DIALOGUE 79

Talking About Computers

1--Do you know much about computers?
2--Not a great deal.
1--I've just been reading an article about them.
They are used for all sorts of things now.
2--For accounting systems and things you mean?
1--Yes, but they're used for other things too. Do
you remember when we went to buy our tickets for
the flight to Greece?
2--Yes.
1--The man asked where we wanted to go, then he
typed out the information on a form and waited
for a reply. A few moments later he gave us our
tickets.
2--Of course. His machine must have been connected
to a computer.
1--That's right.

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注解：

1）computer：計算機
2）Not a great deal=not very much,
全句是I don't know a great deal about computers.
3）accounting systems：財會系統。
4）must have been connected to a computer：must+
完成體的不定式動詞用以表示說話人對以往事情的猜測
或推斷。

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譯文：

1--你對計算機很在行嗎？
2--不算特別在行。
1--我剛讀了一篇關于計算機的文章。計算機可用于
各種事情了。
2--你是說財會之類的事兒？
1--是的，但也用來干別的事情。還記得我們去買飛往
希臘的機票嗎？
2--是呀。
1--那個人問我們要去哪兒，然后他把情況大在一張表
上，等待答復。過了一會兒，他就把機票給咱們了。
2--是的。他的機器一定是和一臺計算機連著的。
1--沒錯兒。

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