方向盘之后-你不知道的汽车趣闻（下）

名师精讲外刊方向盘之后——你不知道的汽车趣闻（下）BehindTheWheels名师精讲外刊与普通汽车迷不同，本文的作者更多关注的不是车，而是人。在上一期的学习中，我们了解了“终极驾驶机器”宝马汽车不为人知的趣事，解读了“汽车大王”亨利·福特制作第一辆车的坎坷历程，走近了打破世界速度纪录的71岁退休驾驶员的光辉事迹。今天，我们继续浏览作者收集的故事宝库，一探汽车背后鲜为人知的那些“关于人”的故事。课前问题1.对于英国的道路分类你了解多少？2.短语“writeoff”有哪些含义？导读名师精讲外刊BehindTheWheels名师精讲外刊IntheinauguralIndy500raceof1911,allbutoneofthe40entrantscarriedadriverplusanobserver,whosejobwastowarnthedriveraboutothercarscomingupbehind.Itwasthenormalarrangementinracesofthatera.Butinthe40thcarwasRayHarroun,whotooktheoutrageouslyriskydecisiontodrivealone.【基础解析】inauguraladj.就职的；开幕的；成立的；创始的【释】first,andmarkingthebeginningofsthimportant【例】thePresident'sinauguraladdress总统的就职演说theinauguralflightofthespaceshuttle航天飞机的首次飞行theinauguralmeetingofthegeographicalsociety地理学会的成立大会精讲试听结束IntheinauguralIndy500raceof1911,allbutoneofthe40entrantscarriedadriverplusanobserver,whosejobwastowarnthedriveraboutothercarscomingupbehind.Itwasthenormalarrangementinracesofthatera.Butinthe40thcarwasRayHarroun,whotooktheoutrageouslyriskydecisiontodrivealone.【基础解析】outrageousadj.骇人的；无法容忍的【释】veryshockingandunacceptable【例】outrageousbehaviour极端无礼的行为【拓展延伸】outrageously/aʊtˈreɪdʒəsli/adv.凶残地，骇人地【例】outrageouslyexpensiveskincareitems贵得不可接受的护肤品IntheinauguralIndy500raceof1911,allbutoneofthe40entrantscarriedadriverplusanobserver,whosejobwastowarnthedriveraboutothercarscomingupbehind.Itwasthenormalarrangementinracesofthatera.Butinthe40thcarwasRayHarroun,whotooktheoutrageouslyriskydecisiontodrivealone.【基础解析】entrantn.1)参赛者；考生【释】apersonwhoistakingpartinacompetition【例】Allitemsenteredforthecompetitionmustbetheentrant'sownwork.所有参赛作品必须是参赛者自己的作品。2)新职员；新生；新会员；新成员【释】apersonwhohasrecentlyjoinedaprofession,university,etc.【例】universityentrants大学新生Harroundroveabrightyellowcarhehadbuilthimselfandexperimentedwithaneight-by-three-inchmirroronastandfixedtohisdashboardinsteadofanobserver.Itisbelievedtobethefirstuseofarear-viewmirror.Beingonepersonlighterandmoreaerodynamic,Harroun'scareasilywontheracebymorethanhalfamile.【基础解析】dashboardn.（汽车上的）仪表板[AmE]【释】thepartofacarinfrontofthedriverthathasinstrumentsandcontrolsinit【例】Theclockonthedashboardsaiditwasfivetotwo.汽车仪表板上的时钟显示当时1:55。【拓展延伸】facia[BrE]/ˈfeɪʃə/Harroundroveabrightyellowcarhehadbuilthimselfandexperimentedwithaneight-by-three-inchmirroronastandfixedtohisdashboardinsteadofanobserver.Itisbelievedtobethefirstuseofarear-viewmirror.Beingonepersonlighterandmoreaerodynamic,Harroun'scareasilywontheracebymorethanhalfamile.【基础解析】aerodynamicn.（汽车等）流线型的，（与）空气动力学（有关）的【释】oforhavingashapewhichreducesthedragfromairmovingpast【例】Thesecretofthemachineliesintheaerodynamicshapeofthecarbon-fibreframe.