Pioneer Pilots 飞行员的先驱

In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of $1,000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel. Over a year passed before the first attempt was made. On July 19th, 1909, in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off from the French coast in his plane the 'Antoinette IV.' He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on sea. The 'Antoinette' floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.
Two days alter, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called 'No. XI'. Bleriot had been making planes since 1905 and this was his latest model. A week before, he had completed a successful overland flight during which he covered twenty-six miles. Latham, however, did not give up easily. He, too, arrived near Calais on the same day with a new 'Antoinette'. It looked as if there would be an exciting race across the Channel. Both planes were going to take off on July 25th, but Latham failed to get up early enough, After making a short test flight at 4,15 a.m., Bleriot set off half an hour later. His great flight lasted thirty-seven minutes. When he landed near Dover, the first person to greet him was a local policeman. Latham made another attempt a week later and got within half a mile of Dover, but he was unlucky again. His engine failed and he landed on the sea for the second time.

4.He had travelled only seven miles across the Channel when his engine failed and he was forced to land on sea.

但他只在海峡上空飞行7英里，引擎就发生了故障，他只好降落在海面上。

语言点:句子结构分析:主句是由and连接两个并列的分句。在第一个分句中，有一个由when引导的时间状语从句；在第二个分句中，被动语态was forced to land强调因为引擎失灵而“被迫”降落，突出一种不甘心的感情色彩。

5.The 'Antoinette' floated on the water until Latham was picked up by a ship.

“安特瓦特”号飞机在海上漂浮，后来有船经过，莱瑟姆方才获救。

语言点1:句子结构分析:until引导时间状语从句，要注意until和not until在简单句中用法的区别。

语言点2:有用的短语总结:

float on the water 漂在水面上
float in the breeze 随风飘扬
float down the river 顺流而下

6.Two days alter, Louis Bleriot arrived near Calais with a plane called 'No. XI'.

两天之后，路易斯.布莱里奥驾驶一名为“11号”的飞机来到加来附近。

语言点:with a plane看上去似乎是“和飞机在一起”的意思，但在翻译时，应把with a plane放在arrived之前，译为“开飞机到达”，这样才符合句子的意思。