One of the most famous sailing ships of the nineteenth century, the Cutty Sark, can still be seen at Greenwich. She stands on dry land and is visited by thousands of people each year. She serves as an impressive reminder of the great ships of the past. Before they were replaced by steamships, sailing vessels like the Cutty Sark were used to carry tea from China and wool from Australia. The Cutty Sark was one of the fastest sailing ships that has ever been built. The only other ship to match her was the Thermopylae. Both these ships set out from Shanghai on June 18th, 1872 on an exciting race to England. This race, which went on for exactly four mouths, was the last of its kind. It marked the end of the great tradition of ships with sails and the beginning of a new era.
The first of the two ships to reach Java after the race had begun was the Thermopylae, but on the Indian Ocean, the Cutty Sark took the lead. It seemed certain that she would be the first ship home, but during the race she had a lot of bad luck. In August, she was struck by a very heavy storm during which her rudder was torn away. The Cutty Sark rolled from side to side and it became impossible to steer her. A temporary rudder was mad on board from spare planks and it was fitted with great difficulty. This greatly reduced the speed of the ship, for there was a danger that if she traveled too quickly, this rudder would be torn away as well. Because of this, the Cutty Sark lost her lead. After crossing the Equator, the captain called in at a port to have a new rudder fitted, but by now the Thermopylae was over five hundred miles ahead. Though the new rudder was fitted at tremendous speed, it was impossible for the Cutty Sark to win. She arrived in England a week after the Thermopylae. Even this was remarkable, considering that she had had so many delays. There is no doubt that if she had not lost her rudder she would have won the race easily.

New words and expressions
impressive        给人深刻印象的
steamship        蒸汽轮船
vessel            大木船
era                时期，时代
rudder            舵
roll                颠簸，摇摆
steer            掌握方向
temporary        临时的
plank            大块木板
fit                安装
Equator        赤道
delay            耽误

Notes on the text
I have a very nice impression of Beijing.
l    dinghy救生筏（两三人）
├lifeboat救生船
├destroyer驱逐舰
├submarine潜水艇
├aircraft carrier航母
└motor ship摩托艇
┌era时代new era
├information age
├Internet age
└hard times艰难岁月
Never walk in anyone’s shadow.走自己的路
l    medical students
└medical workers医务工作者
social student研究社会学的学生
l    eye-catching抢眼的
├notable        ┬引人注意的
├noticeable    ┘
└striking吸引人的
┌steer clear of = avoid避开
└steer掌握方向
┌install装（空调、软件）
├fit安上
└fix修理后安装
l    without delay没有耽误
└so many delays耽误许多
┌at Oxford用at不是in
└at Greenwich格林威志
l    serve as被用作
She serves as a teacher.
This book serves as a weapon.
The sound made by bird can serve as language.
The picture serves as an impressive reminder of my miserable（苦难的） childhood.
l    标志…的开始…的结束
It marked the beginning of…and the end of…
It marked the beginning of a new era.

l    take the lead领先
┌It seems that
├It seems certain that
└看起来确实无疑的
I will take bus home.
Road home.回家的路
┌Wish you good luck.
└a lot of bad luck
l    be struck by被击中
┌heavy storm雨雪都用此表大
├wild wind狂风
└strong wind强风
┌tear away撕开
├tear up撕碎
└tear off撕下来
It became impossible to steer the ship.变得
on board在船上
with great difficulty = 副词
l    He has danger（错误的表达）
There is a danger that he will fail to pass the exam.
There is a danger that if you don’t work harder you’ll fail to reach your goal.目标
┌call in at a port让船停在港口
└call in a doctor叫医生
considering +    ┬名词
考虑到    └that句子
Considering his great age.
Considering that he is a boy.
l    here and there到处
├to and from来来往往
┕up and down到处，来回
┌from side to side
├neck to neck并驾齐驱
├hand in hand手拉手
└shoulder by shoulder肩并肩