Notes on the text课文注释
1 the English Channel, 英吉利海峡。
大西洋延伸的部分，长约350英里（约560公里），将英法两国的领土分开。
2 Over a year passed before the first attempt was made.
一年多时间之后，才有人进行第一次尝试。
3 pick up此处作“（从海里）救起”解。
4 did not give up easily, 不轻易作罢。
give up当“放弃”讲。
5 It looked as if there would be an exciting race across the Channel. 看起来似乎有一场精采的飞越英吉利海峡的比赛。as if引导的从句作起系动词作用的look的表语，其中谓语动词 would be表示与未来的事实不相符的虚拟结构。
6 got within half a mile of Dover, 到了离多佛不到半英里的地方。
7 Dover, 多佛港，是英吉利海峡的一个港口，对面是法国港口加来。多佛与加来相距21英里（34公里），是英吉利海峡最窄的部分。
参考译文
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。然而一年多过去了才有人出来尝试。1909年7月19日凌晨，休伯特·莱瑟姆驾驶“安特瓦奈特4号”飞机从法国海岸起飞，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。“安特瓦奈特”号飞机在海上漂浮，后来有船经过，莱瑟姆方才获救。
两天之后，路易斯·布莱里奥驾驶一架名为“11号”的飞机来到加来附近。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。一周以前，他曾成功地进行了一次 26英里的陆上飞行。但是莱瑟姆不肯轻易罢休。同一天，他驾驶一架新的“安特瓦奈特”号飞机来到了加来附近。看来会有一场激烈的飞越英吉利海峡的竞争。两架飞机都打算在7月25日起飞，但莱瑟姆那天起床晚了。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。他这次伟大的飞行持续了37分钟。当他在多佛着陆后，第一个迎接他的是当地一名警察。莱瑟姆一周以后也作了一次尝试，飞到了离多佛不到半英里的地方。这次他又遭厄运，因引擎故障第二次降落在海面上。
Summary writing
摘要写作
In not more than 80 words describe the attempts made by Bleriot and Latham to fly across the Channel from the time when they both arrived at Calais. Do not include anything that is not in the last paragraph. Answer these questions in note form to get your points:
1 On what date did Bleriot and Latham arrive at Calais?
2 Did it look as if there would be a race or not?
3 When would it take place?
4 Why did Latham not take part in the race?
5 Did Bleriot make a short test flight before setting out or not?
6 How long did it take him to fly across the Channel?
7 Who greeted him when he arrived at Dover?
8 How near to Dover did Latham fly the following week?
9 Why did he have to land on the sea for the second time?
Vocabulary
词汇
Give another word or phrase to replace the following words as they are used in the passage: forced to land (1. 6); picked up(1. 7); completed(1. 9); covered(1. 10); test(1. 13); set off(1. 13); failed(1. 15).
Composition
作文
Imagine yourself in Bleriot's position. In not more than 200 words, write a first－person account of the flight across the Channel. Use the ideas given below. Do not write more than three paragraphs.
Title: My flight across the Channel.
Introduction: Early morning---- no sign of Latham----test flight----all well.
Development: Started off---- could no longer see ship following below----suddenly alone---- worried about direction ----sea and sky----high winds----engine very hot----it began to rain----rain cooled engine----land ahead. Conclusion: Flew in a circle---- looked for a place to land---- on field---- two minutes later: policeman: bonjour!Unit 1 Lesson 20
Letter writing书信写作
Suppose that you are at this moment on board an aeroplane. Write a letter of about 80 words describing your impressions. Supply a suitable Introduction and Conclusion. Use the following ideas to write the Purpose:your feelings when the plane took off----how you feel now---- height and speed----the view from the window----when you will arrive at your destination.
Special difficulties
难点
Review SD1－17复习第1至17课难点
Exercises 练习
A Complete the following sentences:
1 What are you looking ______ . (SD1)（参见第1课）
2 We have received fifty applications ______ all. (SD2)（参见第 2课）