Language Point 1
A human being transported from the year 1900 to our time would recognize much of what goes on in today's classrooms—the prevalent lecturing, the emphasis on drill, and the materials and activities ranging from the basic reader to the weekly spelling tests. (Para.1)
Meaning: Anyone from the previous century would find most of what goes on in today's classrooms familiar. The things familiar to him include the common and wide use of the lecture mode, the emphasis on exercises, the teaching materials and the classroom activities like the use of the basic reader and spelling tests conducted weekly.
Note: 1) Please note the subjunctive mood in “A human being transported from the year 1900 to our time would recognize much of...”. It is marked by the word “would”.
2) The sentences in the text are relatively long and the words chosen are formal, which is typical of a formal writing style.
Language Point 2
...what goes on in today's classrooms—the prevalent lecturing, ... (Para.1)
prevalent: a. existing commonly, generally, or widely; predominant
It is surprising how prevalent such feelings still are, even among so-called career women. 令人吃惊的是这种情感竟仍然十分盛行，即使在所谓的职业妇女中也是如此。
One simple injection can help to protect you right through the cold months when flu is most prevalent. 只消打上一针预防针就能助你安全度过流感盛行的寒冷月份。
Language Point 3
With the possible exception of the church, few institutions have changed as little as those charged with the formal education of the next generation. (Para.1)
Meaning: With the exception of the church, no other institutions have changed so little as our schools, colleges and universities or any other educational institutions in charge of the education of the next generation.
Language Point 4
Contrast this continuity with children's experiences...(Para.2)
Meaning: Make a contrast or comparison between the unchanging form of education with what our children experience outside the classroom ...
Note that this is an imperative sentence. “Contrast” here serves as a transitive verb, meaning “to set in opposition in order to show or emphasize differences”.
Language Point 5
In modern society children have access to a range of media that would have seemed like a miracle in an earlier era. The visitor from the past, who would readily recognize today's classroom， would have trouble relating to the out-of-school world of a 10-year-old today. (Para.2)
Meaning: The children today have a wide range of media that were not imaginable in the earlier era. Any visitor from the past who feels what happens in the present day classroom is familiar to him would have trouble adapting to all that is happening in the outside world of a 10-year-old child.
Language Point 6
Schools — if not education generally — are inherently conservative institutions. In large measure, I would defend this conservative tendency. (Para. 3)
Meaning: Schools — and in fact education in general — are conservative by nature. To a great extent, I would argue for and defend this conservativeness.
inherently: ad. in itself or oneself; by its or one's nature; as such; intrinsically
The level of investment depends on business people's expectations of the future level of demand, but it has been demonstrated that the economy is inherently unstable. 投资额度取决于商家对未来需求的展望，但这已表明经济有其内在的不稳定性。
Language Point 7
But changes in our world are so rapid and so decisive that it will not be possible for schools to remain as they are or to simply introduce a few superficial improvements. (Para. 3)
Meaning: However, considering the fast and decisive changes in our world, it is impossible for schools to remain unchanged or to make merely some small or superficial improvements.
decisive: a. 1)unquestionable
His judgment, that this picture is Picasso's masterpiece, is decisive. 这张画是毕加索的杰作，他的这个判断是确定无疑的。
2) showing determination or firmness
If you want to be a good leader, you have to become more decisive. 如果你要成为一个好的领导，就必须更果断。
3)leading to a result
This conversation may have been decisive for his future choice of career. 这场谈话对他未来职业的选择也许起了决定性作用。
Language Point 8
Indeed, if schools do not change rapidly and radically, they are likely to be replaced by other more flexible institutions. (Para. 3)
Meaning: If schools do not undergo some fast and major changes, there is the possibility that they will be replaced by some more flexible institutions.
Language Point 9
Computers already permeate many aspects of our lives, from transportation and telecommunications to entertainment. (Para. 5)
Meaning: From transportation and telecommunications to entertainment, computers have already spread into many areas of our lives.
permeate: v. pass through or into every part of (sth.)
