depression
n. 不景气，萧条（期）

engage
V. 使从事于

enormous
a. 巨大的，庞大的

ensure
V. 保证，保证给

explosion
n. 激增；巨变；爆炸

fundamental
a. 基本的

gear
n. （汽车等的）排挡

intelligent
a. 理解力强的；聪明的

junior
a. 资历较浅的

managerial
a. 管理上的

merely
ad. 仅仅，只不过

merit
n. 优点；功绩

population
n. 人口

prospect
n. （常用复数）前景；前程，前途

rank
n. 等级；地位

recognize
V. 认识；承认

root
V. 使扎根；使固定

specialist
n. 专家

specialize
V. 使专门化

steady
a. 稳步的

supply
n. 补给；供应（量）

technology
n. 技术

theorist
n. 理论家

unprecedented
a. 前所未有的

virtually
ad. 实质上；实际上；事实上

a small army of
一小群

be assured of
使…确信

be engaged (in)
从事…

bring about
引导，导致

build...on/upon
依赖，指望；把…建立于

come of age
成熟；到达法定年龄

go hand-in-hand with
和…并进

not to mention
更不必说

take a hand
起作用

Merry Learning

At the dinner table one night, a young boy was telling his parents, who had not had much education, that his schooling made him smarter than people who had not gone to school.
"How is that?" asked his father.
"Well," said the boy, "I can reason better. For example, tell me how many chickens you think are in that dish."
"There are two," answered the father.
"I can prove there are three," said the boy. He pointed to the first chicken and said, "Do you agree that this is one?" The father agreed. The boy pointed to the other chicken and asked, "And this is two?" The father again agreed. "Don't one and two make three?" asked the boy.
"Wonderful," answered his father. "You are very clever. Now I'll serve the first chicken to your mother, serve the second to myself, and you can have the third. Is that all right with you?"