Let’s Get Metric 公制：探求万物的尺度
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2007年1月22日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2011年12月19日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：186
课文朗读
课文讲解
In the old days every region had its own system of measurement. The British, for example, used feet and inches, while the Danes used thumbs and palms. Fortunately, all this confusion changed thanks to the insight of two scientists.
在古代，每个地区都有其特有的测量系统。譬如，英国人使用英尺（译注：源自脚长）及英寸，而丹麦人则使用拇指及手掌。幸好这种混乱的现象，因为两位科学家的卓见而得以改变。
Jean Delambre and Pierre Méchain were astronomers who knew that the world needed a unified system of measurement. They decided that the base unit for this should be one ten-millionth of the distance between the North Pole and the equator. They called this unit the meter, after the Greek word for “a measure.”
德朗布尔和梅尚为天文学家，他们深知世界需要一套统一的测量系统。两人决定以北极与赤道之间距离的千万分之一为基本单位，他们将其称为「米」，源自希腊字「测量」之意。
In 1792, the two scientists decided to calculate the new measure by measuring the distance between Dunkirk, France and Barcelona, Spain. Starting at Paris, Delambre would go north and Méchain would head south. During the measurement, war broke out between France and Spain, and Méchain was trapped in enemy territory. Later, the Spanish realized the importance of the metric system, so they provided a military escort to protect the scientist. Things were no better for Delambre, who faced hostile mobs and accusations of sorcery!
1972年，这两位科学家决定藉由测量法国敦刻尔克与西班牙巴塞隆纳之间的距离，来算出新的测量单位。以巴黎为起点，德朗布尔往北行而梅尚则往南。在测量期间，法国与西班牙之间爆发战争，而梅尚也因而身陷敌区。稍后，西班牙人了解到公制的重要性，因而提供护卫队来保护梅尚的人身安全。德朗布尔的境遇也没有好到哪里去。他面临暴民攻击，还被指控妖言惑众呢！
Despite these difficulties, the survey was completed, and slowly the system began to gain popularity around the world. Although the system spread, the definition of a meter had to change, due to errors in the scientists’ measurements. It turned out a meter wasn’t actually one ten-millionth of the distance between the North Pole and the equator. Today, a meter is defined as 1/299,792,458 of the distance light travels in a vacuum in one second.
尽管困难重重，整个勘测的任务仍然圆满完成。而这套制度也在全球各地日益普及。虽然如此，公尺的定义仍有修正，主要是因为当初两位科学家的测量有误差。因此，一公尺并非北极与赤道之间距离的千万分之一。今天，一公尺的定义为光在真空中一秒钟前进距离的299,792,458分之一。
−by Sean Stevenson
Vocabulary
单词发音
measurement [ˋmɛʒɚmənt] n. 测量
confusion [kənˋfjuʒən] n. 混乱
insight [ˋɪn͵saɪt] n. 洞察力，眼光
calculate [ˋkælkjə͵let] v. 计算
break out 爆发；突然发生
territory [ˋtɛrə͵torɪ] n. 领土，版图；领地
escort [ˋɛskɔrt] v. 护送；陪同[（+to）]
hostile [ˋhɑst!] adj. 怀敌意的；不友善的
gain popularity 受到欢迎
turn out 结果是；证明是
More Information
单词发音
metric [ˋmɛtrɪk] adj. 公制的﹐米制的﹐十进制的
Dane [den] n. 丹麦人
thumb [θʌm] n. 拇指
astronomer [əˋstrɑnəmɚ] n. 天文学家
equator [ɪˋkwetɚ] n. 赤道
measure [ˋmɛʒɚ] n. 度量单位
trap [træp] v. 使落入圈套（或困境）[（+into）]
mob [mɑb] n.【贬】民众，大众；群氓
sorcery [ˋsɔrsərɪ] n. 魔法﹐妖术
Reading Questions
1. What was the main reason why the metric system was invented?
A. Because people were tired of using the same old measurements.
B. Because there were too many different systems of measurements.
C. Because astronomers in space needed more correct measurements.
D. Because measurements of the time could not be used in measuring long distances.
2. How did people react to Delambre as he carried out his measurement?
A. They welcomed him with open arms.
B. They assisted him in his journey.
C. They pretty much left him alone.
D. They greeted him with suspicion.
3. What is the main purpose of this article?
A. To show how the metric system was developed over time.
B. To give a biographical account of Delambre and Mechain.
C. To describe what France and Spain were like in the 18th century.
D. To give a clear definition of what a meter is.
biographical [͵baɪəˋgræfɪk!] adj. 传记的；传记体的
Answer
|
1. ( B ) |
2. ( D ) |
3. ( A ) |