VOA标准英语2012--Encyclopedias Survive by Going Online

Encyclopedias² Survive by Going Online

The other day, a few of us here at VOA got to talking about occupations that have grown obsolete³, or nearly so, in these fast-changing times. Typewriter repair technician for one. And typist, come to think of it.
And here’s one that’s going, going but not quite gone: reference-book publisher.
Shelves on offices across America are still packed with sets of encyclopedias and thick individual books about geography, history, law, science, and the origin and use of words.
But most of them haven’t been cracked open in months or years. They have become historical artifacts - part of the office décor.
It’s not because their users have grown lazy, or because the books’ contents are any less valuable. As you might guess, it’s because their information is available in a flash in hundreds or even thousands of places online.
If you want to find out about honeycombs, for instance, you’re not limited to a trusty encyclopedia¹ article, perhaps written 20 years ago. On the Worldwide Web, you can electronically access as much about honeycombs as you feel like reading. Or watching.
Fewer than half the sets of expensive, specialized⁴ encyclopedias are being sold today than were 10 years ago. But this hasn’t put reference-book publishers out of business. They’re making up for lost revenue by selling subscriptions⁵ to the electronic version of their works to libraries, universities, hospitals, and law offices around the world. The online encyclopedias are regularly updated and offer visual treats not found in the paper edition.
Their publishers, or perhaps we should say “content creators,” have little choice if they want to stay in business. At least they’re saving big bucks⁶ at their book warehouses⁷, and sparing lots of trees as well.

1 encyclopedia   

n.百科全书

参考例句：

• The encyclopedia fell to the floor with a thud.那本百科全书砰的一声掉到地上。
• Geoff is a walking encyclopedia.He knows about everything.杰夫是个活百科全书，他什么都懂。

2 encyclopedias   

n.百科全书， （某一学科的）专科全书( encyclopedia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• However, some encyclopedias can be found on the Web. 同时，一些百科全书能也在网络上找到。 来自互联网
• Few people think of encyclopedias as creative enterprises; but they are. 鲜少有人想到百科全书是创意的工作，但它确实是。 来自互联网

3 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

4 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

5 subscriptions   

n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助

参考例句：

• Subscriptions to these magazines can be paid in at the post office. 这些杂志的订阅费可以在邮局缴纳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Payment of subscriptions should be made to the club secretary. 会费应交给俱乐部秘书。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 bucks   

n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• They cost ten bucks. 这些值十元钱。
• They are hunting for bucks. 他们正在猎雄兔。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 warehouses   

仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
• Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。