英语听力文摘 English Digest 62、上网本

　　(Typing sounds)
W:What’s that gadget¹ you are playing with Diarmuid?
Diarmuid: It’s my latest toy – a netbook.
W: A netbook?
Diarmuid: Yes a netbook. N.E.T.B.O.O.K. It’s like a laptop computer only even smaller.
W: What a cute little computer!I like your netbook, but I have a question about the name. Why is a computer called a book?
Diarmuid: That’s a very good question. I suppose it’s because there are lots of names for different types of computers.
W: And those names can be different between Britain and America, can’t they?Diarmuid: To an extent, yes. For example, in British English we use the word laptop. But in American English they call the same thing a notebook. So I think that the name netbook is a mix of two words – internet and notebook.
Example
A: Did you buy anything in the January sales?
B: Yes, I bought a little netbook computer. It’s really handy.
W: So a netbook then is a small computer that is used mostly for surfing the internet.
Diarmuid: I use it mostly for surfing the web and checking emails - things like that.
W: It’s incredible² how small computers are these days, isn’t it?
Diarmuid: It certainly is and it looks like we will soon see more tablet computers too.
netbook: 上网本
gadget: 小装置，小器具
Tablet computers 平板电脑

1 gadget   

n.小巧的机械，精巧的装置，小玩意儿

参考例句：

• This gadget isn't much good.这小机械没什么用处。
• She has invented a nifty little gadget for undoing stubborn nuts and bolts.她发明了一种灵巧的小工具用来松开紧固的螺母和螺栓。

2 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。