?A Spanish student builds robotic arm

By Bryan Lynn/陳喆（編）

◆語篇導讀

西班牙學生阿吉拉爾用玩具為自己失去的右前臂制作了幾個假肢。他的下一個夢想就是設計低成本的機械手臂和機械腿，讓有需要的人過上正常的生活。阿吉拉爾的創新設計向身患殘疾的人們證明——一切皆有可能。

Legos（樂高）continue to be one of the most popular toys for children around the world.Many interesting things can be created with these colored blocks.Sometimes,Legos can even build some very useful things.One such example was created by a Spanish.His love for Legos began as a young child.

David Aguilar,now 19,has spent many years playing and building things with Legos.Aguilar was born without a right forearm.“As a child I was very nervous to be in front of others,” Aguilar told Reuters, “But that didn't stop me from believing in my dreams.”

One dream he had was to build his own prosthetic（假的）arm out of Legos.Aguilar is a university student at UIC Barcelona in Spain.He is now using his fourth model.He says his next dream is to design（設計）cheap robotic arms and legs for people in need.Aguilar's first try came at the age of 9.He says this was a simple design.He built his first fully operational robotic arm at age 18.It had a movable tool for picking things up powered by an electric motor.

Each new model has added arm movements.His newest Lego inventions also allow him to pick up and carry heavier objects.Aguilar says it is nice to be able to wear the prosthetic arm because he likes the feel of having two hands.The latest models are marked MK with numbers.The name is meant to honor his favorite superhero,Iron Man.

Aguilar shows off some Lego creations on his own YouTube channel.In some videos,he demonstrates（示范）the MK-III.He calls it“the best one yet”.

In some of his videos,Aguilar aims to show people with disabilities that nothing is impossible.He wants them to know that they can also reach their goals and dreams.

◆語塊收藏

young child幼兒

stop sb.from doing sth.阻止某人做某事

out of用……（材料）

in need在困境中

electric motor電動機

allow sb.to do sth.允許某人做某事

be meant to do sth.被期望做某事；應該做某事

show off炫耀；賣弄

people with disabilities殘疾人

reach one's goal達到某人的目標

◆典句賞析

1.David Aguilar,now 19,has spent many years playing and building things with Legos.大衛·阿吉拉爾，現在19歲，玩了多年的樂高，并且用它們搭建東西。

這是一個簡單句。句子的謂語動詞has spent是現在完成時態，表示動作從過去持續到現在；“spend some time doing sth.”是固定搭配，意為“花費多少時間做某事”，相當于“spend some time on sth.”。

2.One dream he had was to build his own prosthetic arm out of Legos.他的其中一個夢想是用樂高為自己制作個假肢。

該句是復合句。he had是定語從句，修飾先行詞one dream；to build his own prosthetic arm out of Legos是動詞不定式短語，在句中作was的表語。

3.It had a movable tool for picking things up powered by an electric motor.它有個可移動的、可拾起東西的器械，這個器械由一臺電動機驅動。

句中的powered by an electric motor是過去分詞短語，在句中作后置定語，修飾a movable tool。a movable tool與powered之間存在邏輯上的動賓關系，故用過去分詞作后置定語。

◆理解自測

根據短文內容，從A、B、C、D四個選項中選擇最佳答案。

1.It_________David Aguilar many years to play and build things with Legos.

A.took B.cost C.paid D.spent

2.David Auguilar can _________his newest Lego inventions to pick up and carry heavier things.

A.let B.make C.allow D.have

3.In the passage,what does the author aim to tell us?

A.Life can be hard. B.Nothing is impossible.

C.Live and learn. D.Nothing is possible.

◆詞句微練

根據所給漢語句子，完成下列句子。每空一詞。

1.在課堂上，我們被允許討論問題。

We are ___________________________in class.

2.它是一個由阿吉拉爾設計的假肢。

It is a prosthetic arm __________________Aguilar.

3.我將盡我所能去達成我的目標。

I will try my best____________________________________.

4.最新的型號被標為帶有數字的MK。

The latest models are ________MK _________numbers.

5.什么也無法阻止他發明東西。

Nothing can _________him _________inventing things.

6.阿吉拉爾花了許多年的時間創建他的機械臂。

Aguilar __________________many years _________his robotic arms.

7.他炫耀他的發明以此告知人們一切皆有可能。

He __________________his creations to tell people that nothing is impossible.

8.他懷揣的一個夢想就是讓殘疾人過上正常的生活。

One dream __________________is __________________people with disabilities to live a normal life.

（答案見第63頁）