The fragrance of rose, flower of love, permeates each room. 玫瑰——爱情之花的芳香弥漫着每一个房间。
Excessive respect for authority still permeates Japan's institutions. 日本的机关中仍然充斥着对权威的过度崇拜。
Language Point 10
Scarcely ignorant of these trends, many schools now have computers and networking capacity. (Para. 5)
Meaning: Schools are aware of these trends, and many of them now have computers and the ability to connect with the world via the Internet.
Language Point 11
To some extent, these technological accessories have been absorbed into the life of the school, though often they are simply used to deliver the old lessons in a more convenient and efficient format. (Para. 5)
Meaning: To some extent, these technological components have become part of our school life, although often they are simply used to deliver the old lessons in a more convenient and efficient way.
Language Point 12
Computers will permit a degree of individual instruction that in the past was available only to the rich. (Para. 6)
Meaning: Computers will allow people to learn on their own to a certain extent. This was only available in the past to the rich.
Language Point 13
All students may receive a curriculum tailored to their needs, learning style, pace, and record of success with earlier materials and lessons. (Para. 6)
Meaning: All students may follow a program designed according to their own needs, learning style, pace and receive a record that shows how well they have done with previous materials and lessons.
Language Point 14
Computer technology puts all the information in the world at one's fingers, quite literally. (Para. 7)
Meaning: Computer technology enables an individual to have ready access to all the information in the world, and this isn't an exaggeration.
Note: Do not confuse “technology” with “technique”.
“Technology” means “the practical application of scientific knowledge, esp. in industry”; “technique” means “the way of doing sth., esp. using artistic or scientific methods”.
Language Point 15
Computer technology puts all the information in the world at one's fingers, quite literally. (Para. 7)
literally：ad. 1) exactly, without exaggeration
Even now people can be excluded, literally because an Immigration Officer says he is not satisfied about the person's intentions. 即使现在人们仍会被拒入境，那完全是因为移民官说他对该人入境的意图不甚满意。
2) word by word
He was required to translate the paper literally. 要求他逐字翻译这篇论文。
3)used loosely, to intensify meaning
Going into such a severe snow storm is quite literally playing with fire. 闯入这么厉害的暴风雪中简直就是玩火。
Note: Avoid using “literally” in formal English if the meaning is to exaggerate: “Our staff are working themselves to death”, not “literally working”.
Language Point 16
This is both a blessing and a curse. (Para. 7)
Meaning: This is both good and bad.
blessing: n. 1) a gift from God or anything that brings happiness or good fortune
It was a blessing that no one was injured. 没有人受伤，真是万幸。
2) approval; encouragement
Any bid would probably be with the blessing of the society's management. 任何投标都可能得到社会管理部门的批准。
Language Point 17
No longer do we have to spend long periods of time hunting down a source or a person — now, delivery of information is instantaneous. (Para. 7)
Meaning: We no longer have to spend a long time searching for information on a fact or a person — now information reaches us immediately.
Notice the inverted order of the sentence. Usually sentences starting with negative words, such as “no”, “never”, “scarcely”, “hardly”, are put in inverted order to gain emphasis. Also notice the collocation of “spend”: spend (time, money, energy, etc.) doing sth.
Language Point 18
Thus people will achieve instant “cultural literacy”. (Para. 7)
Meaning: Thus people will instantly become literate in culture.
literacy: n. the state of being able to read and write an adult-literacy campaign 成人扫盲运动
It is said that in the universities there is a general decline in standards of literacy among undergraduates。据说，大学本科生的读写水平普遍有所下降。
Language Point 19
Less happily, the Internet has no means of quality control; “anyone can play”. (Para. 8)
Meaning: Less happily, the Internet has no control over the value or the quality of the information; anyone can post any information on it.
