新外研版

高中英语

第三册

Unit 3

B

Developing ideas

课文再现

 

 

英汉对照

FRANKLIN’S EXPERIMENT: How Much Is True?

弗兰克林的实验：有多少是真的？

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.

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。

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.

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。

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.

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。

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.

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。

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.

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。

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.

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。

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