VOA慢速英语--少年飞行员离环球飞行又近了一步

Teen Pilot Takes Step Closer to Circling the Globe

Nineteen-year-old Zara Rutherford is looking to become the youngest woman to fly solo¹, or by herself, around the world.

The young Belgian-British pilot left Belgium in August. Rutherford hopes to complete her 51,000-kilometer trip across five continents and 52 countries by mid-January 2022.

She recently talked about the difficulties involved in crossing northern Russia after landing² in Jakarta, Indonesia.

She told reporters in Jakarta the hardest part of her trip so far was flying across Siberia in northern Russia. She noted³ that if anything went wrong, any help she would need in freezing temperatures would likely be hours away.

"If for any reason the engine stops, I think I could survive. I could either land on the land or (use) the parachute or ditch⁴ in the water. I'll be ok," Rutherford said.

She added, "The problem is if I'm in minus 35 degrees Celsius⁵, once I'm on the ground and I'm three hours away from the closest human, ...I actually don't know how long I can survive."

Rutherford describes every solo flight as an "adventure." An adventure is an exciting or possibly dangerous experience. She added that flying solo tests her wits⁶ -- or her knowledge and creativity. She said she hopes her trip inspires other young women to enter the fields of aviation⁷, science, technology, mathematics and engineering⁸.

Rutherford is looking to break the current record held by Shaesta Waiz. Waiz was 30 years old when she flew solo around the world in 2017.

Words in This Story

ditch – v. to stop having or using something you no longer want or need; to get rid of something

inspire – v. to make someone want to do something; to give someone an idea about what to do or create

aviation -n. the operation of aircraft

1 solo   

n.独奏，独唱；adj.单独的；adv.单独地；v.放单飞，单独表演

参考例句：

• Tara is currently working on a solo album.塔拉眼下正忙着制作个人专辑。
• There's wonderfully lyrical flute solo in the middle of this symphony.在交响乐中间有一段奇妙的抒情长笛独奏。

2 landing   

n.登陆；着陆；楼梯平台

参考例句：

• Owing to engine trouble,the plane had to make a forced landing.由于发动机出了毛病，飞机不得不进行迫降。
• When are we landing?我们什么时候着陆？

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 ditch   

n.沟，沟渠，渠道

参考例句：

• With the blind leading the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.如果瞎子替瞎子带路的话，那么两方肯定会掉到沟里。
• The water in the ditch is not very clean.沟里的水不很清洁。

5 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

6 wits   

n.风趣( wit的名词复数 )；善于说俏皮话的能力；心智；才智v.风趣( wit的第三人称单数 )；善于说俏皮话的能力；心智；才智

参考例句：

• The authorities are at their wits' end about juvenile delinquency. 当局对青少年犯罪束手无策。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• You have to have your wits about you in a dangerous situation. 在危急的情况下，你得随机应变。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 aviation   

n.航空，航空学，飞机制造业

参考例句：

• Ten years ago,they began to develop the aviation. 十年前，他们开始发展航空工业。
• Pilots of large aircraft are masters of aviation.大型飞行器的驾驶员是航空学方面的专家。

8 engineering   

n.工程，工程学，管理，操纵

参考例句：

• The science of engineering began as soon as man learned to use tools. 人类一学会使用工具,工程科学就开始了。
• It was the first great engineering works in the world. 这是世界上第一家大型的工程工厂。