新概念英语美音版第三册:Lesson 20 Pioneer pilots

Lesson 20 Pioneer pilots
飞行员的先驱
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
What was the name of the first plane to fly across the English Channel?
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。
Over a year passed before the first attempt was made.
然而一年多过去了才有人出来尝试。
On July 19th, 1909, in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off from the French coast in his plane the 'Antoinette IV'.
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，
He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on the sea.
但他只在海峡上空飞行了7英里，引擎就发生了故障，他只好降落在海面上。
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。
Two days later, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called 'No. XI'.
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。
Bleriot had been making planes since 1905 and this was his latest model.
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。
A week before, he had completed a successful overland flight during which he covered twenty-six miles.
一周以前，他曾成功地进行了一次26英里的陆上飞行。
Latham, however, did not give up easily.
但是莱瑟姆不肯轻易罢休。
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。
It looked as if there would be an exciting race across the Channel.
看来会有一场激烈的飞越英吉利海峡的竞争。
Both planes were going to take off on July 25th,
两天飞机都打算在7月25日起飞，
but Latham failed to get up early enough,
但莱瑟姆那天起床晚了。
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。
His great flight lasted thirty-seven minutes.
他这次伟大的飞行持续了37分钟。
When he landed near Dover, the first person to greet him was a local policeman.
当他在多佛着陆后，第一个迎接他的是当地一名警察。
Latham made another attempt a week later and got within half a mile of Dover, but he was unlucky again.
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，
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。