【英语时差8，16】谈谈网络使用

 Mike: Hey, Amanda, have you heard of the new online computer game? It's called Skullfire and it's all the rage¹ right now!

Amanda: Actually, I have heard of it. Isn't that the game where you go around and just shoot people? It seems like a pretty pointless game to me.

Mike: You're kidding, right? I can spend hours playing that game. Besides, what better use is the Internet?

Amanda: Um, let's see, off the top of my head there's checking your e-mail and looking up current² news headlines. You could even do some online shopping. The Internet is like a virtual³ library, where you can get your hands on almost any kind of information you're looking for. How can you be so ignorant⁴?

Mike: Since you're such an expert, what sort of things do you suggest I look up?

Amanda: Well, a considerable⁵ problem right now is a lack of natural resources⁶ and a rise in gas prices. Why don't you go online and try to understand the situation better? You should really try to keep up with current events.

Mike: I keep up with current events! I read the newspaper every day!

Amanda: Does it still count if you only read the comics and skim⁷ the articles?

Mike: It's not my fault that current events are boring.

pointless  (adj.)   无意义的I've already made up my mind; it's pointless to argue with me.

virtual  (adj.)   虚拟的The virtual reality game makes you feel as if there are dolphins swimming right in front of you.

ignorant  (adj.)   无知的He was ignorant of the fact that the school was closed for the day.

considerable  (adj.)   重要的；值得考虑的Evidence⁸ has considerable weight in determining who the perpetrator is.

to skim  (v.)   瀏览；略读She forgot to study, so she had to skim over her material five minutes before the test.

all the rage   风行一时；流行A: This new cell⁹ phone is all the rage right now.

B: Really? But it's so hard to use.

off the top of one's head   马上想到；一时想到A: Do you know where I can buy this brand of tea?

B: I can't think of the name of the store off the top of my head, but I'll let you know when I do.

get one's hands on...   获得…；得到…A: I have the best, easiest-to-use laptop¹⁰ ever!

B: You say that now. Let's wait until you get your hands on a newer model.

1 rage   

vi.(烈火)熊熊燃烧；发怒；怒斥；季风

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• Haines got into a rage.海恩斯勃然大怒。

2 current   

n.涌流，趋势，电流，水流，气流；adj.当前的，通用的，流通的，现在的，草写的，最近的

参考例句：

• Electric current is often powerful enough to kill a man.电流常强得足以致命。
• There is a story about her in the current number.最近一期上有关于她的故事。

3 virtual   

adj.实质上的，事实上的，实际上的

参考例句：

• This reply is a virtual acceptance of our offer.这一回答实质上是接受了我们的建议。
• At that time the East India Company was the virtual ruler of Bengal.那时东印度公司是孟加拉的实际统治者。

4 ignorant   

adj.无知的，没有学问的，愚昧的，不知道的

参考例句：

• They are unbelievably ignorant.他们无知到令人难以置信的地步。
• He's not stupid,merely ignorant.他并不愚蠢，只是无知。

5 considerable   

a.相当多的，相当大的，相当重要的

参考例句：

• He saved the child at considerable risk to himself. 他冒着极大的生命危险救了那个孩子。
• The flood resulted in a considerable reduction in production. 这次水灾造成相当大的减产。

6 resources   

n.勇气；才智；谋略；有助于实现目标的东西；资源( resource的名词复数 )；[复数]物力；办法；来源

参考例句：

• The world's resources are rapidly diminishing. 世界资源正在迅速减少。
• a policy to equalize the distribution of resources throughout the country 使资源在全国分布均衡的政策

7 skim   

vt.撇(去)；掠过；浏览，略读；vi.浏览

参考例句：

• It took me an hour to skim the book.我费了一个小时把这本书草草地读了一遍。
• He tried to skim off the best players from the local school teams.他试图从当地学校的球队中选拔出一批最好的球员。

8 evidence   

n.明显，显著，明白，迹象，根据，[物]证据，证物

参考例句：

• The first signs of spring are in evidence.春天的最初迹象已显然可见。
• From the evidence I must conclude that you are wrong.从证据看，我敢断定你错了。

9 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。

10 laptop   

n.笔记本电脑

参考例句：

• Laptop is suitable for use on planes.笔记本电脑适合飞机上使用。
• A laptop would be really useful for when I'm working on the train.我在火车上工作时，便携式电脑真的很有用。