portion n. part; share 一部分;一份
double v. make or become twice as great or as many (使)增加一倍
comprehension n. the act of understanding or ability to understand 理解(力) mention vt. speak or write about (sth.) in a few words 提及
confused a. mixed up in one\'s mind 迷惑的,混淆的 confuse vt. textbook n. a standard book for the study of a subject 教科书;课本 performance n. achievement 成绩
meaningful a. having important meaning or value 富有意义的 attitude n. what one thinks about sth. 态度,看法 purpose n. aim 目的,意图
excessively ad. too much 过多地,过分地 excessive a.
permanent a. lasting for a long time; never changing 持久的;永久的 technique n. way of doing sth. 技巧,方法
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helpful a. useful; providing help or wiling to help 有益的;给予帮助的,肯帮忙的 PHRASES & EXPRSSIONS fill in write in 填写,填充
decide on make a choice or decision about 选定,决定 set aside save for a special purpose 留出 as well also; too; in addition 也,还;同样
be aware (of) know (sth.); know (what is happening) 知道,意识到 concentrate on direct one\'s attention, efforts, etc. to 全神贯注于 look over examine (quickly) 把...看一遍,过目 go over review 复习 lead to result in 导致
Unit Two: Sailing Round the World
TEXT
At sixty-five Francis Chichester set out to sail single-handed round the world. This is the story of that adventure.
Sailing Round the World
Before he sailed round the world single-handed, Francis Chichester had already surprised his friends several times. He had tried to fly round the world but failed. That was in 1931.
The years passed. He gave up flying and began sailing. He enjoyed it greatly. Chichester was already 58 years old when he won the first solo transatlantic sailing race. His old dream of going round the world came back, but this time he would sail. His friends and doctors did not think he could do it, as he had lung cancer. But Chichester was determined to carry out his plan. In August, 1963, at the age of nearly sixty-five, an age when many men retire, he began the greatest voyage of his life. Soon, he was away in this new 16-metre boat, Gipsy Moth.
Chichester followed the route of the great nineteenth century clipper ships. But the clippers had had plenty of crew. Chicheater did it all by himself, even after the main steering device had been damaged by gales. Chichester covered 14, 100 miles before stopping in Sydney, Australia. This was more than twice the distance anyone had previously sailed alone.
He arrived in Australia on 12 December, just 107 days out from England. He received a warm welcome from the Australians and from his family who had flown there to meet him. On shore, Chichester could not walk without help. Everybody said the same thing: he had done enough; he must not go any further. But he did not listen.
After resting in Sydney for a few weeks, Chichester set off once more in spite of his friends\' attempts to dissuade him. The second half of his voyage was by far the more dangerous part, during which he sailed round the treacherous Cape Horn.
On 29 January he left Australia. The next night, the blackest he had ever known, the sea became so rough that the boat almost turned over. Food, clothes, and broken glass were all mixed together. Fortunately, bed and went to sleep. When he woke up, the sea had become calm the nearest person he could contact by radio, unless there was a ship nearby, Wild be on an island 885 miles away.
After succeeding in sailing round Cape Horn, Chichester sent the following radio message to London:Horn and that sinister Southern Ocean again.
Just before 9 o\'clock on Sunday evening 28 May, 1967, he arrived back in England, where a quarter of a million people were waiting to welcome him. Queen Elizabeth II knighted him with the very sword that Queen Elizabeth I had sailed round the world for the first time. The whole voyage
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from England and back had covered 28, 500 miles. It had taken him nine months , of which the sailing time was 226 days. He had done what he wanted to accomplish.
Like many other adventurers, Chichester had experienced fear and conquered it. In doing so, he had undoubtedly learnt something about himself. Moreover, in the modern age when human beings depend so much on machines, he had given men throughout the world new pride. NEW WORDS
single-handed a & ad. (done) by one person alone 单独的(地) adventure n. 冒险(活动) solo a. single-handed 单独的
transatlantic a. crossing the Atlantic Ocean 横度大西洋 lung n. part of the body with which one breathes 肺 cancer n. 癌
determined a. with one\'s mind firmly made up下定了决心的 determine v. determination n. retire vi. stop working at one\'s job(because of age) 退休 voyage n. sea journey 航海;航行
route n. way from one place to another 路线 clipper n. 快速帆船
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