Lesson61 Trouble with the Hubble 哈勃望远镜的困境
What is the special importance of a telescope in space?
The Hubble telescope was launched into space by NASA
on April 20, 1990 at a cost of over a billion dollars.
Right from the start there was trouble with the Hubble.
The pictures it sent us were very disappointing
because its main mirror was faulty!
NASA is now going to put the telescope right,
so it will soon be sending up four astronauts to repair it.
The shuttle Endeavour will be taking the astronauts to the Hubble.
A robot-arm from the Endeavour will grab the telescope
and hold it while the astronauts make the necessary repairs.
Of course, the Hubble is above the earth’s atmosphere,
so it will soon be sending us the clearest pictures of the stars
and distant galaxies that we have ever seen.
The Hubble will tell us a great deal about the age and size of the universe.
By the time you read this,
the Rubble’s eagle eye will have sent us thousands and thousands of wonderful pictures.
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- Hubble( title)/’hʌbl/n. 哈勃
- shuttle(1.6)/’ʃʌtl/n. 航天飞机
- telescope(1.10/’teliskəup/n. 望远镜
- Endeavour( 1. 6)/’indevə/n.“奋进”号
- launch(1.1)/lɔ:ntʃ/v.发射
- robot- arm(1.7)/’rəubət-‘a:m/n. 机器手
- space(1.1)/speis/n. 空间
- grab(1.8)/græb/v. 抓
- NASA(1.1)/’næsə/n.(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)国家航空和航天局
- atmosphere(1.9)/’ætməsfiə/n. 大气层
- distant(1.10)/’distənt/adj. 遥远的
- billion( 1. 2)/’biljən/n. 10亿
- galaxy(1.10)/’gæləksi/n. 星系
- faulty(1.4)/’fɔ:lti/adj. 有错误的
- universe(1.11)/’ju:nivə:s/n. 宇宙
- astronaut(1.6)/’æstrənɔ:t/n. 宇航员
- eagle eye(1.11)/’i:gəl-‘ai/鹰眼
Notes on the text 课文注释
- the Hubble telescope,哈勃望远镜。
- at a cost of,造价为……。
- right from the start,从最开始。
参考译文
哈勃望远镜于1990年4月20日由国家航空航天局发射升空， 耗资10多亿美元。 从最开始哈勃望远镜就有问题。 它传送给我们的图像很令人失望， 因为它的主要镜子有误差。 国家航天局准备纠正这一错误， 为此将把4名宇航员送入太空修复望远镜。 “奋进”号航天飞机将把宇航员送上哈勃。 当宇航员进行必要的修复工作时， “奋进”号上的一只机器手将抓住望远镜并托住它。 当然，哈勃位于地球的大气层之外， 因此，它很快就会给我们传送我们所见到过的、 有关行星和远距离星系的最清晰的照片。 哈勃将告诉我们有关宇宙的年龄和大小的许多事情。 等到你读到这篇文章时， 敏锐的哈勃望远镜已经为我们送来了成千上万张精彩的照片。
Lesson62 After the fire 大火之后
What was the danger to the villages after the fire?
Firemen had been fighting the forest fire for nearly three weeks before
they could get it under control. A short time before,
great trees had covered the countryside for miles around.
Now, smoke still rose up from the warm ground over the desolate hills.
Winter was coming on and the hills threatened the surrounding villages with destruction,
for heavy rain would not only wash away the soil
but would cause serious floods as well.
When the fire had at last been put out,
the forest authorities ordered several tons of a special type
of grass seed which would grow quickly.
The seed was sprayed over the ground in huge quantities by aeroplanes.
The planes had been planting seed for nearly a month when it began to rain.
By then, however,in many places the grass had already taken root.
In place of the great trees which had been growing there for centuries,
patches of green had begun to appear in the blackened soil.
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- control(1.2)/kən’trəul/n.控制
- smoke(1.3) /sməuk/n.烟
- grass－seed(11.8－9)/’gra:s-‘si:d/ n.草籽
- desolate(1.4)/’desələt/ adj. 荒凉的
- spray(1.9)/sprei/v.喷撒
- threaten(1.5)/’θretn/ v.威胁
- quantity(1.9)/’kwɔntiti/ n.量
- surrounding(1.5)/sə’raundiŋ/ adj.周围的
- root(1.11)/ru:t/n.根
- destruction(1.5)/di’strʌkʃən/n.破环，毁灭
- century(1.11)/’sentʃəri/ n.世纪
- flood(1.7)/flʌd/n. 洪水，水灾
- patch(1.11)/pætʃ/n.小片
- authority (1.8)/ɔ:’θɔriti/ n.(常用复数)当局
- blacken(1.12)/’blækən/v.变黑，发暗
Notes on the text 课文注释
- had been fighting是过去完成进行时，表示过去某一时刻之前一直进行的动作。
- before they could get it under control, 他们才能控制住火势。under control, 受到控制。
- for miles around, 方圆数英里。
- Winter was coming on，冬季即将来临，come on这里作“开始”、“来临”讲，用于指时间、季节等自然条件情况的出现。
- for heavy rain would not only wash away the soil but would cause serious floods as well，因为大雨不仅会冲走土壤，而且还会引起严重的水灾。 for是一个并列连词，用于陈述原因； wash away是“冲刷”的意思。
- in huge quantities，大量地。
- take root，生根。
- in place of，代替。
参考译文
消防队员们同那场森林大火搏斗了将近3个星期才最后把火势控制住。 就在不久之前，参天大树还覆盖着方圆数英里的土地。 而现在，发热的地面上仍然升腾着烟雾， 弥漫在荒凉的山丘上。冬季即将来临， 这些山丘对周围的村庄具有毁灭性的威胁， 因为大雨不仅会冲走土壤，而且还会引起严重的水灾。 在大火最后被扑灭后，森林管理当局订购了好几吨一种生长迅速的特殊类型的草籽。 飞机把这种草籽大量地撒播在地上。 飞机撒播近一个月后，开始下起雨来。 然而到那时，很多地方的草已经生了根。 一片片的绿草开始出现在这片烧焦的土地上， 代替了多少世纪以来一直生长在那里的参天大树。
Lesson63 She was not amused 她并不觉得好笑
Why did Jenny want to leave the wedding reception?
