新西兰英语 263 New Zealand Trampoline Wins US Award

　　The Springfree Trampoline won the US Children’s Product of the Year Award this year. Springfree was designed by Professor Keith Alexander of Canterbury University Mechanical¹ Engineering² department. He designed it because he wanted a safe trampoline for his children. When he suggested buying a trampoline, his wife said, “…I won’t have one of those death traps in my back yard…you’re a smart guy…if you want a trampoline in our backyard, then go make a better one…”. And he did. This is now the safest trampoline in the world.
On a traditional trampoline, children can fall onto the ground or fall onto the metal frame³ or the metal springs. In New Zealand, 2,000 children every year have injuries from traditional trampolines. In the past, insurance companies in the US would not pay for trampoline accidents but now they are changing their minds with the new spring free model.
Perhaps you have seen one of these trampolines in a New Zealand yard. They are round or oval⁴ in shape, have a high net around them and have no metal springs. The net is held in place with flexible fiberglass rods⁵.
Now the Springfree is sold in more than 20 countries. However, 70% of each trampoline is made in New Zealand earning about $30m a year for the company.

1 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。

2 engineering   

n.工程，工程学，管理，操纵

参考例句：

• The science of engineering began as soon as man learned to use tools. 人类一学会使用工具,工程科学就开始了。
• It was the first great engineering works in the world. 这是世界上第一家大型的工程工厂。

3 frame   

n.框架，结构，体格；vt.构成，设计，制定，使适合，陷害； 框架，（是指在数据链路层中，将网络层数据包加上开始与结尾信息包组成一个框架）

参考例句：

• The house has a wooden frame which is faced with brick.这个房子是木质结构的砖瓦房。
• We must frame up that picture.我们必须给那幅画装上框。

4 oval   

n. 椭圆，椭圆形跑道；adj. 卵形的，椭圆形的

参考例句：

• She has a lovely oval face.她长着一张可爱的椭圆脸。
• The shape of the earth is an oval.地球的形状是个椭圆形。

5 rods   

竿( rod的名词复数 )； 杆； （责打人用的）棍棒； 手枪

参考例句：

• The wheels of the toy car were fixed on metal rods. 玩具车的轮子固定在金属棒上。
• A typewriter in which the characters are situated on type rods. 一种打字机，其字符安装在字模棒上。