Language Point 20
Information and disinformation mingle comfortably and, as of yet, there are no reliable ways to distinguish sense from the distorted facts and downright nonsense common on the Net. (Para. 8)
Meaning: Accurate and inaccurate information mix so comfortably and right now, there are no effective ways to distinguish what is sensible from information that has been twisted and that is totally nonsense, which occurs very often on the Net.
Language Point 21
Information and disinformation mingle comfortably ... (Para. 8)
mingle: v. mix (with another thing or with people ) so as to be an undivided whole，or to be indistinguishable
They were looking at him with an air that mingled irony and respect. 他们用夹杂着嘲讽和尊敬的眼光看着他。
He escaped by mingling with the crowd. 他混杂在人群中逃跑了。
Language Point 22
... there are no reliable ways to distinguish sense from the distorted facts and downright nonsense common on the Net. (Para. 8)
distort：v. 1) give a false account of
The supporters of the Republic seek to distort the reality as usual. 共和党的支持者们又像往常那样企图歪曲事实。
2) twist out of a natural, usual, original shape or condition
a face distorted by anger 因愤怒而扭曲的脸
Language Point 23
Identifying the true, the beautiful, and the good — and which of these truths, beauties, or goods are worth knowing — constitutes a formidable challenge. (Para. 8)
Meaning: To identify the true, the beautiful and the good — and which of these deserve our attention — is a huge challenge.
Note: The gerund here serves as the subject of the sentence. Usually the gerund, instead of the infinitive, is used when the action is being considered in a general sense. Notice that such “imbalanced” structure is more often found in a formal style of writing. It is usual to place the pronoun “it” at the beginning of the sentence, and move the gerund to the end of the sentence to gain balance.
Language Point 24
...constitutes a formidable challenge. (Para.8)
formidable: a. 1) difficult; hard to defeat
There are formidable obstacles to collecting reliable information on the disease. 收集有关这种疾病的可靠信息存在着难以逾越的障碍。
2) causing fear, doubt, anxiety, etc.
In the very first class, our professor gave us a formidable recommended reading-list. 在第一节课上，教授就给我们列了一张令人生畏的推荐书目清单。
Language Point 25
It might be said, in response, that the world has always been filled with misinformation. (Para.9)
Meaning: One can reply that there is much inaccuracy in what we read anyway.
Note: “It is said that ...” is a familiar structure. “Might” here is a modal verb, expressing possibility.
Language Point 26
True enough, but in the past educational authorities could at least choose their favorite texts. (Para.9)
Meaning: Although this is true, in the past those in charge of education could at least choose what they liked as texts for teaching.
Language Point 27
Today's situation, with everyone having instantaneous access to millions of sources, is without precedent. (Para.9)
Meaning: Today's situation, in which everyone can have access to many sources of information instantly, is something that has never happened before.
precedent: n. an act or instance that may be used as an example in dealing with subsequent similar instances
It was a situation they had never had to face before, and there was no precedent on which to base a decision. 他们从来没遇到过这种情况，也没有先例为他们做决定提供依据。
The decision sets a precedent for the interpretation of legislation. 这项决议为解释立法树立了先例。
Note: Do not confuse “precedent” with “precedence”.
“Precedence” means “priority”, and it is a formal word.
His wish to remain in power took precedence over his family responsibilities. 他对维持权力的欲望高于他对家庭的责任感。
Language Point 28
In a change from previous trends, the acquisition of a diploma from certified nstitutions may become less important. (Para. 11)
Meaning: Unlike earlier practices, getting a certificate from recognized institutions may become less important.
certify: v.
