英语课程计划-Aviation Day

Aviation Day is on August the 19th. It is a day to celebrate the development and importance of aviation in the world. The holiday started in 1939. President Franklin Roosevelt decided¹ the anniversary of Orville Wright's birthday should be National Aviation Day in the U.S.A. Wright was one of the brothers who made the first ever flight. President Roosevelt invited “the people of the United States to observe National Aviation Day with appropriate exercises to further stimulate² interest in aviation”. Today, this means educational workshops in schools learning about the history of aviation. It is also a good time for airlines to try and get students interested in a career in aviation, either as a pilot or a member of the ground crew.

Orville Wright piloted the world’s first airplane, the Wright Flyer. He and his brother Wilbur built an airplane with controls that enabled them to steer³. Orville’s historic flight took place on December the 17th, 1903. The flight lasted just 12 seconds. In that short time, he flew a total of 120 feet, 40 metres. The Wright brothers were bicycle engineers who believed man could fly. They believed the secret to what was called “the flying problem” was not more powerful engines, but better aerodynamics. They knew that if a bicycle could remain upright while moving forwards, an airplane could fly in a straight line. Their wing and propeller⁴ design changed the world forever.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

3 steer   

vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶

参考例句：

• If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车，我就来驾车。
• It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。

4 propeller   

n.螺旋桨，推进器

参考例句：

• The propeller started to spin around.螺旋桨开始飞快地旋转起来。
• A rope jammed the boat's propeller.一根绳子卡住了船的螺旋桨。