Lesson 56  Faster than sound!  比声音还快！

 

First listen and then answer the question.

听录音，然后回答以下问题。

How fast did the winning car go?

Once a year, a race is held for old cars. A lot of cars entered for this race last year and there was a great deal of excitement just before it began. One of the most handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The most unusual car was a Benz which had only three wheels. Built in 1885,it was the oldest car taking part. After a great many loud explosions, the race began. Many of the cars broke down on the course and some drivers spent more time under their cars than in them! A few cars, however, completed the race. The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour----much faster than any of its rivals. It sped downhill at the pleasure. It was very different from modern car races but no less exciting.

 

New words and expressions生词和短语

 

sound(title)/saund/n. 声音

explosion(1.6)/ik'spl+(N+n/n.爆炸，轰响

excitement(1.2)/ik'saitm+nt/n.激动，兴奋

course(1.7)/k&:s/n.跑道；行程

handsome(1.3)/'h$ns+m/adj. 漂亮的；美观的

rival(1.9)/'raiv+l/n.对手

Rolls-Royce(1.3)/?r+(lz-'r&!s/罗尔斯-罗伊斯

speed(1.9)/spi:d/(sped/sped/,sped)v.疾驶

Benz(1.4)/benz/ n.奔驰

downhill(1.9)/?daun'hil/adv. 下坡

wheel(1.5)/wi:l/ n.轮子

 

Notes on the text课文注释

 

1  once a year，每年一次。

2  A lot of cars entered for this race last year. 去年许多车参加了这项比赛。

3  a great deal of，大量的，后面接不可数名词。

4  break down，抛锚，出故障。

5  some drivers spent more time under their cars than in them！有些驾驶员花在汽车底下的时间比坐在车子里面的时间还长。 under the car是指在车下面修理，in the car是指正常驾驶。句中的under和in都是斜体，主要是用来对比，有强调的意味，要重读。

6  its driver had a lot of trouble trying to stop it, 驾驶员费了很大劲才把车停了下来。

7  but no less exciting, 但激动人心的程度并不亚于现代汽车大赛。这是一句省略句，完整的句子应是 but it was no less exciting than modern car races。

 

参考译文

 

旧式汽车的比赛每年举行一次。去年有很多汽车参加了这项比赛。比赛开始之前，人们异常激动。最漂亮的汽车之一是罗尔斯-罗伊斯生产的银鬼汽车，而最不寻常的一辆则要属只有3只轮子的奔驰牌汽车了。该车造于1885年，是参赛车中最老的一辆。在好一阵喧闹的爆炸声之后，比赛开始了。很多汽车在途中就抛了锚，而有些驾驶员花在汽车底下的时间比坐在汽车里面的时间还长。然而还是有几辆汽车跑完了全程。获胜的那辆车达到了时速40英里——远远超过任何对手。它在接近终点时，冲下了山坡，驾驶员费了好大劲才把车停下来。这次比赛使每个人都挺开心。它虽然与现代汽车比赛大不相同，但激动人心的程度并不亚于现代汽车大赛。

 

Summary writing 摘要写作

 

Answer these questions in not more than 70  words.

回答下列问题，将答案组成一个段落，不要超过70个单词。

1  Did a lot of old cars enter for the race or not? How often is it held? (which)

2  What could be heard when they set off? Did many cars break down during the race or not? Did a few manage to complete the course or not? (and though)

3  Did the winning car go downhill quickly or slowly? When did its driver have a lot of difficulty trying to stop it? (so quickly … that)

 

Composition 作文

 

Rewrite the following sentences using the joining words in parentheses. Where necessary omit the words in italics.

用括号中的连词改写以下句子，必要时可以省略用斜体印出的词。

1  There was a loud explosion. My old car stopped. (and)

2  I got out. I wanted to have a look at the engine. (to)

3  Then a man passed me. He was driving a large modern car. (a man who)

4  I waved to him. He did not stop. (but)

5  I passed the large car later. Its driver was changing a wheel. (When)

 

Letter writing 书信写作

 

Learn the following opening phrases by heart:

熟记以下两个开头语：

I am sorry it has taken me so long to write, but… I was glad to hear from you at last and to learn that

 

Exercise 练习

 

Write two short paragraphs (of not more than two sentences each) completing the above phrases. 用以上两个开头语写两小段话，每段不超过两句。

 

Key structures 关键句型

 

A lot of cars entered for this race.

a  Do you remember these sentences: (KS32)

你记得这些表示比较关系的句型吗？(参见第32  课关键句型)

He is as old as I am. 他与我同龄。

She is not as intelligent as we think.她并不像我们想像的那样聪明。

There is little I can do to help him. 我帮不了他多少忙。

There were few people in the shop. 商店里几乎没有人。

There isn't much whisky, but you can have a little. 威士忌酒不多，但你可以喝一点。

There aren't many apples, but you can pick a few. 苹果不多了，但你可摘一些。

b  Now study these sentences:

细读以下句子：

Instead of saying:

除了这种表述方式外：还可以说：

There isn't much I can do to help him.

