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第十八课 ​

一、课文原文 ​

Electric Currents in Modern Art

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!

二、 核心词汇与词组精讲、拓展及例句 ​

1. sculpture

  • 英文释义：The art of making three-dimensional solid objects; a piece of such art.
  • 中文释义：雕塑；雕刻作品。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • statue（雕像，多指人物）：A bronze statue of the king.
    • carving（木雕/石雕）：An intricate wood carving.
    • sculptor（雕塑家）：Michelangelo was a famous sculptor.

2. exhibit

  • 英文释义：An object or collection of objects on public display in an art gallery or museum.
  • 中文释义：展品；陈列品。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • artifact（文物，手工艺品）：Ancient artifacts from the tomb.
    • display（展示物）：The display was very impressive.
    • exhibition（展览会，指整体活动）：A photography exhibition.

3. magnetize

  • 英文释义：To make (a piece of iron or steel) magnetic; to attract or fascinate.
  • 中文释义：使磁化；（引申）吸引，迷住。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • attract（吸引）：The bright lights attracted moths.
    • repel（排斥，反义词）：Like poles repel each other.
    • fascinate（使着迷）：The story fascinated the children.

4. flicker

  • 英文释义：To shine unsteadily; to burn or shine with a wavering light.
  • 中文释义：闪烁；摇曳；忽明忽暗。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • flash（突然闪光，通常很短暂）：Lightning flashed across the sky.
    • gleam（发微光，柔和的光）：The moonlight gleamed on the water.
    • glow（持续发光，如余烬）：The embers glowed in the dark.

5. emit

  • 英文释义：To produce and discharge (something, especially gas, radiation, or sound).
  • 中文释义：发出；散发；放射。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • give off（散发，较口语化）：The flowers give off a sweet scent.
    • radiate（辐射，散发热量/情感）：The sun radiates heat.
    • discharge（排出，释放）：The factory discharges toxic waste.

6. peculiar

  • 英文释义：Strange or odd; unusual.
  • 中文释义：奇特的；古怪的；特有的。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • bizarre（极其古怪的，荒诞的）：A bizarre fashion trend.
    • eccentric（古怪的，多形容人）：An eccentric old man.
    • distinctive（独特的，褒义）：A distinctive style of painting.

7. shock

  • 英文释义：A sudden upsetting or surprising event or experience; a sudden painful sensation caused by electric current.
  • 中文释义：震惊；电击。
  • 核心词组：emotionally shocked（感情上受刺激）；electric shock（触电）。
  • 词汇拓展与例句：
    • stun（使震惊）：The news stunned everyone.
    • appall（使惊骇）：The conditions appalled the inspectors.
    • electrocute（触电身亡）：He was electrocuted by a faulty wire.

三、 特别语法点拨（长难句） ​

1. The idea that... 引导的同位语从句

  • 原句：The idea that modern art can only be seen in museums is mistaken.
  • 解析：that 引导的从句在这里作 idea 的同位语，用来具体解释这个“想法”到底是什么内容。注意：同位语从句中的 that 不能省略，且从句本身是一个完整的句子。
  • 实战仿写：The belief that money can buy happiness is widely debated.（金钱能买来幸福这一信念备受争议。）

2. cannot have failed to... 双重否定表强烈肯定

  • 原句：Even people who take no interest in art cannot have failed to notice examples of modern sculpture...
  • 解析：cannot have done 表示对过去的强烈推测（不可能做过某事），结合 fail to do（未能做），双重否定表达了极其强烈的肯定语气，意为“不可能没有注意到”（即：绝对注意到了）。
  • 实战仿写：He is so famous that you cannot have failed to hear of him.（他太出名了，你不可能没听说过他。）

四、 智慧版写作指导 ​

1. 用“拟人化”赋予无生命物体以性格

  • 写作指导：在描写机械、灯光或自然现象时，使用带有强烈人类情感的动词或副词，能让死物瞬间“活”过来，甚至带有一种荒诞的幽默感。
  • 课文示范：...red lamps flashed on and off angrily.（灯泡不会“生气”，但用 angrily 修饰，立刻把那种毫无规律的闪烁写得像个暴躁的人。）
  • 实战仿写：The old printer groaned and complained as it chewed up the paper.（旧打印机一边吞纸，一边发出嘎吱声，仿佛在抱怨。）

2. 用“荒诞类比”增强画面感与讽刺意味

  • 写作指导：当你要描述一个极其混乱、不合常理的场景时，找一个日常生活中代表秩序的事物，然后说它“失控了”。这种类比能让读者瞬间get到那种荒谬感。
  • 课文示范：These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad.（把艺术展的灯光比作“发疯的红绿灯”，既生动又讽刺了现代艺术的“失控”。）
  • 实战仿写：The toddler ran around the supermarket like a shopping cart with a broken wheel.（小孩在超市里乱跑，就像一辆轮子坏掉的购物车。）

3. 用“双关/递进”制造绝佳的结尾（Punchline）

  • 写作指导：在文章结尾，利用一个词的双重含义（如 shock 既指“震惊”又指“电击”），将前文的铺垫收束，制造出一个令人会心一笑的“点睛之笔”。
  • 课文示范：...not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well!（前半句是艺术层面的“情感冲击”，后半句是物理层面的“触电”，完美扣题“电流”。）
  • 实战仿写：The new diet plan was supposed to help me lose weight, but instead, it just made me lose my mind.（新减肥计划本该帮我“掉肉”，结果却让我“崩溃”。）

WARNING

以上内容由AI生成，请自主辨明是否存在问题。