All over the world, millions of people suffer great hardship. Many live in small huts with metal roofs and no windows. These people can hardly afford to have electrical power, and it goes without saying that their homes are in darkness all day. Many people operate small businesses in their homes, such as mending clothes, making furniture, or fixing things. Working without light is difficult, so what can they do? Actually, an answer came from a Brazilian mechanic named Alfredo Moser.
在全球各城市中，有數以百萬人的生活陷入困境。許多人住在鐵皮屋頂且無窗戶的小屋裡。這些人幾乎負擔不起家中的電力費用，不用說一定是整日生活在黑暗中。許多人靠自營家庭小生意維生，像修補衣服、製作傢俱或修理物品。在沒有光線的環境下工作很辛苦，所以能怎麼辦呢？事實上，一名叫做 Alfredo Moser 的巴西技工已經有了解決之道。
In 2002, Alfredo was upset about Brazil's frequent blackouts. One day, he noticed the sun's rays on a bottle of water making a reflection on the wall. It occurred to him that there was a way to bring light into his house. He used a plastic bottle filled with water and a little bleach. The bleach kept the bottle clean by stopping algae from growing in the water. Alfredo placed the bottle into a hole he made in his roof. As he expected, the bottle refracted sunlight from outside. It filled his room with the same amount of light that a 50-watt bulb makes.
在 2002 年的時候，Alfredo 對於巴西頻繁的停電感到十分苦惱。有一天，他注意到陽光照在水瓶的光線在牆上反射。這讓他想到，他有個辦法可以將光亮帶進他的屋子裡了。他利用裝滿水和加了一點漂白水的塑膠瓶。漂白水能維持瓶子清潔，不會長出綠藻。Alfredo 把瓶子裝在屋頂開出的洞。如同他所預料，瓶子折射外面的陽光。讓室內充滿相當於五十瓦燈泡的光線。
After Alfredo lit up his own home, he made bottle lamps for his neighbors. They were eager to have more light in their homes as well. Soon, people far from his hometown were talking about his invention. Bottle lamps even caught on in other countries. For example, in the Philippines, an organization called the MyShelter Foundation helps poor people use green technology. It uses the bottle lamps in its "One Liter of Light" project to help people without electricity. The lamps are also changing lives in India, Indonesia, and other places. Some people grow food by using light from the bottle lamps. Other people earn a little money by installing and repairing those lamps.
Alfredo 照亮自己家後，也替鄰居製作了瓶中燈。他們也渴望家裡有比較好的照明。不久，連遠在他家鄉外的人們也對他的發明津津樂道。瓶中燈甚至還在其他國家流行起來。例如像是菲律賓，那裡有個叫做我愛我家基金會的機構，協助窮困的民眾使用綠色環保科技。他們在「一公升的光」這個計畫中，使用瓶中燈來幫助無電可用的人。瓶中燈也改變了印度、印尼和其他地方人們的生活。有些人甚至利用瓶中燈的光線來栽種食物。其他人靠安裝及維修來賺點小錢。
A bottle lamp is a simple device. It costs almost nothing to make and install. Yet it is making life a little easier for millions of people caught in the poverty trap. It is also a great example of how a useful idea can grow. People living in poor or remote areas see their neighbors using a bottle lamp and realize they can get one very easily. Alfredo Moser has shown us how to change the world with a simple idea. He has also proved that not every great modern invention is dependent on high-tech design skills.
瓶中燈是個再簡單不過的裝置。製作和安裝幾乎花不到什麼錢。但是卻讓幾百萬深陷貧窮陷阱的人生活變得比較輕鬆。這也是一個妙點子如何發揚光大的最佳實例。當窮鄉僻壤的居民看到鄰居使用瓶中燈時，就會發現它有多麼唾手可得。Alfredo Moser 讓我們看到，一個簡單的巧思就能改變世界。他也證明了並非每個偉大的現代發明都需要高科技的設計技術。
- hardship [ˋhɑrdʃɪp] n.
艱苦，困難
If the factory closes, most of its employees will face hardship.
如果工廠關閉，多數員工將陷入困境。
In his book, the writer describes all the hardships his family suffered.
那位作者在他的書中描述了他家所遭遇的一切波折。 - afford [əˋford] v.
負擔得起
After she got the raise, Lucy could afford to buy an apartment of her own.
Lucy 獲得加薪後，終於買得起自己的公寓了。 - affordable [əˋfɔrdəb!] adj.
負擔得起的
The store sells many kinds of goods at affordable prices.
這家店以平價販售多種商品。 - electrical [ɪˋlɛktrɪk!] adj.
電的
Storm clouds often contain a huge amount of electrical power.
風暴雲通常蓄含大量電力。 - electricity [͵ilɛkˋtrɪsətɪ] n.
電
You can switch off lights, computers, and TV sets to save electricity.
你可以隨手關掉電燈、電腦和電視來省電。 - electric [ɪˋlɛktrɪk] adj.
用電的
The number of electric cars in use is growing all the time.
電動車的使用量一直在增加。 - operate [ˋɑpə͵ret] v.
經營；手術
The owner of a computer store pays my brother to operate the business for her.
這家電腦專賣店的老闆聘用我哥哥替她經營。
The doctor said it wouldn't be necessary to operate on my leg.
醫生說我的腿不需要動手術。 - operation [͵ɑpəˋreʃən] n.
經營，管理；手術
The successful operation of such a large company depends on thousands of people.