1) give a certificate to (sb.) declaring official/professional recognition
Do you possess the US Certified Public Accountant qualification? 你有美国特许会计师资格吗？
2) declare that (sth.) is correct or true
My accounts were certified by the bank. 银行证明我的账目无误。
Language Point 29
Individuals will be able to educate themselves and exhibit their competence in a simulated setting. (Para. 11)
Meaning: Individuals will be able to learn and show their ability in a situation which resembles the real one.
simulate: v. give the effect or appearance of ; imitate; closely imitate the conditions of a particular situation
Simulating the likely consequences of real events is an important, but almost untouched research area. 模拟真实事件的可能后果是一项重要但几乎从未涉及过的研究领域。
However cleverly simulated the emotion, simulated it remained. 无论伪装得多么巧妙, 那情感还是矫揉造作的。
Language Point 30
Why pay $120,000 to go to law school, if one can “read law” as in earlier times and then demonstrate one's repertoire of legal skills via a computer-simulated practical examination? (Para. 11)
Meaning: Why pay a huge sum of money to go to law school, if one can study law before and then show all of one's legal skills by means of a practical examination that is recreated by the computer to look like the real situation?
Language Point 31
Or learn to fly a plane or conduct surgery by similar means, for that matter? (Para. 11)
Meaning: Or learn to fly a plane or carry out an operation in the same way?
Language Point 32
Much of education in the past was essentially vocational: designed to make sure that individuals could carry out a single job, reliably, throughout their productive adult years. (Para. 12)
Meaning: Much of education in the past was mainly to enable people to learn a skill to carry out a job: to make sure that individuals could carry out a single job properly, throughout their adult working lives.
Language Point 33
Nowadays, this assumption is flawed. (Para. 12)
Meaning: Nowadays we think this view has some faults.
Language Point 34
The explosion of new and rapidly changing roles in the economy makes education much more complicated. (Para. 13)
Meaning: The sudden increase of new and fast changing roles in the economy makes education much less straightforward/simple.
Language Point 35
Most adult teachers and parents will not have experiences on which they can draw to prepare youngsters for a world in which they can expect to change jobs regularly. (Para. 13)
Meaning: Most adult/experienced teachers and parents will not be able to tell young people, due to a lack of experiences, how to prepare for a world in which they can expect to change jobs every now and then.
Language Point 36
In the absence of precedent, adolescents will have to prepare themselves for rapidly changing “career paths” and life situations. (Para. 13)
Meaning: Without past examples, young teenagers will have to prepare themselves for career paths and life situations which change very quickly.
Language Point 37
While computer-based teaching figures to be the dominant technological influence on education, other innovations will have impacts as well. (Para. 15)
Meaning: While computer-based teaching will be the main technological influence on education, other new developments will also have their impact.
innovation: n. the introduction of sth. new; a new product, system or idea
Note: 1) “New innovation” is to be avoided, since all innovations are new.
2) Do not confuse “innovation” with “discovery” or “invention”. “Discovery”
means “the act of finding out sth. that already existed, such as a comet or a scientific law”; “invention” means “the act of creating or designing sth. that has not existed before”.
Language Point 38
Medical technologies will permit study of students' brain activity and blood flow as they engage in various kinds of problem-solving or creative activities. (Para. 15)
Meaning: Medical technologies will permit experts to study students' brain activity and blood flow even while they are doing different problem-solving or creative tasks.
Language Point 39
Enhanced understanding of the genetic basis of learning is also likely to invade the classroom. (Para. 16)
Meaning: An increased understanding of the role played by genes in learning is also likely to find its way into the classroom.
Language Point 40
It may be possible to determine which youngsters are likely to advance quickly and which ones seem doomed to “difficult” school experiences. (Para. 16)
Meaning: It may be possible to decide which youngsters will learn quickly and which ones are unavoidably to experience problems in learning.
Language Point 41
... and which ones seem doomed to “difficult” school experiences. (Para. 16)
doom: v. cause to unavoidably experience or suffer sth. unpleasant
Notice that the verb usually appears in passive form.
