(单词翻译:单击)
课文
Lesson 44 Speed and comfort 又快捷又舒适
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
Which type of transport does the writer prefer, do you think?
People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea, or air. Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a few hours. Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy. It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey. Reading is only a partial solution, for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep. During the day, sleep comes in snatches. At night, when you really wish to go to sleep, you rarely manage to do so. If you are lucky enough to get a sleeper, you spend half the night staring at the small blue light in the ceiling, or fumbling to find you ticket for inspection. Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted. Long car journeys are even less pleasant, for it is quite impossible even to read. On motorways you can, at least, travel fairly safely at high speeds, but more often than not, the greater part of the journey is spent on roads with few service stations and too much traffic. By comparison, ferry trips or cruises offer a great variety of civilized comforts. You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks, play games, meet interesting people and enjoy good food -- always assuming, of course, that the sea is calm. If it is not, and you are likely to get seasick, no form of transport could be worse. Even if you travel in ideal weather, sea journeys take a long time. Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice holiday time for the pleasure of travlling by sea.
Aeroplanes have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by them. They also have the disadvantage of being an expensive form of transport. But nothing can match them for speed and comfort. Travelling at a height of 30,000 feet, far above the clouds, and at over 500 miles an hour is an exhilarating experience. You do not have to devise ways of taking your mind off the journey, for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly. For a few hours, you settle back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight. The real escapist can watch a film and sip champagne on some services. But even when such refinements are not available, there is plenty to keep you occupied. An aeroplane offers you an unusual and breathtaking view of the world. You soar effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys. You really see the shape of the land. If the landscape is hidden from view, you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken cloud plains that stretch out for miles before you, while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky. The journey is so smooth that there is nothing to prevent you from reading or sleeping. However you decide to spend your time, one thing is certain: you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled. You will not have to spend the next few days recovering from a long and arduous journey.
参考译文
【参考译文】
出远门的人常常需要决定是走旱路、水路，还是坐飞机。很少有人能够真正喜欢坐几个小时以上的火车。车厢很快就变得拥挤、闷热，想摆脱开旅途的困扰是很难的。看书只能解决部分问题。车轮与铁轨间单调的嘎喳声很快就会送你进入梦乡。白天是忽睡忽醒，到了夜晚，你真想睡了，却很难入睡。即使你走运弄到一个卧铺，夜间有一半时间你会盯着车顶那盏小蓝灯而睡不着觉；要不然就为查票摸索你的车票。一旦抵达目的地，你总是疲惫不堪。乘汽车作长途旅行则更加不舒服，因为连看书都几乎不可能。在公路上还好，你至少能以相当快的速度安全地向前行。但旅行的大部分时间都花在路上，而且只有很少的服务设施，交通也很拥挤。相比之下，坐船旅行或环游可以得到文明世界的各种享受。你可以在甲板上伸展四肢、做游戏，还能也很见到各种有趣的人，能享用各种美味佳肴——当然，这一切只有在大海风平浪静的情况下才有可能。如果大海肆虐起来，你就可能晕船，那种难受劲儿是任何一种别的旅行的方式都不会带来的。即使风平浪静，坐船旅行也要占用很长时间。没有多少人会为享受坐船旅行的乐趣而牺牲假期的时间。
飞机以危险而著称，连老资格的旅行者也怕飞机。飞机另一个缺点是昂贵。但就速度与舒适而言，飞机是无与伦比的。腾云驾雾，在30，000 英尺高空以500英里的时速旅行，这种经历令人心旷神怡。你不必想办法去摆脱旅途的困扰，因为飞机会迅速地把你送到目的地。几小时之内，你躺在扶手椅上，享受着旅途的欢乐。真正会享受的人还可以在某些航班上看一场电影和喝香槟。即使没有这些消遣条件，也总是有事可做。飞机上，你可以观察世界上非同寻常的奇妙的美景。你毫不费劲地飞越高山幽谷，你确能饱览大地的风貌。如果这种景色被遮住了，你可以观赏一下展现在你面前的、一望数英里的、连绵不断的云海，同时阳光灿烂，天空清澈明朗。旅途平稳，丝毫不妨碍你阅读或睡眠。不管你打算如何消磨时间，有件事是可以肯定的，即当你抵达目的地时，你感到精神焕发，毫无倦意，用不着因为漫长的旅途的辛苦而花几天时间休息来恢复精神。
词汇讲解
1.positively adv. 绝对地，完全地
例句：Her tout ensemble positively kills one.
