课文文本

Lesson 18 The Social Founction of Science 科学的社会作用

Two factors weigh heavily against the effectiveness of scientific in industry. One is the general atmosphere of secrecy in which it is carried out, the other the lack of freedom of the individual research worker. In so far as any inquiry is a secret one, it naturally limits all those engaged in carrying it out from effective contact with their fellow scientists either in other countries or in universities, or even , often enough , in other departments of the same firm. The degree of secrecy naturally varies considerably. Some of the bigger firms are engaged in researches which are of such general and fundamental nature that it is a positive advantage to them not to keep them secret. Yet a great many processes depending on such research are sought for with complete secrecy until the stage at which patents can be taken out. Even more processes are never patented at all but kept as secret processes. This applies particularly to chemical industries, where chance discoveries play a much larger part than they do in physical and mechanical industries. Sometimes the secrecy goes to such an extent that the whole nature of the research cannot be mentioned. Many firms, for instance, have great difficulty in obtaining technical or scientific books from libraries because they are unwilling to have their names entered as having taken out such and such a book for fear the agents of other firms should be able to trace the kind of research they are likely to be undertaking.

生词短语

weigh 起作用
(1) 称重：I weigh 100 pounds. I am 100 pounds in weight. How much do you weight?
What is your weight?
(2)起作用：It weighs much.这相当重要=matters
(3)对谁有利： weigh in favor of be weighed in favor of load in favor of
be loaded in favor of
(4)对谁不利：be weighed against load/be loaded against
The jugement weighs in favor of the defendant.(被告) 原告：plaintiff
effectiveness 成效
work.,effective(有效果的) efficient高效的 effect：come into effect, take effect
in so far as 因此
since, in that, as for as sb, is concerned
赞成：sgree ,support ,stant by your side
inquiry 调查研究
investigation(case)
examination(有症结所在作为前提)
check(不清楚有无毛病)
research(科研)
inquiry into(scientific, a case)
inquire into sth.
inquire about(formal)
inquire after sb.
considerably相当的
程度词 considerate:体贴的， 考虑周到的
sb.+thoughtful, helpful, cooperative
considerable+sth.
I make considerable money.(=substantial)
positive 确实的
The result is positive. His words are positively right. 只做程度副词
He is positive in the class.(活跃、积累) positive:成阳性的
patent 获得…专利权
My invention is patented. I’ll/I’d like to paten my invention.
获得：take out a patent 专利局 patent office 专利人：patentee 专利权许可者
(adj.)明显的，显著的=obvious It is patent that he loves the girl.
seek for 寻求
seek for freedom seek truth seek for true love seek for justice seek after(指人) 过去分词:sought
He is much sought after. 抢手 红得发紫 The book is sought after.畅销
chance 偶然性的
It is my chance discovery.随便得到 chance companion萍水相逢
偶然发现的东西 I find it by chance. I chance to be there.
extent 程度
to some extent /degree
agent 情报人员
be likely to…可能会…..
it+possible it/sb.+likely 可能性：likelihood

课文注释

Two factors:两个因素 weigh against:不利 heavily-副词 effectiveness:效果 给出主题句
general secrecy 普遍存在的保密性 atmosphere:氛围，气氛 it-research
One …,the other the tack of freedom of the individual research worker.
只有并列结构可以省掉谓语
My brother is a driver and my sister a nurse.
lack of freedom 没有自由度(个体区别)
general atmosphere(大环境)
research worker:研究者
In so far as 由于，因为
主语it-resarch limit=prewent:阻止，限制 engaged in---后置定语
limit from :阻止 contact 交流 effective有效的 fellow scientists同行
often enough 平凡 firm公司
contact with保持联系 (v.) contact me (n.)keep contact with me
touch keep in tuch
vary变化=is diffient It varies from one family to another.
be of 结构 general普遍的，基础的 fundamental基础的
such…..that
a positive advantage-主语
to them 对他们而言
it---not to keep them secret(形式主语)
be open to any advice and suggestion
yet-转折 process研究过程 such research---general and fundamental
are sought for被追求表示状语：with complete secrecy
until:直到 industries:各个行业
where…..---表原因 chance discoveries:偶然的发现
part：作用 they do---chance discoveries
highly predictable高度可预测性 go to达到
such….that如此,以至于 nature本性，特点
for instance 比如说（插入语）
have great difficulty in obtaining technical or scientific books from libraries…..
他们有极大困难获得专业的科普书籍
difficulty=trouble have a difficulty=unwilling to do sth.
they are unwilling to 他们不想这样做
enter进入，签名sign签名=have sth. done
have taken out借书 for fear(虚拟)唯恐，担心 trace踪迹
have a difficulty in =unwilling to do sth.不愿做…..
I have a difficulty shopping with you.(强调客观性)
=I am unwilling to shop with you.(更强调主观性)
as 作为 for fear唯恐（一见这个词，就是虚拟语气）
in case , lest+(should ) do
so as not to (口)
trace=find:发现 trace the route:寻觅踪迹
undertaking(=carry out) 从事 Cheshire:郡=county
to such an extent 达到如此的效果
The student goes to such an extent that he is rude to his teacher.