该机器的秘密在于其碳纤维外壳的流线型设计。ThedriverofaCitroenSaxowhosmashedintoaparkedcaratfullspeed…whiletryingtocatchaspiderrunningaroundinsidehiscar.BothcarswerewrittenoffbutthedriverescapedinjuryinthesmashontheA50inDerbyshire.Hedidgetreportedfordrivingwithoutduecareandattention.Thespider'sfateisunknown.【基础解析】writeoff1)注销，销记（账项、资产等）【例】towriteoffadebt/aninvestment注销一笔债务/一项投资2)把（车辆等）毁坏，报废3)放弃（计划或项目等）【例】Wedecidedtowriteofftherestofthedayandgoshopping.我们决定放弃那天余下的时间而去购物。4)摒弃，认定……失败（或没有价值、不可救药等）【例】Heisfedupwithpeoplewritinghimoffbecauseofhisage.他受够了人们因其年龄而摒弃他。Attheendofanepic100-miletwo-carracingduelatBrooklandsin1924,swashbucklinggentlemanracerCaptainJohnDuffhadnotonlylosttherace—buthisbrakesfailed.HisBlitzenBenz—withanenormous21-litreengine—crossedthefinishlineatover100mphwithDuffdesperatelytryingeverythinghecouldtoslowdown.Hemanagedtocontinuesteeringatfullspeedbutcareeredrightoffthecircuit.【基础解析】epicn.叙事诗；史诗【释】alongpoemabouttheactionsofgreatmenandwomenoraboutanation'shistory;thisstyleofpoetry【例】Homer'sEpic荷马史诗adj.史诗般的；漫长而艰难的；宏大的，壮丽的【释】takingplaceoveralongperiodoftimeandinvolvingalotofdifficulties;verylargeandimpressive【例】anepicjourney/struggle漫长而艰难的旅程；艰苦卓绝的斗争Attheendofanepic100-miletwo-carracingduelatBrooklandsin1924,swashbucklinggentlemanracerCaptainJohnDuffhadnotonlylosttherace—buthisbrakesfailed.HisBlitzenBenz—withanenormous21-litreengine—crossedthefinishlineatover100mphwithDuffdesperatelytryingeverythinghecouldtoslowdown.Hemanagedtocontinuesteeringatfullspeedbutcareeredrightoffthecircuit.【基础解析】dueln.决斗；（双方的）竞争，斗争【释】aformalfightwithweaponsbetweentwopeople,usedinthepasttosettleadisagreement,especiallyoveramatterofhonour【例】tofight/winaduel进行/赢得决斗tochallengesbtoaduel要求与某人决斗Attheendofanepic100-miletwo-carracingduelatBrooklandsin1924,swashbucklinggentlemanracerCaptainJohnDuffhadnotonlylosttherace—buthisbrakesfailed.HisBlitzenBenz—withanenormous21-litreengine—crossedthefinishlineatover100mphwithDuffdesperatelytryingeverythinghecouldtoslowdown.Hemanagedtocontinuesteeringatfullspeedbutcareeredrightoffthecircuit.【基础解析】swashbucklingadj.1)神气活现的，虚张声势的【释】actinginthemannerofaswashbuckler2)（尤指电影）历经艰险的，惊心动魄的【释】(especiallyoffilms/movies)setinthepastandfullofaction,adventure,fightingwithswords,etc.【例】aswashbucklingadventurestory一个惊心动魄的冒险故事Attheendofanepic100-miletwo-carracingduelatBrooklandsin1924,swashbucklinggentlemanracerCaptainJohnDuffhadnotonlylosttherace—buthisbrakesfailed.HisBlitzenBenz—withanenormous21-litreengine—crossedthefinishlineatover100mphwithDuffdesperatelytryingeverythinghecouldtoslowdown.Hemanagedtocontinuesteeringatfullspeedbutcareeredrightoffthecircuit.