Lesson 29 The hovercraft气垫船独立主格 量词

Many strange new means of transport have been developed in our century, the strangest of them being perhaps the hovercraft.

大小 > 形状 > 年龄 > 新旧 > 颜色 > 国际 > 材料 > 用途 + 中心名词 ^{形容词顺序 Adjective Order}

• A heavy big round new black Chinese wooden dining table. ^{一张新的很沉的黑色的中国式的圆形的大木餐桌。}
• For most of them, 50 pence is a small price to pay for a nice big bar of chocolate.
• One of Mary's prize possessions was a little white lamb which her husband had given her.
• The towers are built on immense underwater platforms made of steel and concrete.
• The towers are built on immense ferro-concrete platforms which are sunk beneath the water. 

transport ^{n. [U] (US transportation) 交通，交通工具}

• A lot of people object to mobile phones, especially when they are used in public places like restaurants or on public transport.
• Food, clothing, shelter, and transport are necessities. ^{食物、衣服、住所和交通工具是必需品。}
• New transport systems revolutionized travel. ^{新的交通系统彻底改变了旅行。}

develop ^{v.to design or make a new idea, product, system etc. over a period of time 研制，设计，开发}

• Scientists are developing new drugs for arthritis. ^{科学家们正在研发治疗关节炎的新药。}
• Several countries have developed nuclear weapons secretly. ^{一些国家秘密研发了核武器。}
• Developed transport means include the hovercraft. ^{研发的交通工具包括气垫船。}

独立主格 ^{Independent Genitive}

• The strangest of them (being) perhaps the hovercraft. ^{其中最奇怪的可能是气垫船。}
• The village seemed deserted, the only sign of life being an ugly-looking black goat on a short length of rope tied to a tree in a field nearby.

Many interesting new products have been developed by Apple Inc., the most successful of them being perhaps the ‘iPhone’. ^{苹果公司 (Apple Inc.) 研制出了很多有趣的新产品，其中最成功的可能就是iPhone 了。}

In 1953, a former electronics engineer in his fifties, Christopher Cockerell, who had turned to boat-building on the Norfolk Broads, suggested an idea on which he had been working for many years to the British Government and industrial circles.

electronics ^{n. [U] the scientific study of electric current and the technology that uses it 电子学/电子设备}

• He has a degree in electronics. ^{他拥有电子学学位。}
• She works in the electronics industry. ^{她在电子工业部门工作。}
• Cockerell was a former electronics engineer. ^{科克雷尔曾是一名电子工程师。}

 Expressing Age ^年龄表达

• He decided to start a new career while in his fifties. ^{他在五十多岁时决定开始一段新的职业生涯。}
• In her early fifties, she started a new career. ^{五十出头时，她开始了新职业。}
• In his late fifties, he retired. ^{快六十时，他退休了。}

turn to sth.  ^{to devote or apply oneself to something, as to a field of study (转而)致力于…}

• Unsuccessful in mathematics, the student turned to biology. ^{数学不成功，他转而研究生物学。}
• Cockerell turned to boat-building on the Norfolk Broads. ^{科克雷尔在诺福克湖区致力于造船。}
• She turned to writing after teaching. ^{教书后，她转而从事写作。}

Norfolk ^{n.诺福克郡} a county in eastern England, consisting mainly of rather flat farmland and some lakes called the Norfolk Broads, where many people spend holidays sailing in small boats or barges.

industrial ^{adj.工业的;行业的}

• He suggested the idea to industrial circles. ^{他向工业界提出了这个想法。}
• The industrial sector embraced new technologies. ^{工业部门接受了新技术。}
• Industrial progress relies on innovation. ^{工业进步依赖于创新。}

circles ^{n.a group of people who know each other and meet regularly, or who have similar interests or jobs（有共同兴趣、职业等的人形成的） 圈子，阶层，界}

• He shared his idea with industrial circles. ^{他与工业界分享了他的想法。}
• She moves in artistic circles. ^{她在艺术圈中活动。}
• The proposal gained traction in scientific circles. ^{该提议在科学界获得了支持。}

