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.'

　　1.In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of $1,000 to the first man who would fly across the English Channel.

　　1908年，诺斯克利夫勋爵拿出1,000英镑，作为对第一个飞越英吉利海峡的人的奖励。

　　语言点1:句子结构分析:who引导定语从句，修饰the first man，表示“…的第一人”。

　　语言点2:与美国“第一家庭”相关的短语总结:

　　first lady 第一夫人

　　first daughter 第一女儿

　　Air Force One 空军一号

　　2.Over a year passed before the first attempt was made.

　　然而一年多过去了才有人出来尝试。

　　语言点:句子结构分析:被动语态was made在此用于强调attempt用法的特殊性，翻译时不可直译为“尝试被做”，应按照汉语的表达习惯译成“出来尝试”。

　　3.On July 19th, 1909, in the early morning, Hubert Latham took off from the French coast in his plane the 'Antoinette IV.'

　　1909年7月19日凌晨，休伯特.莱瑟姆驾驶“安特瓦特4号”飞机从法国海岸起飞。

　　语言点:注意On July 19th, 1909这个日期的写法—是“月，日，年”的顺序，这是美国人写日期的习惯，据此我们可以推测，这篇文章的作者很有可能是美国人。Antoinette IV是飞机的名字，同时也是plane的同位语。