Unit 1　Living with technology

　　人类文明受技术的影响从未像今天这样强烈，卫星、克隆和互联网都是很好的例子。当然，技术也带来了一些新的问题，关键要控制的问题是让技术通过自身发展克服它们。

　　Technology Creates or Solves Problems?

　　It seems that human civilization has never been as fueled by technology as it is today.Satellites, Cloning and Internet are all examples of technology that has reshaped our life to an unprecedented(前所未有的，空前的) degree.What matters most nowadays is that the power of technology must be ensured to overshadow(遮挡) the curses it brings about.

　　It must be pointed out that techno logy can aggravate(加重，恶化) existing problems that are far from its original target.Atomic energy is just the case in point.Although its researches have a view of optimizing the current energy sources, atomic technology is repeatedly employed to manufacture deadly weapons for the purpose of deterring(制止，吓住) or even destroying other countries.

　　Technology can also create new problems without alleviating(缓解) the previous ones.There is no better example than the automobile.Wasn't it the inventor's promise that automobiles could bring speed and convenience to their owners, thus surpassing the other means of transportation? But every morning at rush hours, car owners enjoy neither speed nor convenience from car ownership.Meanwhile car exhaust remains an alarming effect on our environment.

　　Therefore, technology is by no means a "cure­all" solution.Yet there is no need to use the above reasons as excuses to stop the development of technology.The key is to control the problems and allow the technology to overcome them through self­advancement.