Its roots stretched back to 19381, when David Packard and his new wife moved into a house in Palo Alto2 that had a shed3 where his friend Bill Hewlett was soon ensconced4.

长难句解析

解：主句1+时间状语从句2+定语从句3+定语从句4

析：主句为“Its roots stretched back to 19381”，其中“stretch back to ”的意思为回溯到，追溯到；“when David Packard and...in Palo Alto”是由从属连词“when”引导的时间状语从句；“that had a shed”是修饰先行词“house”的定语从句，关系代词"that"在从句中作主语；“where his friend Bill Hewlett was soon ensconced”是由关系副词“where”引导的定语从句。

重点词汇词组

1.launch 发射

NASA plans to launch a satellite to study cosmic rays.

美国国家航空航天局计划发射一颗卫星来研究宇宙射线。

【常见搭配】

①launch an attack/offensive 发起攻击

The administration launched an attack on organized software piracy.

政府对有组织的盗版软件发动了攻击。

② launch an inquiry/investigation 发起调查

When an investigation was launched into the deal, two cofounders resigned.

在对该交易展开调查后，两名共同创始人辞职。

③launch into sth （热情地）开始做，投入

He launched into a lengthy account of his career.

他开始啰啰唆唆地讲述自己的工作经历。

2.facility 设施；设备

The hotel has special facilities for welcoming disabled people.

这家旅馆有专供残疾人使用的设施。

【常见搭配】

①sports/leisure facilities 体育/休闲设施

②conference facilities 会议设施

③facility for...有...天资/才能/天赋

His facility for languages is astonishing.

他的语言能力令人惊异。

3.the cutting edge 前沿的

His research is at the cutting edge of new therapies for cancer.

他的研究处于癌症新疗法的最前沿。

【相关搭配】

have/gain an edge (over/on sb/sth) 比...更有优势

Internet banks may have the edge over their rivals when it comes to charges and rates, but they are not immune from complaints.

在收费和利率方面，网络银行可能比它们的对手有优势，但它们也不能免于投诉。

【相关俚语】

take the edge off sth 减弱

The sandwich took the edge off my appetite.

这份三明治使我食欲大减。

【近义词】

bleeding-edge

4.booming (经济) 繁荣的

High-end designers are chasing the booming children's-wear market.

高端设计师正在追逐蓬勃发展的童装市场。

【相关搭配】

①fuel a boom 助推繁荣

The country's radical tax system is helping fuel a boom that rivals Asia's tiger economies.

该国激进的税收体系正在助推一场可与亚洲四小龙媲美的繁荣。

②boom in sth ...的增长

The boom in internet share prices has fuelled a huge growth in stock market values around the world.

互联网股价的增长推动了全球股市价值的大幅增长。

5.ensconce 安置；安顿下来

We have ensconce ourselves in the most beautiful villa in the south of France.

我们在法国南部最美丽的别墅里安顿下来。

【近义词】

settle

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