《新概念英语》（美音）II-56

Lesson 56 Faster than sound! 比声音还快!

First listen and then answer the question.

How fast did the winning car go?

Once a year, a race is held for old car. 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 end of the race and its driver had a lot of trouble trying to stop it. The race gave everyone a great deal of pleasure. It was very different from modern car race but no less exciting.

New words and expressions 生词和短语

sound n.声音

excitement n.激动，兴奋

handsome adj.漂亮的，美观的

Rolls-Royce 罗尔斯-罗伊斯

Benz n.奔驰

wheel n.轮子

explosion n.爆炸，轰响

course n.跑道，行程

rival n.对手

speed v.疾驶

downhill adv.下坡

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.去看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。

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

7 but on less exciting ,但激动人心的程度并不亚于现代汽车大赛。

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 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面的时间还要长。然而还是有几辆汽车跑完了全程。获胜的那辆车达了时速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不同，但激动人心的程度并不亚于现代汽车大赛。