课文 · 精读
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A pilot noticed a balloon which seemed to be making for a Royal Air Force Station nearby.
一名飞行员注意到一个气球，似乎正朝附近的皇家空军基地飞去。
seemed to be making for... 制造怀疑气氛。
He informed the station at once, but no one there was able to explain the mystery.
他马上把情况报告了该基地，但那里的人没有一个能解释这到底是怎么回事。
The officer in the control tower was very angry when he heard the news, because balloons can be a great danger to aircraft.
控制塔上的官员得知这一消息后，非常气愤，因为气球有可能给飞机造成极大的危险。
He said that someone might be spying on the station and the pilot was ordered to keep track of the strange object.
他说可能有人正对基地进行侦察，因此命令那个飞行员跟踪那个奇怪的飞行物。
The pilot managed to circle the balloon for some time.
飞行员设法围着那个气球盘旋了一阵。
managed to circle 是追踪行动。
He could make out three men in a basket under it and one of them was holding a pair of binoculars.
他辨认出气球下面的篮子里有三个人，其中一个人手里还拿着一副望远镜。
望远镜这一细节让“侦察嫌疑”一下子更像真的了。
When the balloon was over the station, the pilot saw one of the men taking photographs.
当气球飞过基地上空时，飞行员看见其中一人正在拍照。
taking photographs 把怀疑推进到顶点。
Soon afterwards, the balloon began to descend and it landed near an airfield.
不久，气球开始降落，在一个停机坪附近着了陆。
The police were called in, but they could not arrest anyone, for the basket contained two Members of Parliament and the Commanding Officer of the station!
警察被召来了，但他们却不能逮捕任何人，因为筐里是两名国会议员和一名基地的指挥官！
As the Commanding Officer explained later, one half of the station did not know what the other half was doing!
正如指挥官后来解释的那样，基地的这半边不知道那半边正在干什么！
单元概要
本课写一个飞行员把载着三个人的气球当成侦察工具追踪，结果最后发现气球里竟有基地指挥官本人。重点在于悬念、军事语境和结尾那句“这边不知道那边在干什么”的讽刺。
精读导图 1. 先写可疑气球靠近基地。 2. 再写飞行员和控制塔把它当侦察威胁对待。 3. 最后在篮中人物身份揭示时反转成误会喜剧。 精读关注 - make for / keep track of - one half did not know... 的讽刺
单词表
| 单词 | 音标 | 释义 | 精讲 |
|---|---|---|---|
| balloon | /bəˈluːn/ | 气球 |
|
| royal | /ˈrɔɪəl/ | 皇家 |
|
| spy | /spaɪ/ | 侦察 |
|
| track | /træk/ | 跟踪 |
|
| binoculars | /bɪˈnɒkjələz/ | 双筒望远镜 |
|
| mystery | /ˈmɪstri/ | 谜 |
|
| descend | /dɪˈsend/ | 下降 |
|
短语
| 短语 | 意思 |
|---|---|
| make for | 朝……前进 |
| keep track of | 跟踪；掌握动向 |
| make out | 辨认出 |
| call in | 召来；请来 |
| one half ... the other half ... | 一半……另一半…… |
语法点
seem to be doing
seemed to be making for... 写出观察者的判断，而非确定事实。
相似句：
- He seemed to be waiting for someone.
- The ship seemed to be moving closer.
manage to do
managed to circle... 表示在执行任务中成功完成动作。
相似句：
- She managed to open the box.
- We managed to catch the train.
过去进行时作背景
was holding / was taking photographs 增强侦察感和即时性。
相似句：
- He was waving when I saw him.
- They were talking quietly by the door.
读写提示
- 这课要保留 military suspicion 和 comic reversal 两层。
- 议员和指挥官身份不能漏，否则笑点会塌。
- 侦察感是前半段的推进引擎。
- 最后一句 one half... 是很好记的讽刺总结。
考点
4
考点
4第 1 / 4 题
为什么基地会对这个气球高度紧张？