英语杂谈：18 Students fly to class

This is where the school run starts for six children from Papa Westray, their school is on another island, and to get there for this term only, they are taking to the skies. The day begins at Papa Westray's airstrip, and once they’ve taken off, there is not far to go, because this is the world’s shortest scheduled air service.

 

From here, Papa Westray is only a mile or so away, the children would normally¹ travel across by boat, but the ferry they use isn't available at the moment. So, they’re flying high instead.

 

The flight to neighboring Westray lasts for just a couple of minutes. There‘s hardly a moment to take in the spectacular² scenery below. But as far as the kids are concerned, it’s a pretty cool way to get to school.

 

Nobody else will probably be doing that, so it’s great and for that, because we’ll be the only ones that will be doing that ever probably, so it’s a great gift.

 

You hardly get times in, to see where is the lake, because it only lasts two minutes there, journey, so it's quite short.

 

Once they’ve landed, it’s back to normality again with lessons at the Westray School. Loganair which runs Orkney inter-island air services has altered³ its timetable to make sure the children get there each day until the ferry becomes available again. But for now, going home means another take-off and a quick hop⁴ back to Papa Westray.
 

1 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

2 spectacular   

adj.引人注目的，出色的，与众不同的

参考例句：

• This is a spectacular film.这是一部场面壮观的电影。
• This is the most spectacular financial crash of the decade.这是10年里最引人注目的金融破产事件。

3 altered   

adj.[医]改变的v.改变，更改( alter的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The bright boy altered it to a circular form. 这个聪明的男孩把它改成了圆形。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The ship has altered its course. 这艘船改变了航线。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 hop   

n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过

参考例句：

• The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛，看谁单足跳跃最快。
• How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远？