Doctors did everything they possibly could to save his life.

No matter what the conditions were, He believed that a person should contribute as much as he possibly could to society. ^{无论在任何情况下，他都认为一个人应该尽可能地为社会做出贡献。}
No matter what the conditions were, He believed that a person should make as many contributions as he could possibly think of to society.^{无论在任何情况下，他都认为一个人应该为社会做出他能想到的尽可能多的贡献。}

… to communicate instantly with anyone …

instant communication ^{即时交流沟通}

IM (instant messaging) ^{a type of service available on the Internet that allows you to quickly exchange written messages with people that you know 即时通讯}

Nor could he have foreseen how we could use the Internet to obtain information on every known subject, so we can read it on a screen in our homes and even print it as well if we want to.

Nor（部分倒装） could he have foreseen how we could use the Internet to obtain information on every known subject（宾语从句）, so we can read it on a screen in our homes and even print it as well if we want to（条件状语从句）. （so …can 目的状语从句）

• Nor is the city without its moments of beauty. ^部分倒装

Computers have become smaller and smaller, more and more powerful and cheaper and cheaper.

比较级 ^{表示“越来越”}

This is what makes Leon Bagrit's predictions particularly remarkable.

This is what makes Leon Bagrit's predictions particularly remarkable（表语从句）.

If he, or someone like him, were alive today, he might be able to tell us what to expect in the next 50 years.

If he, or someone like him, were（虚拟语气） alive today（条件状语从句）, he might be able to tell us what to expect in the next 50 years.

“疑问词 + to do” ^{可以视为名词性从句的缩略形式}