考研英語核心詞匯速成勝經(jīng)Unit 39

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一、真題文章(1996年Text 4)
    What accounts for the great outburst of major inventions in early America——breakthroughs such as the telegraph , the steamboat and the weaving machine?
    Among the many shaping factors, I would single out the country ' s excellent elementary schools; a labor force that welcomed the new technology; the practice of giving premiums to inventors ; and above all the American genius for nonverbal , "spatial" thinking about things technological .
    Why mention the elementary schools? Because thanks to these schools our early mechanics ,especially in the New England and Middle Atlantic states, were generally literate and at home in arithmetic and in some aspects of geometry and trigonometry.
    Acute foreign observers related American adaptiveness and inventiveness to this educational advantage. As a member of a British commission visiting here in 1853 reported, "With a mind prepared by thorough school discipline, the American boy develops rapidly into the skilled workman. "
    A further stimulus to invention came from the "premium" system, which preceded our patent system and for years ran parallel with it. "This approach, originated abroad, offered inventors medals, cash prizes and other incentives.
    In the United States, multitudes of premiums for new devices were awarded at country fairs and at the industrial fairs in major cities. Americans flocked to these fairs to admire the new machines and thus to renew their faith in the beneficence of technological advance.
    Given this optimistic approach to technological innovation, the American worker took readily to that special kind of nonverbal thinking required in mechanical technology. As Eugene Ferguson has pointed out , "A technologist thinks about objects that cannot be reduced to unambiguous verbal descriptions; they are dealt with in his mind by a visual, nonverbal process . . . The designer and the inventor . . . are able to assemble and manipulate in their minds devices that as yet do not exist. "
    This nonverbal "spatial" thinking can be just as creative as painting and writing. Robert Fulton once wrote, "The mechanic should sit down among levers, screws, wedges, wheels, etc. , like a poet among the letters of the alphabet , considering them as an exhibition of his thoughts, in which a new arrangement transmits a new idea. "
    When all these shaping forces——schools, open attitudes, the premium system, a genius for spatial thinking——interacted with one another on the rich U. S. mainland, they produced that American characteristic , emulation . Today that word implies mere imitation. But in earlier times it meant a friendly but competitive striving for fame and excellence.
    二、譯文
    在早期美國,像電報、汽船和織布機這樣的重大發(fā)明紛紛涌現(xiàn),這是什么原因呢?
    在眾多的因素中,我特意指出以下幾個:美國優(yōu)秀的小學教育;歡迎新技術的工人階級;為發(fā)明人提供獎金的政策;其中重要的是,美國人的那種非文字的,"空間的"思維方式。
    為什么要提小學教育?由于這些學校的存在,我們的技工們基本上都識文斷字、熟知算術及某些幾何學與三角學知識,這種情況在新英格蘭和大西洋中部各州尤為普遍。
    敏銳的外國觀察家把美國人的高度適應性和創(chuàng)造性與這種教育上的優(yōu)勢聯(lián)系起來。1853年訪問過美國的一位英國人說:"經(jīng)過學校嚴密的訓練,美國的男孩子很快就能成長為熟練的工人。"
    推動發(fā)明的進一步刺激來自"獎勵"制度,它產(chǎn)生于我們的專利制度之前,且多年來與后者一起存在。這種做法來自國外,為發(fā)明者頒發(fā)獎章、獎金和其他獎勵。
    在美國的全國博覽會和各大城市舉辦的工業(yè)博覽會上,大量的獎金被頒發(fā)給新發(fā)明的設備,美國人蜂擁而至去欣賞這些新的發(fā)明,這也更堅定了他們對科技進步帶來的益處的信心。
    有了這種對技術革新的樂觀態(tài)度,美國工人很容易便適應了機械技術需要的那種特別的非語言的思維方式。正如尤金。福格森曾指出:"技術人員所考慮的東西是難以用語言加以確切描述的;這些物體在他的頭腦中以視覺的、非語言的方式被處理加工…設計者和發(fā)明者能把那些尚不存在的機械在頭腦中組裝和操作。"
    這種非文字性的"空間思維"方式和繪畫、寫作一樣富有創(chuàng)造性。羅伯特。 法歐曾寫到:"技術人員坐在杠桿、螺釘、楔子、輪子中間,如同一位詩人處在字母表中的字母一樣,應該把它們看做是自己思想的一種表達,每一個新的組合都能傳達一個新的意念。"
    當所有這些因素——教育,開放的態(tài)度,獎金制度,空間思考的才能——在美國富饒的土地上相互作用時,就產(chǎn)生了美國特有的性格:效仿。今天,這個詞只意味著模仿,但是在早些時候,它意味著友好但充滿競爭的努力去爭取名譽和成功。
    三、考研核心詞匯
    outburst / 5autbE:st / n. (火山、感情等)爆發(fā)、噴出, 突發(fā), 破裂
    [例] an outburst of indignation.
