英语听力精选进阶版 6390（在线收听）

The first ever portable computer was very big and very heavy. Released in 1981, it weighed nearly 11 kilos and folded up, it looked a bit like you were carrying a sewing machine. But at least there wasn't much chance you'd leave it on the bus - unlike today's small, light technology.

These days more people than ever are carrying important information on smartphones, tablets and laptops wherever they go. And then putting them down and forgetting them...

In the UK alone, nearly 9 million absent-minded people have lost their mobile at least once in the last five years. Three in ten people said they keep confidential information like PIN numbers and passwords on their phones.

And we're not just misplacing our own data. Public and private organisations seem to be just as flaky. US space agency NASA has forbidden employees from taking laptops out of the office, if they have sensitive information on them, after several data losses. NASA recently lost laptops containing information used to control the International Space Station.

In the UK, Greater Manchester Police was fined ￡120,000 (around 200,000 US dollars) when an unencrypted memory stick was stolen from an officer's home. The memory stick had details of 1,075 people with links to serious crime investigations.

According to UK law, organisations should use encrypted memory sticks and laptops. If they're lost or stolen, thieves can't read the data without the password. But that only works if you don't also leave behind your password. One health worker in Lancashire lost a memory stick containing the medical details of more than 6,000 people. The data was encrypted, but the password had been written on a note which was attached to the memory stick when it was misplaced.

If we just can't stop leaving our portable technology behind, perhaps we should make it less portable. As the English saying goes 'I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on.'

Quiz 测验

1. How much did the first portable computer weigh?

11 kilos.

2. Why should organisations use encrypted memory sticks?

So that thieves can't read the data.

3.Which US organisation has lost several laptops?

NASA.

4. Is the following statement true, false or not given? Greater Manchester Police was fined ￡500,000 for losing personal data.

False. They were fined 120,000 pounds.

5.Which types of confidential information do British people keep on their phones?

PIN numbers and passwords.

Glossary 词汇表

portable 便携式的

sewing machine 缝纫机

leave it on the bus 把某物忘在公车上

forgetting 忘记

absent-minded 心不在焉

confidential 保密的

PIN numbers 数字密码

passwords 密码，口令

misplacing 放错地方了

data 数据

flaky 不可靠的

sensitive information 敏感信息

data losses 数据丢失

International Space Station 国际空间站

unencrypted 没有加密的

memory stick 记忆棒，储存卡

serious crime investigations 严重犯罪调查

encrypted 加密的

leaving behind （把随身物品）忘记了丢下了

I'd forget my head if it wasn't screwed on 倘如头不是被拧在身上我恐怕连自己的脑袋也会忘记带上的