Unit Four, A glimpse of the future

artificial
/ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃ(ə)l/ adj.人造的，人工的；仿造的

The city is dotted with small lakes, natural and artificial.
这个城市小型湖泊星罗棋布，有天然的也有人工的。

artificial intelligence
/ˌɑːtɪfɪʃl ɪnˈtelɪdʒəns/ n.[ U ](abbreviation AI)人工智能

Artificial intelligence is a type of computer technology concerned with making machines work in an intelligent way similar to the way that the human mind works.
人工智能是一种计算机技术，涉及让机器以类似于人类大脑工作方式的智能方式工作。

humanity
/hjuːˈmænɪtɪ/ n.[ U ]（统称）人，人类

They face charges of committing crimes against humanity.
他们面临犯有反人类罪的指控。

assistant
/əˈsɪst(ə)nt/ n.[ C ]助手；帮手；助理

My assistant will now demonstrate the machine in action.
现在我的助手将演示机器运转情况。

susceptible
/səˈseptəb(ə)l/ adj.易受影响的，易受伤害的

Young people are the most susceptible to advertisements.
年轻人最容易受到广告的影响。

victim
/ˈvɪktɪm/ n.[ C ]受害者；罹难者；牺牲者；牺牲品

Statistically our chances of being the victims of violent crime are remote.
从统计数据来看，我们成为暴力犯罪受害者的可能性微乎其微。

potentially
/pəˈtenʃ(ə)li/ adv.潜在地；可能地

He appeared to be treating the potentially explosive situation with some sensitivity.
他似乎正小心地应对可能一触即发的局势。

automation
/ɔːtəˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/ n.[ U ]自动化

Automation meant the loss of many factory jobs.
自动化意味着许多工厂工人失业。

capacity
/kəˈpæsɪti/ n.[ C or S or U ]容积，容量；生产能力；（尤指某人或某组织的）办事能力

She has an enormous capacity for hard work.
她有苦干的巨大能力。

analyse
/ˈæn(ə)laɪz/ v.[ T ](UK)(US analyze)分析

The job involves gathering and analysing data.
这项工作涉及收集和分析数据。

leap
/liːp/ v.[ I + adv/prep ]跳，跳跃

A dolphin leapt out of the water.
一只海豚跃出水面。

regulate
/ˈreɡjʊleɪt/ v.[ T ]（尤指使按照某种方式运作而）控制，管理，调节，调整，监管

The activities of credit companies are regulated by law.
信贷公司的活动受法律监管。

illegal
/ɪˈliːɡ(ə)l/ adj.非法的，违法的

It's illegal to drive through a red light.
开车闯红灯是违法的。

immoral
/ɪˈmɒrəl/ adj.不道德的，道德败坏的

It's immoral to steal.
盗窃是不道德的。

client
/ˈklaɪənt/ n.[ C ]客户；顾客，主顾；委托人

He lunched with a client at the Ritz.
他与一位客户在里茨餐馆共进了午餐。

cite
/saɪt/ v.[ T ](formal)引用，引述

The officials didn't cite particular reports.
官员们没有引用具体的报道。

assess
/əˈses/ v.[ T ]评估；评价；评定；对…估价

It's difficult to assess the effects of these changes.
很难评估这些变化的影响。

bank on (sb/sth)
/bæŋk ɒn/ 指望，信赖；依赖，依靠

Everyone is banking on an economic rebound to help ease the state's fiscal problems.
每个人都指望经济反弹来帮助缓解该州的财政问题。

horizon
/həˈraɪz(ə)n/ n.[ S ]地平线

In the distance, the dot of a boat appeared on the horizon.
远处小黑点般的一条小船出现在地平线上。

on the horizon
/ɒn ðə həˈraɪzn/ 在地平线上；即将发生

The city was just a red glow on the horizon.
城市看上去只是地平线上的一片红光。

reckon
/ˈrekən/ v.[ I ](informal)想；认为，以为

I reckon that I'm going to get that job.
我认为我会得到那份工作。

cell
/sel/ n.[ C ]细胞

Those cells divide and give many other different types of cells.
那些细胞分裂并产生许多其他不同类型的细胞。

bound
/baʊnd/ adj.[ after verb ]肯定的；极有可能的；必然的；注定了的；一定的

There are bound to be changes when the new system is introduced.
引进新系统后一定会发生变化。

be bound to
/biː baʊnd tu/ 必然； 必定

It was bound to happen sooner or later.
这事迟早都是要发生的。

cycle
/ˈsaɪk(ə)l/ n.[ C ](UK)自行车，脚踏车

We went for a cycle ride on Sunday.
我们星期天骑自行车去兜风了。

demand
/dɪˈmænd/ n.[ C or U ]需求

There's an increased demand for organic produce these days.
目前对有机农产品有更大的需求。

crater
/ˈkreɪtə/ n.[ C ]火山口；（火山口似的）坑

The explosion, believed to be a car bomb, left a ten-foot crater in the street.
这次爆炸，据说是一个汽车炸弹引起的，在街道上留下了一个10英尺的大坑。

