Lesson 15 Secrecy in industry 工业中的秘密

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

Why is secrecy particularly important in the chemical industries?

Two factors weigh heavily against the effectiveness of scientific research in industry. One is the general atmosphere of secrecy in which it is carried out, the other the lack of freedom of the individual research worker. In so far as any inquiry is a secret one, it naturally limits all those engaged in carrying it out from effective contact with their fellow scientists either in other countries or in universities, or even, often enough,

5 in other departments of the same firm. The degree of secrecy naturally varies considerably. Some of the bigger firms are engaged in researches which are of such general and fundamental nature that it is a positive advantage to them not to keep them secret. Yet a great many processes depending on such research are sought for with complete secrecy until the stage at which patents can be taken out. Even more processes are never patented at all but kept as secret processes. This applies particularly to chemical industries, where

) chance discoveries play a much larger part than they do in physical and mechanical industries. Sometimes the secrecy goes to such an extent that the whole nature of the research cannot be mentioned. Many firms, for instance, have great difficulty in obtaining technical or scientific books from libraries because they are unwilling to have their names entered as having taken out such and such a book, for fear the agents of other firms should be able to trace the kind of research they are likely to be undertaking.

J. D. Bernal The Social Function of Science

A scientist working at the 'Arcton' Laboratories in Cheshire

New words and expressions 生词和短语

secrecy (title) $/$ ’siːkrəsi/ $n$ . 秘密 process (1.7) /’prəʊses/ $n$ . 过程 effectiveness (1.1) /I fektivnis/ $n$ . 成效,效力 patent (1.8) /’pertnt/ $n$ . 专利; $v$ . 得到专利权

inquiry (1.3) $/\mathrm{m}$ ’kwaɪəri/ $n$ . 调查研究 agent (1.13) /’eɪdʒənt/ $n$ . 情报人员

positive (1.6) / 'pɒzɪtɪv/ adj. 确实的

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 weigh against, 不利于 ……。

2 in so far as ..., 就 ……而言。

3 which are of such general and fundamental nature, 其中 to be of 有 “具有” 的意思。

4 are sought for with complete secrecy, 极端秘密地探索。

5 such and such a book, 某一本书。

参考译文

有两个因素严重地妨碍着工业中科学研究的效率:一是科研工作中普遍存在的保密气氛; 二是研究人员缺乏个人自由。任何一项研究都涉及到保密, 那些从事科研的人员自然受到了限制。他们不能和其他国家、其他大学、甚至往往不能与本公司的其他部门的同行们进行有效的接触。保密程度自然差别很大。某些大公司进行的研究属于一般和基础性的研究, 因此不保密对他们才有利。然而, 依赖这种研究的很多工艺程序是在完全保密的情况下进行的, 直到可以取得专利权的阶段为止。更多的工艺过程根本就不会取得专利权, 而是作为秘方保存着。这在化学工业方面尤其突出。同物理和机械工业相比, 化学工业中偶然发现的机会要多得多。有时, 保密竟达到了这样的程度, 即连研究工作的整个性质都不准提及。比如, 很多公司向图书馆借阅科技书籍时感到很困难,因为它们不愿让人家记下它们公司的名字和借阅的某一本书。他们生怕别的公司的情报人员据此摸到他们可能要从事的某项科研项目。

Comprehension 理解

Give short answers to these questions in your own words as far as possible. Use one complete sentence for each answer.

1 Which two factors weigh heavily against the effectiveness of scientific research in industry?

2 Why are some processes in chemical industries never patented at all?

3 Why are some firms reluctant to borrow books from libraries?

Vocabulary 词汇

Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: weigh heavily against (1.1); lack (1.2); effective contact (1.4); fundamental (1.6); processes (1.7); applies (1.9); trace (1.14); likely (1.14).

The paragraph 段落

A Which of these statements best expresses the main idea of the passage? Give reasons for your choice:

1 The effectiveness of scientific research in industry is hampered by the general atmosphere of secrecy which surrounds it and by the lack of freedom of the individual research worker. Unit 2 Lesson 15

2 Scientific research in industry is not very effective because big firms wish to keep so many processes sccret.

3 Many scientific processes in industry are kept secret until they can be patented.

B The following sentences have been taken from lines 5-10. Arrange them in their correct order. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

1 The degree of secrecy naturally varies considerably.

2 This applies particularly to chemical industries, where chance discoveries play a much larger part than they do in physical and mechanical industries.

3 Some of the bigger firms are engaged in researches which are of such general and fundamental nature that it is a positive advantage to them not to keep them secret.

4 Even more processes are never patented at all but kept as secret processes.

5 Yet a great many processes depending on such research are sought for with complete secrecy until the stage at which patents can be taken out.

