Lesson 23-1 Bird flight
No two sorts of birds practise quite the same sort of flight; the varieties are infinite; but two classes may be roughly seen. Any ship that crosses the Pacific is accompanied for many days by the smaller albatross, Which may keep company with the vessel for an hour without visible or more than occasional movement of wing. The currents of air that the walls of the ship direct upwards, as well as in the line of its course, are enough to give the great bird with its immense wings sufficient sustenance and progress. The albatross is the king of the gliders, the class of fliers which harness the air to their purpose, but must yield to its opposition. In the contrary school, the duck is supreme. It comes nearer to the engines with which man has 'conquered' the air, as he boasts.
infinite /ˈɪnfɪnət/ 无限的;极大的;无穷尽的;
rough /rʌf/ 粗糙的;粗略的;大致的;
albatross /ˈælbətrɑːs/ 信天翁
keep company with 陪伴着
vessel /ˈvesl/ 轮船;大船
company 做伴、陪伴
immense /ɪˈmens/ 巨大的;极大的
sufficient /səˈfɪʃnt/ 足够的; 充足的, 充分的
sustenance /ˈsʌstənəns/ 支撑力
glider /ˈɡlaɪdər/ 滑翔机、滑翔者
harness /ˈhɑːrnɪs/ 控制，利用
purpose 目的;用途;目标;意图;
yield /jiːld/ 产生(收益、效益等);屈服;提供;
contrary /ˈkɑːntreri/ 相反的，相对立的;
come near 接近;走近
boast 自夸
