新视野大学英语视听说 Unit 9-15

VI. Furthering Listening and Speaking
Listening
Task 1: The Origin of the Internet
The story of the Internet begins in the late 1950s. The Soviet¹ Union launched² Sputnik in 1957. The
Pentagon set up a research team in 1958 to create a computer network to operate during disasters
like a nuclear war. The resulting network linked U.S. scientific and academic researchers. It grew
into the World Wide Web or the Internet that became the network system of the Information Age. In
1985, the National Science Foundation³ created a network which provided⁴ a free national service to
any U.S. research and education institution. Later, large corporations⁵ began to build their own
networks. All those networks finally joined the Pentagon’s network to form the Internet. By the
1990s, anyone with a computer, a modern, and Internet software could link up to the Internet. In the
future, the Internet will probably grow more complex and become part of a larger network called the
information highway. With that people could bank, shop, watch TV, and perform many other
activities online.
 

1 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

2 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

3 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

4 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

5 corporations   

法人( corporation的名词复数 )； （政治、经济的）组合； 市政委员会

参考例句：

• The bulk of the funds are supplied by some of America's largest and most powerful corporations. 大部分资金是由美国一些最大和最有实力的公司提供的。
• He didn't sympathise with the corporations, but strength was with them. "他并不同情公司，但是力量属于他们。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