通过阅读学词汇CET-6（27）_大学学习技巧

通过阅读学词汇CET-6（27）

文章来源：文章作者：发布时间：2006-12-30 03:20 字体： [大中小]　进入论坛

(单词翻译:双击或拖选)

One gizmo, one chore

　　 Here’s my simple test for a product of today’s technology: I go to the bookstore and check the shelves for remedial books. The more books, the more my suspicions are raised. If computers and computer programs supposedly are getting easier to use, why are so many companies still making a nice living publishing books on how to use them?
　　Computers manipulate information, but information is invisible. There’s nothing to see or touch. The programmer decides what you see on the screen. Computers don’t have knobs like old radios. They don’t have buttons, not real buttons. Instead, more and more programs display pictures of buttons, moving even further into abstraction and arbitrariness. I like computers, but I hope they will disappear, that they will seem as strange to our descendants as the technologies of our grandparents appear to us.
　　 Computers have the power to allow people within a company, across a nation or even around the world, to work together. But this power will be wasted if tomorrow’s computers aren’t designed around the needs and capabilities¹ of the human beings who must use them. That means retooling² computers to mesh³ with human strengths – observing, communicating and innovating – instead of asking people to conform to the unnatural⁵ behavior computers demand. That just leads to error.
　　 Many of today’s machines try to do too much. When a complicated word processor attempts to double as a desktop⁶ publishing program or a kitchen appliance comes with half a dozen attachments⁷, the product is bound to be unwieldy and burdensome. My favorite example of a technological⁹ product on just the right scale is an electronic dictionary. It can be made smaller, lighter¹⁰ and far easier to use than a print version, not only giving meanings but even pronouncing the words. Today’s electronic dictionaries, with their tiny keys and barely legible displays, are primitive¹¹ but they’re on the right track.
　　One gizmo, one chore. Now imagine a host of specialized¹² devices replacing a single powerful computer that tries to do a little of everything.

Imagine a pocket checkbook, a drawing pad, a file-folder-size spreadsheet. Each would be self-contained but would communicate with the others through infrared¹³ light beams or radio links. The word I just looked up in the dictionary would be inserted into the letter I am writing; the right picture or spreadsheet calculation would become part of a report I’m doing for work; my electronic checkbook would log on with the bank every evening to update and reconcile the figures.
　　We would no longer have to learn the arbitrary ways of the computer. We could simply learn the tools of our trade – sketch¹⁴ pads, spreadsheets, schedules. How wonderful if would be to ignore the capricious Nature of technology – and get on with our work.

remedy n.1补救办法,纠正办法 2.药品,治疗法 vt.1.补救,纠正 2.医治,治疗
remedial a.1.治疗的 2.补救的 3.补习的
rectify¹⁵ vt.纠正,修复

suspicious a.1.猜疑的,疑心的 2.可疑的 3.表示怀疑的
suspicion n.1.怀疑,不信任 2.猜疑,嫌疑
[联想词]               skeptical¹⁶ a.表示怀疑的
               dubious¹⁷ a.1.怀疑的,犹豫不决的 2.有问题的,靠不住的
               doubtless ad.无疑地,肯定
               credible¹⁸ a.可信的,可靠的

manipulate vt.1.操纵,控制,影响 2.操作,使用
[联想词] maneuver¹⁹ n.1.调动,调遣 2.策略,花招 vt. 1.调动,调遣 2.操纵,控制

knob n.1.球形把手 2.旋钮 3.小块
[联想词] shaft²⁰ n.1.柄,杆 2.束,光线 3.轴 4.竖井

descendant n.后代

mesh n.网孔vt.1.用网捕捉,使缠住 2.使啮合
[联想词] web n.1.网 2.网络
sieve²¹ n.筛网,滤网 v.筛分

innovation n.1.新事物,新方法 2.革新,创新
innovative²² a.1.革新的,新颖的 2.富有革新精神的

wield⁸ vt.1.运使,运用,交配 2.使用(武器等)
wieldy a.易处理的,易使用的,易掌握的

legible a.1.清楚的,易读的 2.容易觉察的,容易辩认的
illegible²³ a.模糊的,难以辨认的

gizmo n.机械装置,小玩意儿(俚)

chore n.1.家庭杂务,日常零星工作 2.困难的工作,令人讨厌的工作

specialize vi.专门研究,专攻
specialty²⁴ n.1.专业,专长 2.特产,名产

spreadsheet n.空白表格程序

infrared a.红外线的
ultraviolet a.紫外线的
spectrum²⁵ n.1.光谱,频谱 2.范围,幅度,系列

capricious a.变化无常的，变幻莫测的

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收听单词发音

1 capabilities
n.能力( capability的名词复数 )；可能；容量；[复数]潜在能力
参考例句：
He was somewhat pompous and had a high opinion of his own capabilities. 他有点自大，自视甚高。来自辞典例句 Some programmers use tabs to break complex product capabilities into smaller chunks. 一些程序员认为，标签可以将复杂的功能分为每个窗格一组简单的功能。来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

