Luis國際資訊事務所

Every day, many of us trust that the machines which take us up and down tall buildings will be safe. Elevators are a big part of the modern world. So what is the history of this amazingly useful invention1? Just like many other machines in our daily lives, it goes all the way back to ancient times. It seems that the famous Greek mathematician2 Archimedes built the earliest elevator in 236 BC.

　　Needless to say, the first elevators didn't have electricity3 to make them work. They were powered by hand or by animals. Elevators didn't change much until the 1800s, when the designs got more complicated. Power elevators were introduced to New York in the mid-19th century. After that, the greatest advancement4 in elevator technology was probably first made by Elisha Otis. In 1853, Otis announced that he produced an elevator that had a "safety mechanism5." His design made sure elevators could not suddenly drop to the ground and injure or kill the passengers inside. Thanks to these and other developments, you can now get to the 50th floor quickly and without worry.


每天，我們許多人都信任載著我們上下高樓大廈的機器是安全的。升降機是現代世界很重要的一部分。這個超級實用的發明究竟有著什麼樣的歷史呢？就如同我們日 常生活中的其它許多機器一樣，升降機的歷史可以回溯到遙遠的古代。最早的升降機似乎是在西元前236年時，由大名鼎鼎的希臘數學家阿基米德所建。

不用說，最早期的升降機並沒有電力來讓它們運作。它們是靠人的雙手或獸力所驅動。升降機在1800年代前都未有太大改變，直到那時候起的設計才變得較為複 雜。電梯在十九世紀中被引進紐約。在那之後，電梯科技中最大的進展可能是由艾利莎‧奧的斯所首創的。1853年時，奧的斯宣佈他製造了一種設有『安全裝 置』的電梯。他的設計確保電梯不會突然墜落地面而使裡頭的乘客受傷或喪命。多虧了這些發展及其它方面的進步，您現在才能毫無後顧之憂、快速地抵達第五十 樓。

1. ancient　a. 古代的
These ancient scrolls were found in a cave.
這些古老的卷軸是在一處洞穴中找到的。
2. power　vt. 給……提供動力 & a. 電動機驅動的
This car is powered by solar energy.
這台車是以太陽能驅動的。
3. complicated　a.（結構）複雜的
Computers are complicated machines.
電腦是結構複雜的機器。
4. probably　adv. 很可能；大概
Ron will probably quit his job pretty soon.
朗恩大概很快就會辭去他的工作了。
5. announce　vt. 宣布，通告
Meg will announce her decision tomorrow.
梅格將在明天宣布她的決定。
6. injure　vt. 傷害，使受傷
Luckily, no one was injured in the accident.
幸好這場意外中沒人受傷。

1.needless to say　　不用說，當然
Needless to say, I want my son to receive the best education possible.
我當然想讓我的兒子受到最好的教育。
2.thanks to...　　歸功於∕由於……
Thanks to your help, I solved the problem.
多虧了你的鼎力相助，我才解決了問題。

1. invention　n. 發明
2. mathematician　n. 數學家
3. electricity　n. 電
4. advancement　n. 進步，進展
5. mechanism　n. 機械裝置，機件

...it goes all the way back to ancient times.
（……升降機的歷史可以回溯到遙遠的古代。）
　　"all the way + 介詞"表『一直，不停地』，為強調語氣的用法。例：
Johnny ran all the way to the theater.
（強尼一路跑到了戲院。）
...elevator technology was probably first made by Elisha Otis.
（……電梯科技……可能是由艾利莎‧奧的斯所首創的。）
　　probably, likely, possibly 皆作副詞用，表『可能地』。其中 likely 前通常以 very 或 most 修飾。
The couple will probably break up.
= The couple will (very) likely break up.
The couple will possibly break up.
（那對情侶可能會分手。——最後一句可能性為最低）