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(单词翻译)
Lesson 23
Bird flight
鸟的飞行方法
First listen and then answer the following question.
听录音,然后回答以下问题。
What are the two main types of bird flight described by the author?
No two sorts of birds practise quite the same sort of flight; the varieties are infinite; but two classes may be roughly seen. Any shi that crosses the Pacific is accompanied for many days by the smaller albatross, Which may keep company with the vessel1 for an hour without visible or more than occasional movement of wing. The currents of air that the walls of the ship direct upwards2, as well as in the line of its course, are enough to give the great bird with its immense wings sufficient sustenance3 and progress. The albatross is the king of the gliders5, the class of fliers which harness the air to their purpose, but must yield to its opposition6. In the contrary school, the duck is supreme7. It comes nearer to the engines with which man has 'conquered' the air, as he boasts. Duck, and like them the pigeons, are endowed with such-like muscles, that are a good part of the weight of the bird, and these will ply8 the short wings with such irresistible9 power that they can bore for long distances through an opposing gale10 before exhaustion11 follows. Their humbler followers12, such as partridges, have a like power of strong propulsion, but soon tire. You may pick them up in utter exhaustion, if wind over the sea has driven them to a long journey. The swallow shares the virtues13 of both schools in highest measure. It tires not, nor does it boast of its power; but belongs to the air, travelling it may be six thousand miles to and from its northern nesting home, feeding its flown young as it flies, and slipping through we no longer take omens15 from their flight on this side and that; and even the most superstitious16 villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie17 and wish it good-morning.
WILLIAM BEACH THOMAS A Countryman's Creed18
New words and expressions 生词和短语
albatross
n. 信天翁
sustenance
n. 支撑力
glider4
n. 滑翔者
harness
v. 利用
endow
v. 赋有
ply
v. 不断地供给
gale
n. 大风
partridge
n. 鹧鸪
like
adj. 类似的
propulsion
n. 推进力
utter
adj. 完全的
slip
v. 滑行
adverse19
adj. 逆的,相反的
omen14
n. 预兆
参考译文
没有任何两种鸟的飞行方式是相同的。鸟的飞行方式千差万别,但大体上可分为两类。任何一艘横度太平洋的轮船都会有一种小信天翁伴随飞行许多天。它们随船飞行一小时也难得见其扇动一下翅膀。沿船体的上升的气流和沿航线向前的气流给这种巨翼大鸟以足够的浮力和推力。信天翁是滑翔飞行的鸟类之王,它能自如地驾驭空气,但必须顺气流飞行。与滑翔鸟相对的另一类鸟中,数野鸭本领最高。它更近乎于人类自夸的“征服”了空气的发动机。野鸭及它们相似的鸽子有天赋的钢铁般的肌肉,占了体重的很大一部分。这些肌肉以巨大的力量扇动短小的翅膀,使这类鸟能顶着大风飞行很远的路才会疲劳。次于野鸭和鸽子的鸟,如鹧鸪,有相似的巨大推动力,但很快会疲劳。如果海风驱使它们飞行很长距离,你可以捡到一些因筋疲力尽而摔下来的鹧鸪。燕子充分兼有这两类鸟的长处,它既不疲劳,也不炫耀自己的飞翔力;在空中十分自如,可以飞行6,000英里,可以飞往北方做窝的老家,再从老家飞回;一边飞一边喂养会飞的雏燕,甚至在顶风时也能在气流中滑翔,似乎气流在帮它前进。这些鸟对我们是有益的,虽然我们不再从它们的飞翔姿态来占卜吉凶,连最迷信的村民也不再对喜鹊脱帽行礼,祝它早安了。
1 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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2 upwards | |
adv.向上,在更高处...以上 | |
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3 sustenance | |
n.食物,粮食;生活资料;生计 | |
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4 glider | |
n.滑翔机;滑翔导弹 | |
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5 gliders | |
n.滑翔机( glider的名词复数 ) | |
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6 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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7 supreme | |
adj.极度的,最重要的;至高的,最高的 | |
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8 ply | |
v.(搬运工等)等候顾客,弯曲 | |
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9 irresistible | |
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 | |
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10 gale | |
n.大风,强风,一阵闹声(尤指笑声等) | |
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11 exhaustion | |
n.耗尽枯竭,疲惫,筋疲力尽,竭尽,详尽无遗的论述 | |
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12 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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13 virtues | |
美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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14 omen | |
n.征兆,预兆;vt.预示 | |
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15 omens | |
n.前兆,预兆( omen的名词复数 ) | |
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16 superstitious | |
adj.迷信的 | |
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17 magpie | |
n.喜欢收藏物品的人,喜鹊,饶舌者 | |
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18 creed | |
n.信条;信念,纲领 | |
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19 adverse | |
adj.不利的;有害的;敌对的,不友好的 | |
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