Unit Nine
Information is Power
In such a changing, complex society formerly simple solutions to informational needs become complicated. Many of life’s problems which were solved by asking family members, friends or colleagues are beyond the capability of the extended family to resolve. Where to turn for expert information and how to determine which expert advice to accept are questions facing many people today.
①In addition to this, there is the growing mobility of people since World War II. As families move away from their stable community, their friends of many years, their extended family relationships, the informal flow of information is cut off, and with it the confidence that information will be available when needed and will be trustworthy and reliable. The almost unconscious flow of information about the simplest aspects of living can be cut off. Thus things once learned subconsciously through the casual communications of the extended family must be consciously learned.
②Adding to social changes today is an enormous stockpile of information. The individual now has more information available than any generation, and the task of finding that one piece of information relevant to his or her specific problem is complicated, time-consuming and sometimes even overwhelming.
③Coupled with the growing quantity of information is the development of technologies which enable the storage and delivery of more information with greater speed to more locations than has ever been possible before. Computer technology makes it possible to store vast amounts of data in machinereadable files, and to program computer to locate specific information. Telecommunications developments enable the sending of messages via television, radio, and very shortly, electronic mail to bombard people with multitudes of messages. Satellites have extended the power of communications to report events at the instant of occurrence. Expertise can be shared worldwide through teleconferencing, and problems in dispute can be settled without the participants leaving their homes and/or jobs to travel to a distant conference site. Technology has facilitated the sharing of information and the storage and delivery of information, thus making more information available to more people.
④In this world of change and complexity, the need for information is of greatest importance. Those people who have accurate, reliable up-to-date information to solve the day-to-day problems, the critical problems of their business, social and family life, will survive and succeed. “Knowledge is power” may well be the truest saying and access to information may be the most critical requirement of all people.
生词与联想词
complex--------complexity-------------complicate--------complicated------complication
former------latter
colleague
extend-------extension-----extensive
stable--------stability
community
relate-----------relationship----relativity---------mutual-------reciprocal
formal------informal
confidence----confident----confidential
avail----available
conscious-------consciousness-------unconscious----subconscious
aspect
casual--------casualty
relevant
overwhelming------overwhelm
quantity-----quantitative------quantify-----qualitative----qualify--------qualification
bomb-----bombard
multitude--------multiple----------multiply----multiplication-----magnitude—bulk
instant---------instance------instantaneous
occurrence
conference---------------confer
dispute
participant---------------participate
facilitate
critical-----------critic----------------criticism-------------criticize
Unit Ten
One hundred and thirteen million Americans have at least one bank-issued credit card. They give their owners automatic credit in stores, restaurants, and hotels, at home, across the country, and even abroad, and they make many banking services available as well. More and more of these credit cards can be read automatically, making it possible to withdraw or deposit money in scattered locations, whether or not the local branch bank is open. For many of us the “cashless society” is not on the horizon--- it’s already here.
While computers offer these conveniences to consumers, they have many advantages for sellers too.① Electronic cash registers can do much more than simply ring up sales. They can keep a wide range of records, including who sold what, when, and to whom. This information allows businessmen to keep track of their list of goods by showing which items are being sold and how fast they are moving. Decisions to reorder or return goods to suppliers can then be made. At the same time these computers record which hours are busiest and which employees are the most efficient, allowing personnel and staffing assignments to be made accordingly. ②And they also identify preferred customers for promotional campaigns. Computers are relied on by manufactures for similar reasons. Computer-analyzed marketing reports can help to decide which products to emphasize now, which to develop for the future, and which to drop. ③Computers keep track of goods in stock, of raw materials on hand, and even of the production process itself.
Numerous other commercial enterprises, from theaters to magazine publishers, from gas and electric utilities to milk processors, bring better and more efficient services to consumers through the use of computers.
名人名言
Living without an aim is like sailing without a compass.
Life is a comedy to him who thinks and a tragedy to him who feels.
Laugh, and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.
Chiefly the mould of a man’s fortune is in his own hands.
You must reap what you have sown.
Life is an encyclopedia.
生词与联想词
automatic---------------automation
abroad--------------aboard
withdraw
deposit-----------------deposition
scatter---------diffuse
locate---------location---------local----------locality
horizon-------horizontal----vertical----erect
convenience----convenient
cash---------------------------------cashier
register
item
efficient---------efficiency--------------effective
personnel----------------staff
assign--------------assignment-------------allocate---------designate
campaign---------combat
manufacture
emphasize----------------------emphasis
raw
material-------------materialism
utility-------utilize—---------utilization----------usage
compass
comedy----------tragedy
weep---------------------------sob
mould/mold
reap-----------------sow----------plow/plough-------rake------grain---------barn