人教版高二英語(yǔ)課文下冊(cè)Unit 11 Scientific achievements - Integrating Ski

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THE AGES OF MAN

Human achievements come in all shapes and sizes. Knocking two rocks together can be just as important as sending a man to the moon. When ancient humans learnt to use stone tools and make fire, it meant the beginning of modern society. Later discoveries -- bronze, iron, steam, electricity, to name a few -- continued the development of society and shaped history. So important were these achievements that we often divide human history into time periods named after the latest technology of the time: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and so on.

In modem times, scientific achievements have continued to drive the development of society. The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries saw the widespread use of electricity and the birth of the steam engine, leading to factories andcities as we know them today. It was also the beginning of public education and the modern branches of science. The twentieth century brought us cars, nuclear power and space exploration, and is sometimes called the "Atomic Age" or the "Space Age". Recently, the effect of computers and the Internet has given rise to the idea that we are living in the "Information Age".

The connection between science and society is easy to see. Whatever the "age", each time period is shaped by the latest and most advanced technology. Scientific achievements also lead to new discoveries and inventions. In some cases, new technology makes it possible for scientists to answer questions and solve problems that once were too difficult. With more and better information, scientists can develop new theories, which in turn lead to future scientific achievements. The wheel of scientific development keeps on turning.

It takes time for a new technology to enter everyday life. In most cases, the first to use it are governments and businesses. For example, electricity was first used in factories and did not become available to homes until several years later. The same was true for computers and cellphones. In the early days, computers were so large, expensive and difficult to use that only government and industry experts could use them. Soon, however, the technology became cheaper and programmes were developed for people who had little or no training.

New technologies also show the role and importance of scientific achievements in society. At first, a new technology is seen as a rare and valuable resource that can strengthen a country and its economy. Later on, scientists and businessmen develop products that can be bought and used by ordinary consumers. At the same time, it becomes easier and cheaper to make the products, which means that more people can afford to buy products using the new technology. The computer chip is perhaps the best example. When it was first developed, a computer chip was very expensive and could only be made by a small group of experts in developed countries. Today, the technology is well known and computer chips are made in factories all over the world.

Our ability to understand and use new technologies has also developed over the years. Science has become perhaps the most important field of study and many governments view science and technology as key to the development of a country. Schools and universities pay special attention to modern technology, both as subjects to study and as tools for teaching. In China, as in most countries, provinces and cities build "technology parks", such as Zhongguancun, to make sure that companies and customers can benefit from the latest advances in science. By supporting research and development, a government can make new technologies and products available to us faster and at lower cost.

We have come a long way since the earliest days of humankind, but new discoveries are as important as ever. Whatever the next "age" may be, it is sure to change our life and the way we understand the world and ourselves.