常春藤生活英语【151】Big Bigger Biggest 2 超大建筑狂想曲

Big Bigger Biggest 2 超大建筑狂想曲
 
The bigger they are, the harder they fall. However, this is not the case with some of the biggest structures in the world today. This month, National Geographic Channel takes you into the world of giant airplanes and architectural domes. In "Big Bigger Biggest 2: Aircraft," NGC goes over the development of six revolutionary airplanes. Then, NGC explains how they all influenced the Antonov 124, the world's largest cargo plane.

The Antonov 124 is bigger than big. It is as tall as a seven-story building, and its wingspan is long enough to park eight buses end to end with room to spare. What's more, it has enough cargo space for 50 family-sized cars, which is nothing in comparison to what it has already carried. These planes have transported tanks, trains, other aircrafts, and even an elephant from Moscow to Taiwan. However, the Antonov 124 could not have done this without the major technological developments that have allowed engineers to build bigger and better cargo planes. So book a flight with NGC's "Big Bigger Biggest 2: Aircraft" and fly with the big boys.

物品愈大，跌得愈重。但对于现今世界里一些最大的建筑物来说，情形却并非如此。本月份，国家地理频道将带您进入巨大飞机和圆顶建筑的世界里。在《超大建筑狂想曲２：巨无霸运输机》的节目中，国家地理频道将一探六架革命性飞机的发展史。接着国家地理频道将解释这些飞机如何影响了世上最大货机—— Antonov 124的建造。

用大来形容Antonov 124还略显不足。它和一栋七层楼的建筑等高，其翼幅的宽度停入八辆头尾相接的巴士都还绰绰有余。此外，它有足够的货运空间来容纳五十台家庭房车，但这跟它所载运过的货物相比之下根本就不算什么。这种货机曾运送过坦克车、火车和其它飞机，甚至还从莫斯科将大象运载来台湾。然而要是没有重大的科技发展使工程师得以建造出更大更优的货机，Antonov 124也不会有现在这样的成就。所以赶快订好机位，随着国家地理频道的《超大建筑狂想曲２：巨无霸运输机》一同和这些空中悍将遨游天际吧。
 
Building Your Vocabulary  

1. transport　vt. 运送，运输
The goods will be transported by sea.
那批货物将经由海运运送。
2. technological　a. 科技的
Technological advances have made our lives easier.
科技的不断进步让我们的生活更加便利。
3. book　vt. 预订
I would like to book a KTV room for tonight.
我想要订今晚的KTV包厢。 

Phrases for Learning  
 
1. be the case　　状况∕情形正是如此
Life is easier now, but that wasn't the case in the past.
现在的生活方便许多，但在过去却并非如此。
2. go over...　　仔细审视∕考虑……
Have you gone over my proposal yet?
你仔细考虑过我的提案了吗？
3. end to end　　头尾相接地
The waiter put two tables end to end so that all of us could sit together.
服务生将两张桌子并起来，好让我们所有人能坐在一块。
4. room/money/time to spare　　
有多余的空间∕金钱∕时间
Hurry up. We don't have any time to spare.
快一点。我们没剩多少时间了。
5. in comparison to/with...　　与……相比
In comparison with Bob, Larry is short.
跟鲍伯相比之下，赖瑞算是矮的。 
 
Extra Words  

1. architectural　a. 建筑的
2. dome　n. 圆顶建筑物；穹顶
3. revolutionary　a. 革命性的，创新的
4. cargo　n.（一批）货物（本文中作形容词用）
5. story　n.（建筑物的）层
6. wingspan　n. 翼幅（两翼展开的宽度）
7. engineer　n. 工程师 

SENTENCE PATTERN  

The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
（物品愈大，跌得愈重。）
此句在本文中取其字面意思，但实为一则谚语，表示『爬得越高，摔得越重』，其句型如下：
The + 比较级形容词∕副词..., the + 比较级形容词∕
副词...　　愈……，就愈……
注意:
1. 在此句构中，第一个 the 视为副词连接词，引导副词子句，同时亦兼作副词，修饰其后的比较级形容词或副词；第二个 the 则视为副词，修饰其后的比较级形容词或副词。若句中无形容词或副词时，则在句首依句意加上"the more"或"the less"即可。
The louder the music is, the more excited the crowd gets.
（音乐愈大声，群众们愈兴奋。）
2. 若句中主词为一般名词，而非代名词或专有名词，且其后动词为 be 动词时，则此 be 动词可予以省略。故上句亦可写为：
The louder the music, the more excited the crowd gets.

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