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http://www.indian-skeptic.org/html/fey2.htm M9 阅读导引 特异功能是指某些人表现出普通人没有的特殊能力，而且是超出现代科学解释的能力。许多学者视之为伪科学，持怀疑论者认为：很难解释特异功能是否存在。而坚定的反对者认为，特异功能是伪科学的重要表现形式，其最终的目的在于骗取出名的机会和钱财。目前，还没有一种特异功能通过了试验的检验。那么以色列乌利•戈勒到底有没有特异功能呢？ 美文欣赏 One day someone asked me if I would be interested to meet Uri Geller, who was supposed to be able to bend keys by mental efforts and even a wire inside a tube. And he told me that a British Professor in physics did believe in his supernatural power. Of course I would be interested. I believed that the laws of physics could describe all phenomena, and I didn’t see how Geller could do those things. I had read a lot about supernatural power, but it always turned out to be some tricks. A few weeks later Uri Geller agreed to see me at his hotel. I went with my friend Al Hibbs, who was quick at spotting a trick, and my son Carl. Carl was excited about the test. He prepared some very soft pieces of metal, which was much easier to bend than a key. He also put a piece of paper in an envelope—all Geller had to do was make a mark on the paper. We went to Geller’s hotel room and found a very nervous man. Carl gave him his materials for simple tests, and Geller put it aside—he didn’t even look at it. Geller explained to us that sometimes his power came, sometimes it didn’t. He had no idea where it came from and when it would come. Then Geller asked us to make a drawing: he was supposed to guess the picture. It was easy to see his tricks. He did in the way a fortune-teller would do. He suggested possible answers, and looked at our faces for signs, which would show whether he was on the right track. But it didn’t work with us because we were all poker-faced.
So Geller’s mind-reading failed. He then picked up a key, and said “Hey! It often works better under water. Let’s try it under water.” I didn’t know what he meant, but he went into the bathroom with a key. Then he turned on the faucet. We quickly followed him into the tiny bathroom and looked down to see if he had a tool hidden somewhere. Nothing happened, I was a bit disappointed: he had no magic power, as I had expected. Al discussed with me later about how the key might be bent under water. We were all looking for a tool, and saw none. But if Geller could distract us for a moment, he could put the key into the pipe and quickly bend it. With all the water rushing down, it would be hard to see. I didn’t know if that was his idea, because we never gave him a chance. So what I wanted to say was that his so-called supernatural power was too ridiculous and unbelievable.
生词注释 1. supernatural: a. 超自然的 2. spot: v. 发现 3. fortune-teller: n. 算命先生 4. poker-faced: a. 板着脸；面无表情的 5. faucet: n. 水龙头 6. distract: v. 分散（某人的）注意力
难句解析 1. One day someone asked me if I would be interested to meet Uri Geller, who was supposed to be able to bend keys by mental efforts and even a wire inside a tube. 解析：该句是主从复合句。if引导宾语从句；who引导一个非限制性定语从句。be supposed to do sth.“应该做某事”；mental efforts“意念力”。参考译文如下：“一天有人问我是否对（以色列特异功能大师）乌利•戈勒感兴趣，他可以通过意念力让钥匙变弯，哪怕就是管子里的金属线也可搞定。” 2. I believed that the laws of physics could describe all phenomena, … 解析：这是一个宾语从句。参考译文如下：“我相信物理学定律能够描述所有的现象。” 3. He suggested possible answers, and looked at our faces for signs, which would show whether he was on the right track. 解析：该句是一个复合句。which引导一个非限制性定语从句；在其中show的后面是宾语从句；on the right track“想得对，做得对”。参考译文如下：“他提出所有可能的答案，然后察言观色，见机行事，这一切会显示他做对与否（就象算命先生那样）。”
阅读操练 Main comparisons Contexts The author was_____1_____ about supernatural power. Pre-visit to Uri Geller A clever_____2_____ went with me. My son, Carl, was excited to prepare some very soft pieces of metal. He also put a piece of paper in an____3____. It was said that Uri Geller could bend keys by his mental efforts and a British Professor in physics_____4_____ him.
During-visit to Uri Geller Geller put aside Carl’s for____5____ simple tests, and explained that sometimes his power didn’t come. One of his_____6______was to guess what we drew, but he failed. His____7____was to bend keys under water, but nothing happened. _____9_____-visit to Uri Geller The author’s _____8_____ His so-called supernatural power was too ridiculous and _____10_____. 1. sceptical/skeptical 2. friend 3. envelope 4. believed 5. materials 6. tricks 7. routine 8. conclusion 9. post/after 10. unbelievable
