Lesson 23 Bird flight 鸟的飞行方法

First listen and then answer the following question.

听录音,然后回答以下问题。

What are the two main types of bird flight described by the author?

No two sorts of birds practise quite the same sort of flight; the varieties are infinite; but two classes may be roughly seen. Any ship that crosses the Pacific is accompanied for many days by the smaller albatross, which may keep company with the vessel for an hour without visible or more than occasional movement of wing. The currents of air that the walls of the ship direct upwards, as well as in the line of its course, are

5 enough to give the great bird with its immense wings sufficient sustenance and progress. The albatross is the king of the gliders, the class of fliers which harness the air to their purpose, but must yield to its opposition. In the contrary school, the duck is supreme. 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 such irresistible power that they can

bore for long distances through an opposing 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. It tires not, nor does it boast of its power; but belongs to the air, travelling it may be six thousand miles to and from its northern nesting home, feeding its flown young as it flies, and slipping

5 through a medium that seems to help its passage even when the wind is adverse. Such birds do us good, though we no longer take omens from their flight on this side and that; and even the most superstitious villagers no longer take off their hats to the magpie and wish it good-morning. Unit 3 Lesson 23

A flock of wild geese in flight

New words and expressions 生词和短语

albatross (1.2) /’ælbətrɒs/ $n$ . 信天翁

sustenance (1.5) /’sʌstənəns/ $n$ . 支撑力

glider (1.6) $/$ glaɪdə $/n$ . 滑翔者

harness (I.6) $/\mathrm{h}\alpha$ ːnɪs/v. 利用

endow (1.8) $/{\mathrm}^{\prime }$ daʊ/ v. 赋有

ply (1.9) $/$ plaɪ/v. 不断地供给

gale $\left( {1.10}\right) /\mathrm/n$ . 大风

partridge (ll.10-11)/"pɑːtrɪdʒ/n. 鹧鸪

like (1.11) adj. 类似的

propulsion (1.11)/prə'pʌlʃən/n. 推进力

utter (1.11) ${1}^{\prime } \land \mathrm{t} \ni 1$ adj. 完全的

slip (1.14) $/\mathrm/v$ . 滑行

adverse (1.15) /'ædvɜːs/ adj. 逆的, 相反的

omen (1.16) $/\prime \partial U$ m $\partial n/n$ . 预兆

Notes on the text 课文注释

1 keep company with, 陪伴着 ……。

2 The currents of air that the walls of the ship direct upwards, 沿着船体上升的气流。

3 steel-like muscles, that are a good part of the weight of the bird, 句中以 that 引导的从句是一个非限定性定语从句, 修饰 muscles, 但用 that 引导非限定性定语从句是很罕见的。

4 in highest measure, 最大程度地。

5 It tires not nor does it boast of its power, but belongs to the air, travelling it may be ... adverse.

句中的 tires not 是古英语或诗歌中使用的句式。boast of 中的 of = about; belong to the air 的意思是: 与天空融为一体。travelling it may be 是倒装语序, 这是为了强调 travelling 的生动逼真, 自然语序是 it may be travelling...; nesting home 意为 home for nesting; flown young 中的 flown 意为已会飞的。a medium (媒介) 指 air 。

参考译文

没有任何两种鸟的飞行方式是相同的。鸟的飞行方式千差万别,但大体上可分为两类。任何一艘横渡太平洋的轮船都会有一种小信天翁伴随飞行许多天。它们随船飞行一小时也难得见其扇动一下翅膀。沿船体上升的气流和沿航线向前的气流给这种巨翼大鸟以足够的浮力和推力。信天翁是滑翔飞行的鸟类之王,它能自如地驾驭空气,但必须顺气流飞行。与滑翔鸟相对的另一类鸟中,数野鸭本领最高。它更近乎于人类自夸“征服”了空气的发动机。野鸭及与它们相似的鸽子有天赋的钢铁般的肌肉,占了体重的很大一部分。这些肌肉以巨大的力量扇动短小的翅膀,使这类鸟能顶着大风飞行很远的路程才会疲劳。次于野鸭和鸽子的鸟,如鹧鸪,有相似的巨大推动力,但很快会疲劳。如果海风驱使它们飞行很长距离,你可捡到一些因筋疲力尽而摔下来的鹧鸪。燕子充分兼有这两类鸟的长处, 它既不疲劳, 也不炫耀自己的飞翔力; 在空中十分自如, 可以飞行 6,000 英里, 可以飞往北方做窝的老家,再从老家飞回；一边飞一边喂养会飞的雏燕,甚至在顶风时也能在气流中滑翔,似乎气流在帮它前进。这些鸟对我们是有益的, 虽然我们不再从它们的飞翔姿态来占卜吉凶, 连最迷信的村民也不再对喜鹊脱帽行礼,祝它早安了。

Comprehension 理解

Answer these questions:

1 Why is the albatross described as 'the king of the gliders'?

2 Why does the author single out the swallow for special praise?

Unit 3 Lesson 23

Vocabulary 词汇

Refer to the text to see how the following words have been used, then write sentences of your own using these words: infinite (1.1); sufficient sustenance (1.5); harness (1.6); yield (1.6); endowed (1.8); irresistible power (1.9); bore (1.9); like (1.11); utter (1.11); adverse (1.15); omens (1.16).

The paragraph 段落

A Drawing your information from lines 1-10 ('No two sorts ... exhaustion follows.') write a list of points in note form to answer the following question: How does the flight of an albatross differ from that of a duck?

B Read lines 12-17 again. ('The swallow shares ... wish it good-morning.') Then, using the list of points given below, reconstruct the author's description in your own words as far as possible. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise.