Key structures 关键句型

A Change the form of the verbs in each of these sentences. Omit the words in italics. Do not refer to the passage until you have completed the exercise:

1 One is the general atmosphere of secrecy in which they carry it out. (II.1-2)

2 They seek for a great many processes with complete secrecy until the stage at which they can take out patents. (11.7-8)

3 Even more processes they never patent at all but keep as secret processes. (ll.8-9)

4 Sometimes the secrecy goes to such an extent that they cannot mention the whole nature of the research. (1.10-11)

B Give the correct form of the verbs in parentheses in the following sentences. Do not refer to the passage until you have completed the exercise:

1 In so far as any inquiry is a secret one, it naturally limits all those engaged in _____(carry) it out. (1.3)

2 Many firms, for instance, have great difficulty in _____ (obtain) technical or scientific books from libraries. (ll.11-12)

C Complete the following sentences using a verb after the words in italics:

1 He was engaged in _____.

2 He was prevented from _____.

3 He insisted on _____.

4 If you persist in _____.

D Note the position of not in this sentence:

It is a positive advantage to them not to keep them secret. (II.6-7)

Supply not in each of the following sentences:

1 He told me to mention it to you.

2 Please tell him to call in the morning.

3 Didn't I beg you to write to him?

E What is the difference between these two sentences:

They are unwilling to enter their names as having taken out such and such a book.

Unit 2 Lesson 15

They are unwilling to have their names entered as having taken out such and such a book. (II.12-13) Write these sentences again using the correct form of have with the verbs in italics:

1 We are going to decorate this room soon.

2 I repaired this watch last year.

3 Will you install the television in this room?

F Note that in the following sentence we may use the word lest in place of for fear: Many firms are unwilling to have their names entered as having taken out such and such a book lest (or for fear) the agents of other firms should be able to trace the kind of research they are likely to be undertaking. (II.11-14) Write two sentences using lest and for fear.

Special difficulties 难点

A Note the use of fellow in this phrase: 'with their fellow scientists' (1.4). Write three sentences using fellow with the following words: men; students; workers.

B Write sentences using the following phrases:

in so far as (1.3); often enough (1.4); to such an extent (1.11); the whole nature of (1.11).

C Explain the expressions in italics in the following sentences:

1 In so far as any inquiry is a secret one, it naturally limits all those engaged in carrying it out. (1.3)

2 I think we can carry on without your help.

3 The audience was completely carried away by the wonderful perfomance of the soloist.

4 The government failed to carry through the new bill on housing in the House of Commons last night.

D What do you understand by the phrase in italics:

They are unwilling to have their names entered as having taken out such and such a book. (II.12-13)

Write a sentence using the phrase such and such.

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions.

Comprehension 理解

1 Fear of industrial espionage _____.

(a) leads to lack of freedom in scientific research

(b) especially applies to scientific research of a general and fundamental nature

(c) can lead to secrecy in scientific research

(d) creates an atmosphere of distrust in business

2 Which of these statements is true?

(a) Some kinds of scientific research are 'more secret' than others.

(b) All kinds of scientific research are top secret.

(c) Firms never tell anyone anything about their scientific research.

(d) Scientific research workers never speak to each other.

Unit 2 Lesson 15

3 Firms want to be sure _____.

(a) they limit all those engaged in carrying out scientific research

(b) that larger companies can't find out about their scientific research

(c) they are working in an atmosphere of complete secrecy

(d) they own the rights to intellectual property before they reveal what they're doing

4 The possibility of making discoveries by accident _____.

(a) make it difficult to obtain scientific books from libraries

(b) encourages competition from other agents

(c) increases the need for secrecy

(d) means that every discovery has to be patented

Structure 句型

5 One is the general atmosphere of secrecy _____ . (ll.1-2)

(a) which it is carried out (b) which is carried out

(c) it is carried out (d) it is carried out in

6 _____ any inquiry is a secret one, it naturally limits - (I.3)

(a) With regard to (b) As well as (c) Supposing that (d) To the extent that

7 Some of the bigger firms are engaged in researches which are _____ general that it is a positive

advantage to them not to keep them secret. (II.6-7)

(a) such (b) so (c) so that (d) in order that

8 They _____ even more processes as secret processes. (II.8-9)

(a) keep (b) kept (c) are kept (d) are keeping

Vocabulary 词汇

9 There is the _____ of freedom of the individual research worker. (1.2)

(a) loss (b) emptiness (c) absence (d) luck

10 It naturally limits all those engaged in _____ . (1.3)

(a) performing it (b) involving it (c) betrothed to it (d) allowing it

11 It is _____ not to keep them secret. (11.6-7)

(a) with their knowledge (b) on their account

(c) in their best interests (d) for their benefit

12 Sometimes the secrecy goes to such a _____ that ... (1.1.10-11)

(a) degree (b) process (c) limit (d) period