Charles Babbage
When Babbage was working at Cambridge, a new idea occurred to him.
巴贝奇在剑桥工作的时候，脑海中有了一个新想法。
He wangted to construct a calculating machine to work out the solutions to math problems
not only with correctness but also with a speed beyond the power of any human mind.
他想建造一台计算器，不仅要用正确的方法，而且要用超出人类思维能力的速度来解决数学问题。
His machine could solve problems involving long rows of figures in one continuous operation.
他的机器可以用一个连续的操作解决有多行数字的问题。
In 1822 Babbage wxhibited his invention and won a prize from the government.
1822年，巴贝奇展出了他的发明，并获得了政府的奖励。
After that, he immediately started to work on a larger machine designed to solve more difficult problems.
在那之后，他立即开始研究一种更大的机器，用来解决更困难的问题。
Although he received some money left by his father, the money was not enough to support his design.
虽然他从父亲那里继承了一些钱，但这些钱不足支持他的设计。
He wrote to the government about his plan and was given $2500 to start with, a sum worth much
more in those days than it is now.
于是他写信给政府。信中写明了他的计划，由此得到了政府给予的2500美金启动资金。那时候，2500
美金可比现在的2500美金值钱多了。
Babbage continued his work in London for four years. Then his health broke down, and he
had to take a long holiday abroad.
巴贝奇在伦敦继续工作了四年。后来他的身子垮了，不得不到国外去度长假。
When he returned to London in 1828, he was at the end of his resources.
1828年，他返回伦敦，已是穷途末路。
Many bills remained unpaid. His chief assistant and co-workers quarreled with him and
left with many expensive tools.
有很多账单还未支付。他在主要助手和工作伙伴与他大吵了一架，带走了很多昂贵的工具。
For one year no work was done. During this period, Babbage, whose mind was always active,
suddenly thought of a completely new idea for the machine.
整整一年，他的工作没有任何进展。这段时间里，思维一直很活跃的巴贝奇突然想到了一个全新的想法。
He rushed to meet the government officials to explain his new idea.
他急忙去见政府官员，解释他的新想法。
But this time, they were unwilling to help him.
但是这一次，他们不愿帮他了。
For eight years, they refused to say whether they wanted the machine ot not, and their final answer was "No."
八年来，他们一直拒绝透露是否想要这台机器，最终的答案是“不要”。
From 1828 to 1839, Babbage held the position of professor at Cambridge very successfully.
从1828年到1839年，巴贝奇成功地担任了剑桥大学的教授。
But his greates work was the unfinished calculating machine which stood covered in dust in his house.
但他最伟大的作品是那台还没完工的计算器，尽管它在他的房子里布满了灰尘。
It was the beginning of the modern computer.
它是现代计算机的开端。
2005年辽宁省高考英语试题
| 单词 | 释意 |
| occur to sb | (某人)想到··· |
| correction | n.正确；正确性 |
| exhibited | v.陈列；展示 |
| invention | n.发明，虚构 |
| government | n.政府；治理 |
| prize | adj.奖励的；n.奖品 |
| immediately | adv.立刻；马上；直接地 |
| machine | n.机器；v.用机器加工 |
| designed | adj.有计划的；故意的 |
| although | conj.虽然；尽管 |
| worth | adj.值···钱； 有···价值 |
| resources | n.资源；才智 |
| bills | n.账单；纸钞 |
| remained | v.留待；保持 |
| unpaid | adj.未付款的 |
| chief | adj.主要的，n.老板 |
| assistant | adj.助理的；n.助手 |
| quarreled | vi.争辩；争吵 |
| period | n.句号，时期 |
| position | n.位置，v.安置 |
| professor | n.教授 |
| calculating | 深谋远虑的；精密的 |
| modern | adj.现代的；时髦的 |
| construct | n.概念；结构体；v.建造 |
| continuous | adj.持续的；持续不断的 |
| involving | adj.包括的 |