VOA标准英语2011--Radio Essays Explore Technological Creat

Radio Essays Explore Technological¹ Creativity

There are mechanisms² in nature as well as in human endeavors like engineering and art. Since 1988, the creative manipulation of these mechanisms has been explored in short radio essays about the history of technology called “The Engines of Our Ingenuity³.”
The man behind the series is retired⁴ University of Houston engineering professor, John Lienhard, who broadcasts his essays Monday through Friday from the university's public radio station, KUHF. Through the Internet, he now has fans all over the world.
“The University of Houston College of Engineering presents this series about the machines that make our civilization run and the people whose ingenuity created them," said Lienhard.
John Lienhard captures the imagination of listeners every week with stories about such technological achievements as China's Great Wall.
“It probably did serve the purpose of keeping invaders⁵ out, but it was finished just as the new cannons⁶ were being perfected; artillery⁷ was about to put an end to all great walls," he reads into a microphone.
His fans marvel⁸ at his ability to explore technology and other subjects in ways that are often unexpected.
“People want to be surprised," he said. "If the story is expected, it will be dull, ipso facto [by its very nature].”
Lienhard achieves surprise by looking into old books and engineering manuals for information about technology that changed the world.
“The trick is to jump from one thread of context to another thread of context and show that this thing links to this thing in an unexpected way," said Lienhard.
“The Engines of Our Ingenuity” is broadcast Monday through Friday and it is gaining a worldwide audience online. Lienhard says he hopes the program has helped make science and engineering accessible to more people.
“The Internet has changed that radically⁹, because now everybody can know something about science, everybody can know something about technology," he said.
At 81, Lienhard now relies on other contributors to write some of the essays, but he says he still enjoys telling stories that both entertain and educate.
“Learning is like invention in that way," said Lienhard. "If we can bring people to the fun of it, to the pleasure of mental exercise and mental accomplishment¹⁰, if we can do that, then the game is ours.”
Many of the essays are available in Spanish online at kuhf.org.
There have been 2,750 three-and-a-half-minute episodes of “Engines of Our Ingenuity,” with many more to come.

1 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

2 mechanisms   

n.机械( mechanism的名词复数 )；机械装置；[生物学] 机制；机械作用

参考例句：

• The research will provide direct insight into molecular mechanisms. 这项研究将使人能够直接地了解分子的机理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He explained how the two mechanisms worked. 他解释这两台机械装置是如何工作的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 ingenuity   

n.别出心裁；善于发明创造

参考例句：

• The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。
• I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 invaders   

入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They prepared to repel the invaders. 他们准备赶走侵略军。
• The family has traced its ancestry to the Norman invaders. 这个家族将自己的世系追溯到诺曼征服者。

6 cannons   

n.加农炮，大炮，火炮( cannon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Cannons bombarded enemy lines. 大炮轰击了敌军阵地。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• One company had been furnished with six cannons. 某连队装备了六门大炮。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

8 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

9 radically   

ad.根本地，本质地

参考例句：

• I think we may have to rethink our policies fairly radically. 我认为我们可能要对我们的政策进行根本的反思。
• The health service must be radically reformed. 公共医疗卫生服务必须进行彻底改革。

10 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。