Over the decades, computers have permeatedour lives to an astonishing degree. When the first modern computer was conceptualized and built in the 20th century, it was so large that it took upa whole room. Over time, the technology shrank. First, computers became small enough to sit on a desk and be brought into the home. Then, they were made lightweight and portable, giving us the laptop. Today, most people havesomething even smaller: a smartphone that can fit intoa pocket. Though that’s as compact as most people are used to, computers and technology are getting even tinier!
One of the tiniest forms of technology available today is the microbot. A microbot is a very tiny robot—a machine programmableby a computer—that is built to perform specific tasks. You might be inclined torefer to this as just a small robot, but the size and dimensionsof microbots are actually quite precise. A microbot is less than one millimeterin width, approximately the size of the tip of a pencil.In comparison, a small robot, which can be up to 100 centimeters in width, would be absolutely gigantic. If you think that microbots are as small as you can get, think again. Nanobotssmaller than one micrometerexist, but these are so small that they aren’t visible to the naked eye.
Since microbots are so small, they are potentially very cheap. Scientists and engineers working to develop these microbots believe that they could be useful to explore environments or areas that are too small or dangerous for people. And because the computingpower of one single microbot isn’t that large, microbots could be deployed in large groups or swarms ofmicrobots. At the moment, the biggest obstacle to the development of these tiny machines is figuring outhow to power a robot that can only contain a minusculebattery.
Paul's stubbornness is an obstacle to his growth.
保羅的固執是阻礙他成長的絆腳石。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
deploy
[dɪˋplɔɪ]
vt. 調動，部署 (部隊等)
The Minister of National Defense agreed to deploy another five hundred troops to guard this region.
國防部部長同意再派遣500個軍隊來保衛這個地區。
高中 Level 5
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potentially
[pəˋtɛnʃəlɪ]
adv. 可能地，潛在地
The police came in to handle the potentially dangerous situation.
警方介入處理這個有潛在危險的情況。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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gigantic
[dʒaɪˋgæntɪk]
a. 巨大的，龐大的
cientists found gigantic stone statues on Easter Island.
科學家在復活島上發現巨大的石雕像。
高中 Level 4
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approximately
[əˋprɑksəmɪtlɪ]
adv. 大約
The shareholders’meeting will begin in approximately half an hour.
股東會議大約在半小時後開始。
多益綠色
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
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precise
[prɪˋsaɪs]
a. 正確的；精確的
=
correct
=
exact
Jeff double-checked the measurements to make sure they were precise.
傑夫再次檢驗測量結果，以確保它們是正確的。
Our teacher gave us very precise instructions on how to conduct the experiment.
我們老師給我們非常精確的指示告訴我們如何進行這實驗。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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dimension
[dɪˋmɛnʃən]
n. 面向，方面；（長、寬、高等的）尺寸，面積（常用複數）； （ 問題的）嚴重性（常用複數）
=
aspect
I think you have neglected another important dimension of the problem.
我認為你忽略了該問題的另一個重要面向。
We need to know the exact dimensions of the living room before we buy the furniture.
買傢俱之前，我們得確定客廳的尺寸是多少。
I didn’t realize the dimensions of this problem.
我並未意識到這個問題的嚴重性。
I didn’t realize the seriousness of this problem.
我並未意識到這個問題的嚴重性。
高中 Level 5
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compact
[ˋkəmpækt]
n. 粉盒 ; 小型轎車 (= compact car)
Louise opened her purse, took out her compact, and applied some makeup.
露易絲打開她的手提包、拿出粉餅盒上了點妝。
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compact
[kəmˋpækt]
vt. 壓縮，擠壓
a. 小巧的 ; 密實的
I just moved into a new apartment that’s quite compact and cozy; and most importantly, the rent is pretty cheap.
我剛剛搬進一間小巧舒適的新公寓;最重要的是，房租很便宜。
The ground was quite compact, so it was difficult to dig a hole in it.
這片土地十分密實，所以很難在上面挖洞。
All the rubbish will have to be compacted and stored for future disposal.
所有垃圾必須被壓縮並儲存留待日後處理。
高中 Level 5
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shrink
[ʃrɪŋk]
vt. & vi. 縮小
三態
shrink / shrank [ʃræŋk] / shrunk [ʃrʌŋk]
Cotton clothes usually shrink in the dryer.
棉質衣服烘乾後通常會縮小。
Hot water shrinks woolen clothes.
熱水會使毛線衣縮水。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
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astonishing
[əˋstɑnɪʃɪŋ]
a. 令人驚訝的
●
eye
[aɪ]
n. 眼睛
Louise felt sad, and there were tears in her eyes.
露易絲很傷心，她的眼裡有淚水。
Nancy always looks great because she has an eye for fashion.
南希看起來總是很亮眼，因為她對時尚很有眼光。
Trevor asked his brother to keep an eye on his backpack.
崔佛請他弟弟幫忙留意他的背包。
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portable
[ˋportəb!]
a. 可攜帶的，手提的
=
potable
=
potable water
Portable stereos used to be quite expensive back in the 1970s.
1970 年代手提音響相當昂貴。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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nanobot
[ `nænoʊbɑt ]
n. 奈米機器人
Practical Phrases
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take up...
接受⋯⋯（挑戰、建議等）；從事⋯⋯；開始學⋯⋯；占據⋯⋯(時間或空間)
Tai Tzu-ying's surprising performance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics has encouraged many people in Taiwan to take up badminton.
在 2020 東京奧運中戴資穎出乎意料的表現已經鼓舞許多臺灣人開始學羽毛球。
My suitcase takes up a lot of space in my bedroom closet.
我的行李箱占了房間衣櫃很多空間。
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fit into
裝得進⋯⋯
My bedroom is very small, so I don't think this wardrobe will fit into it.
我的房間很小，所以我覺得我房間放不下這個衣櫥。
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be inclined to V
容易......
= be prone to
= be prone to V
= be likely to V
= tend to V
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in comparison
相較之下
Eddie's room is always messy. In comparison,his brother's room is clean and tidy.
艾迪的房間總是亂糟糟的。相比之下，他弟弟的房間乾淨又整潔。
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think again
你想錯了（字面意思為「你再想 想」，但實則指某人所認為的是錯的）
If you think such a scam can never happen to you, think again.
如果你認為這類詐騙不可能發生在你身上，那你就錯 了。
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be visible to the naked eye
是肉眼可見的
Some tiny insects are hardly visible to the naked eye.
有些小昆蟲很難用肉眼看見。
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figure out... / figure... out
想出……，弄明白……
We need to figure out a way to fix this problem.
我們得想出個方法來解決這個問題。
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swarms of
（蜂湧的）一大群⋯⋯
Swarms of visitors go to the ancient shrine every New Year.
每年新年，一大群遊客會前往那座古老神社。