她的外貌从整体上看确实使人着迷。
2.compartment n.列车客车厢内的分隔间（或单间）
3.cramped adj. 窄小的
例句：If the space feels cramped, a glass coffee table can help make it seem larger.
如果空间拥挤，放张玻璃咖啡桌能显得宽敞些。
4.stuffy adj. 憋气的，闷气的
例句：It's too hot and stuffy in here. Let's go out for a breath of air.
屋里太闷热，出去松散松散吧。
5.monotonous adj. 枯燥的，乏味的
例句：He quit because his job is monotonous and lacks variety.
他的工作很单调，没什么新意，所以他就辞职了。
6.rhythm n.有节奏的运动
7.click v.发出咔哒声
8.lull v.催人欲睡
例句：This will lull them into a false sense of security.
这会使他们产生一种虚假的安全感。
9.snatch n.短时，片段
10.sleeper n.卧铺
11.fumble v.乱摸，摸索
例句：The blind man fumble about in his pocket for a key.
那个盲人在口袋里摸找钥匙。
12.inspection n.检查
13.inevitably adv.必然地,不可避免地
例句：Errors in theory inevitably result in failures in practice.
理论上的错误必然导致实践上的失败。
14.destination n.目的地
15.exhaust v.使精疲力尽
16.motorway n.快车道
17.ferry n.渡船
18.cruise n.巡游船
19.civilize v.使文明
例句：Those facilities are intended to civilize people.
那些设施的目的在於教化民众。
20.spacious adj.宽敞的
例句：After cutting down the tree the courtyard seems more spacious.
砍掉了这棵树，院里显着空旷点儿。
21.seasick adj.晕船的
22.intimidate v.恐吓，恫吓
23.disadvantage n.短处，缺点
24.exhilarating adj.使人高兴的，令人兴奋的
例句：Marrying off your daughter to a stranger can be the most exhilarating and exasperating experience.
送女儿出嫁给陌生男人既是最令人喜欢也是让人激怒的事情。
25.escapist n.逍遥者
26.refinement n.精心的安排
27.breathtaking adj.激动人心的；不寻常的
例句：Those mountain views are absolutely breathtaking.
那些山间美景真让人心旷神怡。
28.soar v.高飞，翱翔
29.effortlessly adv. 不费力地
例句：This steel knife is so sharp that you can cut meat with it effortlessly.
这把钢刀真是锋快，用它切肉一点都不费力。
30.landscape n.景色
31.fresh adj. 精神饱满的
32.uncrumpled adj. 没有垮下来
课文讲解
1.People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea, or air.
参考翻译：出远门的人常常需要决定是走旱路、水路，还是坐飞机。
travelling long distances是现在分词短语做后置定语，修饰People。whether引导宾语从句，decide的内容。prefer to偏好，喜欢。有一个短语prefer to rather than例句：I would prefer to spend the weekend at home rather than drive out．我宁愿在家度周末，而不愿意开车出门。
2.Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a few hours.
参考翻译：很少有人能够真正喜欢坐几个小时以上的火车。
Hardly和Scarcely的基本用法
一、hardly和scarcely（几乎不）表示的半否定式：
(1)I hardly (或scarcely) saw anything.我几乎什么也没看见。
(2)It is hardly (或scarcely) right.这几乎是不对的。
(3) We could hardly (或scarcely) understand it.我们几乎不可能了解这件事。
(4)Hardly (或Scarcely) anybody believes that.几乎没有人相信这件事。（或：几乎谁都不相信这件事。）
二、hardly (或scarcely)…when（或before）…作刚……就……解，注意hardly和scarcely位于句首时，有主、谓语颠倒现象：
(1)Hardly had I reached the station when (或before)the train started.我刚到车站，火车就开了。
(2)Scarcely had he opened the door when(或before)a gust of wind blew the candle out.他刚开门，一阵风就把蜡烛吹灭了。
3.If you are lucky enough to get a sleeper, you spend half the night staring at the small blue light in the ceiling, or fumbling to find you ticket for inspection.
