Volcanic power and a virtual wife 冰島火山能源、日本公司研發“虛擬妻子”

本集內容

Iceland’s volcanic powers 冰島科學傢望通過鉆探火山利用其能源

A ‘virtual wife’ for lonely men 日本科技公司為孤獨的男性研發“虛擬妻子”

文字稿

This is one of the most volcanically active places on Earth. But now scientists plan to harness the power of volcanoes, by drilling into the heart of one. This site has been operating continuously for 24 hours a day using this huge piece of kit. In Iceland, towns are already using energy generated from volcanoes, but this new approach could create up to ten times more electricity. And if it works, this technology and the energy it harnesses could be used around the world.

冰島是地球上火山活動最活躍的地帶之一。而現在，科學傢們計劃通過鉆探到一座火山的深處來控制並利用其產生的能量。憑借這套大型設備，該工地一直在以每天二十四小時的強度持續地運作。火山所產生的能量已經在為冰島部分城鎮的傢庭供電，但這個新方法產生的最高電力能比傳統方式多十倍。如果該方法奏效，則這項技術及其利用的能源可能會被推廣到世界各地。

A Japanese firm has come up with a holographic character that is also a smart home device. With ease, she can give you weather updates, and turn on the lights and air conditioning. But the device creators say that Hikari can also be your companion, for when you just need a pal. Social isolation appears to be a growing problem among young people in Japan, very often due to busy lives and heavy work schedules. This venture is aimed at single men who are living alone.

這是由一傢日本公司研發的全息投影式角色，她還是一位智能傢居助手。她能毫不費力地提供最新天氣情況，還能幫你開燈、開空調。然而這一設備的創始人說，當你需要朋友時，“光”還可以成為你的伴侶。在日本，年輕人與社會脫離似乎是一個日益嚴重的問題，生活忙碌和工作日程繁重往往是導致該現象的原因。“虛擬妻子”這個大膽的概念針對的是獨自生活的單身男性。

詞匯

harness
控制並利用

holographic
全息的

companion
伴侶

練習

請從以下詞匯中選擇適當的答案來完成句子。註意：你可能需要改變單詞的時態來完成句子。

harness / holographic / companion

1. Electrician Carl Holdsworth has set up __________ video footage of Mr and Mrs Claus behind the windows of his house. It suggests Father Christmas is in his front room preparing for the festive season!

2. A project to __________ the power of a Borders river to generate energy has secured more than £1.5m in funding.

3. A guide dog is more than just a mobility aid to its owner – it is a loving and faithful __________, and very much part of the family.

答案

1. Electrician Carl Holdsworth has set up holographic video footage of Mr and Mrs Claus behind the windows of his house. It suggests Father Christmas is in his front room preparing for the festive season!

2. A project to harness the power of a Borders river to generate energy has secured more than £1.5m in funding.

3. A guide dog is more than just a mobility aid to its owner – it is a loving and faithful companion, and very much part of the family.