prior to … 在……之前

reach the overwhelming consensus 达成绝对一致

be not rivaled … 没有什么能够匹敌

enjoy an unparalleled popularity 无比流行

discrepancy 差异

built-in 内置

inclination 倾向

develop a hit-list of our main fears 列出一串我们很担忧的事情

be hailed as 被当作……(好事)

trigger 导致

a fringe of 一小部分

in vast numbers 大量地

appear=seem 看起来

pose a devastating problem 带来了严重的问题

have=share

it will matter/work 会起作用的

do more harm than good 弊大于利

amount to 攀升

to put it another way, 换言之

launch 开始、启动

be derived from … 来自于……

the impetus/drive of … …的动力

make sth possible/make it possible that使……成为可能

be known as ...以……而着称