研究生英语阅读教程(基础级2版)课文05及其翻译

ScienceandTechnology(-technique)ByJudithRaughman(Editor)[1](optimistic-)Optimismandempowerment.Asthecenturydrewtoaclose(end),thepotentialforhumaninventionandunderstandingappeared(seemed)boundless(limitless).Scientificunderstandingexpandeddaily,fromthefundamental(basic)buildingblocksofmattertothesourcecodeofalllifetotheorigins,andperhapstheeventual(finally)demise(end),oftheuniverse.Thetechnologicaladvances(progresses)ofthe1990susheredin(ledto)whatappearedtobeasocialandeconomicrevolutionthatwouldrival(match/competewith)theIndustrialRevolutiontwocenturiesearlier(informationrevolution),creatinganewsocietyoftechnologicallyconnectedcitizenswithaworldofdigitizedinformation,commerce,andcommunicationatitsfingertips.ThenewDigitalAge,representedbytheInformationSuperhighwaywasnotall-inclusive,threatenedtoleavemany(people)behind,includingoldercitizensandthose(people)whocouldnotafford(payfor)thenewtechnology.Still(Furthermore),by1999morethanthree-quartersoftheU.S.populationwaspluggedintothenewdigitalsociety(age),andmostAmericansfeltthattechnologicaladvanceswereimprovingtheirqualityoflife.Optimismwasthereigningtone[key-notespeaker/speech]ofthedecade.Newadvancesinscienceandtechnologyseemedtopromiseeventual(final)solutionstoproblemsrangingfromeliminatingtoxic(poisonous)wastetogroceryshopping—geneticengineersdevelopedmicrobesthatwouldeatindustrialsludgeandresearchersattheMassachusettsInstituteofTechnology's(MIT)MediaLabworkedtodevise(design)arefrigeratorthatcouldsense(feel)whenitwasoutofmilkandusetheInternettoordermore.The1990sallayed(relieved/reduced)thefearthatatechnologicallyadvancedsocietywasnecessarilyheavilycentralized,withBigBrotherwatchingeverymove(=movement).Instead(Onthecontrary),withthecreationoftheInternetandtheWorldWideWeb,andtheiremphasisondecentralization,equality,andtheopensharingofresources,manyindividualsfoundthatgreateraccess(right)toinformationincreasedtheirsense(feeling)ofpersonalfreedomandpower.[2]EthicsandtheNatural.Withtheexplosionofknowledgecamepublicconcern(worry)overwhereallofthesenewdiscoveriesandtechnologiesmightbetakingsociety.Thecloningofananimalin1997suggested(show)thathumancloninghadbecomeviable(feasible)aswell(too),raisingconcerns—nolongerquitetheoretical—thathumanitymightbemovingtowardabrave(adventurous)newworldofgeneticallyengineeredpeople.TheHumanGenomeProject,launchedin1990withamission(missionary/task)todecodetheentirehumangeneticmakeup,held(raise)promises(hope)foranend(terminate)togeneticdisorders,butthreatenedtoopenthewayfordesignerbabies,whocouldbegeneticallyalteredtosuittheirparents'wishes.Whilemany(people)arguedthatplantandanimalbreedershadbeenfoolingaroundwithgeneticsforcenturiesinordertobetter(improve)thelotofhumankind,otherspointedoutthatnewadvances(progresses)ingeneticsallowedresearcherstocrossboundariessetbynature,implantinghumangenesinanimalsinordertoturnthemintomedicinefactories,creatingplantsthatproducedplasticsandglowedinthedark,evenattempting(trying)tocreate“terminatorseedsthatstifled(suppress)theirownreproductivecapacity(ability)inordertomaintain(keep)theseedmanufacturer'scashflow.Thequestionofwhatwasnaturalcameunderseriousconsideration(discussion),asnoaspectoftheenvironmentandtheorganismsinitseemedsafefromgenetictinkering.Yet,whileexperimentswithhumancloningorcustomizingachild'sgeneticmakeupseemedabhorrent(horrible/terrible)tomostAmericans,therewasgeneralsupportforgeneticresearchthatcouldhelptoidentify(recognize)andcuregeneticdiseasesormakefoodsourceshealthierandmoreplentifulforagrowingglobalpopulation.[3](private-)Privacy.Privacywasanoverarching(mostimportant)concern(worry)withmanyofthetechnologicalandscientificadvancesofthe1990s.TheInternetwasanamazing(surprising)newtoolforsharinginformation,yetitwasalsoapowerfulmeans(tools)forfindinginformationthatwasintendedtobeprivate,includinggovernmentandmilitarysecrets,thesourcecodestoproprietary(private)software,andevenaneighbor'ssocialsecuritynumber.Companiesandindividualsalike(ad.similarly)worriedthattheirprivateinformationwouldbecompromisedwhen(since)sophisticatedcomputertechnologistscouldhackintoprotectedcomputersystemsanderaseorstealimportantdata.Computerviruses,self-replicatingcodes(program)writtenbymaliciousindividuals,couldstealintopersonalcomputersystemsthroughe-mailortheWebandwreakhavocwith(makeamessof)thedatastoredthere.ProtectingprivacyovertheInternetwasnoteasy,andmanypeopleworriedthatgovernmentattempts(try)tointervenewouldonlycripple(disable/paralyze)thedevelopmentoftheInternet.Similarfearsweresparked(vt.sparkled)whenconcerned(relevant)groupslobbied(persuade)thegovernmenttooutlawpornographyandotherdisturbingmaterialsontheWebinthenameofprotectingthechildren.WhilemostAmericansagreedthatchildrenshouldnotbeexposedto(touch/watch)suchmaterial,attempts(efforts)toregulate(control)thecontentofindividualWebpagesandnewsgroupsconflictedwiththeideaoftheInternetasanopen,decentralizedmassmedium,whereeventhemostabsurdorrepellant(disgusting)ideascouldreceiveahearing(havesomeaudience).Digitalsurveillanceintheworkplacealsobecameani