Lesson 20

In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of £1,000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel.
1908年，北岩爵士悬赏1000英镑给第一个飞越英吉利海峡的人。
Over a year passed before the first attempt was made.
一年多以后，才进行了第一次尝试。
On July 19th, 1909, in the early morning Hubert Latham took off from the French coast in his plane the ‘Antoinette IV’.
1909年7月19日清晨，休伯特·莱瑟姆驾驶他的“安托瓦内特四世”号飞机从法国海岸起飞。
He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on the sea.
他横跨英吉利海峡只航行了七英里，这时他的发动机出现故障，他被迫降落在海面上。
The ‘Antoinette’ floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.
“安托瓦内特”号在水面上漂浮，直到拉瑟姆被一艘船救起。
Two days later, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called ‘No. XI’.
两天后，路易·布莱里奥带着一架名为“11号”的飞机抵达了加来附近。
Bleriot had been making planes since 1905 and this was his latest model.
布莱里奥自1905年以来一直在制造飞机，而这是他的最新型号。
A week before, he had completed a successful overland flight during which he covered twenty-six miles.
一周前，他完成了一次成功的陆上飞行，在此期间他飞行了二十六英里。
Latham, however, did not give up easily.
然而，莱瑟姆并没有轻易放弃。
He, too, arrived near Calais on the same day with a new ‘Antoinette’.
他也于同一天带着一架新的“安托瓦内特”号到达了加来附近。
It looked as if there would be an exciting race across the Channel.
看起来仿佛将会有一场横跨英吉利海峡的激动人心的比赛。
Both planes were going to take off on July 25th, but Latham failed to get up early enough.
两架飞机都准备在7月25日起飞，但莱瑟姆未能及时起床。
After making a short test flight at 4.15 a.m., Bleriot set off half an hour later.
在凌晨4点15分进行了一次短途试飞之后，布莱里奥在半小时后出发了。
His great flight lasted thirty-seven minutes.
他的伟大飞行持续了三十七分钟。
When he landed near Dover, the first person to greet him was a local policeman.
当他在多佛附近着陆时，第一个迎接他的人是一个当地警察。
Latham made another attempt a week later and got within half a mile of Dover, but he was unlucky again.
一周后莱瑟姆再次尝试，并到达了距离多佛尔不到半英里的地方，但他再次运气不佳。
His engine failed and he landed on the sea for the second time.
他的发动机故障了，他第二次降落在海面上。