英语博客(A cup of English):008 Technology is amazing!

　　Hey Mom, technology is amazing!
Advanced.
The other day when I picked my children up from school, my oldest boys handed me their school pictures. Once a year, as in most schools, the children have their photographs taken. It adds some importance to the day, as most children want to look their best. They will choose their clothes the night before, as they wish to look especially smart. Well, their photos were a success, but something that Cass, my second son, said made me think, "Mom, technology is amazing! A friend of mine had a chicken pock in the middle of his forehead when they took his photo, but the photographer erased² it with his computer!" Wow. Things really have changed since I was their age. We went on to have a discussion³ about technology in my youth, or, as they consider it, "in the olden days".... No, I didn't have a cell⁴ phone; neither did my parents. Our televisons were big and bulky, and we listened to music on the radio, or we played it on records. In fact, when the first Pac Man and Ping Pong computer games came out, every one was amazed⁵. It is fascinating⁶ to see the speed with which technology is improving, and to think of what will be considered 'normal technology' by my children when they are my age.
Grammar notes.
Verbs⁷: to pick up (someone) / to drop off (someone). To have a discussion doesnot mean to have an argument. To erase¹ = to rub⁸ out. To consider something normal / abnormal⁹.
Useful expressions: as (since, because); smart = elegant¹⁰ and also intelligent; the olden days = the old days (the dark ages jokingly).
With which expressions: The speed with which he runs; the colors with which he paints; the ease¹¹ with which she sings etc. *Considered long-winded if used too often.
Beginners.
Do you have a cell phone or a computer? Do you have an iPod? All of these things can make life easier, as long as they work correctly. I love my iPod. I listen to French and Spanish programs to help me study the languages, and I also listen to different news programs. Most people also use their iPods to listen to their favorite music. Computers change every year, don't they? Other types of technology do also. Instead of getting lost while driving, you can use a program to help you find your way. When I was a child, their was very little technology available to buy; now, it is everywhere.

1 erase   

v.擦掉；消除某事物的痕迹

参考例句：

• He tried to erase the idea from his mind.他试图从头脑中抹掉这个想法。
• Please erase my name from the list.请把我的名字从名单上擦去。

2 erased   

v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 )；抹去；清除

参考例句：

• He erased the wrong answer and wrote in the right one. 他擦去了错误答案，写上了正确答案。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He removed the dogmatism from politics; he erased the party line. 他根除了政治中的教条主义，消除了政党界限。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 discussion   

n.讨论，谈论；论述

参考例句：

• It is certain he will come to the discussion.他肯定会来参加讨论。
• After months of discussion,a peace agreement is gradually taking shape.经过几个月的商讨，和平协议渐渐有了眉目。

4 cell   

n.区，细胞，血球；小室，牢房；电池，光电管；基层组织

参考例句：

• Soap destroys the cell walls of bacteria.肥皂破坏细菌的细胞壁。
• They have locked the prisoners up in their cell.他们已把犯人监禁在小牢房里。

5 amazed   

adj.吃惊的，惊奇的v.使大为吃惊，使惊奇( amaze的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Just the size of the place amazed her. 仅仅地方之大就使她十分惊奇。
• I was amazed at her knowledge of French literature. 她的法国文学知识之丰富使我大为惊奇。

6 fascinating   

adj.迷人的，吸引人的，使人神魂颠倒的

参考例句：

• Your ideas are fascinating to me.你的这些主意对我来说是有吸引力的。
• The very style of the book is fascinating.这本书的风格本身就会引人入胜。

7 verbs   

动词

参考例句：

• I have to swot up on phrasal verbs for a test tomorrow. 我不得不为明天的测验努力温习短语动词。
• Verbs that do not take object are called intransitive verbs. 不带宾语的动词称为不及物动词。

8 rub   

n.摩擦，困难，障碍，难点，磨损处；vt.擦，搓，摩擦，惹怒；vi.摩擦，擦破

参考例句：

• Don't let the wire rub up against the pipe.别让电线碰到管子上。
• He used to rub up against many famous movie stars.他过去经常偶然碰到许多有名的影星。

9 abnormal   

adj.反常的，不正常的，不规则的

参考例句：

• This warm weather is abnormal for February.二月里这种温暖的天气不太正常。
• That is simply abnormal.那简直是反常的。

10 elegant   

adj.优美的，文雅的，简练的，简结的

参考例句：

• She was an elegant and accomplished woman.她是位优雅的才女。
• She has a life of elegant ease.她过着风雅悠闲的生活。

11 ease   

n. 安乐,安逸,悠闲; v. 使...安乐,使...安心,减轻,放松

参考例句：

• His mind was at ease and he felt confident in the future. 他心情舒畅,对前途很有信心。
• You should ease up on the child and stop scolding her. 你应该对那个孩子宽松些,不要再骂她了。