背诵为王 第 四 册 第 13 课

　　Lesson13 Changes of Life Caused by Computers and Automobiles²
The computer and the automobile¹, the mainstays of modern life, share similar pasts. The computer, which has only recently become a common feature of most people's homes and offices, had its beginnings in the 1830's. At that time, the British mathematician³, Charles Babbage, developed the mechanical⁴ computer. In the same way, the first type of automobile was a steam-powered vehicle invented in 1769. The gas-powered car was not mass-produced until Henry Ford's Model T in 1915, and did not become a common possession for Americans until several decades later.
Although both the computer and the automobile took a long time to become integral⁵ parts of most people's lives, once they did, they revolutionized the whole world. Today most people would rather drive their car to the office in the city than take public transportation, even though the latter may be cheaper, more convenient and safer. The reason for this is the sense of freedom, independence and privacy⁶ afforded by car travel.
In the same way, people will now spend a large amount of money to own a computer which allows them to communicate by e-mail instead of by post, and which allows them to obtain information from the Internet instead of the library.
mainstay 支柱, 中流砥柱
计算机和汽车带来的生活变化
计算机和汽车，这两个现代生活的支柱，有着相似的过去。计算机，近年来才成为多数人家和办公室的普通用品，发端于1830年。当时，英国数学家查尔斯•巴布吉制造出了机械式计算机。同样地，1769年发明的蒸汽驱动的汽车是最早的汽车。以汽油驱动的汽车直到1915年亨利•福特发明了T型车才开始大量生产，直到几十年后才开始为美国人普遍拥有。
尽管计算机和汽车都花了很长时间才成为大多数人生活中的必备品，但一旦成功，它们就彻底改变了整个世界。今天人们大多驾车到城市里上班，而不是乘坐公众交通工具，虽然后者可能更便宜、更便利、更安全。其原因是驾车出行能带来自由感、独立感和私密感。
同样，今天的人们会花一大笔钱买一台电脑，从而可以通过电子邮件而不是传统邮件和他人联系，从互联网上而不是从图书馆里获得信息。

1 automobile   

n.汽车，机动车

参考例句：

• He is repairing the brake lever of an automobile.他正在修理汽车的刹车杆。
• The automobile slowed down to go around the curves in the road.汽车在路上转弯时放慢了速度。

2 automobiles   

n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• When automobiles become popular,the use of the horse and buggy passed away. 汽车普及后，就不再使用马和马车了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Automobiles speed in an endless stream along the boulevard. 宽阔的林荫道上，汽车川流不息。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

3 mathematician   

n.数学家

参考例句：

• The man with his back to the camera is a mathematician.背对着照相机的人是位数学家。
• The mathematician analyzed his figures again.这位数学家再次分析研究了他的这些数字。

4 mechanical   

adj.机械(学)的；力学的；机械似的；手工操作的

参考例句：

• He borrowed a mechanical book from me.他从我这儿借了一本力学方面的书。
• He looks very mechanical.他看上去非常呆板。

5 integral   

adj.必不可少的，构成整体所必需的

参考例句：

• She is our best player,who is integral to our team.她是我们最好的球员，我们队离不开她。
• That's an integral part of the country.那是构成国家所必需的一部分。

6 privacy   

n.私人权利，个人自由，隐私权

参考例句：

• In such matters,privacy is impossible.在这类事情中，保密是不可能的。
• She wept in the privacy of her own room.她在自己房内暗暗落泪。