成人英语三级阅读理解(72)

But why bells? Such things as gunpowder make more noise than bells, and the Chinese still routinely use it to frighten away harmful spirits. But after gunpowder was introduced into Europe, the English scientist Roger Bacon said he still thought bells were much better demon-chasers. In a thirteenth-century scientific report, Bacon concluded that it wasn't the sound of a bell in itself that had the power but the movement of the air caused by repeated tolling. In his opinion, it canceled out the turbulence caused by mischief-making spirits.

但是为什么非得用钟呢？一些如火药之类的东西比钟能发出更响的声音，中国人至今还习惯用火药制成的爆竹去吓走有害的幽灵。但是在火药被引进欧洲后，英国科学家罗杰·培根说，他还是认为钟是更好的驱魔武器。在一份13世纪的科学报告中，培根得出结论说,武器的威力并非出自钟的声音本身，而是出自不停击钟时空气的流动。在他看来，击钟引起的空气流动压住了捣乱的鬼魂造成的骚乱。