常春藤生活英语【144】Clothespins 小小衣夹大学问

Clothespins 小小衣夹大学问

Sometimes the most ordinary household items have a fascinating history. Clothespins have been used for many years to pin laundry to clotheslines so they can dry in the sun. Most clothespins today are two pieces of wood or plastic that are joined together by a spring. The inventor of this design was an American named David M. Smith. He was from Vermont and patented the first clothespin in 1853.

The original style of clothespins, however, was created by a religious society called the Shakers. Their clothespin is made of a single piece of wood. The two legs of the pin are pushed apart and then the tension between them grasps the clothes.

Clothespins are not only used for hanging laundry. During World War II, people did not have a lot of money, so a box of clothespins was a popular children's toy. In the film industry, special wooden clothespins are used for working with movie lights. They clip colored filters to the lights and keep messy cords out of the way. Though they are small, clothespins have proven to be extremely convenient and helpful throughout history.

有时连最不起眼的家用物品都有着引人入胜的历史。晒衣夹多年来被用在将衣物固定在晒衣绳上，好让阳光晒干衣物。如今大多数的衣夹是利用弹簧将两片木头或塑料连接在一起。这项设计的发明者是一位名叫戴维‧史密斯的美国人。来自佛蒙特州的他于1859年为第一个晒衣夹申请了专利。

然而晒衣夹最原先的设计是由一个叫作Shakers的宗教组织所创造的（编按：Shakers是十八世纪时美国基督教的支派之一，他们主张共有财产并强调独身，昔日祭神时会跳震动之舞，因此得名）。他们的晒衣夹是用单块木头制成。衣夹的两脚被撑开后，两者之间的拉力会抓牢衣物。

晒衣夹并不是只能拿来晾衣服而已。第二次世界大战时的人们并不富有，因此一盒衣夹就是热门的童玩。在电影业中，操作电影灯光时，特制的木头衣夹也会派上用场。它们能将滤光片固定在灯光上，并且可以让杂乱的电线不至于碍事。晒衣夹虽小，但是长久的历史下来在在证明了它们是便利有用的小帮手。 

Building Your Vocabulary  

1. household　a. 家用的
The store mainly sells household supplies.
这家店主要卖的是家庭用品。
2. fascinating　a. 迷人的
This city has a fascinating nightlife.
这个城市有着迷人的夜生活。
3. pin　vt. 固定住；把……钉住
A name tag is pinned to the waiter's shirt.
那名侍者的衬衫上别了一个名牌。
4. inventor　n. 发明者
Thomas Edison was a great inventor.
托马斯爱迪生是一名伟大的发明家。
5. religious　a. 宗教的
The Pope set out on a religious journey.
这位教宗展开了一趟宗教之旅。
6. grasp　vt. 抓牢；握紧
Paul tightly grasped the handle on the bus.
保罗紧紧抓着公交车上的扶手。
7. clip　vt. 夹住，扣住
You should clip your photo to the form before handing it in.
你应该先把照片夹在表格上之后再交出去。
8. throughout　prep. 在整个期间；遍及
It was raining throughout the northern part of the island last week.
上星期整座岛的北半部都在下雨。 

Extra Words  

1. clothespin　n. 衣夹
2. clothesline　n. 晒衣绳
3. spring　n. 弹簧
4. patent　vt. 为……申请专利
5. tension　n. 张力，拉力
6. filter　n. 滤（色）片；滤（色）镜
7. cord　n. 电线 

SENTENCE PATTERN  

Though they are small, clothespins have proven to be...
（晒衣夹虽小，但是……证明它们是……）
though 引导的副词子句，若有下列句构出现时，可用 as 取代 though：
Though + 主词 + be 动词∕连缀动词（如：seem, appear, look...）+ 形容词, 主词 + 动词
= 形容词 + though + 主词 + be 动词∕连缀动词, 主词 + 动词
= 形容词 + as + 主词 + be 动词∕连缀动词, 主词 + 动词
= As + 形容词 + as + 主词 + be 动词∕连缀动词, 主词 + 动词
Though Jay looks innocent, I don't trust him.
= Innocent as Jay looks, I don't trust him.
（小杰虽然看似天真，但我仍不太相信他。）

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