Experiments have proved that children can be instructed in swimming at a very early age.

at a very early age ^{在非常小的年纪}

• at a very old age ^{在很老的时候}
• After growing up ^长大以后

At a special swimming pool in Los Angeles, children become expert at holding their breath under water even before they can walk.

become expert ^{成为专家：通过学习和实践逐渐掌握某个领域的知识和技能，达到专家水平。}

expert at / in doing sth. ^{…方面的专家，熟练者}

• Rex soon became an expert at opening the gate.

hold one’s breath ^屏住呼吸

• Last night, when I heard a strange noise coming from the bar, I held my breath and listened carefully.

Babies of two months old do not appear to be reluctant to enter the water.

appear to do ^{似乎，好像：表达某种推测或猜测，表示某种可能性或不确定性。}

• I appear to have mislaid my sweater.^{我好像忘了把毛衣放哪儿了。}
• The Democrats now appear to be in the lead.^{现在看来好像民主党人占优势。}

be reluctant to do ^{不情愿做某事：表示不愿意或不愿意做某事的态度。}

• Mr. Spero was reluctant to ask for help.^{斯珀洛先生不愿意请求帮助。}
• She was reluctant to admit she was wrong.^{她不愿承认自己有错。}

It is not long before they are so accustomed to swimming that they can pick up weights from the floor of the pool.

be accustomed to n./doing sth. ^{习惯的，适应了的}

• He soon became accustomed to his new job.
• My mother is accustomed to getting up early.

A game that is very popular with these young swimmers is the underwater tricycle race.

be popular with… ^{深受…的欢迎，为…所喜爱}

• Mary is popular with/among children.
• Swimming is popular with these girls.

Tricycles are lined up on the floor of the pool seven feet under water.

line up ^{（使）排成行/排队}

• Why are people lining up over there?
• Line these chairs up, please.

The children compete against each other to reach the other end of the pool.

compete against ^{与…竞争，与…抗衡}

• We can compete against anybody -and we can win.^{我们可以与任何人竞争——而且能赢得胜利。}
• We do not have to compete against economic interests.^{我们不必追逐经济利益。}
• Small businesses will better compete against larger firms.^{小企业可以更好地与大公司竞争。}

Many pedal their tricycles, but most of them prefer to push or drag them.

prefer to ^{更喜欢：喜欢、选择或想要某一件事物而不是另一件事物。}

• I prefer to stay at home rather than go out tonight.^{今晚我宁愿呆在家里也不愿意出去。}
• "Well, in that case, I prefer to stay on the bus," I answered.

Some children can cover the whole length of the pool without coming up for breath even once.

come up for breath ^{升上水面换气}

• I just have to come up for air.^{我只想出去呼吸下新鲜空气。}
• When will the matter come up for discussion?^{这件事什么时候提出来讨论？}
• Diving into water won't help - they'll wait till you come up for air.^{潜入水中不起作用：它们会等你上来透气。}

Whether they will ever become future Olympic champions, only time will tell.

Meanwhile, they should encourage those among us who cannot swim five yards before they are gasping for air.