It was the idea of supporting a craft on a 'pad', or cushion, of low-pressure air, ringed with a curtain of higher pressure air.

craft ^{n. [pl. craft] a boat or ship 船舶}

• We passed several other craft on the river. ^{我们在河上经过了几艘其他船只。}
• The astronauts piloted their craft to the lunar surface. ^{宇航员驾驶他们的航天器降落到月球表面。}
• The hovercraft is a unique type of craft. ^{气垫船是一种独特的船舶。}

pad ^{n.a thick flat object made of cloth or rubber, used to protect or clean sth., or to make sth. more comfortable 垫}

• The craft rides on a pad of low-pressure air. ^{船舶在低压空气垫上行驶。}
• A pad of foam cushioned the impact. ^{一块泡沫垫缓冲了冲击。}

ring ^{v.to surround sth. 包围，环绕}

• Armed police ringed the hijacked plane. ^{武装警察包围了被劫持的飞机。}
• The air cushion is ringed with higher pressure air. ^{空气垫被高压空气包围。}

curtain ^{帘状物a thing that covers, hides or protects sth. 掩蔽物，覆盖物，防护物}

• They could see nothing through the curtain of rain. ^{他们透过雨幕什么也看不见。}
• A curtain of fog obscured the view. ^{一层雾幕遮挡了视线。}
• The craft uses a curtain of higher pressure air. ^{船舶使用高压空气幕。}

Ever since, people have had difficulty in deciding whether the craft should be ranged among ships, planes, or land vehicles -- for it is something in between a boat and an aircraft.

ever since ^{adv. & prep. & conj. continually since that time 从那以后，一直…（后面接完成时）}

• The big clock which used to strike the hours day and night was damaged many years ago and has been silent ever since. ^adv.
• There are countless people who, ever since their early years, have learned to associate snails with food. ^prep.
• Assuming that his family had been killed during an air-raid, Hans settled down in a Village fifty miles away where he had remained ever since. ^adv.
• It's been the same way ever since we were kids. ^conj.
• He has been depressed ever since he got divorced. ^{conj. 自从离婚后，他一直很沮丧。}
• Ever since, the craft’s classification has been debated. ^{从那以后，船舶的分类一直在争论。}

have difficulty (in) doing ^{做某事很困难}

• People have difficulty in deciding the craft’s category. ^{人们难以决定船舶的类别。}
• I have difficulty in understanding his thick accent. ^{我很难听懂他那浓重的口音。}
• I had some trouble (in) reading his letter. His handwriting is very bad. 
• She had a hard time writing the dear John letter. ^{她写那封绝交信很困难。}
• We had no difficulty finding the house. ^{我们找房子没有困难。}

range ^{v. (fml.) 英文解释：to assign to a category, classify 归类，分类}

• Should the craft be ranged among ships or planes? ^{这艘船应该归类为轮船还是飞机？}
• They ranged the species under mammals. ^{他们将该物种归类为哺乳动物。}
• Books were ranged by subject in the library. ^{书籍在图书馆按主题分类。}

in between = between ^{介于…之间}

• It is something in between a boat and an aircraft. ^{它是介于船和飞机之间的东西。}
• I lost my keys somewhere in between the car and the house. ^{我在车和房子之间某处丢了钥匙。}
• The town lies in between two mountains. ^{小镇位于两座山之间。}
• One town ends where the next begins and there's a road that runs in between. ^adv.

As a shipbuilder, Cockerell was trying to find a solution to the problem of the wave resistance which wastes a good deal of a surface ship's power and limits its speed.

solution to = answer to ^{…的解决方案}

• Cockerell sought a solution to wave resistance. ^{科克雷尔寻找波浪阻力的解决方案。}
• They found a solution to the pollution problem. ^{他们找到了污染问题的解决方案。}
• A solution to traffic congestion is needed. ^{需要一个解决交通拥堵的方案。}
• Finding a sustainable solution to climate change is our generation's greatest challenge. ^{找到应对气候变化的可持续解决方案是我们这一代人面临的最大挑战。}

His answer was to lift the vessel out of the water by making it ride on a cushion of air, no more than one or two feet thick.

