Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark was one the fastest sailing ships that has ever been built.

“卡蒂薩克”號是帆船制造史上建造的最快的一艘帆船。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

The only other ship to match her was the Thermopylae.

唯一可以與之一比高低的是“塞姆皮雷”號帆船。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

Both these ships set out from Shanghai on June 18th, 1872 on an exciting race to England.

兩船于1872年6月18日同時從上海啟航駛往英國，途中展開了一場激烈的比賽。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

This race, which went on for exactly four exactly four months, was the last of its kind.

這場比賽持續了整整4個月，是這類比賽中的最后一次，

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

It marked the end of the great tradition of ships with sails and the beginning of a new era.

它標志著帆船偉大傳統的結束與一個新紀元的開始。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

The first of the two ships to reach Java after the race had begun was the Thermopylae,

比賽開始后，“賽姆皮雷”號率先抵達爪哇島。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

but on the Indian Ocean, the Cutty Sark took lead.

但在印度洋上，“卡薩薩克”號駛到了前面。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

It seemed certain that she would be the first ship home, but during the race she had a lot of bad luck.

看來，它首先返抵英國是確信無疑的了，但它卻在比賽中連遭厄運。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

In August, she was struck by a very heavy storm during which her rudder was torn away.

8月份“卡蒂薩克”號遭到一場特大風暴的襲擊，失去了一只舵。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

The Cutty Sark rolled from side to side and it became impossible to steer her.

船身左右搖晃，無法操縱。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

A temporary rudder was made on board from spare planks and it was fitted with great difficulty.

船員用備用的木板在船上趕制了一只應急用的舵，并克服重重困難將舵安裝就位，

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

This greatly reduced the speed of the ship,

這樣一來，大大降低了船的航速。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

for there was a danger that if she traveled too quickly, this rudder would be torn away as well.

因為船不能開得太快，否則就有危險，應急舵也會被刮走。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

Because of this, the Cutty Sark lost her lead.

因為這個緣故，“卡蒂薩克”號落到了后面。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

After crossing the Equator, the captain called in at a port to have a new rudder fitted,

跨越赤道后，船長將船停靠在一個港口，在那兒換了一只舵。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

but by now the Thermopylae was over five hundred miles ahead.

但此時，“賽姆皮雷”號早已在500多英里之遙了。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

Though the new rudder was fitted at tremendous speed, it was impossible for the Cutty Sark to win.

盡管換裝新舵時分秒必爭，但“卡蒂薩克”號已經不可能取勝了，

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

She arrived in England a week after the Thermopylae.

它抵達英國時比“塞姆皮雷”號晚了1個星期。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

Even this was remarkable, considering that she had had so many delays.

但考慮到路上的多次耽擱，這個成績也已很不容易了。

Lesson 25 The Cutty Sark

These is no doubt that if she had not lost her rudder she would have won the race easily.

毫無疑問，如果中途沒有失去舵， “卡帝薩克”號肯定能在比賽中輕易奪冠。

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

No one can avoid being influenced by advertisements.

沒有人能避免受廣告的影響。

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

Much as we may pride ourselves on our good taste,

盡管我們可以自夸自己的鑒賞力如何敏銳，

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

we are no longer free to choose the things we want,

但我們已經無法獨立自主地選購自己所需的東西了。

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

for advertising exerts a subtle influence on us.

這是因為廣告在我們身上施加著一種潛移默化的影響。

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

In their efforts to persuade us to buy this or that product, advertisers have made a close study of human nature and have classified all our little weaknesses.

做廣告的人在力圖勸說我們買下這種產品或那種產品之前，已經仔細地研究了人的本性，并把人的弱點進行了分類。

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

Advertisers discovered years ago that all of us love to get something for nothing.

做廣告的人們多年前就發現我們大家都喜歡免費得到東西。

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

An advertisement which begins with the magic word FREE can rarely go wrong.

凡是用“免費”這個神奇的詞開頭的廣告很少會失敗的。

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

These days, advertisers not only offer free samples, but free cars, free houses, and free trips round the world as well.

目前，做廣告的人不僅提供免費樣品，而且還提供免費汽車，免費住房，免費周游世界。

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

They devise hundreds of competitions which will enable us to win huge sums of money.

他們設計數以百計的競賽，競賽中有人可贏得巨額獎金。

Lesson 26 Wanted a large biscuit tin

Radio and television have made it possible for advertisers to capture the attention of millions of people in this way.

電臺、電視使做廣告的人可以用這種手段吸引成百萬人的注意力。