Both these ships set out from Shanghai on June 18th, 1872 on an exciting race to England. This race, which went on for exactly four months, was the last of its kind. It marked the end of the great tradition of ships with sails and the beginning of a new era.

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

　　两船于1872年 6月18日同时从上海启航驶往英国，途中展开了一场激烈的比赛。

　　语言点1:句子结构分析:both these ships相当于both of these ships，强调是“两艘船”。

　　语言点2:“set out from+somewhere+on+时间”为固定搭配，意为“某时从某地出发”。

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

　　这场比赛持续了整整4个月，是这类比赛中的最后一次。

　　语言点:句子结构分析:which引导非限制性定语从句，对“比赛”进行修饰，说明是“持续了4个月的比赛”，for exactly four months突出时间之久。

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

　　它标志着帆船伟大传统的结束与一个新纪元的开始。

　　语言点:句子结构分析:it指代上文中所说的race(比赛)。And连接两个并列的宾语—“结束”和“开始”