Many of our products are sold overseas.

c  Study these sentences:

细读以下句子：

Instead of saying:

除了这种表述方式外：

My jacket is like yours.

My jacket isn't like yours.

We can say:

还可以说：

There isn't a lot I can do to help him.

Or: There isn't a great deal I can do to help him. A lot of our products are sold overseas.

Or: A great many of our products are sold overseas. Or: A great number of our products are sold overseas. We can say:

还可以说：

My jacket is the same as yours.

My jacket is different from yours.

 

Exercises 练习

 

A  How many comparisons can you find in the passage? Underline them. Note the use of the following: 划出课文中表示比较的用法，注意以下这些词组的用法：a lot of, a great deal of, a great many, a few, and different from.

B  Supply the missing words in the following. Do not refer to the passage until you finish the exercise.

补上遗漏的词，完成练习后再对照课文核对你的答案。

Once a year a race is held for old cars. A _______ ______cars entered for this race last year and there was a great ______of excitement just before it began. One of the______ handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The______ unusual car was a Benz which had only three wheels. Built in 1885, it was the ______(old) car taking part. After a great______ loud explosions, the race began. ______of the cars broke down on the course and some drivers spent___ time under their cars than in them! A______ cars, however, completed the race. The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour----much faster______ any of its rivals. It sped downhill at the end of the race and its driver had a ______ ______trouble trying to stop it. The race gave everyone a great______ of pleasure. It was very different ______modern car races but no______ exciting.

 

Special difficulties 难点

 

Words often confused and misused 经常容易混淆和误用的词

Study the examples given under each heading:

细读每组词的例句：

a  Handsome (1.3), Beautiful, Pretty, Good-looking.

He is a very handsome young man. 他是一个非常清秀的年青人。

She used to be very pretty as a child. She is now a beautiful woman. 孩提时她很好看。现在是个漂亮的女子。

She's a very good-looking girl, and her boyfriend's good-looking too.她是个很好看的女孩；男朋友也很好看。

b  Reach and Arrive in/at.

The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour. (11.8-9) Will you pass me that book please? I can't reach it.你能把那本书递给我吗？我够不着。

We arrived in New York yesterday. We arrived at the station in good time. 我们昨天到达纽约。我们及时到站。c Take Part and Take Place.

It was the oldest car taking part. (1.5)

The next race will take place in a year's time.下一次比赛会在一年后举行。

 

Exercise 练习

 

Write eight sentences using each of the above words.

用以上8个词各造一个句子。

 

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

 

Comprehension 理解

1  What was unusual about the car race?

a． The Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

b． The Benz which was built in 1885.

c． All the cars were old. 

d．There were many loud explosions.

2  A lot of cars took part in the race, ______.

a． but only a few completed the course 

b． and they all completed the course

c． and most of them completed the course 

d． but only one of them completed the course   

Structure 句型

3  A lot of cars entered for this race. There were______ cars in it.

a． much                        b． lot of

c． lots of                       d． plenty

4  ______in 1885, so it was the oldest car in the race.

a． It built                       b． Built

c． It was built              d． Having built

5  It was the oldest car taking part. There wasn't ______one.

a． an older                     b． the oldest

c． an elder                     d． the eldest

6  It reached a speed of forty miles an hour. It ______ forty miles an hour.

a． ran                           b． ran with

c． went at                     d． drove with

7  It was different from modern cars. It wasn't______ modern cars.

a． the same as               b． the same with

c． same with                 d． same as

Vocabulary 词汇

8  One of the most handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce. It was a ______car.

a． pretty                        b． beautiful

c． seemly                      d． nice

9  The most unusual car was a Benz. It wasn't a ______car.

a． used                         b． common

c．vulgar                         d． accustomed

10  There were many loud explosions. There were many loud ______.

a． knocks                      b． hits

c． bangs                       d． thumps

11  Many of the cars broke down. They ______.

a． were in pieces            b． were broken up

c． couldn't go                d． were spoilt

12  It went faster than any of its rivals. It went faster than its ______.

a． opponents                 b． enemies

c． competitors               d． partners