考研英語：歷年真題閱讀要點之1993-Text 3

　　A granted patent is the result of a bargain struck between an inventor and the state, by which the inventor gets a limited period of monopoly (壟斷) and publishes full details of his invention to the public after that period terminates.

　　granted patent“授權專利”;bargain“交易，契約”;monopoly動詞形式monopolize;terminate“結束，終止”。

　　Only in the most exceptional circumstances is the lifespan of a patent extended to alter this normal process of events.

　　only+狀語位于句首，句子部分倒裝，同時謂語動詞是單獨出現的be，所以部分倒裝轉化為全部倒裝。正常語序The lifespan of a patent extended to alter this normal process of events only in the most exceptional circumstances. extended to“延伸至”，過去分詞短語充當后置定語。

　　..., the shelves of the library attached to the patent office contain details of literally millions of ideas... Indeed, patent experts often advise anyone wishing to avoid the high cost of conducting a search through live patents that the one sure way of avoiding violation of any other inventor’s right is to plagiarize a dead patent. Likewise, because publication of an idea in any other form permanently invalidates further patents on that idea, ... Much modern technological advance is based on these presumptions of legal security.

　　be attached to“附屬于”;literally“不夸張地”，針對副詞，其實不認識也無所謂，幾乎沒什么影響。第二句的主干結構patent experts advise anyone... that...;plagiarize“剽竊，抄襲”。likewise“同樣地”，說明兩句說的是類似的內容;invalidate“使無效”。be based on“依據，以...為基礎”;presumption“推測，假設”，動詞presume;legal“法律的，合法的”，反義詞illegal“非法的，違法的”;security“安全，保證”，反義詞insecurity，動詞和形容詞形式secure;legal security“法律保障”。

　　Anyone closely involved in patents and inventions soon learns that most “new” ideas are, in fact, as old as the hills. It is their reduction to commercial practice, either through necessity or dedication, or through the availability of new technology, that makes news and money. The basic patent for the theory of magnetic recording dates back to 1886. Many of the original ideas behind television originate from the late 19th and early 20th century. Even the Volkswagen rear engine car was anticipated by a 1904 patent for a cart with the horse at the rear.

　　involved in過去分詞短語充當后置定語，“涉及，參與”;as old as the hills“極古老，陳年老舊的”。第二句是強調句型it is... that...;reduction to commercial practice“簡化成商業(yè)實踐”;dedication“奉獻”;availability“可用性”。magnetic recording“磁錄音”;date back to“追溯到”。original“最初的”，動詞originate，短語originate from“起源于”;rear“后方的”;anticipate“預測”。