DIALOGUE 80: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。