---
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。
---

# 18 · 现代艺术中的电流

### 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.
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：现代雕塑已经很少让我们感到惊奇了。以为只有在博物馆才能看见现代艺术，这种想法是错的。即便对艺术毫无兴趣的人，也不可能没注意到公共场所陈列的现代雕塑。花园里、楼房和商店外，到处立着造型奇特的作品，我们早已习以为常。有些所谓的“现代”作品，展出至今甚至已有近八十年了。
尽管如此，最近的一场现代雕塑展，还是让包括我在内的一些人吃了一惊。我走进美术馆，首先看到的就是一块告示：“请勿触摸展品，其中有些具有危险性！”展出的作品都能活动。大家熟悉的活动雕塑，通常是从天花板垂下的奇特造型，风一吹便晃动起来；可这次的展品完全不同。墙边一排细长的金属线上连着一些金属球，球被磁化后，不停地相互吸引、排斥。大厅中央还有几座高大的构架，里面装着彩灯，不停闪烁，仿佛发了疯的交通信号灯。小黑盒子里迸出火花，红灯则气势汹汹地忽明忽暗，看起来简直像一场“史前电子设备展”。这些古怪的装置，似乎不光要让人心灵受到震撼，还想让人真的挨上一下电击！

* **modern art**：现代艺术；art表示艺术领域时不可数，不用复数arts。

* **take no interest in**：对……不感兴趣；in 后接名词或 doing，否定位置保留在 no。

* **on display**：陈列着；强调公开展示，display前通常不加冠词。

* **have got quite used to**：已经相当习惯于；used to 后接名词或 doing；got quite used to 说习惯形成。

* **In spite of**：尽管；不顾；of 后面不直接接完整陈述句；接主语和谓语可用 although。

* **moving sculpture**：活动雕塑；moving 在本课说机械运动，不是感人的艺术。

* **suspended from**：悬挂在……下方；be suspended from + 支撑点；本课不是停学或暂停。

* **in response to**：作为对……的反应；to 是介词，后接名词性内容。

* **a gust of wind**：一阵强风；gust是突然的一阵，不能当作持续的风。

* **attached to**：连接在；附在；be attached to 描写连接；注意与 attract to（吸引）区分。

* **each other**：彼此；互相；表示双方或多方互相做某事，不是各自独立行动。

* **all the time**：一直；频繁地；根据上下文可指持续或反复，不必总理解成无一秒停顿。

* **In the centre of**：在……中心；centre前用the；美式常拼作center。

* **on and off**：时开时关；断断续续；本课说灯忽亮忽灭；也可说活动断续进行。

* **electric shocks**：电击；give someone an electric shock，与情绪冲击的 shock 形成双关。

#### 原文注释 · Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more.

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。

#### 原文注释 · In spite of this, some people—including myself—were surprised by a recent exhibition of modern sculpture.

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

用 The idea that… is… 评价一个看法，清楚区分别人的观点与自己的判断。

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

*译文依据整理稿，由本站按中文表达重新校订；解析据吴应时、何景霖整理资料及首轮审校稿；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。*