# 第四册 Lesson 22 Knowledge and progress 知识与进步

## 一、课文原文

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.

## 二、重点词汇详解

| 单词 | 音标 | 词性 | 释义 | 用法说明 |
|------|------|------|------|----------|
| loom | /luːm/ | v. | 隐约出现，显得突出 | loom large 显得突出/重要 |
| manifest | /ˈmænɪfest/ | adj. | 明显的，显然的 | becoming more manifest 越来越明显 |
| undergo | /ˌʌndəˈɡəʊ/ | v. | 经历，遭受 | undergone no improvement 没有经历改进 |
| morality | /məˈrælɪti/ | n. | 道德 | intelligence or morality 智力或道德 |
| accumulation | /əˌkjuːmjʊˈleɪʃn/ | n. | 积累 | accumulation of knowledge 知识积累 |
| compound interest | /ˈkɒmpaʊnd ˈɪntrəst/ | n. | 复利 | compound interest law 复利法则 |
| enhance | /ɪnˈhɑːns/ | v. | 增强，提高 | greatly enhanced 大大增强 |
| tempo | /ˈtempəʊ/ | n. | 速度，节奏 | the tempo was suddenly raised 速度突然提高 |
| trickle | /ˈtrɪkl/ | n. | 细流，滴流 | the trickle became a stream 细流成溪 |
| torrent | /ˈtɒrənt/ | n. | 洪流，急流 | stream became a torrent 溪流成洪 |
| indifferently | /ɪnˈdɪfərəntli/ | adv. | 不加区分地，漠然地 | used indifferently for both 不加区分地用于两者 |
| spectacle | /ˈspektəkl/ | n. | 景象，奇观 | grimly whimsical spectacle 令人毛骨悚然的荒诞景象 |
| grimly | /ˈɡrɪmli/ | adv. | 令人沮丧地，残酷地 | grimly whimsical 残酷而荒诞 |
| whimsical | /ˈwɪmzɪkl/ | adj. | 荒诞的，异想天开的 | grimly whimsical 荒诞而残酷 |
| shatter | /ˈʃætə/ | v. | 粉碎，摧毁 | shatter men's bodies 粉碎人的身体 |
| twofold | /ˈtuːfəʊld/ | adj. | 双重的 | twofold use 双重用途 |

## 三、语法知识点

### 1. as soon as 时间状语从句

> Knowledge began to increase **as soon as** the thoughts of one individual could be communicated to another...

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

- 两次使用as soon as，强调知识增长的即时性
- = the moment, immediately when

### 2. as is so often pointed out 正如人们经常指出的

> **As is so often pointed out**, knowledge is a two-edged weapon...

- as引导非限制性定语从句，指代后面的内容
- = which is so often pointed out

### 3. Could any spectacle be more...than...? 反问句

> **Could any spectacle...be more grimly whimsical than that of** gunners using science to shatter men's bodies while...surgeons use it to restore them?

- 用反问句表达强烈观点
- = No spectacle could be more grimly whimsical than...

### 4. while 引导对比/时间状语从句

> ...**while**, close at hand, surgeons use it to restore them?

- while = whereas（对比）或 at the same time（同时）
- 此处兼具对比和同时含义

## 四、重点句型分析

### 1. loom large 显得突出/重要

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

- = appear important, dominate one's thoughts
- 仿写：The threat of war loomed large in their minds.

### 2. in one's turn 轮到某人，进而

> ...and education **in its turn** added to libraries...

- = in turn, as a result
- 表示因果链中的传递关系

### 3. turn to practical account 加以实际应用

> ...it is now **turned to practical account**.

- = put to practical use, apply practically
- 仿写：The discovery was soon turned to practical account.

### 4. two-edged weapon 双刃剑

> ...knowledge is a **two-edged weapon** which can be used equally for good or evil.

- = double-edged sword
- 仿写：Nuclear energy is a two-edged weapon.

## 五、课文翻译

为什么进步的观念在现代世界中如此突出？当然是因为一种特定类型的进步确实正在我们周围发生，而且变得越来越明显。虽然人类在智力或道德方面没有经历过普遍的改进，但在知识的积累方面取得了非凡的进步。一旦一个人的思想可以通过言语传达给另一个人，知识就开始增长。随着文字的发明，取得了巨大的进步，因为知识不仅可以被传达，还可以被存储。图书馆使教育成为可能，而教育反过来又丰富了图书馆：知识的增长遵循一种复利法则，印刷术的发明大大加速了这一法则。所有这些都相对缓慢，直到科学的到来，速度突然提高了。于是知识开始按系统计划积累。涓涓细流变成了小溪：小溪如今已变成洪流。而且，新知识一经获得，立刻就被投入实际应用。所谓"现代文明"不是人类本性全面发展的结果，而是积累的知识应用于实际生活的结果。人类现在面临的问题是：所有这些知识将怎么办？正如人们经常指出的，知识是一把双刃剑，既可用于善也可用于恶。它现在正不加区分地用于两者。例如，还有什么景象比这更残酷而荒诞的：炮兵用科学粉碎人的身体，而就在近旁，外科医生用科学来修复人的身体？我们必须非常严肃地扪心自问：如果知识的这种双重用途及其日益增长的威力继续下去，将会发生什么。

## 六、语言点精讲

### 1. 写作手法：递进+反问

- 知识增长的递进：言语→文字→印刷→科学，trickle→stream→torrent
- 从知识增长→知识应用→知识滥用，逻辑递进
- 以反问结尾，发人深省

### 2. 文化背景

- **复利法则（compound interest law）**：知识的增长如同复利，越积越快
- **知识即力量**：培根的名言"Knowledge is power"的现代回响
- **科学与战争**：20世纪的两次世界大战凸显了科学的双刃剑效应

### 3. 修辞分析

- **比喻**：trickle→stream→torrent——水的比喻，形象生动
- **反问**：Could any spectacle be more grimly whimsical than...——强烈而深刻
- **矛盾修辞**：grimly whimsical——残酷而荒诞，凸显荒谬

## 七、课后练习要点

1. **理解题**：In what two areas have people made no 'progress' at all?（智力和道德）
2. **语法题**：as引导非限制性定语从句与方式状语从句的区分
3. **词汇题**：区分 trickle/stream/torrent 的递进含义
4. **写作练习**：用递进结构和反问结尾写一篇议论文

## 八、本课小结

本课探讨**知识与进步的关系**，核心论点：人类在知识积累方面取得了非凡进步，但智力和道德没有改进；知识是双刃剑，既可用于善也可用于恶。语法重点包括as soon as时间从句、as引导定语从句、Could...be more...than反问句、while对比从句。写作手法上运用水的比喻（trickle→torrent）和矛盾修辞（grimly whimsical），以反问收束，极具震撼力。