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大学英语精读第一册 Unit Six : Sam Adams,Industrial Engineer

时间:2005-04-20 16:00:00

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(单词翻译)


TEXT

San set out to improve efficiency at the shirt factory but, as we find out later in this unit, his plans turned out not quite as he had expected.

Sam Adams, Industrial Engineer

If you ask my mother how I happened to become an industrial engineer, she'll tell you that I have always been one.
She means that I have always wanted everything to be well organized and neat. When I was still in elementary school, I liked to keep my socks in the upper left-hand drawer of my bureau, my underwear in the upper right drawer, shirts in the middle drawer, and pants, neatly1 folded, in the bottom drawer.
In fact, I was the efficiency expert for the whole family. I used to organize my father's tools, my mother's kitchen utensils3, my sister's boyfriends.
I needed to be efficient. I wanted to be well organized. For me, there was a place for everything and everything was always in its place. These qualities gave me a good foundation for a career in industrial engineering.
Unfortunately, I was also a bit bossy4 and I wasn't a very good listener. You'll see what I mean when I tell you about the first project I ever did after I finished my bachelor's degree at the university.
After graduation I returned home to my small town in Indiana. I didn't have a job yet. Mr. Hobbs, a friend of my father's, owned a small shirt factory in town. Within the past five years it had grown from twenty to eighty workers. Mr. Hobbs was worried that his plant was getting too big and inefficient5, so he asked me to come in on a short-term basis as a consultant6.
I went to the plant and spent about a week looking around and making notes. I was really amazed at what I saw.
Most curious of all, there was no quality control whatsoever7. No one inspected the final product of the factory. As a result some of the shirts that were put in boxes for shipment were missing one or two buttons, the collar, even a sleeve sometimes!
The working conditions were poor. The tables where the workers sat were very high and uncomfortable. Except for a half hour at lunchtime, there were no breaks in the day to relieve the boring work. There was no music. The walls of the workrooms were a dull gray color. I was amazed that the workers hadn't gone on strike.
Furthermore, the work flow was irregular. There was one especially absent-minded young man in the assembly line who sewed on buttons. After a while I recognized him as "Big Jim," who used to sit behind me in math class in high school. He was very slow and all the shifts were held up at his position. Workers beyond him in line on his shift had to wait with nothing to do; therefore, a great deal of time and efficiency were lost as Big Jim daydreamed10 while he worked. All week I wondered why he wasn't fired.
After I made observations for a week, Mr. Hobbs asked me for an oral report of my findings. I covered my major points by telling him the following:
"If you have a quality control inspection11, you will greatly improve your finished product."
"If the assembly line is redesigned, a smooth work flow can be achieved and time and energy can be saved."
"If you decrease the height of the worktables, the machine operators will work more comfortably."
"If the management provides pleasant background music and beautifies the dull setting, the factory will be much more productive."
"If the workers have a fifteen-minute coffee break in the morning and afternoon, they will be more efficient."
"If excellent work results in frequent pay increases or promotions13, the workers will have greater incentive14 to produce."
Mr. Hobbs thanked me for this report and told me he would talk over my suggestions with his brother, the co-owner and manager of the factory. "We're interested in progress here," he said. "We want to keep up with the times."
He also gave me a check for $ 100 and a box of shirts with his compliments.

NEW WORDS

efficiency
n. the state or quality of being efficient 效率
industrial
a. of industry 工业的
neat
a. orderly and clean 整洁的
elementary
a. of or for beginners 初等的,初级的
sock
n. 短袜
drawer
n. 抽屉
bureau
n. a chest of drawers for bedroom use 衣柜
underwear
n. 内衣
pants
n. trousers
expert
n. a person with special knowledge or skill 专家,能手
kitchen
n. room used for cooking 厨房
utensil2
n. any tool or container used in the house, esp. for cooking 用具,器皿
quality
n. the degree of goodness which a thing or a person possesses 质量;品质
foundation
n. 基础
career
n. profession; way of making a living 职业;生涯
engineering
n. 工程学;管理
unfortunately
ad. 不幸的是;遗憾的是
bossy
a. always telling other people what to do and how to do it, like a boss 爱指挥人的;专横的
project
n. a piece of work; a big plan 项目;方案
bachelor
n. a person who had the first university degree 学士
graduation
n. completion of an educational course 毕业
graduate
vi.
short-term
a. involving or lasting15 a short period of time 短期的
basis   
n. 基础;根据
consultant
n. a person who gives professional or technical advice 顾问
consult
v.
amaze
vt. fill with great surprise or wonder 使大为惊讶,使惊愕
curious
a. strange 奇怪的
whatsoever
a. of any kind, at all 任何的,丝毫的
inspect
vt. examine 检查
shipment
n. the act of wending, carrying or delivering goods 装运。运送
miss
vt. be without; lack
button
n. 钮扣
collar
n. 领子
sleeve
n. 袖子
relieve
vt. make less or easier 减轻
boring
a. uninteresting and tiresome16 令人厌烦的
workroom
n. a room specially8 kept for working in 工场(间)
dull
a. not bright or clear 阴暗的
flow
n. a smooth steady movement or supply 流(动)
work flow
a. 工作流程
irregular
n. uneven17; not continuous 不规则的,不稳定的
regular
n.
absent-minded
a. so concerned with one's thoughts as not to notice what is happening, what one doing, etc. 心不在焉
absent
a. not present
inspection
n. the act of examining (sth.) closely or in detail 检查
assembly
n. 组装;集会
assemble
v.
assembly line
n. 装配线
shift
n. 班;轮班
daydream9
v. have pleasant dreamlike thoughts (about) 做白日梦,空想
fire
vt. make (sb.) leave his job 解雇
observation
n. the act of watching carefully 观察
observe
vt.
observe
n.
oral
a. spoken, not written 口(头)的
findings
n. the results of any research or enquiry 调查(或研究)的结果
major
a. important 较大的;主要的
redesign
vt. 重新设计
design
vt. 设计
achieve
vt. get by effort (经努力)得到;实现
decrease
vt. make smaller or fewer 减少
worktable
n. a table at which work is done 工作台
operator
n. a person who makes sth. work 操作人员
operate
vt.
management
n. 资方;管理(部门)
background
n. 背景
beautify
vt. make beautiful 美化,装饰
setting
n. surroundings 环境
productive
a. producing much; able to produce 多产的;富有成效的
frequent
a. happening often 频繁的
promotion12
n. 提升;促进
promote
vt.
incentive
n. 刺激
suggestion
n. an idea or plan put forward for people to think about 建议
co-owner
n. a joint18 owner 共同所有者
manager
n. a person responsible for running a section of a business 经理
compliments
n. formal respects or greetings;贺词;问候

