---
url: https://gaojian.site/new-concept/book-4/22-knowledge-and-progress.md
description: 新概念英语第四册：Knowledge and Progress。精读、词块回忆、双向译练、句法、逻辑与FSRS复习。
---

# 22 · 知识和进步

### 第1段

Why does the idea of progress loom so large in the modern world? Surely because progress of a particular kind is actually taking place around us and is becoming more and more manifest. Although mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality, it has made extraordinary progress in the accumulation of knowledge.
Knowledge began to increase as soon as the thoughts of one individual could be communicated to another by means of speech. With the invention of writing, a great advance was made, for knowledge could then be not only communicated but also stored. Libraries made education possible, and education in its turn added to libraries: the growth of knowledge followed a kind of compound-interest law, which was greatly enhanced by the invention of printing. All this was comparatively slow until, with the coming of science, the tempo was suddenly raised. Then knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan. The trickle became a stream; the stream has now become a torrent. Moreover, as soon as new knowledge is acquired, it is now turned to practical account. What is called "modern civilization" is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature, but of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life.
The problem now facing humanity is: What is going to be done with all this knowledge? As is so often pointed out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon which can be used equally for good or evil. It is now being used indifferently for both. Could any spectacle, for instance, be more grimly whimsical than that of gunners using science to shatter men's bodies while, close at hand, surgeons use it to restore them? We have to ask ourselves very seriously what will happen if this twofold use of knowledge, with its ever-increasing power, continues.

中文理解：为什么“进步”这个观念在现代世界如此突出？无疑是因为，某一种进步确实正在我们周围发生，而且越来越明显。尽管人类在智力和道德上并未普遍改善，知识的积累却取得了惊人的进展。
自从一个人能通过语言把思想传给另一个人，知识就开始增长。文字的发明带来了一大进步，因为知识从此不仅能够传播，还能够保存。图书馆使教育成为可能，教育又反过来充实图书馆：知识的增长仿佛遵循复利规律，印刷术的发明更大大加强了这种作用。在科学兴起之前，这一切还相对缓慢；科学出现后，步伐突然加快，知识开始按照系统的计划积累。涓涓细流汇成溪流，溪流如今又化作洪流。而且，新知识一经获得，很快就会付诸实际应用。所谓“现代文明”，并不是人性各方面均衡发展的结果，而是积累起来的知识运用于实际生活的产物。
人类现在面临的问题是：这些知识究竟要拿来做什么？正如人们常说，知识是一把双刃剑，既可行善，也可作恶。如今，它不加区别地被用于这两方面。例如，炮兵用科学把人的身体炸得支离破碎，近旁的外科医生却又用科学修复这些身体；还有什么景象比这更残酷而荒诞呢？我们必须严肃地问自己：如果知识的力量不断增强，却仍同时被这样用于善与恶，结果将会怎样？

* **loom so large**：显得如此突出；常说问题或观念占据重要位置，不是物体一定很大。

* **a particular kind**：某一种类型；undefined

* **made extraordinary progress**：取得惊人进展；progress通常不可数，不说make a progress。

* **the accumulation of knowledge**：知识的积累；积累说数量或经验增长，不自动等于判断更好。

* **by means of speech**：通过语言；undefined

* **a great advance**：一大进步；advance可数，progress通常不可数。

* **in its turn**：反过来；轮到它时；文中是教育再充实图书馆的循环，不只是列顺序。

* **compound-interest law**：复利规律；undefined

* **a systematic plan**：系统计划；systematic是有系统有步骤，不等于systemic系统性的。

* **a torrent**：洪流；undefined

* **turned to practical account**：用于实际；较书面，日常可用put something to practical use。

* **balanced development**：均衡发展；比较不同方面是否一同发展，不只是总量提高。

* **a two-edged weapon**：双刃武器；同一能力有两面，论述时要分别说明好处与风险。

* **for good or evil**：用于善或恶；undefined

* **close at hand**：近在旁边；可说空间近，也可说所需物容易获得。

* **ever-increasing power**：不断增长的力量；undefined

#### Why does the idea of progress loom so large in the modern world?

特殊疑问句，Why 后使用 does + 主语 the idea of progress + 动词原形 loom，这是一般现在时问句所需的助动词，并非额外的强调用法。陈述句中则应为 the idea of progress looms…。 loom 作名词时，为织布机.

