新概念英语第二册MP3教程附字幕 lesson66

Lesson 66

Cycling through the Air

在空中骑自行车

The Hatfield Puffin is a modern aeroplane, but its designer, Mr. John Wimpenny, is finding it difficult to get it off the ground. The reason for this is that this plane is also a bicycle. Its pilot has to pedal hard to get it into the air. After Mr. Wimpenny had the plane built, it was tested thoroughly. In 1961, it was the first man-powered aircraft to fly half a mile. While being flown by a champion amateur cyclist in 1963, the plane crashed on an airfield. Since then, Mr. Wimpenny has had it rebuilt. He has had the length of the wings increased so that they now measure 93 feet—almost as long as those of a Dakota. Many people have shown interest in this new and unusual sport. But though air cyclists may learn how to fly over short distances, and may, eventually, even get across the English Channel, it is doubtful whether they will ever cycle across the Atlantic.

New words and expressions 生词和短语

cycle vi. 骑自行车

pilot n. 飞行员

pedal vi. 踩踏板

champion n. 冠军

amateur a. 业余的

the Atlantic n. 大西洋

参考译文

哈特费尔德普芬是一架时髦的飞机，但设计这架飞机的人，约翰·温佩尼先生感到难于使它飞离地面。其原因是，这架飞机又是一辆自行车。驾驶员为了让它飞上天不得不使劲踩踏。温佩尼先生叫人把飞机造好后，对飞机进行了彻底的试验。1961年，它是第一架能飞半英里的人力飞机。1963年，一个业余自行车赛冠军驾驶这架飞机时，这架飞机在机场上坠毁了。自那以后，温佩尼先生叫人重造了一架。他把机翼加长到93英尺——几乎有达科他型飞机的翅膀那样长。许多人对这种新奇的运动感兴趣。但是，尽管空中自行车骑手可以学会如何飞过短距离，甚至最终还可以飞越英吉利海峡，但他们是否能飞越大西洋，却是令人怀疑的。