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Excellent to Eccentric: 50 Top Inventions 千奇百怪，创意无限

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解

 

繁體中文譯本

 

TIME’s annual “Best Inventions” list is a rundown of the magazine’s pick of 50 – you guessed it – best inventions of the year. In 2008, such groundbreaking designs as pollution-eating cement, the world’s first moving skyscraper, and sunscreen for plants made the list. On top that year, however, was a retail DNA testing kit able to identify genetic flaws that can lead to conditions ranging from baldness to blindness.

《时代》杂志的年度「最佳发明」名单罗列该杂志挑出的50项，你猜对了，年度最佳发明。2008年的许多开创性设计荣登该榜，像是能吸收脏空气的水泥、世界首座会动的摩天大楼以及植物专用防晒油等。但高踞该年榜首的，则是市售DNA检验包，它能检测出导致某些身体状况的基因缺陷，从秃头到眼盲都可验出。

 

DNA testing is not a new invention, that’s for sure. But in the past, it was available only to an elite few, mostly scientific researchers. Now, for a relatively low cost of US$399, anyone can order a kit online, send a sample of their saliva back to the lab, and get their results in four to six weeks. The test reveals what diseases you might be more prone to and some that you might only have an average chance of getting.

无庸置疑地，DNA检验并非什么新发明。但在过去，能得到检验机会的只有少数精英份子，且多为科学研究人员。如今，任何人都能以399美元这个相当便宜的价格在网络上订购一组，然后把唾液样本寄回实验室，就能在4到6星期后收到检验结果。这项检测能显示出你比较容易罹患的疾病，而其他某些疾病，你得到的机率或许就只在平均值上下。

 

Critics worry that sharing your genetic information, which could reveal a family history of a certain illness, might upset close relatives who feel that such information should be kept private. But on the upside, knowing that they may have a higher chance of suffering from a certain condition can encourage people to lead healthier lives. And supporters claim that if a database with enough people’s DNA data in it is created, the information will allow medical breakthroughs to be made, transforming health care as we know it.

令批评者担心的是，分享基因数据可能会使认为数据应保密的近亲不悦，因为它们可能会泄漏某项家族史。但好处是，若知道自己在某项疾病的罹患率较高，就可以鼓励人们要过得健康一点。支持者更主张，若能搜集足够的DNA数据，建立一个数据库，这些信息将能促成医学上的重大突破，改变目前的卫生保健系统。

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

eccentric [ɪkˋsɛntrɪk] adj.（人、行为等）古怪的，反常的

annual [ˋænjʊəl] adj. 每年的

groundbreaking [ˋgraʊnd͵brekɪŋ] adj. 开创性的

skyscraper [ˋskaɪ͵skrepɚ] n. 摩天大楼

retail [ˋritel] adj. 零售的

genetic [dʒəˋnɛtɪk] adj. 基因的﹐遗传学的

elite [ɪˋlit] n.（社会）精英; 上层人士

researcher [riˋsɝtʃɚ] n. 研究员

relatively [ˋrɛlətɪvlɪ] adv. 相当

average [ˋævərɪdʒ] adj. 一般的，普通的

critic [ˋkrɪtɪk] n. 评论家; 批评家

relative [ˋrɛlətɪv] n. 亲戚，亲属

suffer from 受...之苦; 受...困扰  to be ill with, esp recurrently

breakthrough [ˋbrek͵θru] n. 突破

 

 

More Information

单词发音

 

rundown [ˋrʌn͵daʊn] n.〔关于某构想﹑情况等的〕简要报告; 扼要说明; 梗概

cement [sɪˋmɛnt] n. 水泥

sunscreen [ˋsʌn͵skrin] n. 防晒霜﹐防晒油

kit [kɪt] n. 成套工具（或对象等）

flaw [flɔ] n. 瑕疵﹐缺点

baldness [ˋbɔldnɪs] n. 秃头

saliva [səˋlaɪvə] n. 唾液

prone [pron] adj. 有……倾向的，易于……的[F][（+to）][+to-v]

upside [ˋʌpˋsaɪd] n. 好的一方面；有利的一面

database [ˋdetə͵bes] n. 数据库，数据库

transform [trænsˋfɔrm] v. 改革；改善

 

 

 

课文朗读

 

课文讲解 

 

With climate change a hot topic of late, eco-friendly inventions are well represented on the list. One, the biomechanical energy harvester, renders running out of power for your cell phone or iPod a thing of the past. Wrapped around the knee, this power-generating device exploits the energy of walking to charge your favorite gadget. Also on the list is cement that breaks down harmful air pollution. Recently, an Italian street was completed covered with the substance, and a study indicated positive results. As a bonus, buildings made with the material stay cleaner, too.

