---
url: https://gaojian.site/new-concept/book-3/18-electric-currents-in-modern-art.md
description: 新概念英语第三册：Electric Currents in Modern Art。精读、词块回忆、双向译练、句法、逻辑与FSRS复习。
---

# 现代艺术中的电流

## 课文学习台 {#study}

### 第1段

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.

中文理解：现代雕塑很难使我们感到惊讶了。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。即使是对艺术不感兴趣的人也不会注意不到在公共场所展示的现代艺术品。公园里、大楼和商店外竖立着的奇形怪状的雕塑，对这些，我们早已司空见惯。有些所谓的“现代”艺术品在那里已经陈列了近80年。

* **failed to**：未能做到；可以客观交代未完成的事，不必总理解为能力不足。

* **used to**：过去常常 / 习惯于；used to do 说过去习惯；be used to 后说已习惯的事，别混用。

#### 这一段的读法与用法

注释：①rarely = seldom。②take no interest in 对什么不感兴趣，该句式还有take delight in 对什么感到高兴等。③on display = exhibited, on view。

### 第2段

In spite of this, some people—including myself—were surprised 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 from 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!

中文理解：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。走进展厅首先看到的是一张告示，上面写着“请勿触摸展品，某些展品危险！”展品都是些活动的雕像。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。这些展品却与众不同。靠墙排列着许多细长的电线，并连着金属球。金属球经过磁化，相互之间不停地吸引或排斥。展厅中央是装有彩色灯泡的许多高高的构件，灯泡一刻不停地闪烁着，就像失去了控制的红绿灯。小黑盒子里迸出火花，红色灯泡发怒似地忽明忽暗。这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。这些奇特的展品似乎不仅是为了给人以感情震撼，而且还给人以电击而设计的！

* **In spite of**：尽管；of 后不直接接一个完整陈述句；要接句子可换 although。

* **each other**：梦想或想到 / 彼此；of 后可接 -ing；each other 表示关系是双向的。

* **all the time**：到……的时候 / 偶尔 / 一直 / 同时；时间词帮助组织先后关系，但不能仅凭一个时间词机械决定时态。

* **a number of**：许多 / 大量 / 少量；a number of 说若干个；the number of 说数量本身，主谓一致要跟着变。

* **not only**：不仅 / 两者都不 / 是否；找齐成对结构的两端；不是看见 not only 就一律倒装。

#### 这一段的读法与用法

注释：①Oddly = peculiarly, strangely, eccentric。②suspended = hung。 ③response = answer。④familiar = well-known。词组be familiar to sb./sb. be familiar with sth.对某人来说很熟悉。⑤attached = connected, attach to sb. for sth.因为某事而把…加在某人身上。⑥flickered continuously = shone unsteadily all the time。 ⑦It was rather like = It was more like，更像是。

#### Summary 摘要

On entering the art gallery, the writer saw a notice which forbade(forbid-forbade-forbidden) people to touch the exhibits because they were dangerous. The exhibition consisted of pieces of moving sculpture. Against a wall, the writer saw long thin wires attached to metal spheres which attracted and repelled each other. In the centre of the hall were tall structures containing coloured lights which went on and off. Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off. (79 words)

#### Composition 作文 An Interesting Exhibition 一个有趣的展览

\[1]Recently I went to the Royal Academy in London to see the summer exhibition. The work of many artists was on display and the exhibition aroused a lot of public interest. Crowds of people filled the galleries.

\[2]The pictures were, with a few exceptions, mainly by relatively unknown artists. Many of them were traditional pictures of landscapes and portraits(n.肖像，描写). I particularly liked a picture of an old farmhouse by a stream with a few sheep in a field. The strangest picture I saw was an untitled abstract painting by a well-known modern artist. It consisted of swirls(漩涡) of different colours which had been rubbed into the canvas(帆布) with the artist's fingers. The picture looked a mess, but was also very effective, attracting a lot of comment.

\[3]I couldn't help(重点句型+v-ing,情不自禁做) overhearing(无意中听到) what people said, things like "I could paint a picture like that with my eyes shut" or "Look how perfect the sunset(n.日落，日出是sunrise) is in that painting. I'd love to own a picture like that", and so on(=and so forth). There is no doubt it was an excellent exhibition because there were so many different styles on display. There was something to suit everyone, but only if you could afford the high prices! (200 words)

## 学完这一课

保留原段的推进关系，换成自己的经历，写或说一段四五句的话。

[Nce · 本册复习台](/new-concept/book-3/review) · [三册选择地图](/new-concept/)

*译文与解析据吴应时、何景霖整理资料及本站首轮审校稿；词伙与练习提示为本站学习设计。原PDF第62—64页，2022年2月第3版。*