#### Surely because progress of a particular kind is actually taking place around us and is becoming more and more manifest.

并列句，第一句为主谓结构，第二句省略了主语，为主系表结构.

#### Although mankind has undergone no general improvement in intelligence or morality, it has made extraordinary progress in the accumulation of knowledge.

复合句，让步状语从句为主谓宾结构，主句亦为主谓宾结构.

#### Knowledge began to increase as soon as the thoughts of one individual could be communicated to another by means of speech.

复合句，as soon as 引导时间状语从句，主句跟从句均为主谓宾结构.

#### With the invention of writing, a great advance was made, for knowledge could then be not only communicated but also stored.

并列句，for 在这里为并列连词，for 作为并列连词时，可以连接两个相互平等的词、短语或句子，表示因果关系，因为有了文字，所以得以传播和保留知识. 这里不是原因状语从句，不能说由于可以传播和保留知识，从而发明了文字.

#### Libraries made education possible, and education in its turn added to libraries: the growth of knowledge followed a kind of compound-interest law, which was greatly enhanced by the invention of printing.

并列复合句，and 连接了两个句子，均为主谓结构，冒号后面是另一个并列句，亦为主谓结构.

在 compound 和 interest 之间教材删除了连字符“-”，本书跟随原著，补回了连字符. compound-interest law 即 law of compound interest 复利法则，爱因斯坦称之为人类第八大奇迹，滚雪球效应为 snowball effect 与复利法则讲的是两回事.

which 引导的定语从句修饰整个句子，也就是文献库和教育的相互作用是受益于印刷术的发明的. 该定语从句为主谓结构.

#### All this was comparatively slow until, with the coming of science, the tempo was suddenly raised.

主系表结构+until 引导的时间状语从句，从句为主谓结构. tempo 一词跟随原著，修改为斜体，以示作者强调.

#### Then knowledge began to be accumulated according to a systematic plan.

简单句，主谓宾结构.

#### The trickle became a stream; the stream has now become a torrent.

并列句，两个主系表结构的简单句，以分号相连，这里不能用逗号，如用逗号，则第二句 the stream 前必须加 and.

#### Moreover, as soon as new knowledge is acquired, it is now turned to practical account.

复合句，时间状语从句+主谓结构主句.

#### What is called "modern civilization" is not the result of a balanced development of all man's nature, but of accumulated knowledge applied to practical life.

复合句，主系表结构，主语由 what 引导的主语从句担任，该从句为主谓宾结构.

but 后面省略了 the result.

#### The problem now facing humanity is: What is going to be done with all this knowledge?

复合句，主句为主系表结构，表语由 what 引导的表语从句担任，表语从句为主谓结构.

humanity 一般指人性，此处指人类. 在托福、雅思等考试中，通常用于表达人文学科，以复数表达.

#### As is so often pointed out, knowledge is a two-edged weapon which can be used equally for good or evil.

复合句，as 引导的定语从句为主谓结构，此句中，as 作主语.

主句则为主系表结构，后面带了一个 which 引导的定语从句修饰 weapon.

weapon 武器，中文习惯用双刃剑表达，就入乡随俗改译成剑了. for good or for evil，第二个 for 省略了.

#### It is now being used indifferently for both.

简单句，it 指上句的 knowledge.

#### Could any spectacle, for instance, be more grimly whimsical than that of gunners using science to shatter men's bodies while, close at hand, surgeons use it to restore them?

复合句，主句为倒装的主系表结构，含一个 than 引导的比较状语.

从句为 while 引导的时间状语从句，主谓宾结构. 句子语法关系上，while 从句是跟主句相对的，但意思上只是跟前面的比较状语相对.

#### We have to ask ourselves very seriously what will happen if this twofold use of knowledge, with its ever-increasing power, continues.

复合句，主句为主谓宾形式，双宾语，其中直接宾语由 what 引导的宾语从句担任.

if 引导的条件状语从句为主谓结构.

## 学完这一课

区分一个领域进步与另一个领域尚未改善。

[Nce · 本册复习台](/new-concept/book-4/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88—91页，2022年2月第2版。*