节目资讯
刊物:空中英语教室
日期:2013-02-13
难易度:High
关键字:innovative, utilize, clasp, underestimate, rotary engine
Well, so far today we've learned about Margaret E. Knight and her innovative
invention for her paper bag machine,
and how someone else, Charles Annan, had to be taken to court because he tried
to steal her ideas.
We've also seen that she didn't limit herself to a single industry.
Now today we're going to continue to learn more about all of the great things
Margaret E. Knight was able to accomplish.
(Music).
Margaret E. Knight.
In her lifetime, Knight received at least 27 patents, and some sources claim she
invented over eighty devices.
These include several machines designed to help with shoe manufacturing, a
numbering machine,
a clasp, a skirt protector and several improvements to her paper bag machine.
She continued inventing things into her sixties, even patenting some designs for
rotary engines.
Knight died in 1914, and on her death one newspaper described her as a "woman
Edison." At a time when women's intelligence was often underestimated,
this mechanical genius proved that women too could develop innovative ideas that
would shape the future of manufacturing.
(Music).
Well, we found out: In her lifetime, Knight received at least 27 patents, and
some sources claim she invented over eighty devices.
What does that mean, Carolyn, some sources claim she invented over eighty
devices?
Are people not sure?
It means that maybe we aren't really sure how many devices she actually created.
Some people say she created over 80, and other people say she created fewer.
But we know that she did have a lot of inventions.
That's right.
She... she created many things.
And some people claim one thing, some people claim another thing.
Well, this... this word "claim" can be used in different ways too.
You can claim that this is yours.
Or you can claim that something happened in history.
How else can you use that word "claim," Nathanael?
Well, it makes me think of people in history claiming land for their country.
They go to a new area, maybe like an explorer, and claim this land for the
throne of their king or queen.
All right.
So you can claim different things.
You say it is yours, or you state that something actually happened.
Well, some sources say that she claimed... or that she invented over eighty
devices.
And these include several machines designed to help with shoe manufacturing,
a numbering machine, a clasp, a skirt protector and several improvements to her
paper bag machine.
Wow! It sounds like she invented a lot of things.
Among these things we see a Word Bank word.
It's something that she invented - it's a clasp.
Um, and a clasp is something that you use to... to hold something together.
Maybe it can come together at two ends, and it pinches.
That's a kind of a clasp.
Um, how might you use claps... That word is kind of fun to say: clasp.
How would you use clasps?
Well, the word "clasp" makes me think of bringing two things together.
And maybe you have a clasp on your shoe.
Your shoe comes together at two points, and you have to connect it.
All right. So that might be a clasp on your shoe.
I was thinking about this word: What kind of clasp did she invent?
Actually, she invented a robe clasp.
It's called a robe clasp.
And I saw a picture online.
It's actually kind of like a seat belt.
It clasps to your clothes so that you stay in, well, they didn't have cars back
then,
but they would have horse and buggy, and people would stay inside safely, they
used a clasp.
But where else might you see a clasp, Nathanael?
I think many necklaces require a clasp to be worn.
They had to be connected in the back so that someone can wear them.
That's right.
The necklace will connect with a clasp.
Many of you have necklaces.
Of course, they have clasps.
Well, Carolyn, how does our article continue?
It continues by saying she continued inventing things into her sixties, even
patenting some designs for rotary engines.
Now here she's getting very, very diversed in her inventions making a rotary
engine.
Now this is a More Information word in our article.
Nathanael, what is a rotary engine?
Well, of course, it is a specific kind of engine where the engine is actually in
the center of a machine that spins,
and energy goes from the engine into these compartments, these areas that are
spinning around this center engine.
Right.
And so these are engines that were used in some of the first automobiles, some
of the first cars, and then later also used in airplanes.
All right.
So she invented a rotary engine or some patenting designs for a rotary engine.
Um, it says here also she invented things into her sixties.
We see that phrase "into her sixties." You can use that phrase to talk about
maybe someone going into a certain decade like into his fifties or into her
seventies.
For instance, my... um, my friend was running into his eighties.