Businesses which are run by people who have little understanding of the products being made are ultimately doomed to failure. 由不懂其产品制造的人经营的公司最终注定会失败。
I don't particularly believe that all love is doomed. 我并不特别相信所有的爱情都是命中注定的。
n. a terrible fate ;unavoidable destruction or death
The roar of the cracking fire drew near and doom seemed inevitable. 呼啸的烈火越来越近，毁灭似乎不可避免了。
Language Point 42
Some authorities will insist that these findings be applied in specific cases, while others will vigorously object to any decisions made on the basis of genetic information. (Para. 16)
Meaning: Some experts will insist that these findings only be used in specific cases, while others will strongly object to any decisions based on genes.
Note: It is possible in formal English to omit “should” in such an objective clause of “insist”.
Also notice that in the phrasal verb “object to”, “to” is a preposition and can be followed by nominal phrases or v-ing forms.
Language Point 43
Drugs that claim to improve learning, memory, or enthusiasm will become readily available. Teachers and parents may face moral dilemmas that would in earlier times have been restricted to science fiction. (Para. 16)
Meaning: Some people say that people can have easy access to the medicine that can improve learning, memory, or enthusiasm. Teachers and parents may face difficult moral issues and situations which in the past could only be found in science fiction.
Language Point 44
Finally, recent breakthroughs in biology and medicine may change education in the most radical ways. (Para. 17)
Meaning: Finally, recent discoveries in biology and medicine may change education most radically.
Language Point 45
If individuals seek to “design” offspring through genetic engineering, or to alter the genetic structure of an already existing person, or if it becomes possible to clone humans, then our definitions of what it means to be a human being, and to be a part of a human society, will be changed forever. (Para. 17)
Meaning: If individuals seek to “design” their children through working on their genes, or to change the genetic structure of a living person, or if it becomes possible to make identical copies of humans, then our definitions of what it means to be a human being, and to be a part of human society, will be changed forever.
Language Point 46
... or if it becomes possible to clone humans ...(Para. 17)
clone: v. reproduce or propagate asexually; produce a copy of; imitate
This idea comes from false reports that cloning of a human has already been done. 这种想法来自于已创造出克隆人的失实报道。
Microsoft will purposely create features that are difficult to clone. 微软公司将特意创造一些不易被克隆的特征。
n. one that is a copy which closely resembles another in appearance or function
Most women do not look like cover girls, and they prefer to be beautiful in an inner way, not as a clone of an advertisement. 许多妇女并不貌似封面女郎，她们更喜欢内在美，而不是成为广告的复制品。
Whilst the age of the theme pub may be over, more and more old pubs are being transformed into identical clones. 主题酒吧的时代似乎结束，越来越多的古老酒吧已被转变成雷同的克隆体。
Language Point 47
I have noted that education is conservative, and that this conservative tendency is not necessarily an evil. (Para. 19)
Meaning: I have said that education is conservative, and that this conservativeness is not always negative.
Language Point 48
Indeed, with respect to the transmission of values and the teaching of certain subjects, a conservative approach may well be called for. (Para. 19)
Meaning: Indeed, when it comes to the passing of values and the teaching of certain subjects, a conservative approach may be absolutely necessary.
Language Point 49
Yet the explosion of knowledge calls for close and fresh attention to the curriculum. (Para. 19)
Meaning: Yet the sudden increase in knowledge requires us to pay close and fresh attention to the curriculum.
Language Point 50
New and imaginative approaches will have to be developed if young people are to be prepared for the rapidly changing roles they can expect to assume. (Para. 19)
Meaning: New and creative ways of teaching will have to be developed if we want to prepare young people for the fast-changing roles they can expect to take on.
Language Point 51
New and imaginative approaches will have to be developed ...(Para. 19)
imaginative: a. using or having imagination
Note: Do not confuse “imaginative” with “imaginary”.
“Imaginary” means “existing in the imagination, being fictitious and unreal”.
Compare: He was eager to meet the imaginary woman (the one he imagines, but who does not exist).
He was eager to meet the imaginative woman (one who does exist and who has fantasy and imagination).
