新概念英语第三册-Lesson 20(课文)
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Lesson 20 Pioneer pilots 飞行员的先驱
In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of ￡1000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel. Over a year passed before the first attempt was made. On July 19th, 1909, in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off from the French coast in his plane the 'Antoinette IV'. He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on the sea. The 'Antoinette' floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.
Two days later, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called 'No. XI'. Bleriot had been making planes since 1905 and this was his latest model. A week before, he had completed a successful overland flight during which he covered twenty-six miles. Latham, however did not give up easily. He, too, arrived near Calais on the same day with a new 'Antonette'. It looks as if there would be an exciting race across the Channel. Both planes were going to take off on July 25th, but Latham failed to get up early enough. After making a short test flight at 4.15 a.m., Bleriot set off half an hour later. His great flight lasted thirty seven minutes. When he landed near Dover, the first person to greet him was a local policeman. Latham made another attempt a week later and got within half a mile of Dover, but he was unlucky again. His engine failed and he landed on the sea for the second time.
Background
* the English Channel 英吉利海峡：the area of sea which separate England from France
* the Channel Tunnel 英法海底隧道：the three long passages under the English Channel between England and France
* Dover多佛：a municipal borough of southeast England on the Strait of Dover opposite Calais, France
* Calais 加来：a city of northern France on the Strait of Dover opposite Dover, England
* lord 对（英国）贵族的尊称，勋爵:（Chiefly British）the general masculine title of nobility and other rank
Language points
（Attention： The following points are not covered by the video. It is better for you to watch the video or listen to the MP3 first and try to take notes on your own. Then you may check here to get more details. ）
1, In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of ￡1000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel.
the first man who would fly… = the first man to fly across...
序数词和动词不定式to搭配连用可以代替其后的定语从句
e.g. She was the only one to survive the plane crash.
offer a prize of sth(指某种奖励) to sb 给予某人……奖励
2, Over a year passed before the first attempt was made.
如果before所引导的时间状语从句之前出现段时间，则最佳翻译方法：才。。。
attempt n.&vt. 试图，尝试，其语气比try要强烈
相关词组：
(1)in one's attempt
e.g. She failed in her attempt to swim the channel. 她横渡海峡的尝试失败了。
(2)make an attempt on 尝试，试图
e.g. He made an attempt on the mountain. 他试图翻越那座山。
(3)make an attempt to do 尝试，试图
e.g. She made any attempt to run away. 她想方设法逃走。
(4)make no attempt 没有……企图，尝试
e.g. She made an attempt to run away. 她没有想逃走。
3，He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on the sea.
when = at that moment
failed: 这里意思是：break down，失灵，出故障
fail 失败，忽视; fail to 未能
e.g. She failed to win the prize.
e.g. When I saw him, my words failed me.
be forced to do 被迫做……
4, The 'Antoinette' floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.
pick up 这里意思是：save, rescue
5, Two days later, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called 'No. XI'.
with a plane: with 具有、带有
6, It looks as if there would be an exciting race across the Channel.
It looked as if： 似乎，看起来，其中谓语动词would be 表示与未来的事实不相符的虚拟结构
e.g. It looked as if there would be a heavy storm.
7, Latham, however did not give up easily.
give up 放弃，do not give up easily 不轻易作罢
8, After making a short test flight at 4.15 a.m., Bleriot set off half an hour later.
make a short test flight 作了短暂的试飞后
Key structures
定语从句中介词位置
决定介词位置的4个因素:
1，在书面语中，当定语从句的关系代词是介词的宾语时，能够把可移位的介词提前放在关系代词的前面
e.g. This is the person about whom I was telling you.
e.g. Is this a book for which you asked me?
2，在口语中，介词一般要放在从句的末尾
3．有些“动词+ 介词”的合成词组被看成是不可分割的语言单位，这个时候介词必须紧跟动词，不可移动，如：take after account for
4．在很多情况下，介词和关系代词构成独立的介词短语，在句中起状语作用，与从句的谓语动词毫无关系，而不是谓语动词的一部分，这时介词始终位于关系代词之前
e.g. He described it as a very agreeable situation located within two small hills in the midst of which flowed a great river.(in the midst of跟后面的谓语动词flow没有任何关系)
e.g. Mrs. Ramsay received an anonymous letter in which the writer stated that Rastus was in safe hands.
Exercises
Multiple choices
1, Latham failed at his second attempt because _____.
a. he did not get up early enough
b. he had to make another forced landing
c. he only got within half a mile of Dover
d. his plane had not been repaired properly
2, It _____ to be an exciting race across the Channel.
a. would promise b. would have promised c. was promising d. promised
Translation
3, 看起来我们做了正确的选择。(tip: 其实不然)
4, 车闸坏了，所以车撞到了树上。
5, 我们已经走完了一半的路程。
6, 不要轻易放弃！我们离市中心还有不到一公里。
7, Over a year passed before the first attempt was made.
8, A week before, he had completed a successful overland flight during which he covered twenty-six miles.
（责编：sophieann）
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