文明的"首创"之书
课文精读:《中国科学技术史》(Science and Civilisation in China)第 14、15 段
他,用一本书为中国科技"正名"
李约瑟(Joseph Needham,1900–1995),英国生物化学家、科学史家,英国皇家学会会士。1948 年起编著《中国科学技术史》,1954 年出版首卷,1994 年当选中国科学院外籍院士。
他穷尽大半生,只为回答一个问题:中国文明究竟为世界贡献过多少"首创"?
"首创"太多,七卷装不下
Indeed, there were so many 'firsts' after 'firsts', including those in chemistry, mathematics, navigation(航海/ˌnævɪˈɡeɪʃn/), medicine, botany, mechanics, civil engineering(土木工程) and agriculture, that, although the plan for seven volumes didn't change, volumes 4 to 7 were split into 24 parts. Several of these were completed by academics from the Needham Research Institute and published after his death in 1995.
大意:书中的"首创"接二连三、涵盖八大学科,以至于七卷计划虽未改变,第 4–7 卷却被拆成 24 个分册;部分由李约瑟研究所的学者在其 1995 年逝世后完成出版。
so…that… 结果状语从句
there were so many 'firsts' after 'firsts' that volumes 4 to 7 were split…
结构:so + 形容词/副词 + that 从句 ="如此……以至于……" | 变式:so many / few / much / little + 名词 + that
'firsts' after 'firsts'="首创"接二连三;'firsts' 名词化+复数+引号,特指"首次做到的事"。
although 让步从句 + 被动语态
although the plan for seven volumes didn't change, volumes 4 to 7 were split into 24 parts.
although="虽然",不能与 but 连用,可换成 though / even though。
被动语态:were split(be + 过去分词)——split 三式同形 split-split-split。
接力工程:Several of these were completed by academics … and published after his death in 1995.(and 后省略 were)
最后一册:262 项"首创"总清单
The final book in the collection, Science and Civilisation in China, Volume 7, Part II: General Conclusions and Reflections, lists the 262 'firsts' that were described in earlier volumes of the work.
大意:整套丛书的最后一册——《中国科学技术史》第七卷第二分册《总结与反思》——列出了此前各卷记述的 262 项"首创"。
从一个人,到一支跨国团队
李约瑟出生于伦敦
早年研究生物化学,后转向中国科技史。
开始编著《中国科学技术史》
原计划一卷,材料越来越多,膨胀为七卷。
首卷《导论》出版
剑桥大学出版社;随后卷 2、卷 3 相继问世。
当选中国科学院外籍院士
其著作表达了对中国人民创造才能的深刻敬意。
李约瑟逝世(3 月 25 日)
未完卷册由李约瑟研究所学者接力完成。
卷七二分册《结论与反思》出版
距首卷已 50 年,列出全部 262 项"首创"。
工程仍在延续
已出版 25 个分册以上,新分册仍在编撰。
"李约瑟之问":一个世界的思考
"中国的这些发明和发现往往远远超过同时代的欧洲,特别是在 15 世纪之前更是如此……而中国文明却未能在亚洲产生与此相似的近代科学。"
—— 李约瑟《中国科学技术史》第一卷序言(转引自人民网 2015 年报道)
课堂讨论(2 分钟):为什么近代科学没有首先出现在中国?你有自己的答案吗?—— 历史辉煌值得自豪,更要在今天把科技的主动权握在自己手中。
从一篇课文,看三个主题
证据胜于口号
中国古代科技成就不是传说,而是被一位异国学者用几十年、262 项实证记录的事实。自信来自对自身文明的深入了解与准确表达。
思考:你会用哪一句英文介绍一项中国发明?
实事求是,持之以恒
262 项逐一考证、七卷拆成 24 册、逝世后学者接力——严谨、求真、协作、坚持,正是做学问与做人的共同底色。
思考:英语学习中,"实事求是"体现在哪里?
开放包容,双向奔赴
英国学者为中国文明立传,中国学界又将其译回中文。开放带来进步;越是民族的,越是世界的。
思考:对外交流中如何既自信又包容?
词汇 · 语法 · 翻译
1. Volumes 4 to 7 were ____ into 24 parts.
A. broken B. split C. separated D. divided
2. ____ the plan didn't change, the volumes were split into 24 parts.
A. Despite B. Although C. Because D. Unless
3. 翻译:The final book in the collection lists the 262 'firsts' that were described in earlier volumes.
翻译真题实战(2025 年 6 月 · 第 1 套)
将下面段落译成英文:
被誉为"杂交水稻之父"的袁隆平和他的科研团队克服重重困难,研发出了一种超级杂交水稻。这项技术获得了举世公认的巨大成功。通过这项技术的应用,水稻抗旱抗病能力更强,能适应不同的气候和土壤条件,产量可提高 20%-30%。超级杂交水稻营养丰富,口感更佳。目前,这项技术已经在许多国家得到广泛应用,为全球粮食安全做出了巨大贡献。
真题原文来源:新东方四六级频道(2025 年 6 月考试);与课文第 14 段"agriculture 农业"领域完美呼应。
参考译文与评分点
Hailed as the "father of hybrid rice", Yuan Longping and his research team overcame numerous difficulties and developed a kind of super hybrid rice. This technology has achieved great success recognized around the world. With the application of this technology, rice has become more resistant to drought and diseases and adapted to different climates and soil conditions, with the output increased by 20% to 30%. Super hybrid rice is rich in nutrition and tastes better. At present, this technology has been widely applied in many countries, making a great contribution to global food security.
- "被誉为……之父"→ be hailed / known as the father of…
- "克服重重困难"→ overcome numerous difficulties
- "举世公认"→ recognized around the world
- "产量可提高 20%-30%"→ with the output increased by…(独立结构)
- "为……做出巨大贡献"→ make a great contribution to…
- 被动语态贯穿全文,与课文 were split / were described 呼应
课后练习:北斗卫星真题(2025 年 6 月)
北斗卫星导航系统的成功研制,是中国自从改革开放以来一项重大的技术进步。研发人员经过不懈努力,攻克了一系列技术难题,成功地实现了全球覆盖和高精度定位,使中国成为少数几个独立拥有卫星定位导航系统的国家之一。北斗系统已经广泛地运用于公共交通、灾害救援、天气预测、公共安全等诸多领域。
提示:注意课文词 navigation(导航/航海)——北斗正是现代中国的 navigation "首创";翻译时多用被动语态与 with 独立结构。
今天,你带走了什么?
firsts / split / publish / list / include
academic / institute / collection / volume / conclusion / reflection
so…that… although(不连 but)
被动语态 非谓语 including / described
长同位语+定语从句(主干法)
李约瑟与 262 项"首创"
"李约瑟之问"与当代回答
文化自信 · 科学精神 · 文明互鉴
① 背诵第 14 段,标注所有被动结构;② 用 so…that 和 although 各造一句;③ 完成"北斗卫星"真题翻译(第 22 页);④ 用英文写一段 60 词短文,介绍一项你最喜欢的中国古代发明。
讲好中国故事
从学好英语开始
愿你在每一个"first"里,看见文明的厚度,也看见自己的担当。