中国首架国产客机首航

 　　China’s first homegrown passenger jet has taken to the skies for a politically charged maiden¹ flight that authorities claimed would propel the country into a new era of aviation.

　　中国首架国产客机进行了含有政治意味的首航，当局称这将使得中国进入新的航空时代。

　　The C919, a twin-engine airliner² designed to compete with the Airbus 320 and Boeing 737, took off from Shanghai’s Pudong international airport at just after 2pm on Friday.

　　C919双引擎客机是为了和空客320和波音737竞争，周五下午2点从上海浦东国际机场起飞。

　　The highly symbolic³ lift-off, which the government has celebrated⁴ as further evidence of China’s own rise, was broadcast live on state-controlled television.

　　这次富有象征性的起飞在中央台进行了直播。政府称这更加表明了中国自身的崛起。

　　The reporter would have written the main part of the story in advance, then adjusted shortly after take-off to put in details from the minute e.g. comments from the media. If it hadn't happened liked that, they'd have adjusted as required. It's how you get stories of Prince Phillip dying published by accident - all part of the race to be the first to print.

　　记者可能提前写好了主要内容，然后起飞后再对文章细节进行调整，比如媒体的评论吖等等。所以才会有菲利普亲王去世的消息意外出现——都是为了成为首发新闻。

1 maiden   

n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的

参考例句：

• The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
• The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

2 airliner   

n.客机，班机

参考例句：

• The pilot landed the airliner safely.驾驶员使客机安全着陆。
• The passengers were shepherded across the tarmac to the airliner.旅客们被引导走过跑道去上飞机。

3 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

4 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。