Developing ideas 课文精读 · 弗兰克林的实验
一、课文原文及逐段翻译
第1段
1. Benjamin Franklin’s famous experiment with lightning has introduced generations of children to science. However, new research suggests that the story may be fiction instead of fact.
1. 本杰明·富兰克林关于闪电的著名实验已引领一代又一代的儿童迈入科学世界。然而，新的研究表明，这个故事可能是虚构的，而并非事实。
第2段
2. The well-known story is that the American Founding Father and scientist flew a kite 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 with a piece of string tied to it. A metal key was attached to the string. A flash of lightning hit the kite, and electricity was conducted through the string to the key. Franklin then touched the key with his finger and got an electric shock. This, he said, proved that lightning was a form of electricity.
2. 这一广为人知的故事讲述了这位美国开国元勋和科学家在1752年的一场暴风雨中放风筝的经历。当时，不少人对电感兴趣。人们想知道闪电是否真的由电产生，还是另有源头。富兰克林就是其中之一。他在风筝上系了一根细绳，细绳上绑着一把金属钥匙。闪电击中了风筝，电流通过绳子传到了钥匙上。接着富兰克林用手指触碰钥匙，感受到了电击。他说，这一实验证明了闪电是电的一种形式。
第3段
3. For many years, schools have taught the story of Franklin’s lightning experiment. More than one generation of schoolchildren has been amazed by his bravery and his scientific approach to looking for the truth. Franklin, along with many other scientists, has inspired us and taught us that scientific experiments are important in order to establish the truth and to contribute towards later scientific discoveries and inventions.
3. 多年来，学校一直在讲授富兰克林闪电实验的故事。数代学生都叹服于富兰克林的勇气与追寻真理时采用的科学手段。富兰克林与许多其他科学家激励并教导我们，科学实验对于推定真理与推动科学发现及发明而言都至关重要。
第4段
4. However, neither the story nor the details of the experiment are entirely true. Although it has been proved that Franklin’s experiment took place, more than one scientist has questioned what really happened. The detail about the string and the key is true. But scientists all agree that if Franklin had actually touched the key, he would certainly have died from the electric shock.
4. 然而，不管是故事本身还是实验细节都并非完全属实。虽然已证实富兰克林的这一实验确有其事，但不少科学家还是对事实真相提出了质疑。使用细绳和钥匙这一细节是真实的，但科学家们一致认为，如果富兰克林真的碰到了钥匙，他必定会被电死。
第5段
5. Scientists often question accepted ideas 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 with his theory of gravity. In fact, more than one account suggests that while Newton was certainly inspired by a falling apple, there is no proof that it hit him on the head.
5. 科学家们常常对已被人们接受的观点提出质疑，以求证事实。一些科学家甚至质疑关于苹果砸中了牛顿的脑袋促使他提出了万有引力定律的故事。事实上，多处资料显示，虽然牛顿的灵感确实来源于掉落的苹果，但没有证据表明这个苹果恰巧砸在了他的脑袋上。
第6段
6. Admittedly, fiction is often more interesting than the truth. People have been more inspired by Franklin’s spirit of scientific exploration than by the facts themselves. But in science, facts should be proved by experiments and research, and we should not always believe everything we read or hear—even if it is a great story.
6. 诚然，虚构往往比真相更有趣。富兰克林科学探索精神比事实本身更能激励人们。但在科学领域，能被实验与研究所证明的东西才算作事实，我们不应全盘相信我们读到或听到的事——即使它是一个精彩的故事。
二、重点单词
experiment n.：实验；试验。Franklin’s famous experiment.
fiction n.：虚构；小说。the story may be fiction.
conduct v.：传导；引导。electricity was conducted through the string.
shock n. / v.：电击；震惊。got an electric shock.
amaze v.：使惊奇；使惊叹。has been amazed by his bravery.
bravery n.：勇敢；勇气。amazed by his bravery.
establish v.：确立；证实。to establish the truth.
contribute v.：贡献；促成。contribute towards discoveries.
entirely adv.：完全地。are not entirely true.
question v.：质疑；提问。has questioned what happened.
account n.：描述；记载。more than one account suggests.
proof n.：证据；证明。there is no proof.
exploration n.：探索。spirit of scientific exploration.
admittedly adv.：诚然；无可否认地。Admittedly, fiction is often...
三、一词多义与熟词生义
fiction 常见义为文学体裁“小说”，课文 the story may be fiction 指“虚构的事、与事实相对”。
conduct 常见义“组织、实施（活动）”，课文 electricity was conducted 指物理“传导（电流）”。
shock 常见义“震惊（情绪）”，an electric shock 指物理“电击”。
question 常见义为名词“问题”，课文 has questioned 作动词“质疑、提出疑问”。
account 常见义“账户、账目”，more than one account 指“（文字）记载、说法”。
place 常见义“地方”，took place 为短语动词，意为“发生”。
四、重点词块
introduce ... to 把……引入；使初次接触
instead of 而不是；取代
Founding Father 开国元勋
be tied to 被系在……上
be attached to 被固定在……上
be conducted through 通过……传导
get an electric shock 遭受电击
along with 与……一起
in order to 为了；以便
contribute towards 对……作出贡献
more than one 不止一个；多个
come up with 想出；提出（想法）
there is no proof that 没有……的证据
believe everything we read or hear 全盘相信所见所闻
五、长难句拆解
【原句 1】Benjamin Franklin’s famous experiment with lightning has introduced generations of children to science.
