Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off angrily. It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment. These peculiar forms not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well!

　　16. Sparks were emitted from small black boxes and red lamps flashed on and off angrily.

　　小黑盒子里迸出火花，红色灯泡发怒似地忽明忽暗。

　　语言点:angrily在本句中不可直译为“生气地”，这是拟人修辞格。

　　17. It was rather like an exhibition of prehistoric electronic equipment.

　　这儿倒像是在展览古老的电子设备。

　　语言点:句子结构分析:it指的是exhibition。Like an exhibition是介词短语，作表语。

　　18. These peculiar forms not only seemed designed to shock people emotionally, but to give them electric shocks as well!

　　好像设计这些奇形怪状的展品不仅是为了给人感情上的强烈刺激，而且还想给人以电击似的!

　　语言点1:句子结构分析;not only…but…as well引导并列结构，强调“不仅…而且…”,将as well放在句尾，婉转地结束，显得不突兀。

　　语言点2:本句中的shock people emotionally不可直译为“震撼人们情感上地”，可将语序调整后译为“为了给人感情上的强烈刺激”，既做到了不改变句子的原意，又便于理解，一举两得。