特别广播英语第 228 课：The Edison Effect 大发明家──爱迪生-1

There are many people who say Thomas Edison single-handedly invented the twentieth century. 有许多人认为是爱迪生一手创造了二十世纪。

Although there are those who may disagree, one thing cannot be denied: Edison was a genius, and his inventions greatly affected the development of modern society. 虽然有不少人可能有不同的看法，但有一件事是无法否认的，爱迪生是个天才，以及他的发明深刻地影响了现代社会的发展。

Born in 1847 in Ohio, Thomas Edison attended school for only three months. 1847年爱迪生出生于俄亥俄州。他仅仅只上了三个月的学。

After his teacher claimed that he could not learn, Edison's mother decided to teach him at home. 在爱迪生的老师声称他有学习障碍之后，他的母亲决定在家教他。

There he was allowed to explore the subjects that most interested him. 在家里，爱迪生可以随心所欲地探索最使他感兴趣的事物。

By age ten, Edison had built a science laboratory in the basement of his family's home and had become an avid experimenter. 十岁那年，爱迪生在家里的地下室建了一间科学实验室。从此，爱迪生就成了一位孜孜不倦的实验者。

Edison got his first job at age twelve on the railway selling candy and newspapers. 十二岁时，爱迪生找到了他的第一份工作──在火车上卖糖果和报纸。

Three years later, he suffered an ear injury from a train accident and lost much of his hearing. 三年后，一场火车事故导致他耳朵受伤，几乎完全失聪。