【主干】experiment has introduced generations of children to science.
【分层】with lightning 为介词短语作后置定语修饰 experiment；introduce ... to ... 为“把……引入……”结构。
【译文】富兰克林关于闪电的著名实验已引领一代代儿童迈入科学世界。
【考点】介词短语作定语；introduce ... to 固定搭配。
【原句 2】A flash of lightning hit the kite, and electricity was conducted through the string to the key.
【主干】A flash hit the kite, and electricity was conducted.
【分层】and 连接并列句；后句为一般过去时被动语态，through the string to the key 为路径状语。
【译文】一道闪电击中风筝，电流通过细绳传导到钥匙上。
【考点】并列句；一般过去时被动语态；路径状语。
【原句 3】Franklin, along with many other scientists, has inspired us and taught us that scientific experiments are important in order to establish the truth and to contribute towards later scientific discoveries and inventions.
【主干】Franklin has inspired us and taught us that ...
【分层】along with ... 为插入语，谓语与 Franklin 一致（单数）；that 引导宾语从句，从句含 in order to 引出两个并列目的状语。
【译文】富兰克林与许多其他科学家激励并教导我们，科学实验对于确立真理、推动日后科学发现与发明至关重要。
【考点】along with 主谓一致；that 宾语从句；in order to 目的状语。
【原句 4】But scientists all agree that if Franklin had actually touched the key, he would certainly have died from the electric shock.
【主干】scientists agree that ...
【分层】that 引导宾语从句；该从句为虚拟语气：if + had done（与过去相反），主句 would have died；die from 表“死于（原因）”。
【译文】但科学家们一致认为，如果富兰克林真的碰了钥匙，他必定已被电击致死。
【考点】that 宾语从句；与过去事实相反的虚拟语气。
【原句 5】In fact, more than one account suggests that while Newton was certainly inspired by a falling apple, there is no proof that it hit him on the head.
【主干】account suggests that ...
【分层】that 引导宾语从句；while 在从句中表“虽然”引导让步状语从句；there is no proof that ... 中 that 引导同位语从句说明 proof。
【译文】事实上，多处记载显示，虽然牛顿确实受落果启发，但没有证据表明苹果砸中了他的头。
【考点】while 让步状语从句；同位语从句；被动语态 inspired by。
六、语法点清单
1. 现在完成时（have/has + done）
has introduced；have taught；has questioned。强调动作对现在的影响与持续。
2. 被动语态（一般过去 / 现在完成）
was conducted；was attached；has been amazed；has been proved。突出动作承受者。
3. 虚拟语气（与过去相反）
if Franklin had touched ..., he would have died ...。if 用过去完成，主句用 would have done。
4. 同位语从句（that）
no proof that it hit him on the head。that 解释 proof 的具体内容。
5. while 表让步
while Newton was inspired ... 此处 while = although，意为“虽然”，易与“当……时”混淆。
6. 并列连词与平行结构
neither ... nor ...；in order to ... and to ...；read or hear。注意主谓一致与平行。
七、逻辑链
引出（第1段）：富兰克林风筝实验家喻户晓 → 但新研究称其或为虚构
↓
复述（第2段）：重述1752年风筝引电故事的细节
↓
价值（第3段）：故事激励数代学生，彰显科学实验之重要
↓
质疑（第4—5段）：故事与细节非全真 → 若真触钥必死；牛顿苹果亦被质疑
↓
结论（第6段）：虚构更有趣，但科学须以实验证事实，不可尽信
这是一篇“驳立结合”的议论/说明文。 第1—2段先摆出广为流传的实验故事；第3段肯定其教育价值；第4—5段用科学事实与类比（牛顿）进行质疑，是论证核心；第6段升华：精神可嘉，但求真须靠实证，结构“述故事—赞价值—揭疑点—点主旨”。
八、写作迁移
模板 1：... has introduced generations of ... to ...
课文：Franklin’s experiment has introduced generations of children to science.
仿写：His novels have introduced generations of readers to the beauty of Chinese culture.（他的小说让一代代读者领略了中国文化之美。）——用于写某事物的影响力。
模板 2：neither ... nor ... are / is ...
课文：neither the story nor the details of the experiment are entirely true.
仿写：Neither the price nor the appearance is the real reason for my choice.（价格与外观都不是我选择的真正原因。）——用于否定两方面。
模板 3：But scientists all agree that if ... had done ..., ... would have done ...
课文：if Franklin had actually touched the key, he would certainly have died.
仿写：Doctors agree that if he had seen a doctor earlier, he would have recovered.（医生一致认为若他早就医本可康复。）——用于虚拟语气写假设后果。
模板 4：In fact, more than one account suggests that ...
课文：In fact, more than one account suggests that while Newton was inspired..., there is no proof.
仿写：In fact, more than one study suggests that while coffee is tasty, too much harms sleep.（事实上多项研究指出，咖啡虽好喝，过量却伤睡眠。）——用于引证据展开论证。
模板 5：we should not always believe everything we read or hear—even if it is ...
课文：we should not always believe everything we read or hear—even if it is a great story.
仿写：We should not always believe everything online—even if it looks convincing.（我们不应尽信网上所见，即便它看似可信。）——用于批判性结尾。
支付后无法下载，请加客服微信：yxyh29661 建议在QQ等浏览器中注册登录后下载，可用QQ登录 谢谢配合。