新概念英语第四册26-03

supreme 首屈一指 roast duck 烤鸭

It comes...

comes nearer to ：similar to

plane / gravity

Ducks…

good part ： big/ important part

irresistible power : 无尽的力量

bore…through : 穿越

opposite gale :逆风

before exhaustion follows 直到最后精疲力尽

I work before darkness comes / follows.

until its dark… 直到……为止

Their humbler…

前两类鸟飞别为：albatross，Ducks；第三类鸟为：their humbler followers：partridges

like power

like 的词性可以为 prep. / v. / adj. 此处位 adj.

similar / alike (做表语)

They have alike appearance. (错)They have similar apperance.

propulsion / propel ： to push / propeller / rocket

You may…

in utter exhaustion 在完全疲惫的状态 (介词短语)

When they are utterly exhausted （时间状语）

We have to undertake a hard journey in seeking truth.

We have to undertake a hard journey when we try to seek truth.

The swallow…

swallow :燕子

virtues ：good points / merits / advantages

...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 steel-like muscles, that are a good part of the weight of the bird, and these will ply the short wings with irresistible power that they can bore for long distances through an opposite gale before exhaustion follows. Their humbler followers, 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 virtues of both schools in highest measure. ...