参考翻译：即使你走运弄到一个卧铺，夜间有一半时间你会盯着车顶那盏小蓝灯而睡不着觉；要不然就为查票摸索你的车票。
stare at凝视, 盯住
例句：Those two are old enemies who stare at each other in anger whenever they meet.
这两个人是多年的宿敌，一见面就怒目相视。
spend some time doing sth花费时间做某事
4. On motorways you can, at least, travel fairly safely at high speeds, but more often than not, the greater part of the journey is spent on roads with few service stations and too much traffic.
参考翻译：在公路上还好，你至少能以相当快的速度安全地向前行。但旅行的大部分时间都花在路上，而且只有很少的服务设施，交通也很拥挤。
more often than not大半；大概；很经常
例句：More often than not she's late for school.
他上学多半迟到。
5.Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice holiday time for the pleasure of travlling by sea.
参考翻译：没有多少人会为享受坐船旅行的乐趣而牺牲假期的时间。
sacrifice for牺牲，放弃
例句：It seemed difficult for him to make any sacrifice for the common good.
看来要他为社会公益作出牺牲是件困难的事。
6.By comparison, ferry trips or cruises offer a great variety of civilized comforts.
参考翻译：相比之下，坐船旅行或环游可以得到文明世界的各种享受。
by comparison比较起来
例句：By comparison, this article is a notch above.
相比较而言，还是这篇文章略胜一筹。
语法讲解
No form of transport could be worse.
比较级表示最高级的意思
英语中最高级含义除用最高级句型表达外，也可以用比较级句型表达。较为常见的有下列几种形式：
1.直接用比较级表达。
例如：I have never heard a more interesting story.=
It is the most interesting story I‘ve ever heard. 这是我听过的最有趣的故事。
How beartifully she sings! I‘ve never heard a better voice.=
She has the best voice.I‘ve ever heard.她唱得多好呀！是我听到的最美的歌喉。
2.用比较级+than+any other+单数名词表示。
如：He is better than any other student in the class.(=He is the best student in his class.)他在班里，比任何一个学生都好。
China is larger than any of the other countries in Asia.(=China is the largest country in Asia.)中国是亚洲最大的国家。
He writes more carefully than the other children.(=He writes most carefully .)
他比其他孩子写得都认真。
3.用比较级+than+anything/anyone else"表示。
如：John did more work than anyone else.(=John did the most.)John干活最多。
4.在比较级中用no或nothing等词表示。
如：I like nothing better than swimming. (=I like swimming best.)我最喜欢游泳。
Nobody can do the work better than he did.(=He did the work best.)
这项工作他做得最好。
经典句子
1.People traveling long distancesfrequently have to decide whether they would prefer togo by land, sea, or air.
人们做长途旅行时，往往不得不决定究竟取道陆路、海洋还是航空。
2.Hardly anyonecan positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than afew hours.
很少有人能够真正喜欢坐几个小时以上的火车。
3.It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey.
想摆脱开旅途的困扰是很难的
4.Reading is only a partial solution, for the monotonous rhythm of thewheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep.
看书只能解决部分问题。
5.During the day, sleep comes in snatches.
白天是忽睡忽醒
6.Inevitable you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.
一旦抵达目的地，你总是疲惫不堪。
7.…but moreoften than not, the greater part of thejourney is spent on narrow, bumpy roads which are crowded with traffic.
然而通常大部分旅程都是消磨在狭窄、刊刻不平和挤满车辆的道路上。
8.…no form of transport could be worse.最糟糕的情况莫过于此了。
9.Relatively few people areprepared to sacrifice up to a third of theirholidays for the pleasure of traveling on a ship.
没有多少人会为享受坐船旅行的乐趣而牺牲假期的时间。
10.Aeroplanes have the reputationof being dangerous and even hardened travelers are intimidated by them.
飞机以危险而著称，连老资格的旅行者也怕飞机。
11.But nothing can match them for speedand comfort.
但就速度与舒适而言，飞机是无与伦比的。
12.…there is plenty to keep you occupied.
你仍然不会感到无聊。
13.An aeroplane offers you anunusual and breathtaking view of the world.
你可以观察世界上非同寻常的奇妙的美景。
