Lesson 18  Electric currents in modern art 现代艺术的电流
How might some of the exhibits have been dangerous?
   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!

   现代雕塑不再使我们感到惊讶了。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。即使是对术不感兴趣的人也不会不注意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，我们已经司空见惯了。有些所谓的“现代”艺术品在那里已经陈列了近80年了。
    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：“切勿触摸展品，某些展品有危险！”展品都是些活动的雕塑。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。这些展品却使人大开眼界。靠墙排列着许多细长的电线，而电线又连着金属球。金属球经过磁化，互相之间不停地相互吸引或相互排斥。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。好像设计这些奇形怪状的展品不仅是为了给人感情上的强烈剌激，而且还想给人以电击似的！

New words and expression 生词和短语
★Current  n.电流（趋势, 电流, 水流, 气流）
-- the flow of electricity 电流
-- a continuous movement of water 水流
current  adj.目前的, 现在的（-- current affairs 时事）
currently  adv.普遍地, 通常地, 现在, 当前
currency  n.流通, 货币

★sculpture  n.雕塑
sculptural  adj. 雕塑的, 雕刻般的
sculptor  n.雕刻家
sculpt  v.雕刻, 造型

★mistaken  adj.错误的（= incorrect, wrong, misunderstood）
-- The teacher has mistaken opinion of his pupil.
Her doesn't use simple plain language and he is often mistaken.
Mistake  n.错误, 过失
-- make a mistake 犯错
-- by mistake 弄错了
-- He took my umbrella by mistake. 他错拿了我的伞。
-- and no mistake 确实如此
-- He is honest and no mistake. 他这个人确实很诚实。
Mistake  vt.把...误认为, 弄错, 误解
-- mistake sb for 把某人误认为
-- Yesterday I mistook him for my classmate.

★Gallery  n.美术馆

★Exhibit  n.展品, 陈列品（= something that show in public）
Exhibition  n.展览会
-- We went to an exhibition to visit exhibits.

★Oddly  adv.古怪的（= strangely）
odd  adj.古怪的（因为少见而奇怪）
strange  adj.陌生的, 奇怪的（因为陌生而奇怪）
queer  adj.奇特的（因为不同于其它的而奇怪）
-- Look, he is wearing a queer hat.
Fantastic  adj.奇妙的
Eccentric  adj.怪癖的（-- He is an eccentric person.）

★Attach  v.连，系
attach  vt.系、拴、粘上、贴上（-- attach…to…）
-- He attached the lamb to a tree.
Attach…to sb for sth  因为某事而把…加再某人身上
-- We didn't attach blame to him for his failure. 我们没有因为他的失败而责备他。
attach importance to sth  对某事非常重视
-- We attach importance to education.
be attached to sth 喜欢, 喜爱
-- I'm very attached to her.
attachment  n.附属物, 固定物, 爱慕, 友情

★sphere  n.球体

★magnetize  v.使磁化, 吸引
-- The iron was magnetized.
-- His speech magnetized the listeners.

★Repel  v.排斥, 使厌恶（= to drive back, cause feelings of dislike）
-- The different sexes attract each other and the same sexes repel on the contrary.
  同性向吸, 异性相斥。
-- Let me go at once, you repel me. 让我走, 你真让我恶心。

★Flicker  v.闪烁（= shine unsteadily） unsteadily（adv.不稳定地, 摇摆地）
flash  vi.闪光, 闪现（= shine for a moment）

★emit  v.放射（= give off）
emit sound / emit smell / emit light / emit heat / emit smoke

★flash  v.闪光

★prehistoric  adj.史前的，老掉牙的（historic adj.历史上著名的, 有历史性的）
electronic  adj.电子的

★peculiar  adj.奇异的（= strange and unusual）
-- The food has peculiar taste. 这食物有一种奇特的味道。
-- I'm feeling rather peculiar. = I am felling ill.

★Shock  v.令人震惊，刺激人
-- get shocked 受震动
-- At the news, he got shocked.
Shock  n.震惊（-- get a big shock）

★emotionally  adv.事情上   
emotional  adj.易激动的, 情绪的, 感情脆弱的（反义词：unemotional）
-- I think you agree with me, women are often said to be more emotional than men.
emotive  adj.使感动的, 感情的, 动感情的
-- The word home is more emotive than house.
emotion  n.（抽象的）感情
-- Love, hated, and grief are emotions.（grief  n.悲痛, 悲伤）
feeling  n.某时的内心感受
-- I can't describe my feeling now.

