Lesson18 Electric Currents in Modern Art
现代艺术中的电流
新概念3课文内容:
Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more. The idea that modern art can only be seen in museums is mistaken. Even people who take no interest in art cannot have failed to notice examples of modern sculpture on display in public places. Strange forms stand in gardens, and outside buildings and shops. We have got quite used to them. Some so-called 'modern' pieces have been on display for nearly eighty years.
In spite of this, some people-including myself-were surprise by a recent exhibition of modern sculpture. The first thing I saw when I entered the art gallery was a notice which said: 'Do not touch the exhibits. Some of them are dangerous!' The objects on display were pieces of moving sculpture. Oddly shaped forms that are suspended form the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody. These objects, however, were different. Lined up against the wall, there were long thin wires attached to metal spheres. The spheres had been magnetized and attracted or repelled each other all the time. In the centre of the hall, there were a number of tall structures which contained coloured lights. These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off angrily. It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment. These peculiar forms not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well!
新概念英语3逐句精讲:
1.Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more.
现代雕塑不再使我们感到惊讶了。
语言点1:rarely为频度副词,单独出现即表示否定。
语言点2:写作套路解析:“sth./sb.+否定频度副词+v.+sb.+强调性否定副词”结构
写作1:中国人不再对地震感到恐慌了。
Earthquake rarely shocks us Chinese people any more.
2.The idea that modern art can only be seen in museums is mistaken.
那种认为现代艺术只能在博物馆里才能看到的观点是错误的。
语言点:句子结构分析:that引导同位语从句,解释说明idea。这句话的主干结构为The idea is mistaken。
3.Even people who take no interest in art cannot have failed to notice examples of modern sculpture on display in public places.
即使是对艺术不感兴趣的人也不会注意到在公共场所展示的现代艺术品。
语言点1:句子结构分析:who引导定语从句,修饰people,表示“…的人”。
语言点2:cannot have failed to do结构是双重否定,表示肯定,即“不会做不到…”。
4. Strange forms stand in gardens, and outside buildings and shops.
公园里、大楼和商店外竖立着的奇形怪状的雕塑。
语言点1:句子结构分析:两个and并列连接三个不同的地点状语。
语言点2:stand的意思是“处于,位于”,在本句中可以译为“立着”。
5. We have got quite used to them.
对这些,我们已经司空见惯了。
语言点:句子结构分析:have got used to是用现在完成时强调“早已习惯了”。
6. Some so-called 'modern' pieces have been on display for nearly eighty years.
有些所谓的“现代”艺术品在那里已经陈列了近80年了。
语言点:句子结构分析:so-called表示“所谓的”,作piece的定语。
7.In spite of this, some people-including myself-were surprise by a recent exhibition of modern sculpture.
尽管如此,最近举办的一次现代雕塑展览还是使一些人(包括我在内)大吃了一惊。
语言点:句子结构分析:including myself为插入语,使整个句子的意思更加完整,但删去也不会影响对句子意思的理解。
8. The first thing I saw when I entered the art gallery was a notice which said: 'Do not touch the exhibits. Some of them are dangerous!'
走进展厅首先看到的是一张告示,上面写着“切勿触摸展品,某些展品有危险!”
语言点:句子结构分析:thing的后面是省去了引导词that的定语从句。
9. The objects on display were pieces of moving sculpture.
展品都是些活动的雕像。
语言点:句子结构分析:on display为介词短语,作后置定语,修饰objects,强调的是“参展的”物品并非别的什么东西。
10. Oddly shaped forms that are suspended form the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody.
人们所熟悉的是悬挂在天花板上、造型奇特、随风飘荡的雕塑品。
语言点1:句子结构分析:that引导定语从句,修饰forms。
语言点2:in resonse to的意思是“对…作出反应”
11. These objects, however, were different.
这些展品却使人大开眼界。
语言点:句子结构分析:结合上个句子的含义,本句可以理解为“这些展品对于人民的吸引力或者震撼力和那些人们已经熟知的展品是不同的”。
12. Lined up against the wall, there were long thin wires attached to metal spheres.
靠墙排列着许多细长的电线,而电线又连着金属球。
语言点:句子结构分析:主句为there be句型。
13. The spheres had been magnetized and attracted or repelled each other all the time.
金属球经过磁化,互相之间不停地相互吸引或相互排斥。
语言点:句子结构分析:had been magnetized 是过去完成时的被动语态。all the time强调“一直不停地”。
14. In the centre of the hall, there were a number of tall structures which contained coloured lights.
展厅中央是装有彩色灯泡的许多高高的构件。
语言点:句子结构分析:in the centre of the hall置于句首,作地点状语。Which引导定语从句,修饰structrues。
15. These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad.
灯泡一刻不停地闪烁着,就像失去了控制的红绿灯。
语言点:句子结构分析:which引导定语从句,修饰traffic lights。
16. Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off angrily.
小黑盒子里迸出火花,红色灯泡发怒似地忽明忽暗。
语言点:angrily在本句中不可直译为“生气地”,这是拟人修辞格。
17. It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.
这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。
语言点:句子结构分析:it指的是exhibition。Like an exhibition是介词短语,作表语。
18. These peculiar forms not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well!
好像设计这些奇形怪状的展品不仅是为了给人感情上的强烈刺激,而且还想给人以电击似的!
语言点1:句子结构分析;not only…but…as well引导并列结构,强调“不仅…而且…”,将as well放在句尾,婉转地结束,显得不突兀。
语言点2:本句中的shock people emotionally不可直译为“震撼人们情感上地”,可将语序调整后译为“为了给人感情上的强烈刺激”,既做到了不改变句子的原意,又便于理解,一举两得。