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　　读故事

　　Marty went directly to the computer and opened his mailbox.He dipped a biscuit in some milk and started to read his 298 new mails.He had to dip into hundreds of messages each day.Marty worked at home with a computer and other devices the Digital Age could provide.In the very beginning Marty thought it was a good deal because his boss couldn't dictate to him as she did in the office.But the truth differed in many dimensions to what he had imagined.Other workers thought he had an easier job and devised all sorts of ways to annoy him.They would constantly e-mail him, voice-mail him and dial his number.He had to ask the boss to give his co-workers a dictate headed “Daily digest of messages only”, Marty had to sit all day inside a circle with a diameter of four feet around his computer, and had to give diplomatic excuses whenever he wanted to go out.Also, he had such easy access to all the delicious diet at home that it became impossible for him to be on a diet.So the doctor said if he didn't diet he'd have trouble digesting his food.His eyesight dimmed too and he couldn't see in dim places.Marty cursed the devil of this modern technology in a dialect that only netters could understand, while staring at a diagram on the screen.The Internet was so slow that Marty decided to give up.He took a look at the dial of his clock and saw it was still early.It was such a nice day that he could still take a dip in the lake"Why not leave the computer to its own devices?” he thought.With determination, Marty rose and went to the door, and found the handle was covered with dirt.

　　记单词

　　determination 1. 决心，决定; 2. 确定，测定

　　device 1. 装置，设备，器械; 2. 手段，策略

　　leave to one's own devices听任…自便，让…自行发展

　　devil 1. 魔鬼，恶魔; 2. 家伙，人

　　devise 发明，策划，想出

　　diagram 图解，简图，图表

　　dial 钟(或表)面，标度盘，拨号盘vt 拨(电话号码)，打电话给

　　dialect 方言，土语，习语，通用语

　　diameter 直径

　　dictate 1. 口授，口述; 2. 命令，支配 n 命令，规定，要求

　　diet 1. 日常饮食; 2. (病人或减肥者的特种饮食，规定饮食vi 进特种饮食，节食

　　on a diet节食

　　differ 1. 不同，相异; 2. (在意见方面)发生分歧

　　digest 1. 消化; 2. 吸收，领悟n 文摘

　　digital 数字的，数字显示的

　　dim 1. 昏暗的，暗淡的; 2. 朦胧的，隐约的; 3. (视力等)模糊不清的

　　v (使)变暗淡，(使)变模糊

　　dimension 1. 方面，特点; 2. 尺寸，长(或宽、厚、深)度; 3. [pl]面积，规模，程度

　　dip 浸，蘸vi 落下，下降

　　n 浸，蘸

　　dip into 1. 随便翻阅，浏览; 2. 从…中取出

　　diplomatic 1. 外交的，从事外交的; 2. 策略的，有手腕的

　　directly 1. 直接地，径直地; 2. 正好地，截然地; 3. 立即，马上

　　dirt 尘，土，污垢

　　马蒂径直走到电脑前打开他的邮箱，他把一块饼干蘸到牛奶里，开始看他的298封新邮件。每天他都要浏览好几百封邮件。马蒂在家里用一台电脑和其他数字时代能够提供的设备办公。刚开始马蒂觉得这是件美差，因为他的老板再也不能像在办公室那样支配他了。但在很多方面，现实与他的想像不同。其他人都觉得他拣了便宜，便想出各种方法来打扰他。他们会经常给他发电子邮件、声音邮件并且拨打他的电话。他只好要老板给他的同事制订一个规定，题为“每日只发信息摘要”。马蒂只能整天围着电脑，在直径为4英尺的范围内活动，如果要出门还要想出各种讲求策略的借口。同时，他太容易接触到家里各种好吃的饮食，这使节食也变得不太可能。医生说如果他还不节食就会患消化不良。他的视力也变得模糊不清，在昏暗处什么也看不见。马蒂一边瞪着屏幕上的一个图表，一边骂着现代技术是个魔鬼，他用的习语只有网虫才能明白。互联网的速度慢得出奇，马蒂决定放弃。他朝钟面看了一眼，发现时间还早。今天天气真好，马蒂还可以到湖里浸泡一下。“为什么不能听任电脑自便呢?”他心想。下了决心，马蒂站起来走到门口，却发现门把手上覆盖一层尘土。