Archimedes 阿基米德

 

（4）Archimedes’ Favorite Symbols, Sphere and Cylinder.

阿基米德喜爱的标记：球体和圆柱体

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笔者对英语作了修改，并将此文翻译成汉语，英汉对照，供大家学习参考。

Archimedes contributed to pure as well as applied mathematics. (1) 阿基米德对纯粹数学及应用数学做出了贡献。

 

One of the problems that has never been solved is that of “squaring the circle.” This really means to find the exact area of a circle.  一个一直没有得到解决的问题是，怎样“求圆的面积”。这个问题的真实意思是：求一个圆的精确面积。

 

Mathematicians have given us a very close idea. They tell us that the area of the circle is equal to ΠR2, where Π (pi) has the approximate value of 3.1416. This number has never been determined exactly, but Archimedes calculated the value ofΠwith remarkable accuracy, at between 3.1408 and 3.1429. 数学家们已经给了我们一个近似的答案。他们告诉我们，圆的面积等于ΠR2， 在这个公式中，Π值大约是3.1416。这个数值从来没有精确过，但是，阿基米德非常精确地算出了Π值：3.1408 到3.1429之间。

 

Archimedes also did a great amount of work in analytic geometry, (2) especially in the properties of sections of spheres and of cones. A spiral, called the Spiral of Archimedes, is still studied by every students of calculus. 阿基米德还在分析几何方面做了大量的工作，特别是在球面和圆锥体的特征方面。螺旋线叫阿基米德螺线，仍然是每个微积分学生的必修科目。

 

   Archimedes was particularly proud of his work with the sphere and cylinder. He worked out the formulas for the surface area and the volume of the sphere, as well as the formulas (3) for the cylinder into which the sphere would exactly fit. 阿基米德对自己在球体和圆柱体方面所做的工作尤其感到自豪。他制定出计算球体表面面积和体积的公式，以及计算球体刚刚能放进去的圆柱体的公式。

 

   Archimedes showed that the sphere is the most efficient solid figure. This is why the water tanks are always in the form of a big ball. These hold the most water, using the least amount of material for their construction. 阿基米德指出，球体是最有效的固体形状。这就是水罐总是做成一个大球状的原因。这些水罐使用最少的建筑材料，而能装最多的水。

 

   Archimedes turned his talents to the machinery of war, as did many scientists in the history of civilization. His knowledge of levers was used in the construction of catapults. 阿基米德将自己的才能用于水机械研究，正像文明发展史上的许多科学家所做的那样。他的杠杆知识在制造弩炮中派上了用场。

 

   History records that it was Archimedes’ catapults that “wounded the enemy at every range” and turned the tide in favor of the Greeks during the defense of Syracuse in 215 B.C.”. (4) 根据历史记载，正是阿基米德的弩炮 “在公元前215年保卫锡拉丘兹战斗中，重创各个射程中的敌人，使战局改观，有利于希腊人。”

 

   Even now this is still true. It was only a small band of atomic scientists who produced the terrible nuclear weapons. 甚至现在，仍旧是这样。仅仅是少数的原子科学家们，制造出了可怕的核武器

   Several years later, Syracuse was captured by Marcellus, the Roman general. He had given orders that Archimedes be spared and his home left untouched. Something went wrong and Archimedes fell victim to the sword of a Roman soldier. 几年后，罗马将军马尔塞鲁斯攻陷锡拉丘兹。他曾下令：饶恕阿基米德，不准动他的家。但是，出了问题，阿基米德死在罗马士兵的刀下。

 

   The Romans buried Archimedes with honors and marked his tomb with his favorite symbols, a sphere and a cylinder. 罗马人隆重安葬阿基米德，在他的墓碑上刻上他喜爱的标记：球体和圆柱体。

 

   Archimedes was a giant, a scientist and mathematician of extraordinary greatness. 阿基米德是一位极其伟大的巨人、科学家和数学家

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注释：

1.       Archimedes contributed to pure as well as applied mathematics.

句子中的pure mathematics表示“纯粹数学”，指从数学结构本身进行内在研究，而不涉及成果的实际效用。

2.       Archimedes also did a great amount of work in analytic geometry…

句子中的amount 表示“量，总量”，一般接不可数名词。表示“大量”时，可用复数。再比如：The government spent a large amount of money in irrigation. (政府在灌溉方面支出了大量的钱。) / Generous amounts of vitamin C given to patients have increased effective ness of anesthetics. (大量地给病人使用维生素C增加了麻醉剂效力。)

3.       He worked out the formulas … and the volume of the sphere, as well as the formulas…

句子中的连词as well as表示“以及”。 注意它和and 与not only… but also的用法差异：

1) A as well as B: 强调的是A。比如：He was my friend as well as my doctor. (他既是我的朋友，又是我的医生。— 强调首先是朋友)

2) Not only A but also B, 强调的是B。比如：I not only heard it, but also saw it. (我不但听到而且还看到了。— 强调后者看到了)

3) A and B, 对两者的强调几乎相同。比如：She loved her sister and brother. (她爱她的姐姐和哥哥。— 强调对姐姐和哥哥都一样地爱)

4.       … Archimedes’ catapults …turned the tide in favor of the Greeks…

句子中的习惯用语turned the tide表示“改变局面“，强调事态从一个极端变化为另一个极端。再比如：The offensive turned the tide of the war. (这次进攻使战局改观。)

 

中考、高考模拟题

 

1.       According to the passage the area of a circle is __________.

A.      between 3.1408 and 3.1429

B.      equal toΠR2 

C.      3.1416

D.     less thanΠR2

2.       All of the following statements are true except that ___________.

A.      Archimedes contributed much to pure mathematics

B.      Archimedes solved the problem of squaring the circle

C.      Archimedes did a lot of work in analytic geometry

D.     Archimedes failed to calculate the value of Π

3.       What symbols did Archimedes like best according to the passage?

A.      sphere and cylinder

B.      triangle and square

C.      geometry

D.     line and area

4.       The underlined phrase “be spared” in the passage means _______.

A.      be driven away

B.      be given a lot of money

C.      not to be killed

D.     not to be touched

 

参考答案：

1. B    2. D    3. A    4. C