PHRASES & EXPRESSIONS

find out
learn or discover 查明;发现
turn out
happen to be or found be in the end 结果是
quality control
the activity of checking that products are all of satisfactory standard and quality, usu. by testing samples of them 质量控制(管理)
as a result
because of 作这结果,因此
except for
apart from; with the exception of 除了...外
go on strike
refuse go continue working 罢工
hold up
delay 延迟,耽搁;阻碍
result in
have as a result; cause 结果是;导致
talk over
discuss 商量;讨论
keep up with
go or move as fast as 跟上
PEOPER NAMES

San Adams
萨姆.亚当斯
Indiana
印第安纳(美国州名)
Hobbs
霍布斯(姓氏)


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 neatly ynZzBp     
adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地
参考例句:
  • Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。
  • The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。
2 utensil 4KjzJ     
n.器皿,用具
参考例句:
  • The best carving utensil is a long, sharp, flexible knife.最好的雕刻工具是锋利而柔韧的长刻刀。
  • Wok is a very common cooking utensil in every Chinese family.炒菜锅是每个中国人家庭里很常用的厨房食用具。
3 utensils 69f125dfb1fef9b418c96d1986e7b484     
器具,用具,器皿( utensil的名词复数 ); 器物
参考例句:
  • Formerly most of our household utensils were made of brass. 以前我们家庭用的器皿多数是用黄铜做的。
  • Some utensils were in a state of decay when they were unearthed. 有些器皿在出土时已经残破。
4 bossy sxdzgz     
adj.爱发号施令的,作威作福的
参考例句:
  • She turned me off with her bossy manner.她态度专橫很讨我嫌。
  • She moved out because her mother-in-law is too bossy.她的婆婆爱指使人,所以她搬出去住了。
5 inefficient c76xm     
adj.效率低的,无效的
参考例句:
  • The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
  • Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。
6 consultant 2v0zp3     
n.顾问;会诊医师,专科医生
参考例句:
  • He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
  • Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来,加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。
7 whatsoever Beqz8i     
adv.(用于否定句中以加强语气)任何;pron.无论什么
参考例句:
  • There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。
  • All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样,你就怎样对人。
8 specially Hviwq     
adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地
参考例句:
  • They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
  • The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。
9 daydream jvGzVa     
v.做白日梦,幻想
参考例句:
  • Boys and girls daydream about what they want to be.孩子们遐想着他们将来要干什么。
  • He drifted off into another daydream.他飘飘然又做了一个白日梦。
10 daydreamed 36c6848820d34fbd12c3db827df66de8     
v.想入非非,空想( daydream的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She daydreamed, and oh! What lovely fantasies. 她在白日做梦,噢!多么美妙的幻想啊! 来自辞典例句
  • She daydreamed about a carefree vacation. 她梦想那无忧无虑的假期。 来自辞典例句
11 inspection y6TxG     
n.检查,审查,检阅
参考例句:
  • On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查,发现肉变质了。
  • The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。
12 promotion eRLxn     
n.提升,晋级;促销,宣传
参考例句:
  • The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
  • The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级,加了薪。
13 promotions ea6aeb050f871384f25fba9c869cfe21     
促进( promotion的名词复数 ); 提升; 推广; 宣传
参考例句:
  • All services or promotions must have an appeal and wide application. 所有服务或促销工作都必须具有吸引力和广泛的适用性。
  • He promptly directed the highest promotions and decorations for General MacArthur. 他授予麦克阿瑟将军以最高的官阶和勋奖。
14 incentive j4zy9     
n.刺激;动力;鼓励;诱因;动机
参考例句:
  • Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中,钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
  • He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。
15 lasting IpCz02     
adj.永久的,永恒的;vbl.持续,维持
参考例句:
  • The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
  • We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。
16 tiresome Kgty9     
adj.令人疲劳的,令人厌倦的
参考例句:
  • His doubts and hesitations were tiresome.他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。
  • He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors.他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜,令人生厌。
17 uneven akwwb     
adj.不平坦的,不规则的,不均匀的
参考例句:
  • The sidewalk is very uneven—be careful where you walk.这人行道凹凸不平—走路时请小心。
  • The country was noted for its uneven distribution of land resources.这个国家以土地资源分布不均匀出名。
18 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合
参考例句:
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤,肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

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