2 retooling
v.（给…）更换工具，（给…）更换机械设备( retool的现在分词 )；改组，革新
参考例句：
The factory is retooling to start making the new line of cars. 工厂正在重新装备以便开始制造新系列车型。来自辞典例句 Among her suggestions: retooling factories to focus on rebuilding America's transportation system. 她的建议包括围绕重新建设美国交通系统这个重心来重组汽车工业。来自互联网

3 mesh
n.网孔，网丝，陷阱；vt.以网捕捉，啮合，匹配；vi.适合； [计算机]网络
参考例句：
Their characters just don't mesh.他们的性格就是合不来。 This is the net having half inch mesh.这是有半英寸网眼的网。

4 innovating
v.改革，创新( innovate的现在分词 )；引入（新事物、思想或方法），
参考例句：
In this new century, the company keeps innovating and developing new products. 新世纪伊始，公司全面实施形象工程及整合营销，不断改革创新，开发高新产品。来自互联网 Beijing is backward most prime cause is innovating at system lack. 北京落后的最根本原因在于制度缺乏创新。来自互联网

5 unnatural
adj.不自然的；反常的
参考例句：
Did her behaviour seem unnatural in any way?她有任何反常表现吗？ She has an unnatural smile on her face.她脸上挂着做作的微笑。

6 desktop
n.桌面管理系统程序；台式
参考例句：
My computer is a desktop computer of excellent quality.我的计算机是品质卓越的台式计算机。 Do you know which one is better,a laptop or a desktop?你知道哪一种更好，笔记本还是台式机？

7 attachments
n.（用电子邮件发送的）附件( attachment的名词复数 )；附着；连接；附属物
参考例句：
The vacuum cleaner has four different attachments. 吸尘器有四个不同的附件。 It's an electric drill with a range of different attachments. 这是一个带有各种配件的电钻。

8 wield
vt.行使，运用，支配；挥，使用(武器等)
参考例句：
They wield enormous political power.他们行使巨大的政治权力。 People may wield the power in a democracy.在民主国家里，人民可以行使权力。

9 technological
adj.技术的；工艺的
参考例句：
A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。 Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今，随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

10 lighter
n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级
参考例句：
The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色，色调明朗了一些。 The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。

11 primitive
adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物
参考例句：
It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。 His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。

12 specialized
adj.专门的，专业化的
参考例句：
There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。 These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

13 infrared
adj./n.红外线(的)
参考例句：
Infrared is widely used in industry and medical science.红外线广泛应用于工业和医学科学。 Infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light.红外辐射的波长比可见光的波长长。

14 sketch
n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述
参考例句：
My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。 I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

15 rectify
v.订正，矫正，改正
参考例句：
The matter will rectify itself in a few days.那件事过几天就会变好。 You can rectify this fault if you insert a slash.插人一条斜线便可以纠正此错误。

16 skeptical
adj.怀疑的，多疑的
参考例句：
Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。 Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

17 dubious
adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的
参考例句：
What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。 He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。

18 credible
adj.可信任的，可靠的
参考例句：
The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。 Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

19 maneuver
n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略
参考例句：
All the fighters landed safely on the airport after the military maneuver.在军事演习后，所有战斗机都安全降落在机场上。 I did get her attention with this maneuver.我用这个策略确实引起了她的注意。

20 shaft
n.(工具的)柄，杆状物
参考例句：
He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。 This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

21 sieve
n.筛，滤器，漏勺
参考例句：
We often shake flour through a sieve.我们经常用筛子筛面粉。 Finally,it is like drawing water with a sieve.到头来，竹篮打水一场空。

22 innovative
adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的
参考例句：
Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。 He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

23 illegible
adj.难以辨认的，字迹模糊的
参考例句：
It is impossible to deliver this letter because the address is illegible.由于地址字迹不清，致使信件无法投递。 Can you see what this note says—his writing is almost illegible!你能看出这个便条上写些什么吗？他的笔迹几乎无法辨认。

24 specialty
n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长
参考例句：
Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。 His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

25 spectrum
n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列
参考例句：
This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。 We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

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