Lily的Scalers Talk第八轮新概念朗读持续力训练Day239 2023-07-26

Lesson22-2  Knowledge and progress 知识和进步

Then knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan. The trickle became a stream; the stream has now become a torrent. Moreover, as soon as new knowledge is acquired, it is now  turned  to practical  account． What  is called‘ modern  civilization’ is  not the result  of a balanced development  of all man's nature, but of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life. The problem now facing humanity is: What is going to be done with all this knowledge? As is so often pointed out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon which can be used equally for good or evil. It is now being used indifferently for both. Could any spectacle, for instance, be more grimly whimsical than that of gunners using science to shatter men's bodies while, close at hand, surgeons use it to restore them? We have to ask ourselves very seriously what will happen if this twofold use of knowledge, with its ever-increasing power, continues.

systematic /ˌsɪstəˈmætɪk/  系统的;有条理的

trickle /ˈtrɪkl/  涓流;细流;涓涓细流

torrent /ˈtɔːrənt/ 洪流;激流;急流

turn ... to account   利用。。。。

humanity /hjuːˈmænəti/  人类;

indifferently  漠不关心;冷淡地;无动于衷地,不在乎地

spectacle /ˈspektəkl/  壮观的景象;壮观的场面;精彩的表演;出人意外的情况;

grimly /ɡrɪm/  严峻的;严肃的;阴森的;

whimsical /ˈwɪmzɪkl/  异想天开的;想入非非的;滑稽可笑的;

gunner /ˈɡʌnər/  炮手;炮兵;

shatter /ˈʃætər/  粉碎;(使)破碎;被破坏; 毁坏

close at hand 在附近;在近旁

surgeon /ˈsɜːrdʒən/ 外科医生

twofold /ˈtuːfoʊld/  双重的;两倍的;