2013年考研英语阅读指导：比声音还快

Once a year， a race is held for old cars. A lot of cars entered for this race last year and there was a great deal of excitement just before it began. One of the most handsome cars was a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost. The most unusual car was a Benz which had only three wheels. Built in 1885， it was the oldest car taking part. After a great many loud explosions， the race began. Many of the cars broke down on the course and some drivers spent more time under their cars than in them！ A few cars， however， completed the race. The winning car reached a speed of forty miles an hour —— much faster than any of its rivals. It sped downhill at the end of the race and its driver had a lot of trouble trying to stop it. The race gave everyone a great deal of pleasure. It was very different from modern car races but no less exciting.

New words and expressions  生词和短语

sound n. 声音

excitement n. 激动，兴奋

handsome adj. 漂亮的；美观的

Rolls-Royce 罗尔斯——罗伊斯

Benz n. 奔驰

wheel n. 轮子

explosion n. 爆炸，轰响

course n. 跑道；行程

rival n. 对手

speed v. 疾驶

downhill adv. 下坡