Grade 9 Unit 4 Topic 3 Section C

The Importance of Computers

Since computers were invented in the USA in the 1950s, they have become very important in many areas of work and leisure. There is no doubt ^[1]doubt: US: [daʊt]  UK: [daʊt] v. 怀疑；不相信；不能肯定；无把握  n. 疑问；疑惑；不相信；不确定 ^[2]no doubt: 无疑地that ^[3]There is no doubt that … : 毫无疑问，…  *写作常用句型 computers are very useful in technology and business. In space, computers have been used to control the speed and direction of a spaceship. With the help of ^[4]with the help of: 在…的帮助下 computers, doctors can find diseases easily and solve other problems ^[5]solve other problems: 解决这些问题. For example ^[6]for example: 例如, tiny ^[7]tiny: US: [ˈtaɪni] UK: [‘taɪni] adj. 极小的；微小的；微量的 computers which are inside patients’ bodies can keep their hearts beating normally ^[8]normally: US: [ˈnɔrm(ə)li]  UK: [ˈnɔː(r)m(ə)li]  adv. 通常；正常地；正常情况下；平常地. In factories, robots are controlled by computers that are like human brains ^[9]brain: US: [breɪn]  UK: [breɪn]  n. 脑；脑力；智力；（供食用的）动物脑髓. They can do work that is dangerous to humans. In business, computers are used to place and cancel ^[10]cancel: US: [ˈkæns(ə)l] UK: [‘kæns(ə)l]  v. 取消；撤销；终止；废除（具有法律效力的协议） orders. They are also making the workplace ^[11]workplace: US: [ˈwɜrkˌpleɪs]  UK: [ˈwɜː(r)kˌpleɪs]  n. 工作场所 safer and better.

Since the Internet came into being ^[12]come into being: 形成；产生；开始存在, people’s lives at home have been changed, too. More and more people have personal computers that are used to play games and watch movies. Thanks to ^[13]thanks to: 感谢；幸亏；多亏；由于 the Internet, people can do shopping and do business at home. Instead of ^[14]instead of: 代替；作为…的替换；而不是 writing letters on paper, people communicate by sending e-mails and chatting online. The whole world is connected ^[15]connect: US: [kəˈnekt] UK: [kə’nekt] v. 连接；接通；沟通；联结. The Internet is making the world smaller, like a village.

Computers have improved our lives, but they have brought problems, too. For instance ^[16]for instance: 例如, if we work on computers too long, we may get headaches or sore eyes. If we play computer games too much, we won’t have enough time to study or exercise. Besides ^[17]besides: US: [bɪˈsaɪdz] UK: [bɪ’saɪdz] adv. 此外；而且；再说；以及 prep. 除…之外（还）, not everything we read on the Internet is true or good for us. Computers help us at work and at home, but they must be used properly ^[18]properly: US: [ˈprɑpərli]  UK: [ˈprɒpə(r)li]  adv. 正确地；适当地；恰当地；得体地.