新概念英语第四册25-02

Notes on the text 课文注释

主题：Social advancement 社会的进步

loom so large （令人忧心忡忡）

in the modern world 在现代社会

surely because 引导原因，恰恰因为

progress of a particular kind 一种特别的进步，介词短语作后置定语

particular ： 特殊的，特别的

more and more ：越来越

manifest ：明显

Eg: You were walking on the way, he loomed out of mist.

Although…

in intelligence/morality 在智力/道德方面

undergone: experienced 经历

no general improvement 注意 no 的位置

no 用 not any 替换，则…has undergone no general improvement…

等同于：…has not undergone any general improvement…

“…, it has made extraordinary progress in the accumulation of knowledge.”

it 指代人类

accumulation: 堆积，堆砌

extraordinary progress: 显著进步

主题句提出，做原因解释

Knowledge began to…

be communicated :可以交流，传递 another = another individual

speech :口语

oral adj. :口头的

Eg: … people go hunting.

I found the place where the bears are inhabited.

with… :随着…

writing = written language

a great advance 巨大的进步

not only … but also …

communicated 交流； stored 储存

libraries: a place where books of various kinds are stored

and education in its turn added to libraries…

Why does the idea of progress loom so large in the modern world ? Surely because progress of a particular kind is actually taking place around us and is becoming more and more manifest. Although mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality, it has made extraordinary progress the accumulation of knowledge. Knowledge began to increase as soon as the thoughts of one individual could be communicated to another by means of speech. With the invention of writing, a great advance was made, for knowledge could then be not only communicated but also stored. Libraries made education possible, and education in its turn added to libraries:...