agile
/ˈædʒaɪl/ adj.敏捷的，灵活的

At 20 years old he was not as strong, as fast, as agile as he is now.
在他20岁时，他没有现在这样强壮、迅速[ xùn sù ]、敏捷。

slope
/sləʊp/ v.[ I ]与水平面成一定角度，倾斜，成斜坡

The garden slopes away towards the river.
花园向河边倾斜下去。

hop
/hɒp/ n.[ C ]单足短距离跳跃；（小动物、鸟或昆虫的）齐足（或双足）短距离跳跃

He crossed the hall with a hop, skip and a jump.
他来了一个三级跳远穿过了大厅。

squeak
/skwiːk/ v.[ I ]发出短促的尖叫；吱吱叫；嘎吱作响

My new shoes squeak.
我的新鞋走路嘎吱嘎吱响。

tendon
/ˈtendən/ n.[ C ]（连接肌肉和骨头的）腱[jiàn]，肌腱

A tendon is a strong cord in a person's or animal's body which joins a muscle to a bone.
肌腱是人或动物体内连接肌肉和骨骼的一条结实的绳索。

wavelength
/ˈweɪvleŋθ/ n.[ C ]波长；（广播电台占用的）频道，波段

Sunlight consists of different wavelengths of radiation.
阳光由不同波长的射线组成。

mechanical
/mɪˈkænɪk(ə)l/ adj.机械的；机械部件的

This is the oldest working mechanical clock in the world.
这是世界上最古老的还可以使用的机械钟。

imitation
/ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ n.[ C or U ]模仿，仿效

A child learns to talk by imitation.
孩子通过模仿学习说话。

mutt
/mʌt/ n.[C](US informal)(同 mongrel /ˈmʌŋ.ɡrəl/)杂种狗

A year ago, a mutt helped me fulfill one of my dreams.
一年前，一只小狗帮助我实现了一个梦想。

frown
/fraʊn/ v.[ I ]皱眉，蹙额[cù é]

What are you frowning at me for?
你为什么朝我皱眉头？

tightly
/ˈtaɪtli/ adv.紧紧地

She hugged him tightly.
她紧紧地搂住了他。

desperate
/ˈdesp(ə)rət/ adj.失去希望的，绝望的

Each day that passed he grew more and more desperate.
他一天天变得越来越绝望。

clue
/kluː/ n.[ C ]线索；迹象；提示

The only clue he has is a fossil.
他唯一的线索就是一块化石。

faulty
/ˈfɔːlti/ adj.有缺陷的；不完美的

Ask for a refund if the goods are faulty.
商品如有缺陷，可要求退款。

consistent
/kənˈsɪst(ə)nt/ adj.一贯的；坚持的；始终如一的

She's not very consistent in the way she treats her children.
她对待孩子反复无常。

happen to (do or be)
/ˈhæpən tu/ v.[I]（偶然或好像偶然）做或是，（碰巧）做或是

You don't happen to know his name, do you?
你碰巧不知道他的名字，是吧？

so far
/səʊ fɑː(r)/ 迄今为止，到目前为止

Of course, it's a case of so far, so good, but it's only one step.
当然，目前情况还算不错，但这也只是一步而已。

in contrast
/ɪn ˈkɑːntræst/ 与此相反；相比之下

In contrast, the lives of girls in well-to-do families were often very sheltered.
相比之下，富裕家庭的女孩子们通常都过着养尊处优的生活。

hang out
/ˈhæŋ aʊt/ 经常出入（某场所）；（与某人）厮混；闲逛

We often hang out with our friends.
我们经常和朋友们一起出去玩。

be susceptible to
/biː səˈseptəbl tu/ 易受影响的，易受伤害的

He's highly susceptible to flattery.
他爱听恭维话。

wipe out
/waɪp aʊt/ 使不复存在

You can never wipe out the past.
你永远不能把过去一笔勾销。

lie in
/ˌlaɪ ˈɪn/ (UK)睡懒觉

It's a holiday tomorrow, so you can lie in.
明天放假，你可以睡懒觉了。

agree on
/əˈɡriː ɒn/ 对…一致同意；对…达成协议

We rarely agree on what to do.
我们很少在要做的事情上看法一致。

go through
/ɡəʊ θruː/ 得到批准或许可；通过

First, you have to go through immigration and customs.
首先你必须通过移民局和海关的检查。

difference between……and……
/ˈdɪfrəns bɪˈtwiːn ænd/ ……和……的区别

He was studying the complex similarities and differences between humans and animals.
他在研究人和动物之间错综复杂的相似与不同之处。

as though
/æz ðəʊ/ 好像，似乎

You look as though you slept badly.
你好像没睡好觉。

change one's mind
/tʃeɪndʒ wʌnz maɪnd/ 改变主意

He reserved the right to change his mind.
他保留了改变主意的权利。