新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 20

ltlong52010

课文20   飞行员的先驱
330. In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of $1,000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel.
        1908年，诺斯克利夫勋爵拿出1,000英镑，作为对第一个飞越英吉利海峡的人的奖励。
331. Over a year passed before the first attempt was made.
+ C! }) S& X% n$ R3 ]% J* g$ z8 n        然而一年多过去了才有人出来尝试。
) \; D. y  E  [0 t$ V1 u- k332. On July 19th, 1909, in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off from the French coast in his plane the 'Antoinette IV.'
' p/ A/ c2 r7 y% d% q9 z5 k        1909年7月19日凌晨，休伯特.莱瑟姆驾驶“安特瓦特4号”飞机从法国海岸起飞，
333. He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on the sea.
$ S, l. \8 e: s5 c6 o6 S        但他只在海峡上空飞行7英里，引擎就发生了故障，他只好降落在海面上。
: I& N3 D6 m7 Z) z. ]334. The 'Antoinette' floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.
        “安特瓦特”号飞机在海上漂浮，后来有船经过，莱瑟姆方才获救。
335. Two days later, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called 'No. XI'.
5 F0 R7 v* A# d  n: N        两天之后，路易斯.布莱里奥驾驶一名为“11号”的飞机来到加来附近。
336. Bleriot had been making planes since 1905 and this was his latest model.
$ l5 V. A/ Y  k/ o9 _1 g        布莱里奥从1905年起便开始研制飞机，“11号”飞机是他制作的最新型号。
! ]% E- e1 F7 b% V( ?& ?8 r337. A week before, he had completed a successful overland flight during which he covered twenty-six miles.
# E% H) F$ Q% f) D9 f        一周以前，他曾成功地进行了一次26英里的陆上飞行。
+ A' h# [- `5 n/ u- B338. Latham, however, did not give up easily.
        但是莱瑟姆不肯轻易罢休。
! b4 D6 E% O/ O! H' P; b# s7 o, m$ g6 X339. He, too, arrived near Calais on the same day with a new 'Antoinette'.
        同一天，他驾驶一架新的“安特瓦特”号飞机来到了加来附近。
0 T' b& ?7 }( R% A: K4 k& r$ ]1 x340. It looked as if there would be an exciting race across the Channel.
4 t8 M% `* d% M' |5 Y- v- [6 d# c        看来会有一场激烈的飞越英吉利海峡的竞争。
341. Both planes were going to take off on July 25th,
% }1 o, n' x" d9 ~  S: E, _* K  L        两天飞机都打算在7月25日起飞，
9 c! V2 V! ~4 `* _% P' A, J342. but Latham failed to get up early enough,
5 e$ `6 p& E+ y& K) l  \        但莱瑟姆那天起床晚了。
343. After making a short test flight at 4:15 a.m., Bleriot set off half an hour later.
        布莱里奥凌晨4点15分作了一次短距离试飞，半小时后便正式出发了。
344. His great flight lasted thirty-seven minutes.
        他这次伟大的飞行持续37分钟。
345. When he landed near Dover, the first person to greet him was a local policeman.
/ t+ S( ?1 Q8 _. V        当他在多佛着陆后，第一个迎接他的是当地一名警察。
# h) B' G. k% j* P& ], o' t346. Latham made another attempt a week later and got within half a mile of Dover, but he was unlucky again.
- x, x% ?' D5 \# v/ _        莱瑟姆一周以后也作了一次尝试，飞到离多佛不到半英里的地方。这次他又遭厄运，
2 e$ J% E  ?' @7 k% E. s347. His engine failed and he landed on the sea for the second time.
        因引擎故障第二次降落在海面上。

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