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The Duct Tape
管道胶带
Among the contents of the toolboxes of most people in the western world you would expect to find a hammer and nails, a drill, screwdrivers and some screws.
在西方大多数人的工具箱中，你有可能找到一个锤子和一些钉子，一个电钻，几把螺丝刀和一些螺丝钉。
But if you were to ask people from North America what the most useful item in their toolboxes was, the majority of people would undoubtedly tell you that it was duct tape.
不过，你要是问北美人什么是他们工具箱里最有用的东西，多数人会肯定地告诉你是管道胶带。
Indeed, it has become an indispensable addition to every person's perception of what constitutes necessity.
的确，在每个人认为必备的东西中，管道胶带已经是必不可少的物品了。
Maybe you have never heard of duct tape. It is the brand name of a tape. Not only is it a tape, but also it is a special kind of tape.
也许你还没有听说过管道胶带。它是一种带子的商标名称。它不仅是带子，而且是一种很特殊的带子。
The name of the tape comes from the fact that it was designed as an insulating tape that can be used in duct work (channels or conduits that are used for heat to travel through to get to different areas of a building).
这种带子原是用于管道工程（用于将热能传送到大楼各个部分的管道或导管）的一种绝缘密封带子，并由此而得名。
Incredible though it seems, someone actually put a picture of a duck on the packaging of the tape from one manufacturer perhaps just as a joke or maybe because the design artist did not understand the origin of the name.
尽管看来不可思议，但确实有人将一幅鸭子的照片放在了一家生产这种带子的产品包装上。这也许只是一个玩笑，又或者是包装设计师不懂这个名称的由来。
Neither the word duck nor duct was on the label. Presumably, it was assumed that everyone could identify the product.
标签上既没有鸭子也没有管道字样。大概每个人都是能认得这种产品。
You can recognize the genuine tape because of its silver grey color.
你可以认出这种真正的带子，它是银灰色的。
The color was likely chosen because it closely resembles the color of the pipes the color of the pipes it would be used on. That was the primary intended use of the tape.
之所以选择这种颜色，很可能是因为它与管道的颜色相似。那才是为这种带子设计的主要用途。
It was unlikely that the inventor realized how many other uses could be found for this product.
发明人未必想到人们可能会为它找到许多其他用途。
Ingenious people have found many alternative uses for this tape. The binder on the tape is of good quality and it will stick to most surfaces.
聪明的人们发现了这种带子的许多其他用途。这种带子上的粘合剂质量很好，能够粘着在大多数物体的表面。
The tape is of great strength. It is impossible to tear the tape. It must be cut.
带子的强度很大，不可能被撕破，所以必须用刀切割。
The durable nature of the tape is one of its main assets. It comes in a variety of widths and the length of the tape on the roll will vary as well.
耐久性是这种带子的最可贵之处。它被制成多种宽度，一卷带子的长度也可以变化。
The number of centimeters wide and the number of meters long will determine the price of the roll.
一卷带子有几厘米宽和几米长，决定了它自身的价格。
The duct tape is acquiring fame as the number of its uses for it exceeds the thoughts possible. The number of uses for this tape will amaze you.
管道胶带之所以有名，在于它的用途超出人们的想象，多得让人吃惊。
One internet Website started out trying to identify 101 uses for the duct tape and the list has well over 200 uses on it now. Maybe there are an infinite number of uses.
一个互联网站最开始为这种带子列举了101种用途，而现在这个清单上已经超过200种了。可能有数不完的用途。
Some of the items it lists involve an imagination but others are quite genuine.
在这个清单上有的用途可能只是一种想象，但其他一些用途确实是相当真实的。
Not even a kindergarten student requires instruction on how to use it.
甚至幼儿园的学童不用教就可以学会怎样使用它。
One idea seems to generate another, inspired by the unique way someone else has decided to make use of the tape.
别人以独特的方式使用带子的富有灵感的一个念头，似乎会引发另外的想法。
However, some of the uses are not feasible to execute. For instance, the use of the tape as a bandage is not recommended. It could cause injury when it is removed.
不过，有些用途是不可行的。例如，将这种带子作为绷带就不值得推荐。拿下它时会造成伤害。
You must evaluate the list with a sense of humor as some of the uses could embarrass a person.
你必须带着幽默感去评价这份清单，因为有些用途会给人带来麻烦。
The commercial value of the tape is undoubtedly tremendous with huge profits resulting from the sales. The product practically promotes itself without much need for publicity.
这种带子的商业价值毫无疑问是巨大的，能带来丰厚的销售利润。这种产品实际上不需要太多宣传就能自我推销。
Sometimes you see people, usually male rather than female, wearing shirts that have a slogan written on them that says, "I can fix anything" -- and then there is a picture of a duct tape below the saying.
有时候你看到人们，通常是男性而非女性，穿的衬衫上写着：“我能维修一切”的字样，下面有张管道胶带的图片。
The implication presumably is that the duct tape replaces skill.
其含义大概是，管道胶带取代了技能。
Another good marketing strategy that people enjoy is the use of a calendar. There is one page on the calendar for every day of the year and each page shows and describes a new use of the duct tape.
另一个人们惯用的有效营销策略是利用日历。有种日历上一年中的每一天都有单独一页，每页上都展示和说明管道胶带的一种新用途。
