生命的意义

Wouldn't it be nice if we could be sure of a sunny day

若我们在邀请朋友前

before inviting our friends?

能确定是晴天 不是很好吗？

Predicting a nice day should be relatively simple.

预测好天气应该相当简单才对

After all,we understand pretty well how the atmosphere reacts to heat and pressure...

毕竟我们非常清楚 大气在高温和压力下

to form clouds and thunderstorm.

会如何形成云层和暴风雨

But no matter how hard we tried to compete all the details

但不论我们多么努力计算所有细节

it is impossible to say exactly what the weather would be in any particular place and time.

仍然无法确定在某个地点 某个时间的天气究竟会怎样

Instead,we make weather forecasts

但我们还是做天气预测

using simplified models that don't take into account

利用无法考虑到

every single tiny variable.

每个小小变数的简化模型

But tiny variables can have big consequences.

但小小的变数就能造成严重的后果

So,if a butterfly flaps its wings too hard in the Amazon

所以若一只蝴蝶在亚马逊河过于用力拍翅膀

The barbecue might be a wash out.

烤肉聚会就可能成了落汤鸡

It's a complex system.

这是一个复杂的系统

I think our brains are just another complex system.

我认为人的大脑也只是 另一个复杂的系统

like the earth's atmosphere.

就如同地球的大气层

We abide by the physical laws.

我们遵守自然法则

yet are impossible to fully predict.

然而却无法完全预测

The mind is like weather inside our heads.

心灵就好比大脑里的天气形态

重点讲解

1、compete

竞争

The banks have long competed with American Express's charge cards and various store cards.

长久以来，这些银行一直在与美国运通公司的信用卡以及各式各样的商场赊购卡竞争。

The stores will inevitably end up competing with each other in their push for increased market shares.

在努力争取更大的市场份额的过程中，这些商场最终将不可避免地相互展开竞争。

（与…）争夺（以获取）

Kangaroos compete with sheep and cattle for sparse supplies of food and water.

袋鼠与牛羊争夺稀少的食物和水。

Schools should not compete with each other or attempt to poach pupils.

学校之间不应该相互竞争，也不应该企图挖走彼此的学生。

参加(比赛)

He will be competing in the London-Calais-London race.

他将参加伦敦至加来的航海往返赛。

Dubbed foreign language films will not be allowed to compete for best film.

外国译制片不得参加最佳影片的角逐。

2、variable

多变的;易变的;反复无常的

The potassium content of foodstuffs is very variable.

食物中钾的含量差别很大。

There was a bit of a wind and it was blowing onshore, variable, but quite strong.

有一阵风朝岸上吹来，风向变化不定，但风力很强。

（质量、数量、规模等）可变因素

Decisions could be made on the basis of price, delivery dates, after-sales service or any other variable.

购买决定可能会基于价格、送货日期、售后服务以及其他可变因素。

Other variables in making forecasts for the industry include the weather and the general economic climate

对该产业进行预测时还要考虑天气和宏观经济环境等其他不确定因素。