★electric  adj.电的, 用电的
★dangerous  adj.危险的
★interest  n.兴趣, 利息 vt.使发生兴趣
★display  n.陈列, 展览, 显示, 显示器 vt.陈列, 展览, 显示
★form  n.状, 形态, 外形
★recent  adj.新近的, 近来的
★shaped  adj.有形状的；成某种形状的
★response  n.回答, 响应, 反应
★familiar  adj.熟悉的, 常见的
★line up  v.整队, 排列起
★against  prep.相反, 反对, 逆着, 靠着, 倚着
★wire  n.属丝, 电线
★metal  n.金属
★attract  vt.吸引
★structure  n.结构, 构造, 构造物, 建筑物
★colour（vt.把...涂颜色, 粉饰） coloured（adj.有彩色的, 有色的）
★spark  n.火花, 火星, 闪光
★lamp  n.灯 vt.照亮
★electric  adj.电的, 导电的, 用电的 adj.惊人的, 令人兴奋的

Text 课文

Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more.
Rarely = seldom
本句= We are not surprised at modern sculpture .

The idea that modern art can only be seen in museums is mistaken.
that引导同位语从句, 修饰限定the idea 的内容。
-- The idea that one can learn English well in English-speaking countries is mistaken.

Even people who take no interest in art cannot have failed to notice examples of modern sculpture on display in public places.
重点句式结构：
who take no interest in art 修饰说明people
take interest in 对…感兴趣 /  show interest in 显示对…的兴趣
take delight in 对…感到高兴 /  take pride in 对…感到骄傲
cannot, failed to 双重否定意味着肯定（强调肯定的语气）
-- He must have passed his examination last week.
= He cannot have failed to pass his examination last week.
-- You must keep your promise. = You can't fail to keep your promise.（n.许诺）
on display / on show  展览, 展出

Strange forms stand in gardens, and outside buildings and shops.
We can see sculptures everywhere We have got quite used to them. Some so-called 'modern' pieces have been on display for nearly eighty years.
get used to… = get accustomed to…  习惯于…  （accustomed adj.通常的, 习惯的）
用夸张的口吻表明事实

In spite of this, some people -- including myself -- were surprise by a recent exhibition of modern sculpture.
in spite of this 尽管如此（作者表明了自己的观点）

The first thing I saw when I entered the art gallery was a notice which said: 'Do not touch the exhibits.
重点句型：The first thing...was a notice which said...
I saw是定语从句省略了that

Oddly shaped forms that are suspended form the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody.
句子主干：Oddly shaped forms are familiar to everybody
that引导的定语从句用来限定shaped forms
that 定语从句中：in response to = in reaction to 作为对…的反应
be familiar to sb  对某人来讲很熟悉
-- The house is familiar to him.
-- I don't really remember where I have seen him before, but he looks very familiar to me.
be familiar with sth  熟悉, 熟知
-- Are you familiar with the play of Shakespeare?
-- I'm familiar with that book too.

These objects, however, were different. Lined up against the wall, there were long thin wires attached to metal spheres.
lined up（过去分词做状语）与long thin wires为被动关系
attached to metal spheres（过去分词做定语）修饰long thin wires.
there were long thin wires attached to metal spheres.
= there were long thin wires that were 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.
the center of the hall 展厅的中央
coloured lights 彩色灯泡

These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad.
continuously  adv.不停止的
go mad 发疯, 发狂（= run mad）
-- He must have gone mad to do such a thing.

Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off angrily.
on and off = continually = Intermittently  adv.间歇的, 断断续续的
on and on = continuously  adv.无间断地, 连续不断地
-- It has been raining on and off since noon.

It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.
It was rather like... = It was more like...

These peculiar forms not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well!
not only...but ...as well
seem(系动词)＋名词／形容词／分词

 

Key structures 关键句型
1...take no interest in art...on display...
2...got used to...
3...from the ceiling...in response to...familiar to...
4...attached to...