1 Swallow: the good qualities of both schools.

2 Does not tire; has great power.

3 Flies as much as 6,000 miles to and from nesting home.

4 Feeds young in flight.

5 Good progress in adverse conditions.

6 Such birds do us good.

7 No omens-even among superstitious villagers.

C Write a paragraph of about 200 words on one of the following subjects:

1 The power of flight.

2 Birds.

Key structures 关键句型

A Supply $a$ , an or the where necessary in the following. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

No two sorts of _____ birds practise quite _____ same sort of _____ flight; _____ varieties are infinite; but _____ two classes may be roughly seen. Any ship that crosses _____ Pacific is accompanied for many days by _____ smaller albatross, which may keep company with _____ vessel for _____ hour without _____ visible or _____ more than occasional movement of _____ wing. _____ currents of _____ air that _____ walls of _____ ship direct upwards, as well as in _____ line of its course are enough to give _____ great bird with _____ its immense wings sufficient sustenance and _____ progress. _____ albatross is _____ king of _____ gliders, _____ class of _____ fliers which harness _____ air to their purpose, but must yield to its opposition. (ll.1-6) B Note the form of the verbs in italics: You may pick them up in utter exhaustion, if wind over the sea has driven them to a long journey. (II.11-12) Complete the following sentences:

1 If you have ever driven at a hundred miles an hour _____

Unit 3 Lesson 23

2 If you have never been to New Zealand _____

3 If you have finished your work _____

C Supply the correct form of the verbs in parentheses. Do not refer to the passage until you have finished the exercise:

The swallow _____ (share) the virtues of both schools in highest measure. It _____ (tire) not nor _____(boast) of its power; but _____ (belong) to the air, _____ (travel) it may be six thousand miles to and from its northern nesting home, _____ (feed) its flown young as it _____ (fly), and (slip) through a medium that _____ (seem) to help its passage even when the wind _____ (be) adverse. (ll.12-15)

Special difficulties 难点

A Study the following pairs of words and then write sentences of your own to bring out the difference:

1 quite (1.1) - quiet

I'm quite happy at my new school.

Please be quiet. I can't think with all that noise you're making.

2 wing (1.4) - feather

He has a good collection of butterflies with beautiful markings on their wings.

Old-fashioned quill pens were made from strong goose feathers.

3 course (1.4) - coarse

The ship had been blown off course in the storm.

He wore an old jacket made of coarse cloth.

B Note how the words sort and kind can be used in the singular and in the plural: No two sorts (or kinds) of birds practise quite the same sort (or kind) of flight. (1.1) Write two sentences using the words sort and sorts. C Explain the meaning of rough and roughly in these sentences: 1 Two classes may be roughly seen. (ll.1-2) 2 The surface of this road is very rough. 3 Roughly six hundred people attended the meeting. 4 Last night the sea was very rough.

D Write sentences using the following expressions: keep company with (1.3); as well as (1.4); take off their hats to (1.17).

E Note the use of good in this phrase: 'a good part of the weight of the bird' (ll.8-9). Write sentences using the following phrases: a good fifteen minutes; a good twenty miles; a good five hundred people; a good many; a good few.

F Note how such as may be used to introduce an example: Their humbler followers, such as partridges, ... (ll.10-11) Write two sentences using such as in this way. Unit 3 Lesson 23

G Note the phrase do us good (1.15). Which of the following words are used with do and which with make: your duty; an excuse; a fortune; wrong; harm; an attempt; a bed; a proposal; sense; a speech; the shopping; a problem; a lesson; a difference; a copy; an announcement; an agreement; some work; a job; money; a mistake; a living; fun of; your best; business; an experiment; friends with; a favour; some homework; trouble; sure; a will; a noise.

With which of the above words would it be possible to use either do or make?

H Note the phrase: wish it good-morning (1.17).

Write sentences using the following phrases:

wish me luck; wish me well; wish me good-night.

Multiple choice questions 多项选择题

Choose the correct answers to the following questions. Comprehension 理解

1 The two classes of flight depend on _____ .

(a) occasional movement and progress

(b) wing span and gliding

(c) gliding and muscle-power

(d) wind currents and machinery

2 The albatross can keep flying for very long periods because it _____ .

(a) actively uses air movement to stay in the sky

(b) it is a very great bird

(c) recognizes ships at sea

(d) it can glide in any direction, regardless of air currents

3 Ducks can fly in any direction _____ .

(a) and stay in the air indefinitely

(b) but are too heavy to fly for long

(c) and uses engine power

(d) but can run out of energy

4 The swallow _____ .

(a) is often greeted by superstitious villagers

(b) is good for people

(c) combines both forms of flight

(d) is an omen of good luck

Structure 句型

5 The albatross _____ to yield to the opposition of the wind. (I.6)

(b) could (c) has (d) should

6 The duck comes nearer to the engines _____ man has 'conquered' the air with. (11.7-8)

(a) where (b) who (c) whom (d) -

Unit 3 Lesson 23

7 Partridges _____ a like power of strong propulsion. (1.11)

(a) contain (b) provide (c) possess (d) display

8 It _____ , not does it boast of its power. (1.13)

(a) does not tire (b) not tire (c) not tires (d) do not tire

Vocabulary 词汇

9 There is no _____ to the variety of flight practised by birds. (1.1)

(b) end (c) point (d) goal

10 The great bird has _____ wings. (I.5)

(b) long (c) huge (d) wide

11 Duck, like pigeons, are _____ with steel-like muscles. (1.8)

(a) provided (b) gifted (c) talented (d) inherited

12 We no longer look for _____ in the way they fly. (ll.15-16)

(a) guides (b) notices (c) signs (d) signals