Chapter 2 Computers
Part A Language
I. Words and expressions
1. be unaware of 没有注意到 be aware of 注意到
There may also be tiny, hidden computers in your home that you are unaware of.
=There may also be tiny hidden computers in your home mat you don’t know about.在你家里也许有你未曾注意到的微小的隐蔽的电脑。
2. depend on 依靠，依赖
So maybe you depend on computers more than you realize.
=So maybe you need/rely on computers more than you realize.因此也许你比自己意识到的更多依赖于电脑。
3. common knowledge 众所周知的事情
it’s common knowledge that computers are super calculators.
=It’s something known by everyone that computers are super calculators. 众所周知，电脑是超级的计算器。
4. calculator n. 计算器 calculate v. 计算 calculation n. 计算
computers are super calculators. They can calculate very fast and they can do the calculation accurately.电脑是超级的计算器，它们能很快地计算，并且计算精确。
5. rarely/seldom 很少（在句中表示否定）
computers rarely give wrong answers.电脑很少会出错。
6. for the time being 目前
The answer to this question is, for the time being ‘No.’
=At present, the answer to this question is ‘No’目前这个问题的答案是“不”。
7. be better than…at(doing) sth 比……更擅长于（做）某事
computers may be better than doctors, judges and teachers at doing their jobs. 电脑可能比医生、法官和教师更擅长做好他们的工作。
8. raise questions 引起注意；提出问题
If this is true, it raises interesting questions.
=If this is true, it brings interesting questions to our attention. 如果这是真的，它就提出了一些有趣的问题。
9. essential adj. 非常重要的，必要的=very important and necessary
The program is written by a human being, and it is essential that the human does not make a mistake.程序是人编写的，因此不能出错是非常重要的。
10. listen to sb speaking听某人演说
you can use your computer to read about a famous person in history, and even listen to him speaking.你可以用你的电脑来阅读历史名人的相关内容，甚至可以听他演说。
II. Language Structure
1. 形容词的比较级与最高级
1) 形容词的比较级与最高级的构成：
单音节形容词和少数双音节形容词的词尾加er构成比较级，加est构成最高级。大多数的双音节形容词和多音节形容词前加more和most构成比较级和最高级。形容词的最高级前要加the。
如：soft softer softest
large larger largest
thin thinner thinnest
healthy healthier healthiest
helpful more helpful most helpful
essential more essential most essential
注意：有些形容词的比较级和最高级为不规则变化。
如：good better best
ill/bad worse worst
little less least
old elder eldest(只有在关系上辈分上可以使用)
many/much more most
far farther farthest(指距离远)
further furthest(除距离外还指程度深)
2) 形容词比较级和最高级的用法
(1) 两者比较要用比较级，如：
I’m two years older than you./ Who is thinner, Ben or Kitty?
(2) 三者或三者以上比较要使用最高级，如：
The Yangtze River is the longest river in China.
Which is the biggest, the sun, the earth or the moon?
(3) 注意几个固定搭配，如：
warmer and warmer越来越暖和（比较级＋and +比较级，表示“越来越……”）
the sooner the better 越快越好(the +比较级，the +比较级，表示“越……越……”)
(4) 有些副词修饰比较级表示程度的差异，如far, a bit, even 和still等：
The underground is much quicker than the train on the ground. (表示“快得多”)
2. 并列复合句
常见的并列连词有and, but, or, so等，如：
(1) Mr. Wang teaches maths and Miss Li teaches chemistry. (用and 连接表示并列)
(2) There may be inside your TV set, telephone or washing machine, so maybe you depend on computers more than your realize.(用so连接表示因果)
(3) Hurry up, or you’ll be late.(用or连接表示选择)
(4) He tried his best, but he still failed. （用but表示转折）
III. Notes
1. We give a computer instructions by putting a program into it. 我们通过把程序安装进电脑里来给脑指令。
2. 你知道www(或3w)是什么意思吗？它是world wide web 的简称，即全球宽域网。它为你提供了一个可以轻松驾驭的图形化用户界面，以查阅internet上的文档，一旦与web 连接，您就可以访问全球任何地方的信息，而不用支付“长距离”连接费用。Do you want to enjoy surfing the internet?你想享受上网冲浪的乐趣吗？快去试试吧。