AStoryofBenjaminFranklin

劉小軍

Benjamin Franklin is forever remembered as “Doctor Franklin”，philosopher，scientist and political leader.He built U.S.A.for what the nation is today is largely due to the forethought，the wisdom，and the ability of Benjamin Franklin①.Franklins life is full of charming stories which all young men should know——how he was made Major General Franklin，only to quit because，as he said，he was no soldier②，and yet helped to organize the army that stood before the trained troops of England and Germany； how he raised a kite from a cow shed，and was showered with all the high degrees the colleges of the world could give.

The story of Benjamin Franklins kite is known everywhere.He had been experimenting with electricity，and in 1751 published a paper saying that electricity and lightning were the same thing③.Both were bright，both were the same yellow color，both made a noise，both made crooked flashes，and both would pass through metal.

In order to test his claim，regardless of great danger④，he and his son took a kite made of silk（because it is stronger than paper），and added a long wire to the top and a piece of silk to the end of the string with which he controlled the kite⑤.A metal key was hung where the silk and string met⑥.They flew the kite up into a thunderstorm，keeping themselves dry under a roof⑦.When the kite reached the storm clouds，Franklin noticed that all the loose parts of his string began to stand up and shake.When the kite touched lightning，a spark ran down the string to the key； a rush of electric sparks began to appear on the key.The wetter the string became，the faster the sparks came⑧.They were sparks of electricity.Lightning was indeed electricity.

Franklin decided to use this knowledge in a practical way.He invented the lightning rod（避雷針）.Ladies in Europe took to（對……產生好感）wearing lightning rods on their hats and trailing a ground wire——a fad（一時的風尚）that began after Benjamin Franklin published instructions on how to make them，in his book Poor Richard Improved，in 1753.

注釋：

①他創立了美國，因為這個國家的今天，很大程度上歸功于他的遠見卓識和能力。what the nation is today是主語從句；is largely due to為固定搭配，“應歸于”，是謂語部分。

②他是如何成為富蘭克林少將，結果他卻辭掉了，按他的說法，因為他不是軍人。only to quit作結果狀語，表令人意外的結果。

③在1751年，他發表了一篇論文，說電和閃電是一回事。saying that...是作a paper的定語。這里的say意思是（用文字、數字、圖畫）表達，說明（信息）。例如：The clock said twenty past three.這鐘顯示時間為3點20分。The card doesnt say who sent the flowers.卡片上甚至沒說是誰送的花。

④為了測試他的聲明，不顧巨大的危險。in order to...為了做……； regardless of“不管，不顧”。

⑤用一根長金屬絲接在風箏的頂端，并且把一塊絲綢系在他用來控制風箏的繩子末端。此句中含有省略，連詞and后應為added a piece of silk to the end of the string.

⑥在絲綢和繩子的連接處，掛著一只金屬鑰匙。where the silk and string met為地點狀語從句。例如：Stay where you are.呆在原地別動。

⑦他們自己站在屋頂下。這個部分是-ing分詞短語用作伴隨狀語。例如：They lay on the grass，watching the stars in the sky.他們躺在草地上，仰望著天空的星星。

⑧繩子越濕，火花來得越快。這是一個特殊句式，由兩部分組成，前后各一個含有比較級的句子，表示“越……，越……”。例如：The more he learns，the more scared he becomes.他了解得越多，越感到害怕。The harder you work，the greater progress you will make.你越努力，你取得的進步就越大。The sooner，the better.事不宜遲。endprint