新东方新概念英语第四册课堂笔记：第18课

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.

New words and expressions 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 ofbe weighed in favor ofload in favor of

be loaded in favor of

(4)对谁不利：be weighed againstload/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=obviousIt is patent that he loves the girl.

seek for 寻求

seek for freedomseek truthseek for true love seek for justiceseek 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