Once a year, a race is held for old cars. §

be held for ^{比赛为…而举行}

• MPS told the BBC that the vote might not be held for several days.

A lot of cars entered for this race last year and there was a great deal of excitement just before it began.

just before = just ^{起强调作用}

• We left just before the final curtain. ^{我们在最后的幕前离开了。}

a lot of … ^{许多…（可数/不可数名词）}

• There are a lot of books on the desk. ^{桌子上有许多书。}
• She has lots of free time on weekends. ^{她周末有很多空闲时间。（可数/不可数名词）}
• We need a large quantity of water. ^{我们需要大量的水。（可数/不可数名词）}
• Large quantities of apples were sent here. ^{大量苹果被送到这里。（可数/不可数名词，谓语常用复数）}
• Many students like English. ^{许多学生喜欢英语。（接可数名词复数）}
• Many of the trees are tall. ^{这些树当中的许多棵都很高。（接限定词+可数名词复数）}
• Many a boy enjoys the game. ^{许多男孩子喜欢这个游戏。（接可数名词单数，谓语用单数）}
• A great / good many visitors come every year. ^{每年都有许多游客前来。（接可数名词复数）}
• A great / large number of birds fly south in autumn. ^{秋天大量鸟儿飞往南方。接可数名词复数）}
• There isn’t much milk left. ^{剩下的牛奶不多了。（接不可数名词）}
• He spent a great deal of money on books. ^{他花大量的钱买书。（接不可数名词）}
• A large amount of information is useful. ^{大量信息是有用的。（接不可数名词）}

One of the most handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost.

one of ^{直接作主语的时候, 它是做单数看待的。}

• One of the answers is ture. ^答案之一
• One of those people is good. ^{哪些人中的一个}
• He is the only one of those rare people who believes in ancient myths. 

handsome ^{adj. 英俊的（多指男性；也可指端庄好看）}

• He is a handsome young man. ^{他是一位英俊的年轻人。}

Built in 1885, it was the oldest car taking part.  ^{take part 这里表最高级的范围理解为 taking part (in the race)}

Because it was built in 1885, it was the oldest car that took part (in the race).

• Because she was born in 2002, she is the youngest teacher who works  for the school. ⇒ Born in 2002, she is the youngest teacher working for the school.
• Because it was given by my mother, I like the gift most. ⇒ Given by my mother, the gift is my favorite.

taking part ^{参加：参与某项活动或事件。}

• I will be taking part in the charity run next weekend. 
• He will take part in an important race across the Atlantic.

After a great many loud explosions, the race began.

different from ^{与…不同（different 前面可加 very，much，a little 等修饰语）}

• Is French food very different from Italian food?
• A French man could tell you better than I can!
• We’re planning something different this year from what we did last year.

Many of the cars broke down on the course and some drivers spent more time under their cars than in them!

Many of the cars went wrong / failed / malfunctioned on the course.

break down ^{（机器）出故障，坏掉；（谈判）失败}

• This morning I was late for work, because my car broke down twice.^{发生故障或损坏(指机械设备、车辆等因故障或损坏而停止工作或无法正常运行。)}
• Many people were expecting (that) the peace talks would break down.^{许多人预料和平谈判会破裂。(崩溃；垮掉:指人在情感、精神或身体上崩溃、失控或无法继续下去。)}
• Over time, the protein in the eggshell breaks down into its constituent amino acids. ^{随着时间的推移,蛋壳中的蛋白质分解成其构成成分氨基酸。(解释；阐明:指详细解释或说明某个概念、观点或问题。)}
• My car broke down on the highway. ^{我的汽车在高速公路上抛锚了。}

… some drivers spent more time repairing than driving.

• You spend more time on the playground than in the classroom. ⇔ You spend more time playing than studying.

under the car ^{指在车下面修理}

• spent more time under their cars than in them ^{他们花在车下的时间比在车里的时间还多}

A few cars, however, completed the race.

Even so / Nevertheless / Nonetheless,a few cars completed the race.
A few cars completed the race, though.

* The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour -- much faster than any of its rivals.

the wining car ^获胜车

• The winner was Billy Stewart.

a speed of + 数量词 ^速度为…

• You must have been driving at a speed of seventy miles an hour.

any of its rivals＝any rival ^{任何一个any 在比较级中一旦出现, 它往往要加可数名词的单数}

• Beijing is bigger than any other city. ^{（注意 “other” 不能丢）}
• any other competitor ^{如果是不定代词, 可以说 someone else, anyone else；如果不是不定代词, 要在名词前加 other.}

It sped downhill at the end of the race and its driver had a lot of trouble trying to stop it.

at the end of… ^{在…的末尾/最后部分}

• He spoke a few words at the end of the meeting. ^{会议的结尾}

have trouble (in) doing sth. ^{干…有麻烦，做…很困难（trouble 既可数又不可数）}

• They had some trouble finding out the cause of the fire.
• Although Campbell reached a speed of over 304 miles per hour, he had great difficulty in controlling the car because a tyre burst during the first run.
• I have a great time learning English. = Learning English gives me a great deal of pleasure.

downhill ^{adv./adj. 下坡(的)；走下坡路}

• The bike runs fast when going downhill. ^{自行车下坡时跑得很快。}

The race gave everyone a great deal of pleasure.

give sb. + n. ^给某人…

• Confidence give sb. confidence in doing sth.

It was very different from modern car races but no less exciting.

It was very different from modern car races but no less exciting than modern car races (are).

A is different from/than B ^{与…不相同；不同于…}

• If you spoke in the first person, the word would be different from in the third person.^{用第一人称讲话，所用的词会完全不同于用第三人称讲话。}

be no less + adj. + than … ^{和…一样的…； 不亚于…}

• This book is no less interesting than that one (is).
• He is no less strong than you (are).