【基础解析】careerv.（尤指失控地）猛冲，疾驰，飞奔【释】tomoveforwardveryquickly,especiallyinanuncontrolledway【例】Thevehiclecareeredacrosstheroadandhitacyclist.那辆车横冲过马路，撞上了一个骑自行车的人。TheBenzhurtledoverthesurroundinggrassembankments.Duffcrashedthroughtreestryingtoslowhismomentum.Hethenburstoutintheopenroadbeyondthecircuit.Eventuallyhestopped—byrunningintoatelegraphpolefarfromtheracetrack.Duffwasunhurt…andlaterwentontobecomeaHollywoodstuntdoubleforGaryCooper.【基础解析】hurtlev.（向某个方向）飞驰，猛冲【释】tomoveveryfastinaparticulardirection【例】Arunawaycarcamehurtlingtowardsus.一辆失控的汽车朝我们飞驰而来。TheBenzhurtledoverthesurroundinggrassembankments.Duffcrashedthroughtreestryingtoslowhismomentum.Hethenburstoutintheopenroadbeyondthecircuit.Eventuallyhestopped—byrunningintoatelegraphpolefarfromtheracetrack.Duffwasunhurt…andlaterwentontobecomeaHollywoodstuntdoubleforGaryCooper.【基础解析】embankmentn.堤；堤岸；堤围；（公路和铁路）路堤【释】awallofstoneorearthmadetokeepwaterbackortocarryaroadorrailway/railroadoverlowground【例】Theyclimbedasteepembankment.他们爬上了一个陡峭的堤岸。TheBenzhurtledoverthesurroundinggrassembankments.Duffcrashedthroughtreestryingtoslowhismomentum.Hethenburstoutintheopenroadbeyondthecircuit.Eventuallyhestopped—byrunningintoatelegraphpolefarfromtheracetrack.Duffwasunhurt…andlaterwentontobecomeaHollywoodstuntdoubleforGaryCooper.【基础解析】momentumn.1)势头；推进力；动力【例1】Thefightforhisreleasegathers/gainsmomentumeachday.争取他获释的斗争声势日益加强。【例2】TheinvestigationgatheredmomentuminApril.四月，调查的力度加大了。【例3】Theybegantolosemomentuminthesecondhalfofthegame.在比赛的下半场，他们的势头就逐渐减弱。2)动量multipliedbyitsspeedinaparticulardirectionTheBenzhurtledoverthesurroundinggrassembankments.Duffcrashedthroughtreestryingtoslowhismomentum.Hethenburstoutintheopenroadbeyondthecircuit.Eventuallyhestopped—byrunningintoatelegraphpolefarfromtheracetrack.Duffwasunhurt…andlaterwentontobecomeaHollywoodstuntdoubleforGaryCooper.【基础解析】stuntn.（尤指电影中的）特技表演【释】adangerousanddifficultactionthatsbdoestoentertainpeople,especiallyaspartofafilm/movie【例】astuntpilot特技飞行员TheBenzhurtledoverthesurroundinggrassembankments.Duffcrashedthroughtreestryingtoslowhismomentum.Hethenburstoutintheopenroadbeyondthecircuit.Eventuallyhestopped—byrunningintoatelegraphpolefarfromtheracetrack.Duffwasunhurt…andlaterwentontobecomeaHollywoodstuntdoubleforGaryCooper.【基础解析】doublen．酷似的人；极相似的对应物；电影替身【释】apersonorthingthatlooksexactlylikeanother【例】She'sthedoubleofhermother.她和她母亲长得一模一样。