时间:2018-11-29 作者:英语课 分类:四级晨读英语美文


英语课

Reader: Library on Finger


The printed page is facing its biggest threat with the launch of the first electronic book that people can read for hours without straining their eyes.


Sony's Reader is the size of a slim paperback 1 but can store hundreds of books at a time. When the cover is lifted, books are displayed on a sheet of electronic "paper", one page at a time.  


Although electronic books, or e-books, have been around for several years, previous versions, using LCD screens, have never caught on. The biggest complaint is that readers' eyes quickly become tired from the glare and flicker 2 of the conventional computer screen.


However, the Reader displays its text on a page of high resolution electronic paper which is virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. Electronic paper also needs relatively 3 little power, so the life of a battery should not be a problem.


Dan Brown, the author of The Da Vinci Code, is an enthusiast 4. "It is not about replacing books," he said. "But e-books offer features that traditional books cannot." For example, rather than carrying several books while travelling, owners of a Reader need take only one on holiday. "If I want a new book, I can download it instantly online,It takes only seconds to download a book." Brown said. .


Brown said that students would soon be able to carry all their books with them and ensure that they always had the most up-to-date edition. Eventually, he thought, the lower costs of publishing e-books would encourage publishers to take risks on lesser 5 known authors. "The effect of this is that there will be more books in print and more choice for readers,"


Owners will be able to buy books from Sony's online store, download them to a computer and transfer them to their Reader. They will also be able to download free any books that are out of copyright.


Ron Hawkins, a marketing 6 executive at Sony, said: "In recent years, millions of people have become comfortable downloading and enjoying digital media, including e-books, but until now there has not been a good device on which to read.


"Our research has shown that people are looking for a device designed exclusively for immersive reading. The Sony Reader, with its electronic paper display, thin format 7 and extraordinary battery life, fits the bill."



1 paperback
n.平装本,简装本
  • A paperback edition is now available at bookshops.平装本现在在书店可以买到。
  • Many books that are out of print are reissued in paperback form.许多绝版的书籍又以平装本形式重新出现。
2 flicker
vi./n.闪烁,摇曳,闪现
  • There was a flicker of lights coming from the abandoned house.这所废弃的房屋中有灯光闪烁。
  • At first,the flame may be a small flicker,barely shining.开始时,光辉可能是微弱地忽隐忽现,几乎并不灿烂。
3 relatively
adv.比较...地,相对地
  • The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
  • The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。
4 enthusiast
n.热心人,热衷者
  • He is an enthusiast about politics.他是个热衷于政治的人。
  • He was an enthusiast and loved to evoke enthusiasm in others.他是一个激情昂扬的人,也热中于唤起他人心中的激情。
5 lesser
adj.次要的,较小的;adv.较小地,较少地
  • Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。
  • She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及,但程度较轻。
6 marketing
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西
  • They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
  • He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
7 format
n.设计,版式;[计算机]格式,DOS命令:格式化(磁盘),用于空盘或使用过的磁盘建立新空盘来存储数据;v.使格式化,设计,安排
  • Please format this floppy disc.请将这张软盘格式化。
  • The format of the figure is very tasteful.该图表的格式很雅致。
学英语单词
(6-4)PDs
air-aspirator valve
back-seats
berget
bicarb.
block press
bloodied-up
blue-sky research
breath-taking
breeding pond
bulge in/into
bulimia
cadetships
Caracuaro
cocksurer
composited
de moivre-laplace theorem
draft mode
elegant watch
false strain
feather-headeds
fill the role of
formation class
fuellers
get the wrong pig by the tail
go with him
goulties
gross-heat-conductivity
Gyropus
harpurhey
hautbody
high tension transmission line
Hilbert programme
hilyotrogus formosanus
Hydrar process
incurred cost
informatory
irreverential
kieta
knife holder ship
late-bound
lecomtei
lime coating
loading overall
log information
Lowell, Percival
main oscillations
mak-
menubars
metallized paper capacitor
ministers of finance
model c
naxagolide
nil disease
nonmorbidly
octad symmetry
oil analysis
oppositive case
outofrange
pacher
parathyrin
phenylthio-hydantoin(PTH)
point four
principal problem
protected accommodation
protective mask filter
Pyong-ni
quasi-craton
R and D
R. B. Cattell
rabbinic
Rakovica
retrieval system
Reumatox
riot controls
Rosularia platyphylla
sarcelle
Scotch pancakes
sealing fluid
self-suggestions
serum lactate dehyrogenase
speak up for
spring loaded plunger
stabilized process copying machine
stephen dedalus
stracchino
streptonigrin
Sundays and holidays excepted unless used
supernatancy
supersoliton
temba
thamnacus vacuus
traction variable-speed control
Traversu
uncording
undersaturated rock
unfavoured transition
unflechand
unsquarable
Vecchio
voyage repair
vulnerably