why nothing works 1

1、Unit 5 Why Nothing WorksGroup 1 & Group 2Summary This article mainly tells us the relationship between producers and consumers has become less intimate. By comparing different qualities of handmade among the masterpieces of prehistoric, preindustrial and present ones, it leads to the result that

2、 the Murphys law takes effect everywhere. In the end the author expresses his concern and warns us the necessity to improve the relationship between manufacturers and consumers in todays industrial society. .Vocabularyattributed to(line 1):if people in general attribute a particular statement, paint

3、ing, piece of music etc to someone, they believe that person said it, painted it etc 认为是某人所说/所画等attribute sth to sb/sth例：The play is attributed to Shakespeare. 此剧被认为是莎士比亚所作。savant(line 1):n. Someone who has been admitted to membership in a scholarly field博学之士，专家，学者例：A computer savant, Heap learned h

4、is first programming language in fourth grade. 西普是个电脑专家，在四年级的时候他学会了第一种程序语言。 svnt, s:v =scholar/ expertcorollary(line 2):n. A corollary of something is an idea, argument, or fact that results directly from it. (必然的、自然的）结果 正式例：The number of prisoners increased as a corollary of the governments determi

5、nation to combat violent crime. 政府决心打击暴力犯罪，其后果是囚犯数量增加了。krlrshoddy(line 2):adj. Shoddy work or a shoddy product has been done or made carelessly or badly. 粗制滥造的例：Im normally quick to complain about shoddy service. 我通常会迅速地投诉劣质的服务。d Murphys law : If there are two or more ways to do something, and one o

6、f those ways can result in a catastrophe , then someone will do it. elapsed(line 7):vt. when time elapses, it passes.（时间）消逝，过去（ elapse-elapsed-elapsed）e.g., three weeks / four months / two years have elapsed.例：Forty-eight hours have elapsed since his arrest. 从他被捕至今已经过去48小时了。lpstforestall(line 7):vt.

7、 If you forestall someone, you realize what they are likely to do and prevent them from doing it. 预先阻止例：Large numbers of police were in the square to forestall any demonstrations. 大批警察在广场上以预先阻止任何游行示威。fstlcommitment (line 7)n. refers to the act of pledging or devoting (oneself) to a course of action

8、(承诺，许诺,责任感).e.g., a committed educationist (忠诚的教育家)gadgets(line 10): g,dets n. A gadget is a small machine or device which does something useful. You sometimes refer to something as a gadget when you are suggesting that it is complicated and unnecessary.小器具；精巧的小玩意例：They become obsessed with trying t

9、o equip their vehicles with gadgets to deal with every possible contingency. 他们变得痴迷于给自己的车辆装备小配件，以应付可能出现的各种紧急情况。do the trick(line 10):spoken If something does the trick, it solves a problem or provides what is needed to get a good result.例：A bit more flour should do the trick. 再来一点面粉应该就可以了。E.g.: This

10、 medicine ought to do the trick (= cure the disease).primitive design(line 17):adj. belonging to a simple way of life that existed in the past and does not have modern industries and machines 原始的，远古的something that is primitive is very simple and does not have extra modern parts that would make it fa

11、ster，better，more comfortable etc 老式的，简陋的例：a primitive society 原始社会 The primitive surgery of those days left him virtually deaf in one ear. 那时候简陋的外科手术让他一只耳朵几乎失聪。 prmtv Dwindle (line 17):dwnd()l v. (away) (to nothing): become gradually less or smaller减少、变少 e.g. The number of deficits has significantly

12、 dwindled since new tax policies were adopted last year.seaworthiness(line 23):n. Fitness to traverse the seas 适航性，航海性例：This had to enaure the vehicle good seaworthiness and ability to take off and hand on water with waves up to 0.7m. 这些为飞机提供了良好的水上适航性，并且能够在浪高0.7米的海面上起飞。si,wns evoke(line 26):vt. To e

13、voke a particular memory, idea, emotion, or response means to cause it to occur. 唤起 (记忆); 引起 (想法、情感、反应) 正式例：These extraordinary scenes in Tunis and Cairo, evoke those of Berlin and Prague in 1989. 在突尼斯和开罗，这些非凡的场景唤起1989年柏林和布拉格的那些记忆。projectile(line 31): pr()dektal; -tlan object or weapon that is shot

14、forward, especially from a gun, or that shoots itself forward 抛射体，射弹；抛射的 e.g. projectile point 抛掷武器 fashion(line 31):n. make out of components (often in an improvising manner)制作，做成的形状例：She fashioned a tent out of a sheet and a few sticks. 她用一张纸和几根棍子做成了一个帐篷fashion A from B 用B制作Abarter (line35)n. U ex

15、change of goods for other goods without using money作物物交换, 以货换货 e.g. In some African tribes, people are still practicing barter. the state of the art(line41): the level of development (as of a device, procedure, process, technique or science ) reached at any particular time 工艺水平personal bonds(line 45

16、):n. a bond between people is a strong feeling of friendship, love, or shared beliefs and experiences that unites them.（情感的）纽带，契合，关系例：The experience created a very special bond between us. 这种经历使我们之间产生了一种很特殊的关系。the intimate sentimental and personal bonds 亲密感情与个人间关系wither away(line 46):wither:vi. If s

17、omeone or something withers, they become very weak. 变虚弱例：To see my body literally wither away before my eyes was exasperating. 看着我的身体在自己的眼前日渐虚弱真是让人恼火。w Wither away 逐渐消失；逐渐失去生气；逐渐失去价值.alienation from(line 55):n. When someone becomes less friendly, understanding, or willing to give support as the result of something that happens or is done例：This temporary alienation from God is ultimately repaired