56_Faster_Than_Sound

56 Faster Than Sound

Once a year, a race is held for old cars. A lot of cars entered for this race last year and there was a great deal of excitement just before it began. One of the most handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The most unusual car was a Benz which had only three wheels. Built in 1885, it was the oldest car taking part. After a great many loud explosions, the race began. Many of the cars broke down on the course and some drivers spent more time under their cars than in them! A few cars, however, completed the race. The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour -- much faster than any of its rivals. It sped downhill at the end of the race and its driver had a lot of trouble trying to stop it. The race gave everyone a great deal of pleasure. It was very different from modern car races but no less exciting.

Words

• excitement /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/ 兴奋
• handsome /ˈhænsəm/ 英俊的
• explosions /ɪkˈsploʒənz/ 爆炸
• on /ɑn/ the /ðə/ course /kɔrs/ 道路
• rivals /ˈraɪvəlz/ 竞争对手
• downhill /ˈdaʊnˈhɪl/ 下坡

Expressions

• a great deal of ...+不可数
• break down 发生故障 My car broke down.
• a be di erent from b. A 与 B 不同
• make a sound 发出声音
• hear a sound 听到声音
• on the course 在路上
• speed it/things/this up 加快速度
• go downhill 走下坡路；变糟