no more than ^{仅仅、只不过}

• No more than 20 people are present. 
• We were standing no more than 10 meters away from the scene of the crime and we didn't realize it.
• His answer was to lift the vessel out of the water by making it ride on a cushion of air, no more than one or two feet thick.
• When one seriously studies the social orders that have had the opportunity to develop autonomously, the figure becomes no more than an exact and matter-of-fact observation.
• No more than 20 people were present. ^{只有20人出席。}
• We stood no more than 10 meters from the crime scene. ^{我们站在离犯罪现场仅10米的地方。}

注：当代英语中 less than 正在渐渐取代 fewer than

This is done by a great number of ring-shaped air jets on the bottom of the craft.

-shaped ^{adj. used with many nouns to make adjectives describing the shape of something形状的}

• Oddly shaped forms that are suspended from the ceiling and move in response to a gust of wind are quite familiar to everybody.
• She has a perfectly shaped figure. ^{她拥有完美的身形。}
• I was not surprised to find that the machine still refused to work after I had reassembled it, for the simple reason that I was left with several curiously shaped bits of metal which did not seem to fit anywhere.
• My cousin, Harry, keeps a large curiously-shaped bottle on permanent display in his study.

jet ^{n.a narrow stream of liquid or gas that comes quickly out of a small hole, or the hole itself 喷射；喷嘴}

• Ring-shaped air jets are on the craft’s bottom. ^{环形空气喷嘴在船舶底部。}
• She cleaned the gas jets on the cooker. ^{她清洁了炉子上的燃气喷嘴。}
• Water jets refreshed her in the shower. ^{水流喷射让她在淋浴时感到清爽。}
• She soaped herself beneath the refreshing jets of water.

It 'flies', therefore, but it cannot fly higher -- its action depends on the surface, water or ground, over which it rides.

depend on ^依赖

• Its action depends on the surface it rides over. ^{它的运行依赖于其行驶的表面。}
• Success depends on careful planning. ^{成功依赖于谨慎的计划。}
• The outcome depends on their cooperation. ^{结果取决于他们的合作。}

The first tests on the Solent in 1959 caused a sensation.

Solent ^{苏伦特海峡}

A narrow channel between the Isle of Wight and the southern mainland of England. The Solent provides access to the port of Southampton. ^{苏伦特海峡}

• The Solent is a narrow channel between the Isle of Wight and mainland England. ^{苏伦特海峡是怀特岛与英格兰大陆之间的狭窄通道。}
• Hovercraft tests in the Solent in 1959 were groundbreaking. ^{1959年在苏伦特海峡的气垫船测试具有开创性。}
• The Solent provides access to Southampton’s port. ^{苏伦特海峡为南安普敦港口提供通道。}

The hovercraft travelled first over the water, then mounted the beach, climbed up the dunes, and sat down on a road.

mount ^{v.go up, ascend 登上}

• The hovercraft mounted the beach effortlessly. ^{气垫船轻松登上沙滩。}
• He mounted the platform to address the crowd. ^{他登上平台向人群讲话。}
• A car suddenly mounted the pavement to avoid a vehicle coming in the opposite direction.
• The ship mounted sixty-four bronze cannons. ^{这艘船装载了六十四门青铜大炮。}
• The death toll continues to mount. ^{死亡人数持续增加。}
• He mounted his horse and rode away. ^{他骑上马飞驰而去。}

Later it crossed the Channel, riding smoothly over the waves, which presented no problem.

ride ^{v.When you ride in a vehicle such as a car, you travel in it. 乘坐、航行}

• He prefers travelling on the subway to riding in a limousine.  ^{他宁愿乘坐地铁出行而不愿乘坐豪华加长轿车。}
• She took some friends for a ride in the family car.  ^{她用私家车载了朋友们一程。}
• Taken for a ride ^乘车兜风

be / pose / present a problem for … ^{为…构成威胁}

• Racial tensions in the south of the city pose a real problem for the police. ^{种族紧张关系为警方构成问题。}
• The high rate of inflation presents a serious problem for the government. ^{通货膨胀为政府带来严重问题。}
• The waves presented no problem for the hovercraft. ^{波浪对气垫船没有构成问题。}

