内容正文:
Unit 3 The world of science教材原文助读6
①experiment [Ik'sperImənt]
n.(科学)实验
vi.做实验
②lightning ['laItnIŋ] n.
闪电
a flash of lightning一道闪电
③introduce vt.[熟词生义]使初次了解;使尝试
introduce sb. to sth.
使某人初次了解某事/物
④fiction ['fIkʃ(ə)n] n. [C,U] 虚构的事,想象的事;[U] 小说
⑤fly a kite放风筝
⑥tie...to...将……系
在……上
⑦metal ['metl] n.[C,U]金属
⑧attach [ə'tætʃ] v.系,
绑;贴
⑨conduct [kən'dʌkt] v.
传导(热、电)
⑩an electric shock触电;电击
⑪be amazed by/at...
对……感到惊奇
⑫bravery ['breIvəri] n.[U] 勇敢;勇气
brave adj.勇敢的;
无畏的
⑬scientific [ˌsaIən'tIfIk]
adj.科学(上)的
a scientific approach
一种科学方法
⑭approach to (doing) sth.(做)某事的方法
⑮along with...与……一起
⑯establish the truth证实真相
establish [I'stæblIʃ] vt.[熟词生义] 证实;确定
⑰contribute [kən'trIbjuːt] vt.促成,造成(常与to搭配)
⑱entirely [In'taIəli] adv.完全地,彻底地
⑲take place发生(指按计划发生的事,不用于被动语态);举行
⑳die from...死于……
㉑accepted ideas被人接受的观点
㉒come up with提出,想出
(解决方案等),相当于put forward
㉓gravity ['ɡrævIti] n.[U]
重力,引力
㉔account [ə'kaʊnt] n.[C]
记述,描述
㉕proof [pruːf] n.[U,C]
证明,证据
proof of...……的证明
There is no proof that...
没有证据表明……
㉖admittedly [əd'mItIdli]
adv.(尤用于句首)诚然;
无可否认
㉗spirit of scientific exploration
科学探索精神
[人物小传]
本杰明·富兰克林(Benjamin Franklin, 1706~1790),美国政治家、物理学家,同时也是出版商、印刷商、记者、作家、慈善家,更是杰出的外交家及发明家。他是美国独立战争时期重要的领导人之一,参与了多项重要文件的草拟,并出任过美国驻法国大使,成功促成法国支持美国独立。本杰明·富兰克林曾经进行过多项关于电的实验,并发明了避雷针,还最早提出电荷守恒定律。法国经济学家杜尔哥对其高度评价道:“他从苍天那里取得了雷电,从暴君那里取得了民权。”
FRANKLIN'S EXPERIMENT①:
How Much Is True?
Benjamin Franklin's famous experiment with lightning② has introduced③ generations of children to science. However, [1]new research suggests that the story may be fiction④ instead of fact.
[1]此处为that引导的宾语从句,suggest在此意为“表明、暗示”,从句使用陈述语气。
The wellknown story is [2]that the American Founding Father and scientist flew a kite⑤ during a storm in 1752. At that time, there was much interest in electricity. People wanted to know if lightning was really produced by electricity or something else. Franklin was one of them. He raised the kite [3]with a piece of string tied to⑥ it. A metal⑦ key was attached⑧ to the string. A flash of lightning hit the kite, and electricity was conducted⑨ through the string to the key. Franklin then touched the key with his finger and got an electric shock⑩. This, he said, proved that lightning was a form of electricity.
[2]此处为that引导的表语从句。
[3]此处为“with+宾语+宾语补足语”结构;a piece of string与tie之间为逻辑上的动宾关系,使用过去分词作宾语补足语。 For many years, schools have taught the story of Franklin's lightning experiment. [4]More than one generation of schoolchildren has been amazed by⑪ his bravery⑫ and his scientific⑬ approach to looking⑭ for the truth. Franklin, along with⑮ many other scientists, has inspired us and taught us that scientific experiments are important in order to establish the truth⑯ and to contribute⑰ towards later scientific discoveries and inventions.
[4]此处为“more than one+可数名词单数”结构,意为“不止一个……”,其作主语时,谓语动词用第三人称单数。
However, [5]neither the story nor the details of the experiment are entirely⑱ true. [6]Although it has been proved that Franklin's experiment took place⑲, more than one scientist has questioned what really happened.
The detail about the string and the key is true. But scientists all agree that [7]if Franklin had actually touched the key, he would certainly have died from⑳ the electric shock.
[5]此处为“neither...nor...”结构,意为“既不……,也不……”,连接并列主语时,谓语动词的数遵循“就近一致”原则。
[6]本句中Although引导让步状语从句;“what really happened”为what引导的宾语从句,what在从句中作主语。
[7]此处为if虚拟条件句,表示与过去事实相反的情况。
Scientists often question accepted ideas㉑ because they want to establish the facts. Some have even questioned the story about the apple that fell on Newton's head and led him to come up with㉒ his theory of gravity㉓. [8]In fact, more than one account㉔ suggests that while Newton was certainly inspired by a falling apple, there is no proof㉕ that it hit him on the head.
[8]本句中“that while...head”为that引导的宾语从句,该从句中while引导让步状语从句,“that it hit him on the head”为that引导的同位语从句,解释说明proof的内容。
Admittedly㉖, fiction is often more interesting than the truth. People have been more inspired by Franklin's spirit of scientific exploration㉗ than by the facts themselves. But in science, facts should be proved by experiments and research, and we [9]should not always believe everything we read or hear—[10]even if it is a great story.
[9]此处为部分否定。
[10]此处为even if引导的让步状语从句。
富兰克林的实验:
有多少是真的?
本杰明·富兰克林有关闪电的著名实验使几代儿童初次了解了科学。然而,新的研究表明,这一故事可能只是杜撰的,而非事实。
这位美国开国元勋兼科学家在1752年的一场暴风雨中放风筝的故事可谓家喻户晓。在那时,人们对电的兴趣浓厚,想知道闪电是否真的由电或其他东西产生。富兰克林就是其中之一。他在风筝上系了一根绳子,然后将其放飞。绳子上绑着一把金属钥匙。一道闪电击中了风筝,电通过绳子传导至钥匙上。随后富兰克林用手指触摸钥匙,遭到了电击。他说,这证明闪电是电的一种形式。
很多年以来,学校都会讲授富兰克林的闪电实验。他的勇敢和寻求真理的科学方法使几代学生惊叹不已。富兰克林与许多其他科学家一起激励了我们,并教会我们无论是为了证实真相,还是为了促成日后的科学发现和发明,科学实验非常重要。
然而,这个故事以及实验的细节都不完全真实。尽管有人证明富兰克林的实验发生了,但不止一名科学家对其真实情况提出过质疑。绳子
和钥匙相关的细节是真的。但是科学家们一致认为,如果富兰克林真的触摸了钥匙,他肯定会因触电而身亡。
科学家经常会质疑已被人接受的观点,因为他们想要证实真相。一些科学家甚至质疑过牛顿的故事:一个苹果掉落在了牛顿的头上,促使他提出了万有引力定律。事实上,不止一种说法表明,虽然牛顿确实受到了掉落的苹果的启发,但没有证据表明这个苹果砸在了他的头上。
无可否认,虚构的故事往往比事实更加有趣。人们从富兰克林的科学探索精神受到的启发远胜于事实本身。但是,在科学领域,事实应通过实验和研究证明,我们不应该总是相信我们读到或听到的任何事情——即使那是一个了不起的故事。
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