【英语趣味课堂】科技与儿童-Technology and Kids

Rebecca: So Gareth we've been talking about kids and technology. So is there a time when you think maybe kids should have access to a cellphone?

 

Gareth: Well, there are many benefits to having a cellphone at an early age, like nowadays, you can get those cellphones that can call only a few people, like they can call your parents, and the police and that's it so they're really good and as a parent you feel more secure¹ if you're child is going to school with their cellphone, that they can use it to call in case of an emergency, but then I often hear stories about kids ringing up, racking³ up a massive⁴, great, big telephone bill, because they're texting their friends and e-mailing and they're calling and sometimes I see kids on the train. They're just glued to their cellphone, and they're sitting next to one another, like they're sitting next to their friends and they're glued to their cellphone to someone on the other end of their cellphone, and it just seems so anti-social to me, like it seems that they don't have any time or they're not feeling -- they're not really considerate about the other person that they're sitting next to and they're more concerned and thinking about someone else.

 

So, yeah, I don't know. I'm gonna ask him if he wants one and discuss with my wife and see how it goes, and see how it changes him. If it does change him, and if he does become anti-social then I'll take it away.

 

Rebecca: Take it away.

 

Gareth: Take it away I was gonna say. That sounds easy now, but

 

重点词汇：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the Lesson

that's it

 

They can call their parents, the police, and that's it.

 

Here the phrase that's it means nothing else. We use the phrase that's it to show that no more information is coming. Notice the following:

 

The hotel is so basic. You get a bed, a chair and that's it.

I will lend you some money, but that's it. Do not ask again.

racking up

 

To rack² something up means to add something up. You can rack up a bill, or rack up a debt. It just means you keep adding to a total. It is not only for money. For example, you can rack up points in a video game. Notice the following:

 

He racked⁵ up a big debt in college.

She racked up many frequent flyer miles with her travels.

massive bill

 

When you have a massive bill, it just means a very large bill. You can also pay a massive fine, a massive amount, and a massive charge. Notice the following:

 

He got a massive bill for his home repairs.

He had to pay a massive fine for speeding in his car.

glued to

 

They are glued to their cellphones.

 

Glue is a sticky⁶ substance that holds things together, so when you are glued to something you appear to be stuck to it. People can be glued to the computer, the TV, or a book or phone. Notice the following:

 

He is always glued to the TV watching football.

She is glued to her phone. She is always checking it.

anti-social

 

It seems anti-social to me.

 

When people are anti-social, they are not very talkative and tend to not socialize with other people. People can seem anti-social if they are quiet or avoid interaction⁷ with people. Notice the following:

 

He is very anti-social in the office. He does not talk to anyone.

Computers can be anti-social, but they can also bring people together.

1 secure   

adj.无虑的，安心的，安全的；adj.牢靠的，稳妥的；vt.固定，获得，使...安全；vi.(海上工作人员)停止工；vi.(船)抛锚，停泊

参考例句：

• He found a secure foothold and pulled himself up.他找到了一个稳固的踏脚处并爬了上去。
• Extra men are needed to secure the camp against attack.需要增加兵力以保护军营免受攻击。

2 rack   

n.挂架，搁架；vt.折磨；使紧张，使努力

参考例句：

• He went over and took his jacket from the coat rack.到衣架上取外套。
• The old house soon went to rack and ruin.这所旧房子很快就毁坏了。

3 racking   

拷问的，痛苦的

参考例句：

• All night I have been tossing and turning racking my brains to think what could have possessed the young man to kill himself. 整整一晚我辗转反侧，绞尽脑汁，想弄明白是什么原因竟能促成这个年轻人自杀。
• He was racking his brains for a course of action. 他在脑子里拼命寻找一条行动的道路。

4 massive   

adj.巨大的，大规模的，大量的，大范围的

参考例句：

• A massive sea search has failed to find any survivors.经过大规模的海上搜救仍未找到幸存者。
• He drank a massive amount of alcohol.他喝了大量的烈酒。

5 racked   

使痛苦，使焦虑，绞尽脑汁( rack的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Bush has racked up victories in another five states. 布什在另外五个州又获得了胜利。
• He racked no rents to maintain the expenses of his establishment. 他不向租户索取过高的租金来维持公司的开支。

6 sticky   

adj.粘的，闷热的，困难的，令人不满意的

参考例句：

• This paste is not sticky enough.这糨糊不黏。
• Here is a sticky business!这事真难办！

7 interaction   

n.交流；相互作用，相互影响，合作

参考例句：

• The interaction of the two groups produced many good ideas.两个组的相互交流产生了许多好主意。
• Price is determined through the interaction of demand and supply.价格在供需的相互作用中形成。