Unit 4 Reading

Great inventions

伟大的发明

Great inventions change the world. They help people live a better life.

伟大的发明改变了世界。它们帮助人们过上更好的生活。

The following are three of the most important inventions in history.

下面，是历史上三个最重要的发明。

The wheel

车轮

The wheel is perhaps the greatest invention in history.

车轮也许是历史上最伟大的发明。

After its invention, travelling became faster and more comfortable.

在其发明后，旅行变得更快，更舒适。

A few thousand years ago, people started to use wheels on carriages.

几千年前，人们开始在车上使用车轮。

In the early 19th century, the first trains began to carry passengers.

19 世纪初，第一列车开始载客。

At the start of the 20th century, cars became popular.

20 世纪初，汽车开始流行。

Without the wheel, we would not have these inventions.

如果没有车轮，我们也就不会有这些发明了。

The telephone

电话

Alexander Graham bell invented one of the first practical telephones in 1876.

1876 年，亚历山大o格雷厄姆o贝尔发明了第一部实用的电话。

Since then, people have been able to speak to each other over long distances.

自那时起，人们实现了长距离相互通话。

Today millions of people across the world own mobile phones.

今天世界各地上数以百万的人拥有自己的移动电话。

They allow people to keep in touch with each other anytime, anywhere.

它们使人可以彼此之间随时随地保持联系。

The light bulb

电灯

Thomas Edison developed the first practical light bulb in 1879.

1879 年，托马斯o爱迪生研制出第一个实用的电灯。

Before the invention of the light bulb, people had to use oil lamps, gas lamps or candles to see at night.

在电灯发明之前，人们在夜里看东西不得不依靠油灯、煤气灯或蜡烛。

With light bulbs, people can do as many things in the evenings as they can in the daytime.

（自从）有了电灯，人们可以在晚上如同白天一样做很多的事情。

Can you imagine living without them?

你能想象离开它们后的生活吗？