要成功經營這麼大的公司有賴上千人的努力。
After his heart operation, my father took two months off work to get well.
我爸爸動完心臟手術後，請了兩個月的假休養。 - mend [mɛnd] v.
修補，縫補
Mom said she would mend the hole in my jeans.
媽媽說會幫我修補牛仔褲上的破洞。 - furniture [ˋfɝnɪtʃɚ] n.
家具
The only furniture in the living room was an old sofa.
客廳裡唯一的家具是一張舊沙發。 - mechanic [məˋkænɪk] n.
技師
The mechanic at the repair shop told me my car would be ready tomorrow.
維修廠的技師通知我車子明天就能修好。 - mechanical [məˋkænɪk!] adj.
機械的
It was found that a mechanical failure caused the plane to crash.
經查明是機械故障導致飛機失事。 - frequent [ˋfrikwənt] adj.
頻繁的
The doctor said my frequent headaches are probably caused by work pressure.
醫生說我的經常性頭痛可能是工作壓力所致。 - blackout [ˋblæk͵aʊt] n.
停電，斷電
A problem at a power plant resulted in a blackout across the city.
發電廠出了問題，導致整個城市大停電。 - ray [re] n.
光線
The sun's rays are very strong in the early afternoon, so wear a hat.
剛過中午的陽光非常強烈，所以要戴頂帽子。 - reflection [rɪˋflɛkʃən] n.
（光線、熱量、聲音或能量從表面的）反射；思考，沉思
Janice thought she saw a person's reflection in the window, but when she turned around there was nobody there.
Janice 以為她看到窗戶上有人的倒影，但她轉身時根本沒有人在那裡。 - reflect [rɪˋflɛkt] v.
反射（光、熱、聲等）；想，思考
The sky was clear and blue, and the surface of the lake reflected the distant mountains.
天空蔚藍清澈，湖的表面映照著遠方的山頭。
The teacher said he would reflect on our request and give us an answer the next day.
老師說他會思考一下我們的請求，並在隔天給我們答覆。 - plastic [ˋplæstɪk] adj.
塑膠的
We took plastic cups and plates on the picnic so that there wouldn't be any broken glass.
我們野餐時帶了塑膠杯子跟盤子，這樣才不會摔破玻璃。 - plastic [ˋplæstɪk] n.
塑膠
The box is made of a very strong plastic.
這個箱子是由一種非常堅固的塑膠所製。 - bulb [bʌlb] n.
燈泡
The light won't come on, so maybe the bulb needs changing.
這盞燈不會亮，所以可能需要換燈泡了。 - invention [ɪnˋvɛnʃən] n.
發明物；發明
Peter says he has a new invention that can make a bicycle go faster.
Peter 說他有一個新發明，能讓腳踏車跑得更快。
Nobody knows where the invention of the wheel took place.
沒人知道輪子是哪裡發明的。 - invent [ɪnˋvɛnt] v.
發明
The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell in the late 19th century.
電話是十九世紀末的亞歷山大．葛拉漢．貝爾所發明。 - technology [tɛkˋnɑlədʒɪ] n.
技術；科技
Our company uses the latest computer technology to design new products.
我們公司採用最新的電腦科技來設計新產品。
This article describes many new medical technologies.
這篇文章介紹了很多新的醫療科技。 - technological [tɛknəˋlɑdʒɪk!] adj.
技術的
The government will provide money for technological research.
政府將資助技術研究。 - project [prəˋdʒɛkt] n.
計畫，方案
Some new building projects will be started in this area in the near future.
好幾個新建案近期內將在這個地區開始動工。 - install [ɪnˋstɔl] v.
安裝
You can't go online until the Internet connection is installed.
網路要接好了你才能上網。 - installation [͵ɪnstəˋleʃən] n.
安裝
The installation of the downtown Christmas lights was completed on December 1st.
市中心的聖誕節燈飾在十二月一號已裝設完成。 - repair [rɪˋpɛr] v.
修復
I don't think we can repair this microwave oven, so you should probably buy a new one.
我不認為這台微波爐能修得好，所以你可能要買一台新的了。 - repair [rɪˋpɛr] n.
修復
Most of my salary last month was spent on car repairs.
我上個月的薪水幾乎都花在修車上。 - remote [rɪˋmot] adj.
偏遠的，遙遠的
Bernard was born and raised in a remote village.
Bernard 生長在一個遙遠的村莊。 - dependent [dɪˋpɛndənt] adj.
仰賴...的
The remote island is dependent on a supply ship that arrives just four times a year.
這座遙遠的離島仰賴一年才四次的補給船。 - depend [dɪˋpɛnd] v.
依靠，仰賴
Farmers in this region depend on the rainy season to grow their crops.
這個地區的農民仰賴雨季來種植作物。 - it goes without saying
不用說，想當然
It goes without saying that Jack was late again today. Why can't he ever be on time?
不用說 Jack 今天又遲到了。他為什麼就是沒辦法準時呢？ - occur to sb.
突然想到
It's just occurred to me that I can't go with you on Saturday because I have to look after my sister.
我突然想到我禮拜六不能跟你一起去了，因為我要照顧我妹妹。 - light up
點亮，照亮
The fireworks lit up the whole sky above the river.
煙火點亮了河上的整片夜空。 - catch on
變得流行
The new music app quickly caught on, especially among teenagers.
這個新的音樂應用程式變得很流行，尤其受青少年歡迎。