    勃然大怒
    [同義] discharge, ejection ,eruption ,outbreak, torrent
    invention / in5venFEn / n. 發(fā)明, 創(chuàng)造
    [例] "His 6,000 inventions included the electric light bulb, the phonograph, and the mimeograph machine."
    "他作出了六千項發(fā)明,包括電燈泡,留聲機(唱機)和油印機。"
    [派生] invent / in5vent / vt. 發(fā)明, 創(chuàng)造 v. 發(fā)明
    inventer / In`ventE(r) / n. 發(fā)明者, 發(fā)明家
    breakthrough / 5breik5Wru: / n. 突破
    [例] Surgeons have made a great breakthrough in the kidney transplantation.
    外科醫(yī)生們在腎移植方面取得了重大突破。
    telegraph / 5teli^rB:f / n. 電報機, 電報 v. 打電報, 發(fā)電報, 打電報說暴露事先或無意識地使知道(例如預期的行動):
    [例] By massing troops on the border, the enemy telegraphed its intended invasion to the target country.
    敵人在邊界集結軍隊,暴露出其企圖侵犯目標國
    steamboat / 5sti:mbEJt / n. 汽船, 輪船
    [例] steamboat's experts 汽船專家
    premium / 5primjEm / n. 1 額外費用2獎金, 獎賞3保險費, (貨幣兌現(xiàn)的)貼水
    [例] He paid premiums on his life insurance last year.
    他去年付了人壽保險費。
    [反義] discount / 5diskaunt / n. 折扣
    nonverbal / 5nCn5vE:bEl / adj. 1不用動詞的2不用語言的
    [例] Gestures are a nonverbal means of expression.
    打手勢是一種非言語的表達方式。
    spatial / 5speiFEl / adj. 空間的
    [例] spatial extent 空間延長
    [派生] spatiality / 7speFi5Aliti / n. 空間性
    mention / 5menFEn / vt. 提及, 說起 n. 提及, 說起v. 論及, 提及
    [例] Because the tree was mentioned in a newspaper, the number of visitors to Frinley has now increased.
    因為這棵樹在一家報紙報道過,所以,參觀弗林利的人數(shù)現(xiàn)在增多了。
    [同義] comment ,designate, name ,note , remark
    mechanics / mi5kAniks / n. (用作單數(shù))機械學、力學, (用作復數(shù))技巧, 結構
    [例] The mechanics of football are learned with practice.
    足球技藝是通過練習而學會的
    [派生] mechanical / mi5kAnikl / adj. 機械的, 機械制的, 機械似的, 呆板的
    mechanic / mi5kAnik / n. 技工, 機修工, 機械士
    literate / 5litErit / n. 學者 adj. 有文化的,有閱讀和寫作能力的
    [例] There are more literate people now than before .
