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Development of Watch ★★☆ Im sure almost every one of you looked at your watch or at a clock before you came to class today. Watches and clocks seem as much a part of our life as breathing or eating. And yet, did you know that watches and clocks were scarce in the United States until the 1850s? In the late 1700s, people didnt know the exact time unless they were near a clock. Those delightful clocks in the squares of European towns were built for the public. After all, most citizens simply couldnt afford a personal timepiece. Well into the 1800s in European and the United States, the main purpose of a watch, which, by the way, was often on a gold chain, was to show others how wealthy you were. The word wristwatch didnt even enter the English language until nearly 1900. By then the rapid pace of industrialization in the Unites States meant that measuring time had become essential. How could the factory worker get to work on time unless he or she knew exactly what time it was? Since efficiency was now measured by how fast a job was done, everyone was interested in time. And since industrialization made possible the manufacture of large quantities of goods, watches became fairly inexpensive. Furthermore, electric lights kept factories going around the clock. Being on time had entered the language—and life—of every citizen. 【Vocabulary】 scarce: adj. square: n. ［C］ timepiece: n. ［C］ wristwatch: n. ［C］ industrialization: n. ［C］ efficiency: n. ［C］ inexpensive: adj. cheap furthermore: adv. In addition, what’s more around the clock keep working day and night 【】Watches and clocks seem as much a part of our life as breathing or eating. 钟表似乎已如呼吸和饮食一般成为了我们生活的一大部分。As…as 的用法 2. The main purpose of a watch, （which, by the way, was often on a gold chain,） was to show others how wealthy you were. 注意划线部分是主干，括号中的部分为watch的定语从句。 3. The word wristwatch didnt even enter the English language until nearly 1900. Not……until 直到……才 4. And since industrialization made possible the manufa