Special difficulties 难点
以元音+ｙ结尾的名词/动词, 加ｓ时直接加。
Day  days
Way  ways
Enjoy  enjoys
Buy  buys
以辅音+ｙ结尾的名词/动词, 加ｓ时, 去ｙ变I加es。
Lady  ladies
Berry  berries
Reply  replies
Jungle’s opinion：不能有三个辅音在一起, 否则不好读。（例：ladys）

 

Multiple choice questions 多项选择
1.Modern sculpture rarely surprises us any more because_______
(a)even if not in museums, we see it in and around other public places
(b)despite people's lack of interest in art, it is put on    display
(c)people not only display  it in their houses but in their gardens also
(d)muserms have been exhibiting it for nearly eighty years
 A正确
2. What surprised the writer when he visited a recent exhibition  of modern sculpture?
(a)The fact that  people were forbidden to touch the exhibits.
(b)The oddly  shaped forms that were suspended from the ceiling.
(c)The way in which electrical energy was used to produce mobile effects.
(d) The prehistoric electronic equipment used to activate the exhibits
C正确
mobile  adj.可移动的, 易变的, 机动的
effect  n.结果, 效果, 作用, 影响
electronic  adj.电子的
activate  vt.刺激, 使活动, 开[起] 动, 触发
3.The pieces of sculpture on display at the exhibition were ______.
(a)noticed because they were dangerous
(b)either hung on  wires or built into the middle of the hall
(c)flickering continuously with different coloured lights
(d)such that one could not pass them unnoticed though it seemed wiser to pass them untouched
 D正确    one could not pass them unnoticed
can not pass something unnoticed  不可能路过某物而不注意到它
-- The dress is so beautiful that I can't pass it unnoticed
unnoticed  adj.不引人注意的, 被忽视的
untouched  adj.未触及的; 没有动过的
4. --'modern' pieces______on display nearly eighty years ago.
(a)have been  (b)are first    (c)were first  (d)had been
C正确    eighty years ago（一般过去时）
5. The first thing I saw _____to the art gallery....
(a)on my arrival  (b)on entering  (c)at the entrance  (d)having arrived
C正确    entrance + to,  arrival + in/at
6. The notice prohibited people______the exhibits.
(a)to touch  (b)from touching  (c)fouching  (d)not t o touch
prohibit  vt.阻止, 禁止（重点强调法律或条例明文禁止）
prohibit somebody from doing something
-- The law prohibit children from buying alcohol.（n.酒精, 酒）
forbid somebody to do something
-- The law forbid children to buy alcohol.
7.The spheres  had been magnetized____attracted or repelled each other....
(a)so that they  (b)so they were   (c)so as they  had  (d)in order that they
 A正确    in order that只能引导目的状语从句
so that可以引导目的和结果状语从句
1>引导目的状语从句时：so that + 情态动词
2>引导结果状语从句时：so that + 一般时态
8. These peculiar form_____to shock people emotionally and to....
(a)both seemed designed  (b)seemed bo th designed   (c)seemed both designed and  (d)seemed designed both
 D正确    both...and…（both和and的后面成分应该相同）
9. -forms that are suspended from the  ceiling and move_____are...
(a)at one blow  (b)all of a sudden  (c)with a light touch  (d)at th e slightest  breath
D正确    at one blow 强调一次重击
all of a sudden = suddenly
with a light touch 轻轻的一碰
10 .Small black boxes______ sparks...
(a)gave off   (b)sent by  (c) gave over   (d)throw off
A正确　gave off
11 .There were a number of tall st ructures_______in different colours.
(a)enlightened  (b)illuminated  (c)alighted (d)burning
B正确　illuminate  v.照明, 照亮
-- illuminated by candle  /  illuminate the streets
enlighten  vt.开导, 启发
enlightened  adj.开通的, 开明的（-- enlightened policy 开明的政策）
alight  vi.(不及物)下车, 落下（alighted, alighted）（alit, alit）
-- Passengers should not alight from the train until it has stopped.
alighted  adj.点着的, 发亮的（= burning）
-- the fire is alighted/burning
12 .These peculiar forms not only seemed_____to shock people...
(a)drawn  (b)planned (c)intended  (d)created
C正确    designed表达一种意图
-- a book designed/intended mainly for English learner. 一本专门为英语学习者编写的书。
Draw  vt.画（-- draw a picture）
Draw  vt.支取, 提取（-- draw money from bank） Create  vt.创造