DIALOGUE 49

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：计算机

2)Not a great deal=not very much,

全句是I don't know a great deal about computers.

3)accounting systems：财会系统。

4)must have been connected to a computer：must+

完成体的不定式动词用以表示说话人对以往事情的猜测

或推断。

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译文：

1--你对计算机很在行吗?

2--不算特别在行。

1--我刚读了一篇关于计算机的文章。计算机可用于

各种事情了。

2--你是说财会之类的事儿?

1--是的，但也用来干别的事情。还记得我们去买飞往

希腊的机票吗?

2--是呀。

1--那个人问我们要去哪儿，然后他把情况大在一张表

上，等待答复。过了一会儿，他就把机票给咱们了。

2--是的。他的机器一定是和一台计算机连着的。

1--没错儿。