你每天用的纸、手机里的地图，其实都和一千多年前的中国发明有关系。
The paper you use every day and the map in your phone are actually connected to Chinese inventions from more than a thousand years ago.
中国古代的四大发明，是由造纸术、印刷术、火药和指南针组成的。
China's Four Great Inventions of ancient times are made up of papermaking, printing, gunpowder, and the compass.
在纸发明以前，人们把字写在竹子上，一本书重得要用车来拉。
Before paper was invented, people wrote characters on bamboo, and a single book was so heavy that a cart was needed to pull it.
汉代的蔡伦改进了造纸术，从此普通人也读得起书了。
Cai Lun of the Han dynasty improved papermaking, and from then on ordinary people could also afford to read books.
印刷术出现以后，书变得越来越便宜，知识也很快传到了更多人的手里。
After printing appeared, books became cheaper and cheaper, and knowledge quickly spread into the hands of more people.
火药是人们找药的时候偶然发现的，后来却变成了节日里美丽的烟花。
Gunpowder was discovered by chance while people were searching for medicine, yet later it turned into the beautiful fireworks of festivals.
指南针帮助船在大海上找到方向，凡是去远方的船，都离不开它。
The compass helped ships find their direction on the sea; every ship that sailed far away could not do without it.
今天手机里的地图，其实就是指南针的“孙子”。
The map in today's mobile phone is really the compass's "grandson".
一张纸、一本书、一次旅行，都在提醒我们：伟大的发明往往来自生活中的小问题。
A sheet of paper, a book, a trip — they all remind us that great inventions often come from small problems in daily life.
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Key words 生词
造纸术zàozhǐshùpapermaking
印刷术yìnshuāshùprinting
火药huǒyàogunpowder
指南针zhǐnánzhēncompass
蔡伦Cài LúnCai Lun (Han dynasty inventor)
烟花yānhuāfireworks
Grammar note 语法点
由…组成 (to be made up of…)
由 introduces the parts, and 组成 states that they form the whole: 四大发明是由造纸术、印刷术、火药和指南针组成的。
这个班由二十个学生组成。 — This class is made up of twenty students.
凡是…都… (every…, all without exception)
凡是 marks a whole category, and 都 confirms that the statement covers every member: 凡是去远方的船，都离不开它。
凡是来过这里的人，都喜欢这个城市。 — Everyone who has been here loves this city.
V + 得起 (can afford to)
A potential complement showing one has the money or ability for the action: 普通人也读得起书了。
现在大家都买得起手机了。 — Now everyone can afford to buy a mobile phone.
Check yourself 小测验
1. What are the Four Great Inventions made up of?
2. What changed after Cai Lun improved papermaking?
3. How was gunpowder discovered?
After this reading
Reading is the easy part. Speaking is where you get stuck.
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