新闻周刊:马斯克的豪赌:特斯拉能为汽车制造带来革新吗?(8)

One influencer who has publicly predicted that universal basic income will be the only way out for most of today’s workers is Elon Musk¹. “It’s going to be necessary,” he reportedly told a conference. “There will be fewer and fewer jobs that a robot cannot do better.”

埃隆?马斯克是一位有影响力的人物，他曾公开预言，对当今大多数工人来说，普遍基本收入将是唯一的出路。“这是必要的，”据报道，他在一次会议上如是表示。“机器人不能做得更好的工作将越来越少。”

Let’s say Silicon² Valley’s growing influence and success is worth the high cost to worldwide labor³. Maybe Musk will ignite a green transportation movement that slows or even halts climate damage—or pave the way for colonies on Mars if the planet is beyond repair. Maybe these high-tech⁴ companies really are, as they claim, nurturing⁵ the seeds of a better health care system, a healthy food revolution and an education system capable of affordably serving most student—and not just those from affluent⁶ communities or those who are academically gifted—all the way through a good college education.

我们假设硅谷日益增长的影响力和成功值得全世界付出高昂的劳动力成本。也许马斯克会掀起一场绿色交通运动，减缓甚至停止气候破坏——或者，如果地球无法修复，就为殖民火星铺平道路。也许这些高科技公司真的像他们宣称的那样，在为更好的医疗保健系统、健康食品革命和能够负担得起让大多数学生接受良好教育的教育系统播下种子，大多数学生不仅仅指的是那些来自富裕社区的人或者那些有学术天赋的人。

Technological⁷ change causes economic and social upheaval—that’s a given. We ride it out, hoping for the best. “You must remember that every invention of this kind which is made adds to the general wealth by introducing a new system of greater economy of force. A great invention which facilitates commerce enriches a country just as much as the discovery of vast hoards⁸ of gold.”

技术变革引起经济和社会动荡——这是特定的。我们安然度过，希望最好的结果。“你必须记住所有这类发明都是通过引进一种更节省力量的体系来增加总财富。促进商业发展的伟大发明就像大量黄金的发明，也丰富了一个国家。”

That’s Thomas Edison in 1895, telling a skeptical⁹, uneasy public that “the horseless vehicle is the coming wonder.”

1895年，托马斯·爱迪生这样告诉多疑不安的公众：“无马的交通工具是即将到来的奇迹。”

Human innovation is always in the driver’s seat—even if humans won’t be.

人类的创新总是在驾驶席上——即使人类无需开车。

1 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

2 silicon   

n.硅(旧名矽)

参考例句：

• This company pioneered the use of silicon chip.这家公司开创了使用硅片的方法。
• A chip is a piece of silicon about the size of a postage stamp.芯片就是一枚邮票大小的硅片。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 high-tech   

adj.高科技的

参考例句：

• The economy is in the upswing which makes high-tech services in more demand too.经济在蓬勃发展，这就使对高科技服务的需求量也在加大。
• The quest of a cure for disease with high-tech has never ceased. 人们希望运用高科技治疗疾病的追求从未停止过。

5 nurturing   

养育( nurture的现在分词 )； 培育； 滋长； 助长

参考例句：

• These delicate plants need careful nurturing. 这些幼嫩的植物需要精心培育。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants. 这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

6 affluent   

adj.富裕的，富有的，丰富的，富饶的

参考例句：

• He hails from an affluent background.他出身于一个富有的家庭。
• His parents were very affluent.他的父母很富裕。

7 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

8 hoards   

n.（钱财、食物或其他珍贵物品的）储藏，积存( hoard的名词复数 )v.积蓄并储藏（某物）( hoard的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• She hoards her money - she never spends it. 她积蓄钱，但从来不花钱。 来自辞典例句
• A squirrel hoards nuts for the winter. 松鼠为过冬贮藏坚果。 来自辞典例句

9 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。