    現(xiàn)在有閱讀能力的人要比以前多。
    [同義] cultured ,educated ,learned,scholarly
    [反義] illiterate / i5litErit / n. 文盲 adj. 不識字的, 沒受教育的
    arithmetic / E5riWmEtik / n. 算術, 算法
    [例] This applet helps school going children learn and practice basic arithmetic operations like Addition, Subtraction.
    這個程序幫助在校的孩子們學習和練習基本的算術,例如加減運算。
    geometry / dVi5Cmitri /n. 幾何學
    [例] solid geometry 固體幾何學
    trigonometry / tri^E5nCmitri / n. 三角法
    [例] analytic trigonometry 分析三角學
    acute / E5kju:t / adj. 敏銳的, [醫(yī)]急性的, 劇烈
    [例] She still has very acute hearing, though she is eighty years old.
    盡管她已經(jīng)八十歲了,但她的聽覺仍然很靈敏。
    [同義] astute, discerning, keen ,quick ,shrewd ,smart
    [反義] dull / dQl / adj. 感覺或理解遲鈍的, 無趣的, 呆滯的, 陰暗的 vt.使遲鈍, 使陰暗, 緩和 vi. 變遲鈍, 減少
    thorough / 5WQrE / adj. 十分的, 徹底的
    [例] They made a thorough search for the lost ring, but didn't find it.
    他們仔細地尋找過那枚丟失的戒指,可是沒有找到。
    [同義] complete, full, intensive
    stimulus / 5stimjulEs / n. 刺激物, 促進因素, 刺激, 刺激
    [例] Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.
    光是植物生長的促進因素。
    [派生] stimulate / 5stimjuleit / vt. 刺激, 激勵 v. 刺激, 激勵
    precede / pri(:)5si:d / v. (于), 在……之前, 先于
    [例] He preceded his lecture with a humorous anecdote.
    他以一個幽默的軼事開始他的演說
    [同義] head, lead
    [反義] follow / 5fClEu / vt. 跟隨, 追隨, 沿……而行, 理解, 遵循, 從事, 追求, 注視 vi. 跟隨, 接著 n. 跟隨, 追隨
    patent / 5peitEnt, 5pAtEnt / n. 專利權, 執(zhí)照, 專利品 adj. 特許的, 專利的, 顯著的 vt. 取得……的專利權, 請準專利
    [例] The government patented the device to its inventor.
    政府給予發(fā)明者專利權。
    parallel / 5pArElel / adj. 1平行的, 相同的2類似的, 并聯(lián)的 n. 1平行線, 平行面2類似, 相似物 v. 相應, 平行
    [例] The railway line runs parallel with / to the highway.
    鐵路線和那條公路平行。
    [同義] similar
    originate / E5ridVineit / vt. 引起, 發(fā)明, 發(fā)起, 創(chuàng)辦 vi. 起源, 發(fā)生
    [例] All theories originate from / in practice and in turn serve practice.
    任何理論都來源于實踐,反過來又為實踐服務。
    [派生] origination / E9rldVEneItIv,-nE- / n. 發(fā)源
    originator / E`rIdVEneItE(r)/n. 創(chuàng)作者,發(fā)明人
    incentive / in5sentiv / n. 動機 adj. 激勵的
    [例] Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.
    在許多職業(yè)中, 錢仍是主要的鼓勵因素。
    [同義] encouragement , inducement, motive, stimulus
    [派生] incent / In`sent / vt. 刺激…采取行動 , 激勵
    device / di5vais / n. 1裝置, 設計, 圖案, 策略2發(fā)明物 3 [計]安裝設備驅動程序
    [例] These newly-designed devices will appear on the exhibition next month.
    這些新設計的器件將在下月的展覽會上展出。
    [同義] apparatus, implement ,instrument, machine
    flock / flCk / n. 1羊群, (禽、畜等的)群2大量, 眾多 v. 聚結
    [例] People came in flocks to see the new hydraulic power station beside the dam.
