Though most people know Benjamin Franklin for his political contributions, he was well-known in his time as a scientist and an inventor. As for his kite-and-key experiment, most people are aware of the version in which the metal key acted as a lightning rod (避雷针), and Franklin “discovered” electricity when lightning struck his kite.
“Franklin published a statement about the experiment in The Pennsylvania Gazette, the newspaper he published, on October 19, 1752,” Page Talbott, author and editor of Benjamin Franklin: In Search of a Better World, said. “Franklin referred to the experiment in his autobiography, and others in Europe wrote about it as well.” Obviously, the experiment appeared in the 1767 book The History and Present Status of Electricity by Joseph Priestley, an English chemist. Priestley heard about the kite-and-key experiment from Franklin himself around 15 years after the experiment, and in his book, he wrote that it occurred during June 1752. However, exactly when Franklin carried out the experiment is a matter of debate.
Some historians doubt whether Franklin actually did the experiment himself, or only outlined its possibility. In his book Bolt of Fate: Benjamin Franklin and His Electric Kite Hoax, author Tom Tucker stated that Franklin wanted to thwart (阻碍) William Watson, an outstanding electrical experimenter. Watson had spoiled (破坏) the publication of some of Franklin’s previous reports and had laughed at his experiments in the Royal Society, Tucker wrote. Could Franklin have felt pressured to invent the kite story to get back at (报复) Watson?
Tucker also noted that Franklin’s description of his experiment in The Pennsylvania Gazette used the future and conditional tense: “As soon as any of the Thunder Clouds come over the Kite, the pointed Wire will draw the Electric Fire from them...” Franklin could have simply been saying that the experiment could, in theory, be performed. Considering that his statement has a few missing details like the date, time, or location, he probably did not perform the experiment himself.
However, some historians believed that the experiment was carried out, pointing to Franklin’s great respect for scientific pursuits (追求). Some experts also point to the fact that Priestley specified the month when Franklin performed his experiment, suggesting Franklin must have given him exact details directly.
8. What can we learn about the book by Joseph Priestley?
A.It mentioned the exact date of Franklin’s experiment. |
B.It caused heated debate over Franklin’s experiment. |
C.It gave a first-hand account of Franklin’s experiment. |
D.It included Talbott’s comments on Franklin’s experiment. |
9. What did Tom Tucker say about Franklin and William Watson?
A.William Watson might think poorly of Franklin’s work. |
B.William Watson might be impressed by Franklin’s kite story. |
C.William Watson contributed to Franklin’s previous reports. |
D.William Watson pressured Franklin to make his experiment public. |
10. What is the purpose of the last but one paragraph?
A.To show the popularity of Franklin’s experiment. |
B.To expose the truth that Franklin tried to cover up. |
C.To give evidence that Franklin didn’t do the experiment. |
D.To explain the theoretical foundation of Franklin’s experiment. |
11. What makes some historians believe Franklin did the experiment?
A.His autobiography. | B.His scientific spirit. |
C.His detailed description. | D.His relationship with Priestley. |