He loved running; and he'll continue to run every day into his eighties.
He's a very healthy person.
Well, Nathanael, how do we continue this article?
Well, it continues with some bad news.
Knight died in 1914, and on her death one newspaper described her as a "woman
Edison." That... that's not so bad.
That's not so bad at all, no.
It ends with good news.
Of course, the bad news is she died.
But that happens to everybody.
The good news is that she is described as a "woman Edison." And if you know
anything about Edison, he was a very famous inventor.
He was known for inventing many different kinds of things.
Well, on that note, we're going to spend some time in the Information Cloud with
Steve and Ken.
Our article today is about Margaret Knight.
If you've never heard of her before, I'm sure the description "a woman Edison"
gave you an idea of who she was.
Edison is, of course, Thomas Edison, the great American inventor of the 19th
century.
Now this usage of reference of a well-known person is called an allusion.
Notice it's not illusion but allusion.
Allusions help the reader better understand someone or something a writer is
trying to describe.
As another example, I might say Peter was no Einstein but he worked hard enough
to pass the test.
So you made an allusion to Albert Einstein to convey the idea of extreme
intelligence or genius.
Right. As another example,
I might advise my sister not to go out with someone who has the reputation of
being a Casanova because the guy might leave her after a few dates.
And if you don't know, Casanova was a famous Italian adventurer who romanced
many women during his travels.
He might be charming, but he would not be the ideal boyfriend.
No, he wouldn't.
You can also use an allusion with a thing or an event.
The Battle of Waterloo was when Napoleon was forced to step down from the
throne.
Nowadays, we often use the word "Waterloo" to refer to a decisive, crushing
defeat.
Right. A political candidate might meet his Waterloo at an election.
And that would mean a total defeat.
(Chinese).
Thanks, guys.
Now in the last sentence of our article for today, we see:
At a time when women's intelligence was often underestimated,
this mechanical genius proved that women too could develop innovative ideas that
would shape the future of manufacturing.
And we see here a key word for today: underestimated.
Now if you underestimate something, what does that mean, Gabe?
Well, that means you don't value it like you should.
You might underestimate someone else; or they underestimate you.
You could say: Don't underestimate me; or I'm sorry I underestimated you.
How else could you use that word, Nathanael?
Well, I think that we should never underestimate people by looking at their
appearance.
It's not a good thing to do.
Right now we want to see a review skit, after which we will go to the Language
Lab.
Charles! This patent is mine!
It was my idea.
No, it wasn't. It's mine.
No. it's my invention.
Impossible! A woman could never invent such a complex and innovative machine.
I have evidence to prove that it rightfully belongs to me.
Oh, yes. Then take me to court.
I will take you to court, and I'll get the patent.
It was my idea.
Oh, Margaret... you are so persistent.
And that will enable me to revolutionize the world.
Oh, you can't revolutionize the world with paper bags!
Well, paper bags are my primary work, but I'm not limited to paper bags.
So you plan to invent other things?
Yes. I plan to get plenty of patents and shape the future of manufacturing.
Don't be silly, Margaret.
You're a... a woman.
Don't underestimate my intelligence.
Who knows.
I could be the next Thomas Edison.
A woman Edison?
A woman could never be a mechanical genius like Thomas Edison.
We'll see about that, won't we?
Margaret!
All right.
(Chinese).
And let's get back to our teachers.
Well, over the past three days, we've learned a lot about Margaret E. Knight and
some of the amazing inventions that she was able to come up with.
Now it makes me think that there must be other people who were also
underestimated but went on to do great things.
Now Nathanael, can you think of anyone who was underestimated but then went on
to prove people wrong?
Well, you know, I did think of the author J. K. Rowling.
She was going through a hard time in her life, not very easy to provide for her
family or for herself even.
But she started writing a book on a napkin, and that book was called Harry
Potter.
And now everybody knows that book.
A lot of people have read it.
Even though she was underestimated, she did go on to write best-selling books.
And I hope that you are not underestimated and that you don't underestimate
others.
Now we'll see you next time here on Studio Classroom.Goodbye.