Luis國際資訊事務所

by Timothy Laird

Thomas Edison changed the world with his improvements in light bulb technology.
愛迪生改良燈泡製作技術，而世界也因為他的貢獻亮了起來。

　　Before Thomas Edison made electricity available for a small number of customers in lower Manhattan, the world looked quite different. At the time, candles and oil or gas lamps were used to provide lighting. Since those items were costly and didn't last very long, most families went to bed when night fell. The situation drastically changed when electricity was introduced into people's lives. Thomas Edison, an American scientist and inventor, became a household name because he was linked with this breakthrough.
　　Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Edison didn't actually invent the first light bulb. What he did was make improvements to the initial designs of earlier inventors. The light bulbs Edison and his team designed were indeed superior to previous models because they were both practical and profitable. Edison was determined to make the light bulb's incandescence last as long as possible. To find the best materials for the bulb's filament, he and his team spent several months experimenting with metal, cotton, linen, and paper until finally settling on carbonized bamboo, which could last up to 1,200 hours.
　　Edison was an inventor with a practical mind. To make the most of his light bulbs, he started building power stations that provided electricity for homes and workplaces. Besides the light bulb, Edison's inventiveness is perhaps best shown by the electrical distribution system he designed, which left a profound influence on the world.

1. drastically adv. 徹底地
例: Paul's outlook on life changed drastically after surviving the plane crash.
（在空難中倖免於難後，保羅對人生的看法徹底改變。）

2. be introduced into...　　被引進……
例: TV was introduced into people's homes in the late 1930s.
（電視在 1930 年代晚期被帶入家庭生活。）

3. a household name　　家喻戶曉的人或物
例: Bill Gates has become a household name around the world.
（比爾‧蓋茲已是全球家喻戶曉的人物。）

4. breakthrough n. 突破
例: Landing on the moon was a breakthrough in space exploration.
（登陸月球是太空探險的重大突破。）

5. contrary to...　　與……相反
例: Contrary to popular belief, famous musicians aren't always extremely rich.
（與一般大眾看法不同的是，有名的音樂家並非都很富有。）

6. initial a. 最初的，開始的
例: Construction of this park is still in its initial stages.
（這座公園的建造還只在初步階段。）

7. be superior to...　　比……優越∕更好
be inferior to...　　比……差（勁）
例: In terms of comfort and design, this car is superior to that one.
（就舒適度和設計而言，這輛車要比那輛車來得優。）

8. profitable a. 有利可圖的
例: This real estate venture has proven to be a profitable investment.
（這項房地產買賣證實是有利可圖的投資。）

9. be determined to V　　下定決心去……
例: David is determined to climb Mount Everest before he turns 35.
（大衛決心要在 35 歲前登上聖母峰。）

10. experiment vi. 實驗，試驗
experiment with...　　用……做實驗∕試驗（對象通常為事物）
experiment on...　　對……做實驗（對象通常為動物或人）
例: The school is experimenting with new teaching methods and materials.
（這間學校正用新方法和新教材進行教學實驗。）
例: Many activists are strongly against experimenting on animals.
（許多動物權運動人士強烈反對以動物做實驗。）

11. settle on...　　決定……，選定……
例: Have you settled on a name for your daughter yet?
（你決定幫你女兒取什麼名字了嗎？）

12. make the most of...　　盡可能利用……
例: Make the most of every moment because you only have one life to live.
（要善用每一分鐘，因為人生只有一次。）

13. influence n. 影響
have an influence on...　　對……有影響
= have an effect on...
= have an impact on...
例: My brother has had an influence on my success at school.
（我的哥哥對我在學校的優異表現有很大的影響。）

1. light bulb n. 燈泡
2. electricity n. 電，電力
3. lighting n. 照明
4. costly a. 昂貴的
5. practical a. 實用的
6. incandescence n. 白熱（光）
7. filament n. 燈絲
8. linen n. 亞麻線
9. carbonized a. 碳化的
10. bamboo n. 竹子
11. inventiveness n. 發明才能
12. distribution n. 分佈；分配
13. profound a. 深遠的，深刻的

1. be linked with/to...　　和……有關連
2. provide A for B　　把 A 提供給 B
= provide B with A

　　在湯瑪士‧愛迪生為曼哈頓下城區少數顧客提供電力之前，世界的樣貌可說是截然 不同。當時，蠟燭、煤油或煤氣燈是提供照明的來源。但由於這些東西價格不斐而且提供照明的時間不長，所以夜晚來臨時，很多家庭即準備就寢。自從電被帶入人 們的生活，上述的情況徹底改變。美國科學家及發明家湯瑪士．愛迪生因為和這項突破性的進展有關，成為家喻戶曉的人物。
　　不同於一般人的認知，湯瑪士‧愛迪生實際上並非第一位發明燈泡的人。他所做的是改良前人一開始設計的成品。但愛迪生和其團隊的設計，在實用性和獲利方 面都遠優於先前的發明。他決心要盡可能延長燈泡發光的時間。為了找到製作燈絲的最佳素材，他和團隊花了數個月時間，用金屬、棉花、亞麻線和紙等材料進行實 驗，最後才選定使用碳化的竹子細絲，因為它能讓燈泡持續發光 1,200 個小時。
　　愛迪生的發明是以實用性為出發點。為了讓燈泡的使用率普及，他開始架設發電廠提供住家和工作場的用電。除了燈泡以外，愛迪生所設計的電力分佈網絡或許更能凸顯他的發明才能，因為這對後世留下了深遠的影響。