Microchip Research Center Created
A research center has been set up in this Far Eastern country to develop advanced microchip production technology. The center, which will start out with about US $14 million, will help the country develop its chip industry without always depending on imported technology.
The center will make use of its research skills and facilities to develop new technology for domestic chip plants. The advent of the center will possibly free the country from the situation that it is always buying almost-outdated technologies from other countries, said the country’s flagship chipmaker.1 Currently, chip plants in this country are in a passive situation because many foreign governments don’t allow them to import the most advanced technologies, fearing they will be used for military purposes. Moreover, the high licensing fees they have to pay to technology providers are also an important reason for their decision of self-reliance2.
As mainstream chip production technology shifts from one generation to the next every three to five years3, plants with new technology can make more powerful chips at lower costs, while4 plants with outdated equipment, which often cost billions of dollars to build, will be marginalized by the maker.
More than 10 chip plants are being built, each costing millions of US dollars.5 The majority of that money goes to overseas equipment vendors and technology owners — mainly from Japan and Singapore.
Should the new center play a major role in improving the situation in the industry,6 the country admits the US $14 million investment is still rather small. This country is developing comprehensive technologies. Most of the investment will be spent on setting alliances with technology and intellectual property7 owners. 詞匯: microchip / 5maIkrEJtFIp / n.微芯片 marginalize /`mB:dVInLlaIz/ v.忽視，邊緣化 flagship /5flA^FIp/ n. (用作定語 )首位， vendor /5vendC:/ n.賣主mainstream /5meInstri:m/ n.主流 注釋:
1. The advent of the center will possibly free the country from the situation that it is always buying almost-outdated technologies from other countries, said the country’s flagship chipmaker：這個國家名列首位的芯片制造公司說，
芯片中心的成立可能使這個國家擺脫從他國購買即將淘汰的技術(shù)的困境。
1) free … from …：把……從……解放出來 2) situation that = situation in which
3) said the country’s flagship chipmaker：把“誰說的”放在句末，是為了突出“ The advent … other countries”所表達的事實。注意放在句末時用的是倒裝句： said the contry’s flagship chipmaker。
2. self-reliance：自力更生
3. every three to five years：每隔 3～5年
4. while：而(表示對比)
5. More than 10 chip plants are being built, each costing millions of US dollars：十幾個芯片廠正在建設(shè)之中，每一個廠的造價都在幾百萬美元。 each costing millions of US dollars是獨立分詞構(gòu)，用作狀話，進一步說明情況。
6. Should the new center play a major role in improving the situation in the industry：如果新建的芯片中心能在改善該國在芯片行業(yè)的(被動 )形勢中起重要作用…… Should … in the industry是虛擬條件句，也可寫成 If the new center should play a major role in improving the situation in the industry …
7. intellectual property：知識產(chǎn)權(quán)練習：
1. The country says that the investment of US $14 million is big enough for developing that country’s chip industry. A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
2. That country gives top priorities to developing chips for military purposes. A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
3. Although the licensing fees are not very high, that Far Eastern country cannot afford to pay. A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned.
4. Many western countries ban the exporting of the most advanced chip-making technologies to that country to prevent them from being used for military purposes. A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
5. Currently, almost all the flagship chipmakers in that country are owned by American investors. A Right B Wrong C Not mentioned