    人們成群結隊地來參觀水壩旁邊新建的水電站。
    [同義] bunch, crowd, group ,mob, multitude
    faith / feiW / n. 信任, 宗教信仰, 忠實, 保證, 諾言, 約定
    [例] I have faith in you;I am sure you will do well.
    我相信你,我肯定你會做好的。
    [同義] belief ,confidence ,religion,trust
    [反義] doubt / daut / n. 懷疑, 疑惑, 疑問 v. 懷疑, 不信, 拿不準, <古>恐怕
    [派生] faithful / 5feiWful / adj. 守信的, 忠實的, 詳確的, 可靠的 n. 信徒
    beneficence / bi5nefisEns / n. 善行, 仁慈, 贈物 n. 行善,慈善,捐款,捐贈物
    [例] bestow many beneficences
    捐贈許多救濟品
    [派生] beneficent / bi5nefisEnt / adj. 慈善的, 仁慈的, 善行的
    optimistic / 7Cpti5mistik / adj. 樂觀的
    [例] Optimistic people always believe their bright future .
    樂觀的人總是相信他們有美好的未來。
    [同義] bright, carefree ,cheerful ,glad ,happy, radiant
    [反義] pessimistic / pesI5mIstIk / adj 悲觀的
    [派生] optimism / 5CptimizEm / n. 樂觀, 樂觀主義
    reduce / ri5dju:s / vt. 1減少, 縮小2簡化, 還原
    [例] This experienced editor is said to be able to reduce the misprints to almost nil.
    據(jù)說這位經(jīng)驗豐富的老編輯能把印刷錯誤幾乎降低到零。
    [同義] cut, decrease ,diminish ,lessen, lower, moderate
    [反義] increase / in5kri:s / n. 增加, 增大, 增長 vt. 增加, 加大
    vi. 增加, 繁殖
    unambiguous / 5QnAm5bi^juEs / adj. 不含糊的, 明確的
    [例] As a horror, apartheid . . . is absolutely unambiguous. There are . . . no shades of interpretation or circumstances to weigh that might make coming to a moral judgment more difficult? ( Mario Vargas Llosa)
    "作為一種恐怖,種族隔離…是絕對確定無疑的,沒有…任何值得考慮的解釋或情況可以對其道德審判提出非難" (馬里奧·巴爾加斯·略薩)
    visual / 5vizjuEl / adj. 看的, 視覺的, 形象的, 栩栩如生的
    [例] a visual presentation.
    可以看得見的禮物
    assemble / E5sembl / vt. 集合, 聚集, 裝配 vi. 集合
    [例] All the people assembled at Mary's house.
    所有的人都聚集在瑪麗的屋子里。
    [同義] cluster, collect, congregate, crowd, gather together ,
    [反義] dismiss / dis5mis / vt. 解散, 下課, 開除, 解職, 使(或讓)離開
    vi. 解散
    [派生] assembly / E5sembli / n. 集合, 裝配, 集會, 集結, 匯編
    lever / 5li:vE, 5levE / n. 桿, 杠桿, 控制桿 v. 抬起
    [例] This activity introduces students to the concept of lever.
    這項活動是給學生介紹杠桿的概念。
    screw / skru: / n. 1螺絲釘, 螺旋, 螺桿, 螺孔, 螺旋槳2吝嗇鬼
    vt. 1調節(jié), 旋2加強, 壓榨3鼓舞 vi. 轉動, 旋, 擰
    [例] Lifting those boxes really screwed up my back.
    抬這些箱確實令我的背部受到損傷
    [同義] fasten, rotate , tighten , turn , twist
    [反義] unscrew / 5Qn5skru: / v. 從……旋出螺絲, 旋開, 旋松
    wedge / wedV / n. 楔 vt. 楔入, 楔進
    [例] The people wedged me into the corner.
