新概念英语第四册19-03

第20课

感谢大耳朵网友“兜兜兜兜”提供的听力原文

In the organization of industrial life the influence of the factory upon the physiological and mental state of the workers has been completely neglected. Modern industry is based on the conception of the maximum production at lowest cost, in order that an individual or a group of individuals may earn as much money as possible. It has expanded without any idea of the true nature of the human beings who run the machines, and without giving any consideration to the effects produced on the individuals and on their descendants by the artificial mode of existence imposed by the factory. The great cities have been built with no regard for us. The shape and dimensions of the skyscrapers depend entirely on the necessity of obtaining the maximum income per square foot of ground, and of offering to the tenants offices and apartments that please them. This caused the construc tion of gigantic buildings where too large masses of human beings are crowded together. Civilized men like

such a way of living. While they enjoy the comfort and banal luxury of their dwelling,they do not realize that they are deprived of the necessities of life. The modern city consists of monstrous edifices and of dark, narrow streets full of petrol fumes,coal dust, and toxic gases, torn by the noise of the taxi-cabs, lorries and buses, and thronged ceaselessly by great crowds. Obviously, it has no been planned for the good of its inhabitants.

Notes on the text 课文注释

1. The article is about: 工业带来的巨大影响

In the organization of industrial life……在工业生活的组织方面

the influence of the factory ……has been completely neglected 工厂对工人的……影响完全被

忽视。

upon 常用于书面语

on 常用于口语

the physiological and mental state of the workers 工人的身心状态

in the organization of social life→in social life→society

in family life→family life→in a family

academic 学术的

in academic life→at school

2.Modern industry is based on the conception of 现代工业是建筑在以……的概念的基础上

concept: very basic, very concrete idea

conception= notion 理念

the maximum production 最大的规模生产

at lowest cost 最低的成本

in order that……表目的，以使得

individual 这里指 manager, owner, CEO

3.It has expanded it 指 industry

without any idea= without giving any consideration 没有考虑

the true nature of the human beings 人的本性

the effects produced on …… the factory

produced 作后置定语

without giving any consideration to the effects produced on the individuals and on their

descendants 这是个歧义句

artificial intelligence 人工智能