2015年ESL之商务英语 04 Automating Production

Automating¹ Production 

Lauren: Wow, that was an impressive demonstration² of how robots can be used in production. I think that we need robots like those to automate³ some of the functions in our factories. 

Yves: I admit the demonstration was eye-opening, but I don’t think the technology is there yet to allow us to replace people with robots. 

Lauren: No, not for many of the functions, but we could have them do some of the more routine and hazardous⁴ tasks. 

Yves: You mean have them work alongside our current workers? I’m not sure how our workers would take it. Wouldn’t the robots get in the way? 

Lauren: Not with their sophisticated sensors⁵, which allow them to avoid other people or machines. 

Yves: I don’t know. Introducing automation would be tricky⁶. 

Lauren: What’s important is that they’ll increase production and reduce accidents. The demonstration showed how easy it is to program one of those robots, even when fine calibration is required. 

Yves: I’m thinking of the people in the factories. Wouldn’t we have a riot on our hands if we tried to replace people with robots? 

Lauren: It’s the wave of the future. 

Yves: So you wouldn’t object to a robot replacing you? 

Lauren: Me? They’ll never replace me with a robot. I’m indispensable. 

Yves: Just like the typewriter? 

 

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse 

1 automating   

（使）自动化( automate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Have you ever thought about automating any part of your business? 你有没有想过把你公司的某个部门自动化？
• We are in process of automating the production department. 我们正在对生产部门实行自动化。

2 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

3 automate   

v.自动化；使自动化

参考例句：

• Many banks have begun to automate.许多银行已开始采用自动化技术。
• To automate the control process of the lathes has become very easy today.使机床的控制过程自动化现已变得很容易了。

4 hazardous   

adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的

参考例句：

• These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
• Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。

5 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

6 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。