In the world today, there are more than four billion email users. Email has become an essentialpart of our lives, especially in the world of business. Perhaps it is not surprising that the originsof email began at the world-famous Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT.
In 1965, computer engineers at MIT developed a system called “MAILBOX.” The system would allow users to leave messageson the computer forothers who logged onlater. However, thesecommunicationswere limited to people using the same computer. Still, it planted the seeds of the idea that became email.
Six years later, American computer programmerRay Tomlinson created a communication network system on the ARPANET, the precursor to the modern internet. The network system allowed users to send messages to those on other computers, and these messages became email as we now know it. Tomlinsonis also credited withusing the “@” sign to establish the form of the email address.
Although email was invented in the early 1970s, the public at that time wasunfamiliar withit. It wasn’t until the late 1980s and early 1990s, when personal computers became more popular, that email became widely adopted.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
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essential
[ɪˋsɛnʃəl]
a. 必要的，不可或缺的
n. 要素，要點（常用複數）
Water and air are essential to us.
水和空氣對我們而言都是不可或缺的。
The teacher taught us the essentials of good health.
老師教導我們健康的要素。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
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origin
[ˋɔrədʒɪn]
n. 起源；出身（皆常用複數）
There are many English words of Latin origin.
英文有許多字源自拉丁文。
Terry tried to hide his humble origins.
泰瑞試圖隱瞞他卑微的出身。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 2
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communications
[kə͵mjunəˋkeʃənz]
n. 通訊,通訊方式(恆用複數)
Due to the storm, all communications in this area have been lost.
由於暴風雨,該地區所有通訊都中斷了。
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credit
[ˋkrɛdɪt]
n. 信譽（不可數）；學分（可數）、點數
vt. 將功勞歸因於……（常用被動）
Buying on credit is getting popular in Taiwan.
在臺灣有越來越多的人使用信用卡購物。
How many credits are you planning to take this semester?
你這學期打算修幾學分？
Mr. Wang is credited with the success of this project.
這項計畫的成功是王先生的功勞。
The success of this project is credited to Mr. Wang.
這項計畫的成功是王先生的功勞。
Tom credited Jimasa respectable opponent after the tennis match.
在那場網球比賽之後，湯姆認為吉姆是可敬的對手。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 3
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unfamiliar
[͵ʌnfəˋmɪljɚ]
a. 不熟悉的，生疏的
I got lost and ended up in an unfamiliar part of town.
我迷路了，結果到了鎮上一處陌生的地方。
多益藍色
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adopt
[əˋdɑpt]
vt. 採用，採納
vt. & vi. 收養
=
accept
The general manager adopted my proposal without hesitation.
總經理毫不猶豫地採用了我的提案。
Ben’s wife is barren, so they’ve decided to adopt a baby boy.
班的太太不孕，因此他們決定領養一個小男嬰。
As Nicole couldn’t have a baby of her own, she decided to adopt.
因為妮可沒辦法懷有自己的小孩，她決定領養一個。
多益藍色
英檢初級
高中 Level 4
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spam
[ spæm ]
n. 垃圾電話／訊息／郵件
We need to find a way to block all the spam being posted on our blog.
我們需要找一個方法來阻擋張貼在我們部落格上的 垃圾訊息。
多益金色
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programmer
[ˋprogræmɚ]
n. (電腦的)程式設計師
Practical Phrases
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leave a message for sb
留話給某人
Hank was not available, so I left a message forhim on his phone.
漢克沒空,所以我在電話上留了話給他。
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log on
登入(電腦、網路等)
I couldnʼt log on because I forgot my password.
我因為忘記密碼而無法登入。
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be credited with...
認為某事是⋯⋯做的；具有⋯⋯的功勞
Bill is credited with saving the company from bankruptcy.
比爾對於拯救公司免於破產有莫大功勞。
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be unfamiliar with...
對⋯⋯不熟悉
Paula is unfamiliar with the rules of the game.
寶拉對遊戲的規則不熟悉。
請依文意選出最適當的一個選項 ❶ In what order did the following inventions appear?
a. the email address with the “@” sign
b. MAILBOX
c. ARPANET
(A) a → c → b (B) b → c → a
(C) c → b → a (D) c → a → b ❷ According to the passage, which of the following is an opinion but NOT a fact?
(A) There are billions of people using email today.
(B) The “MAILBOX” system allowed people to leave messages for others.
(C) It is not surprising that the start of email took place at MIT.
(D) Email wasnʼt widely used until personal computers became more popular.
