Mr。Johnson had never been up in an aeroplane before and he had read a lot about air accidents。So one day when a friend offered to take him for a ride in his own small plane，Mr。Johnson was very worried about accepting。Finally，however，his friend persuaded him that it was very safe，and Mr。Johnson boarded the plane。
His friend started the engine and began to taxi onto the runway of the airport。Mr。Johnson had heard that the most dangerous part of a flight were the takeoff and the landing，so he was extremely frightened and closed his eyes。
After a minute or two he opened them again，looked out of the window of the plane，and said to his friend，“Look at those people down there。They look as small as ants，don’t they？”
“Those are ants”answered his friend。“We are still on the ground。”
第一次坐飞机
约翰逊先生从前未乘过飞机，他读过许多关于飞行事故的报道。所以，有一天一位朋友邀请他乘自己的小飞机飞行时，约翰逊先生非常担心，不敢接受。不过，由于朋友不断保证说飞行是很安全的，约翰逊先生终于被说服了，登上了飞机。
他的朋友启动引擎开始在机场跑道上滑行。约翰逊先生听说飞行中最危险的是起飞与降落，所以他吓得紧闭双眼。
过了一两分钟，他睁开双眼朝窗外望去，接着对朋友说道：“看下面那些人，他们看起来就像蚂蚁一样小，是不是？”
“那些就是蚂蚁，”他的朋友答道，“我们还在地面上。”
aeroplane[rplein]n。飞机
例：An aeroplane droned overhead。一架飞机在头上嗡嗡飞过。
persuade[psweid]vt。＆vi。说服，劝告
例：The boy persuades easily。这孩子听劝。
runway[rnwei]n。（机场的）跑道
例：A jetliner taxied down the runway and took off。喷气式飞机沿跑道滑行，然后起飞。
关于乘机旅行的词汇Traveling by Air
boarding check登机牌plane ticket飞机票
flight，flying飞行bumpy flight不平稳的飞行
smooth flight平稳的飞行ramp扶梯
altitude height高度air route，air line航线
extra flight加班economy class，tourist class经济座
nonstop flight连续飞行climbing，to gain height爬升
circling盘旋forced landing迫降
connecting flight衔接航班speed，velocity速度
ceiling上升限度cruising speed巡航速度
top speed最高速度first class头等
night service夜航airsick晕机
direct flight，straight flight直飞landing着陆
to rock，to toss，to bump颠簸to taxi along滑行
to lose height，to fly low降低to take off，takeoff起飞
to board a plane，get into a plane上飞机
to get off a plane，alight from a plane下飞机
乘坐飞机的基本知识
乘机者在乘机前24小时应适当休息，避免劳累，保证充足的睡眠，少吃油腻和不易消化的食品，适当多吃些水果，不可空腹乘飞机，也不宜过饱，否则易带来不适或晕机。
乘机要系安全带，小小安全带在必要时确能起到确保安全的作用，当飞机将要发生颠簸或广播提醒系好安全带时，一定不要马虎，以防止外伤。不带危险或易燃品，不在飞机升降期间使用手提移动电话等相关电子用品。
长时间乘机（5小时以上）时应多活动下肢，必要时可站起来走动走动，不可长睡或喝含有酒精的饮料，多喝些水，腿脚多做点“小动作”对乘机者很有好处，可防止静脉血栓病的发生。
适时吃点食物，在飞机起飞或降落，尤其是降落时吃点糖果、小食品或喝点水，对预防航空性中耳炎很有作用，也可用捏鼻闭嘴鼓气的方法，来抵御耳压伤。
要预防晕机，具体方法是在乘机半小时前服一片“乘晕宁”，长时间乘机者4至5小时后可再服一片；也可带点清凉油或风油精涂擦在额头部位。
服从民航服务人员指导，例如：在有“发热”疾病流行期间，登机前进行体温检测，在需填登机卡片时应认真填写。