UnluckyvandriverBenBaronfromLancashireslowlydrovepastthespeedcamerawherehehadbeenpreviouslysnappedoverthelimit.Thatincidenthadresultedinafixedpenaltyfine.Benwasdeterminedhewasn'tgoingtogetcaughtagainandhecarefullykeptunderthespeedlimit.Ashepassedthecamera,however,hecouldn'tstophimselfmakingarudegestureatthehateddevice...withbothhands.UnfortunatelyforBen,thishands-off-the-wheelgesturewascaughtonfilmbythesamecamera.Withindayshereceivedanotherprosecutionbypost,thistimefor"failingtokeeppropercontrolofhisvan".【基础解析】snapv.拍照；摄影【释】totakeaphotograph【例】Apassingtouristsnappedtheincident.一个过路的游客把这件事拍了下来。UnluckyvandriverBenBaronfromLancashireslowlydrovepastthespeedcamerawherehehadbeenpreviouslysnappedoverthelimit.Thatincidenthadresultedinafixedpenaltyfine.Benwasdeterminedhewasn'tgoingtogetcaughtagainandhecarefullykeptunderthespeedlimit.Ashepassedthecamera,however,hecouldn'tstophimselfmakingarudegestureatthehateddevice...withbothhands.UnfortunatelyforBen,thishands-off-the-wheelgesturewascaughtonfilmbythesamecamera.Withindayshereceivedanotherprosecutionbypost,thistimefor"failingtokeeppropercontrolofhisvan".【基础解析】penaltyn.1)惩罚；处罚；刑罚【例】Thepenaltyfortravellingwithoutaticketis￡500.无票乘车的罚款为500英镑。2)害处；不利【例】Oneofthepenaltiesoffameislossofprivacy.成名的弊端之一是失掉了隐私。3)点球【例】awardapenalty判点球takethepenalty主罚点球missthepenalty罚失点球scorethepenalty罚进点球AyoungChinesedriveraccidentallydroveontoanarrowpierandswervedoffthesideintoanicyriverlessthantwominutesafterpassinghisdrivingtest.Theincidentwascaughtoncameraandthevideo(perhapsunfortunatelyforthedriver)waspostedonYouTube.Thedriverwassavedbutsufferedadislocatedshoulder.Thecarwasfishedoutbycrane.Latertheyoung"Mr.Zhang"fromGuizhouprovincetoldpolicehewasdistractedbytextsfromfriendsaskingwhetherhe'dpassed.【基础解析】piern.（突入湖、河、海中的）码头；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤【释】alonglowstructurebuiltinalake,riverortheseaandjoinedtothelandatoneend【拓展延伸】Pier39旧金山渔人码头（Fisherman'sWharf）是旧金山最有名的景点之一，其中39号码头最为著名。许多购物中心和饭店均坐落在交通便利的渔人码头地区。AyoungChinesedriveraccidentallydroveontoanarrowpierandswervedoffthesideintoanicyriverlessthantwominutesafterpassinghisdrivingtest.Theincidentwascaughtoncameraandthevideo(perhapsunfortunatelyforthedriver)waspostedonYouTube.Thedriverwassavedbutsufferedadislocatedshoulder.Thecarwasfishedoutbycrane.Latertheyoung"Mr.Zhang"fromGuizhouprovincetoldpolicehewasdistractedbytextsfromfriendsaskingwhetherhe'dpassed.【基础解析】swervev.突然转向；急转弯【释】tochangedirectionsuddenly,especiallyinordertoavoidhittingsb/sth【例1】Sheswervedsharplytoavoidacyclist.她猛地急转弯，以躲开一个骑自行车的人。【例2】Theballswervedintothenet.球在空中划了一条弧线，进了球门。AyoungChinesedriveraccidentallydroveontoanarrowpierandswervedoffthesideintoanicyriverlessthantwominutesafterpassinghisdrivingtest.Theincidentwascaughtoncameraandthevideo(perhapsunfortunatelyforthedriver)