Since that time, various types of hovercraft have appeared and taken up regular service.

take up ^{v.start or begin sth, esp. a job 开始（某种工作等）}

• She has taken up a job as a teacher. ^{她开始从事教师工作。}
• Various hovercraft have taken up regular service. ^{多种气垫船已开始定期服务。}
• He took up painting after retirement. ^{他退休后开始从事绘画。}

service ^{n.used to talk about whether a piece of equipment, a vehicle etc. is available to be used, or how long it can be used （设备，交通工具等）被使用，得到使用}

• These trains have been in service for many years. ^{这些火车已经使用多年。}
• The escalator is still out of service. ^{电梯仍在停用状态。}
• Hovercraft have taken up regular service in various regions. ^{气垫船已在多个地区开始定期服务。}
• Steel tools can give good service for years.

The hovercraft is particularly useful in large areas with poor communications such as Africa or Australia;

communications ^{n.roads, railways etc that are used for travelling and sending goods 交通}

• Paris has good communications with many European cities. ^{巴黎与许多欧洲城市有良好的交通联系。}
• Its commercial success as a city is partly due to its excellent rail and road communications.
• Hovercraft are useful in areas with poor communications. ^{气垫船在交通不便的地区特别有用。}
• Excellent road communications boost the city’s economy. ^{出色的公路交通促进了城市经济。}

it can become a 'flying fruit-bowl', carrying bananas from the plantations to the ports; 

fruit bowl ^{n.A fruit bowl is a large bowl in which fruit is kept and displayed. 果盘}

• It can become a flying fruit-bowl, carrying bananas. ^{它可以成为“飞行果盘”，运送香蕉。}
• The fruit bowl on the table was filled with tropical fruits. ^{桌上装满热带水果的果盘。}
• Hovercraft act as a fruit bowl for plantation goods. ^{气垫船充当种植园货物的“果盘”。}

giant hovercraft liners could span the Atlantic;

liner ^{n.a large ship for passengers 客轮，班轮}

• Giant hovercraft liners could span the Atlantic. ^{巨型气垫船客轮可以跨越大西洋。}
• The tragic sinking of this great liner will always be remembered, for she went down on her first voyage with heavy loss of life.
• Liners revolutionized transatlantic travel. ^{客轮彻底改变了跨大西洋旅行。}

span ^{v.to stretch right across sth, from one side to the other 跨越，贯穿}

• Hovercraft liners could span the Atlantic. ^{气垫船客轮可以跨越大西洋。}
• A series of bridges span the river. ^{一系列桥梁跨越这条河。}
• Her career spanned several decades. ^{她的事业跨越了数十年。}

and the railway of the future may well be the 'hovertrain', riding on its air cushion over a single rail, which it never touches, at speeds, up to 300 m. p. h. -- the possibilities appear unlimited.

may / might / could well … ^{used to say that sth. is like  to happen or is  likely to be true （某事）可能（发生或是真的）}

• Another patient might equally well complain that her neighbours were combining to slander her and persecute her, and yet one might be cautious about believing this statement.
• Over the years one may well become an authority on one's hobby and will very probably be asked to give informal talks to little gatherings and then, if successful, to larger audiences.
• Apart from moral considerations this is a stupid method of training, for it produces a resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn man-killer. 
• The railway of the future may well be the hovertrain. ^{未来的铁路很可能是气垫火车。}

possibilities ^{n.capability of being used or improved, potential 潜在价值，潜力}

• The house is very dilapidated but it has possibilities. 
• He was the first to see the possibilities of the plan.
• The possibilities appear unlimited for hovercraft. ^{气垫船的潜力似乎是无限的。}
• He saw the possibilities of the plan early on. ^{他很早就看到了这个计划的潜力。}
• The old house has great possibilities for renovation. ^{这座老房子有很大的翻新潜力。}

unlimited ^{adj.as much or as many as is possible, not limited in any 无限的，无穷的}

• Demand for healthcare is virtually unlimited. ^{对医疗的需求几乎是无限的。}
• The new technology opens up unlimited opportunities. ^{新技术开启了无限的机会。}