DIALOGUE 49

Talking About Computers

1--Do you know much about computers?
2--Not a great deal.
1--I've just been reading an article about them.
   They are used for all sorts of things now.
2--For accounting systems and things you mean?
1--Yes, but they're used for other things too. Do
   you remember when we went to buy our tickets for
   the flight to Greece?
2--Yes.
1--The man asked where we wanted to go, then he
   typed out the information on a form and waited
   for a reply. A few moments later he gave us our
   tickets.
2--Of course. His machine must have been connected
   to a computer.
1--That's right.

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注解：

1）computer：计算机
2）Not a great deal=not very much,
全句是I don't know a great deal about computers.
3）accounting systems：财会系统。
4）must have been connected to a computer：must+
完成体的不定式动词用以表示说话人对以往事情的猜测
或推断。

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译文：

1--你对计算机很在行吗？
2--不算特别在行。
1--我刚读了一篇关于计算机的文章。计算机可用于
各种事情了。
2--你是说财会之类的事儿？
1--是的，但也用来干别的事情。还记得我们去买飞往
希腊的机票吗？
2--是呀。
1--那个人问我们要去哪儿，然后他把情况大在一张表
上，等待答复。过了一会儿，他就把机票给咱们了。
2--是的。他的机器一定是和一台计算机连着的。
1--没错儿。