    人們把我擠到角落里。
    [同義] jam , lodge , push , squeeze
    alphabet / 5A:lfEbit / n. 字母表
    [例] a phonetic alphabet 音標文字
    [派生] alphabetic / 7AlfE5betik / adj. 照字母次序的, 字母的
    transmit / trAnz5mit / vt. 1傳輸, 轉送, 傳導;發(fā)射2遺傳, 傳播 vi. 1發(fā)射信號2發(fā)報
    [例] Parents transmit some of their characteristics to their children.
    父母把一些特有的素質遺傳給兒女。
    [同義] dispatch, forward , send over, transfer
    [派生] transmission / trAnz5miFEn / n. 1發(fā)射2傳送3傳輸, 轉播
    attitude / 5Atitju:d / n. 1姿勢2態(tài)度, 看法, 意見
    [例] People's attitude towards the skyscrapers varies widely.
    人們對這些摩天大樓的態(tài)度很不相同。
    [同義] opinion, position ,standpoint ,viewpoint
    emulation / 9emjJ`leIF/ n. 競爭, 效法
    [例] real time emulation 實時仿真
    [派生] emulate / 5emjuleit / n. 仿效
    emulative / 5emjulEtiv / adj. 好勝
    imitation / imi5teiFEn / n. 1 模仿, 效法, 冒充2贗品, 仿造物
    [例] His imitation of that singer is perfect.
    他模仿那位歌唱家模仿得維妙維肖。
    [反義] invention / in5venFEn / n. 發(fā)明, 創(chuàng)造
    [派生] imitate / 5imiteit / vt. 模仿, 仿效, 仿制, 仿造 v. 模仿
    fame / feim / n. 1 名聲, 名望2傳說, <古>傳聞
    vt. (常用被動語態(tài))使聞名, 使有名望, 盛傳
    [例] The reformer's fame spread all over the country.
    這位改革者名震全國。
    [同義] name, popularity ,renown, reputation
    [派生] famed / feImd / adj. 的, 聞名的
    四、強化練習
    1.As one of the earliest countries to apply machinery, China boasts a lot of unique ________ like the compass vehicle, the seismograph, and the incense burner with their respective characteristics on using power and mechanical structural design.
    A. discoveriesB. inventions C. reforms D. renovations
    2.The deadly H5N1 virus first surfaced in Asia but appears to be spreading quickly to the west on the wings of migrating birds. But it is difficult to ________ from bird to human - thousands of cases among poultry in Asia have resulted in only 120 human cases, of which 60 led to death.
    A. transmit B. alter C. heap D. hit
    3.From psychological aspect, the majority of children seem to tend to have an unfavorable_________ toward additional educational activities.
    A. fond B. hint C. endeavorD. attitude
    4.It is suggested that governments ought to make efforts to _______ the increasing gap between cities and countryside. They ought to set aside an appropriate fund for improvement of the standard of peasants' lives.
    A. reduce B. endow C. compensate D. compress
    5.Overt(明顯的)and covert(隱蔽的) streams of intelligence are by no means completely________ and distinct; they often mingle and meander over one another's territory.
    A. similar B. repressed C. parallelD. scornful
    6.China has 150 million people living in _______ poverty despite its impressive economic growth in the past two decades.
    A. vulgar B. acute C. dim D. secure
    7.Unlike other conventional universities, Bangladesh Open University is purely technology based and its aim is to make scope of higher education for the less __________ mass people who are engaged in different occupation, etc.
    A. scenic B. mean C. notable D. literate
    8.We can discuss further details when you have a _________ knowledge of the marketing possibilities of our products.
    A. thoroughB. cute C. sore D. spectacular
    9.Not reused injector is a _______ product invented by by the expert Mr baosheng tong in Tianjin Chukang Industry Company.
    A. alien B. patent C. spacious D. intrinsic
    10. We need clear, factual reports. They must be highly detailed and_________ .
    A. gloomy B. irregular C. unambiguous D. irritated
    答案:BADAC BDABC