王强口语 第二册 Read Text 014

　　口语部分
文化篇
Read the text carefully and be prepared to answer the question:
Efficiency
Americans idolize efficiency. Henry Ford¹ became an American icon² after he created an assembly line that was able to mass-produce cars.  Even though the assembly line is mind-numbing for the workers because they just repeat one narrow task over and over, the process churns out standardized³ goods quickly and efficiently⁴.
In accordance with their love of efficiency, Americans also have no patience for people wasting their time.  They get annoyed at the slow check-out clerk in the grocery store when he or she chats with the customers in line ahead of them.  Likewise, people waiting in line don't stand around talking to each other when their turn is coming up.  They want to be ready to get through the check-out and pay for their goods as fast as possible.  If they don't have their coupons⁵ and wallets out and ready when they get to the front of the line, the rest of the people in line will roll their eyes or sigh in exasperation⁶.

1 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

2 icon   

n.偶像，崇拜的对象，画像

参考例句：

• They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。
• Click on this icon to align or justify text.点击这个图标使文本排齐。

3 standardized   

adj.标准化的

参考例句：

• We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
• The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。

4 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

5 coupons   

n.礼券( coupon的名词复数 )；优惠券；订货单；参赛表

参考例句：

• The company gives away free coupons for drinks or other items. 公司为饮料或其它项目发放免费赠券。 来自辞典例句
• Do you have any coupons? 你们有优惠卡吗？ 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语

6 exasperation   

n.愤慨

参考例句：

• He snorted with exasperation.他愤怒地哼了一声。
• She rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation.她气急败坏地转动着眼珠。