Jeremy Hampden has a large circle of friends and is very popular at parties.
Everybody admires him for his great sense of humour—-everybody,
that is, except his six－year－old daughter,
Jenny. Recently, one of Jeremy’s closest friends asked him to make a speech at a wedding reception.
This is the sort of thing that Jeremy loves.
He prepared the speech carefully and went to the wedding with Jenny.
He had included a large number of funny stories in the speech and,
of course, it was a great success As soon as he had finished,
Jenny told him she wanted to go home.
Jeremy was a little disappointed by this but he did as his daughter asked.
On the way home, he asked Jenny if she had enjoyed the speech.
To his surprise, she said she hadn’t.
Jeremy asked her why this was so and she told him
that she did not like to see so many people laughing at him!
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- circle(1.1)/’sə:kəl/n.圈子
- wedding (1.5)/’wediŋ/n.婚礼
- admire(1.2)/əd’maiə/v.赞美，钦佩
- reception(1.5)/ri’sepʃən/n.招待会
- close(1.4)/kləus/adj.亲密的
- sort(1.5) /sɔ:t/n. 种类
Notes on the text 课文注释
- a large circle of friends, 交际很广。
- Everybody admires him for his great sense of humour. 人人都钦佩他那绝妙的幽默感。 admire… for，钦佩……的……； sense of humour；幽默感。
- but he did as his daughter asked，但他还是按照女儿的要求做了。 as是连词，引导出状语从句，表示方式。did是指前一句话中的 go home．
- To his surprise，使他吃惊的是。
- she did not like to see so many people laughing at him, 她不愿意看到那么多人嘲笑他。句中的laughing at him 是现在分词短语，作see的宾语补足语。
参考译文
杰里米·汉普登交际甚广，是各种聚会上深受大家欢迎的人。 人人都钦佩他那绝妙的幽默感——人人，就是说， 除他6岁的女儿珍妮之外的每一个人。 最近，杰里米的一个最亲密的朋友请他在一个婚礼上祝词。 这正是杰里米喜欢做的事情。 他认真准备了讲稿，带着珍妮一道去参加了婚礼。 他的祝词里面加进了大量逗人的故事，自然大获成功。 他刚一讲完，珍妮就对他说她要回家。 这不免使杰里米有点扫兴，但他还是按照女儿的要求做了。 在回家的路上，他问珍妮是否喜欢他的祝词。 使他吃惊的是，她说她不喜欢。 杰里米问她为何不喜欢， 她说她不愿意看到那么多的人嘲笑他！
Lesson64 The Channel Tunnel 海峡隧道
Why was the first tunnel not completed?
In 1858, a French engineer, Aimé Thomé de Gamond,
arrived in England with a plan for a twenty－one－mile tunnel under the English Channel.
He said that it would be possible to build a platform in the centre of the Channel.
This platform would serve as a port and a railway station.
The tunnel would be well－ventilated if tall chimneys were built above sea level.
In 1860, a better plan was put forward by an Englishman, William Low.
He suggested that a double railway tunnel should be built.
This would solve the problem of ventilation,for if a train entered this tunnel,
it would draw in fresh air behind it.
Forty－two years later a tunnel was actually begun.
If,at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it would have been completed.
The world had to wait almost another 100 years for the Channel Tunnel.
It was officially opened on March 7,1994,finally connecting Britain to the European continent.
