常春藤生活英语【104】Reading in the Internet Age

Reading a good book has been compared to going scuba 1 diving for the first time. Once a reader dives in, the brain swims in all kinds of new knowledge or interesting stories. This feels just like being at the bottom of the ocean and seeing all of the amazing creatures1 everywhere. Reading like this opens up the mind and leads the reader to a whole new world. Reading on the Internet is much different. It has been compared to riding a jet ski2. It is fun to do, but it is really just skimming3 across the top of the water.

Recent studies suggest that we are gradually changing our reading habits. Researchers have found that people read no more than two pages on the Internet before skipping to something else. Book lovers who used to read for hours at a time now have a problem. Because they use the Internet so much, they find it harder to concentrate for a long period of time.

With emails, blogs, and forums4, we are reading much more now than people did in the 1970s and 1980s. However, reading online is different from enjoying books. Apparently 3, what we have today is a case of quantity over quality. Skimming the surface of the water is nice, but diving in deep is something special.

阅读一本好书被比作是初次体验潜水。一旦读者热切投入，大脑便悠游畅泳在各种新知或有趣的故事中。这感觉就像是在海底观赏俯拾皆是的奇异生物。像这样的阅读方式能开拓心胸，并且带领读者进入一个崭新世界。在网络上阅读可就大不相同了。这种阅读被比作是骑乘水上摩托车。这样做虽然好玩，但只不过是快速地掠过水面而已。

近来的研究显示我们正逐渐改变阅读习惯。研究人员发现，人们在网络上读不到两页就会跳到其它页面。过去会一口气连读数小时的爱书人士现在有个问题。由于他们常用网络，因此他们发现自己愈来愈难长时间保持专注。

有了电子邮件、部落格和讨论区，我们的阅读量比1970和1980年代的人多了更多。不过在线阅读和乐在书中是截然不同的。现在我们的阅读显然是量多于质。快速地掠过水面固然不错，但深度潜入其中总是特别的。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. gradually　adv. 逐渐地，逐步地

Ray is gradually recovering from his illness.

阿雷正逐渐自病中康复。

2. concentrate　vi. 专注，专心

Dan could hardly concentrate during class.

阿丹在课堂上难以专心。

3. apparently　adv. 显然；看来

Apparently, Andy has lied to you.

安迪显然对你说了谎。

Phrases for Learning

1. compare A to B　　将 A 比作 B

John compared Bella's eyes to the shining stars in the night sky.

约翰把蓓拉的双眸比作夜空里闪亮的星星。

2. dive in　　热切地开始做某事

The scientists all dove 4 in to the research.

科学家全都热切地投入研究当中。

3. open up...　　开拓……

This job might open up some valuable opportunities for you.

这份工作可能会为你拓展一些难得的机会。

Extra Words

1. creature　n. 生物；动物

2. jet ski　n. 水上摩托车

3. skim　vt. 飞快掠过；略读，浏览

4. forum 2　n.（网络）讨论区

Tips In Use

Once a reader dives in, the brain swims in...

（一旦读者热切投入，大脑便悠游畅泳在……）

Once + 主词 + 动词, 主词 + 动词　　一……就……

= As soon as + 主词 + 动词, 主词 + 动词

= The instant + 主词 + 动词, 主词 + 动词

= The moment + 主词 + 动词, 主词 + 动词

Once Kyle fell down, he cried.

= The moment Kyle fell down, he cried.

（凯尔一跌倒就哭了。）

注意:

1. the instant/moment 为名词词组，在此作副词连接词用，引导副词子句，修饰主要子句。

2. 在上述句型中，表过去状态时，主要子句与副词子句皆用过去式；表未来状态时，主要子句要用未来式，副词子句则用现在式。

Once you read this letter, you'll know the truth.

（一旦你读这封信，你就会知道真相。）