随着气候变迁成为新近的热门话题，名单上也出现有关环保的发明。其中一项是生物力学能源采集器，它使手机或iPod没电这件事成为过去式。这种发电装置要包覆在膝盖上，利用走路时产生的动能来为你喜爱的小装置充电。榜上有名的还有可以分解有害脏空气的水泥。最近，意大利某条街道上完全铺设这种建材，而一项研究也显示其正面结果。它还有个好处是，用这种材料兴建的建筑物也可以保持得比较干净。

 

From building materials, we come to building design, with the Dynamic Tower. Each of the floors on this planned Dubai skyscraper will rotate independently, providing a spectacular 360-degree view of the surrounding city. What’s more, the tower will be powered entirely by the wind and sun. Another inventive building was contributed by the architects behind the Beijing Olympics “Bird’s Nest.” The 50-story Shadowless Skyscraper, a super slender, triangle-shaped building, has been designed to complement the skyline of Paris, where it is to be built.

谈完建筑材料，接下来要从动感塔来讨论建筑设计。杜拜这栋计划中的摩天大楼，每一层都能独自旋转，提供壮观的360度全城环视美景。此外，这座塔将完全由风力及太阳能发电。另一座创意建筑则是出自北京奥运「鸟巢」体育馆的建筑师之手。这座50层楼高的无影摩天大楼，外观为非常窄扁的三角形状，将盖在巴黎，使这座城市的天际线更臻完美。

 

The list also features somewhat more wacky inventions, such as a sunscreen for crops, which reflects harmful UV rays, resulting in a better harvest. Then, there is an invisibility cloak, made from a material that “bends” light around the wearer, and a social networking website for spies. But regardless of whether they are large or small, conventional or unconventional, all of the inventions on the list have the power to impact our world.

名单中还包括一些怪异的发明，例如谷物专用防晒油，它可以反射有害的紫外线，使农民收获较丰。另外，有一种隐形斗篷，它的材料使穿戴者周围的光线「弯曲」，甚至还有一个专供间谍使用的社交网站。但无论它们是大是小、传统抑或创新，名单上的所有发明都有足以左右世界的影响力。

 

−by James Laughton-Smith

 

Vocabulary

单词发音

 

render [ˋrɛndɚ] v. 给予，提供

break down 分解; 瓦解 to decompose or cause to decompose chemically

substance [ˋsʌbstəns] n. 物质

positive [ˋpɑzətɪv] adj. 确定的；确实的

bonus [ˋbonəs] n. 额外的好处

rotate [ˋrotet] v. 旋转，转动

independently [͵ɪndɪˋpɛndəntlɪ] adv. 独立地

what’s more 更重要的是, 更有甚者, 而且 besides, moreover, in addition

inventive [ɪnˋvɛntɪv] adj. 善于发明创造的; 有创造力的

contribute [kənˋtrɪbjut] v. 贡献，提供

complement [ˋkɑmpləmənt] v. 补足；与……相配

reflect [rɪˋflɛkt] v. 反射

regardless of 不管, 不顾 without considering something; at any rate; whatever is done; whatever option is chosen

impact [ɪmˋpækt] v. 对……产生影响

 

 

More Information

单词发音

 

eco-friendly [ˋiko͵frɛndlɪ] adj. 不损坏生态环境的

biomechanical [͵baɪoməˋkænɪk!] adj. 生物力学的

harvester [ˋhɑrvɪstɚ] n. 采集器; 收割机

exploit [ɪkˋsplɔɪt] v. 充分利用; 开发

gadget [ˋgædʒɪt] n. 小巧; 设计精巧的机械

architect [ˋɑrkə͵tɛkt] n. 建筑师；设计师

story [ˋstorɪ] n.【美】（建筑物的）层，楼

slender [ˋslɛndɚ] adj. 修长的，苗条的

skyline [ˋskaɪ͵laɪn] n.（建筑物等在天空映衬下的）空中轮廓线

wacky [ˋwækɪ] adj. 疯疯癫癫的; 古怪的

invisibility [͵ɪnvɪzəˋbɪlətɪ] n. 不可见；看不见

cloak [klok] n. 斗篷，披风

wearer [ˋwɛrɚ] n. 穿戴者

conventional [kənˋvɛnʃən!] adj. 传统式的

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1.   According to the article, which is NOT a benefit of the retail DNA testing kit?

A.  It has brought DNA testing to ordinary people.

B.  It has led to countless breakthroughs in modern medicine.   

C.  It gives you information about diseases you have a high chance of getting.

D.  Knowing the results of a DNA test might encourage you to live a healthier life.

 

2.   From the article, what do we know about the biomechanical energy harvester?

A.  It is a very popular gadget.

B.  It helps combat air pollution.

C.  It produces less energy than a cell phone or iPod.

D.  It takes advantage of the energy of walking.

 

3.   According to the article, which is true about the Dynamic Tower?

A.  Its architects also designed a building for the Beijing Olympics.

B.  When it is finished, it will be 360 meters tall.

C.  Electricity in the building will come from wind and sun power.

D.  It will provide amazing views of the city of Paris when completed.

 

4.   What kind of inventions are NOT mentioned in the article?

A.  Substances that can cure genetic diseases.

B.  Inventions that are useful in the agricultural world.

C.  Devices that are designed with the environment in mind.

D.  Buildings with never-before-seen designs

 

Dynamic Tower

 

Shadowless Skyscraper, Herzog and de Meuron's design for the new Paris skyscraper

 

 

 

 

 

Answer

1. ( B )

2. ( D )

3. ( C )

4. ( A )