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- tunnel(title)/’tʌnl/n.隧道
- fear(1.10)/fiə/v.害怕
- port(1.4)/pɔ:t/n.港口
- invasion(1.10)/in’veiʒən/n.入侵，侵略
- ventilate(1.5)/’ventileit/v.通风
- officially(1.11)/ə’fiʃəli/adv. 正式地
- chimney(1.6)/’tʃimni/n.烟囱
- connect(1.12)/kə’nekt/v. 连接
- sealevel(1.6)/’si:-‘levəl/海平面
- European(1.12)/’juərə’pi:ən/adj.欧洲的
- double(1.7)/’dʌbəl/adj. 双的
- continent(1.12)/’kɔntinənt/n. 大陆
- ventilation(1.8)/’venti’leiʃən/n. 通风
Notes on the text 课文注释
- a plan for a twenty－one-mile tunnel under the English Channel, 建造一条长21英里、穿越英吉利海峡的隧道计划， for a… Channel是介词短语，作定语，修饰名词 plan。
- serve as…，用作……，充当……，与 serve for同义。
- a better plan was put forward, 提出了一项更好的计划， put forward提出(计划、建议等)。
- He suggested that a double railway-tunnel should be built. 他提议建造双轨隧道。在英文中，动词 suggest，demand， recommend等后面所接的 that宾语从句中，谓语动词要用should+动词原形，而should又常常省略，这是一种虚拟语气的结构。
- If, at the time, the British had not feared invasion, it would have been completed. 如果不是因为那时英国人害怕入侵，隧道早就建成了。这是英语中的虚拟语气。虚拟语气所表述的不是一个事实，而只是一种假设或愿望，常伴有if引导的非真实条件句。以上的这句话是对大战期间所发生的事情的一种假设，而这种假设与事实不符。因此，在条件句中要用过去完成时 had not feared，而主句中则要用 would+ have+ 过去分词。
参考译文
1858年，一位名叫埃梅·托梅·德·干蒙的法国工程师带着建造一条长21英里、穿越英吉利海峡的隧道计划到了英国。 他说，可以在隧道中央建造一座平台，这座平台将用作码头和火车站。 如果再建些伸出海面的高大的烟囱状通风管，隧道就具备了良好的通风条件。 1860年，一位名叫威廉·洛的英国人提出了一项更好的计划。 他提议建一条双轨隧道，这样就解决了通风问题。 因为如果有一列火车开进隧道，它就把新鲜空气随之抽进了隧道。 42年以后，隧道实际已经开始建了。 如果不是因为那时英国人害怕入侵，隧道早已建成了。 世界不得不再等将近100年才看到海峡隧道竣工。 它于1994年3月7日正式开通，将英国与欧洲大陆连到了一起。
Lesson65 Jumbo versus the police 小象对警察
Why did the police have to push Jumbo off the main street?
Last Christmas, the circus owner, Jimmy Gates,
decided to take some presents to a children’s hospital.
Dressed up as Father Christmas and accompanied by a‘guard of honour’of six pretty girls,
he set off down the main street of the city riding a baby elephant called Jumbo.
He should have known that the police would never allow this sort of thing.
A policeman approached Jimmy and told him he ought to have gone along a side street
as Jumbo was holding up the traffic.
Though Jimmy agreed to go at once,
Jumbo refused to move.
Fifteen policemen had to push very hard to get him off the main street.
The police had a difficult time, but they were most amused .
‘Jumbo must weigh a few tons,’said a policemen afterwards,
‘so it was fortunate that we didn’t have to carry him.
Of course, we should arrest him,
but as he has a good record, we shall let him off this time.’
New words and expressions 生词和短语
- versus(title)/’və:səs/prep.对
- approach (1.6)/ә’prәutʃ/v. 走近
- Christmas (1.1)/’krismәs/n.圣诞节
- ought (1.7)/ɔ:t/modal verb应该
- circus (1.1)/’sə:kəs/n.马戏团
- present(1.2)/’prezənt/n.礼物
- fortunate(1.11)/’fɔ:tʃәnәt/adj.幸运的
- accompany(1.3)/ə’kʌmpəni/v.陪伴，随行
Notes on the text 课文注释
- Dressed up as Father Christmas and accompanied by a‘guard of honour’ of six pretty girls, 打扮成圣诞老人，在由6位漂亮姑娘组成的“仪仗队”的陪同下。过去分词短语 dressed up…和 accompanied by作状语，说明伴随状态。
- He should have known, 他本应知道。这里“should +have +过去分词”表示本应发生但实际上并未发生的事情。
- he ought to have gone along a side street, 他本应该走一条小路。 ought是助动词，“ought + have +过去分词”表示过去该做而没有做的事情。
- hold up the traffic, 阻碍交通。
- get him off the main street, 把它推离主要街道。
- he has a good record, 它表现一贯很好，这里的record是指履历，特别是警察局的档案。
- let him off,饶恕。
参考译文
去年圣诞节，马戏团老板吉米·盖茨决定送些礼物给儿童医院。 他打扮成圣诞老人，在由6个漂亮姑娘组成的“仪仗队”的陪同下， 骑上一头名叫江伯的小象，沿着城里的主要街道出发了。 他本该知道警察绝不会允许这类事情发生。 一个警察走过来告诉吉米，他应该走一条小路，因为江伯阻碍了交通。 虽然吉米同意马上就走，但江伯却拒绝移动。 15个警察不得不用很大的力气把它推离主要街道。 警察虽然吃了苦头，但他们还是感到很有趣。 “江伯一定有好几吨重，”一个警察事后这样说，“值得庆幸的是它没让我们抬它走。 当然，我们应该逮捕它，但由于它一贯表现很好，这次我们饶了它。”