16. the war between Britain and France
In the late eighteenth century, battles raged in almost every corner of Europe, as well as in the Middle East, south Africa ,the West Indies, and Latin America. In reality, however, there was only one major war during this time, the war between Britain and France. All other battles were ancillary1 to this larger conflict, and were often at least partially2 related to its antagonist’ goals and strategies. France sought total domination of Europe . this goal was obstructed3 by British independence and Britain’s efforts throughout the continent to thwart4 Napoleon; through treaties. Britain built coalitions5 (not dissimilar in concept to today’s NATO) guaranteeing British participation6 in all major European conflicts. These two antagonists7 were poorly matched, insofar as they had very unequal strengths; France was predominant on land, Britain at sea. The French knew that, short of defeating the British navy, their only hope of victory was to close all the ports of Europe to British ships. Accordingly, France set out to overcome Britain by extending its military domination from Moscow t Lisbon, from Jutland to Calabria. All of this entailed8 tremendous risk, because France did not have the military resources to control this much territory and still protect itself and maintain order at home.
French strategists calculated that a navy of 150 ships would provide the force necessary to defeat the British navy. Such a force would give France a three-to-two advantage over Britain. This advantage was deemed necessary because of Britain’s superior sea skills and technology because of Britain’s superior sea skills and technology, and also because Britain would be fighting a defensive9 war, allowing it to win with fewer forces. Napoleon never lost substantial impediment to his control of Europe. As his force neared that goal, Napoleon grew increasingly impatient and began planning an immediate10 attack.
1 ancillary
adj.附屬的，從屬的
參考例句：
The transport corps is ancillary to the infantry.運(yùn)輸隊(duì)是步兵的輔助部隊(duì)。
This is just an ancillary business.這僅僅是一項(xiàng)輔助業(yè)務(wù)。
2 partially
adv.部分地，從某些方面講
參考例句：
The door was partially concealed by the drapes.門有一部分被門簾遮住了。
The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方設(shè)法恢復(fù)了平靜，宵禁部分解除。
3 obstructed
阻塞( obstruct的過(guò)去式和過(guò)去分詞 )； 堵塞； 阻礙； 阻止
參考例句：
Tall trees obstructed his view of the road. 有大樹(shù)擋著，他看不到道路。
The Irish and Bristol Channels were closed or grievously obstructed. 愛(ài)爾蘭海峽和布里斯托爾海峽或遭受封鎖，或受到了嚴(yán)重阻礙。
4 thwart
v.阻撓，妨礙，反對(duì)；adj.橫(斷的)
參考例句：
We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我們決不能讓他的惡毒陰謀得逞。
I don't think that will thwart our purposes.我認(rèn)為那不會(huì)使我們的目的受到挫折。
5 coalitions
結(jié)合體，同盟( coalition的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )； （兩黨或多黨）聯(lián)合政府
參考例句：
History testifies to the ineptitude of coalitions in waging war. 歷史昭示我們，多數(shù)國(guó)家聯(lián)合作戰(zhàn)，其進(jìn)行甚為困難。
All the coalitions in history have disintegrated sooner or later. 歷任何聯(lián)盟遲早都垮臺(tái)了。
6 participation
n.參與，參加，分享
參考例句：
Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔術(shù)要求有觀眾的參與。
The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.這個(gè)方案旨在鼓勵(lì)大眾更多地參與體育活動(dòng)。
7 antagonists
對(duì)立[對(duì)抗] 者，對(duì)手，敵手( antagonist的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )； 對(duì)抗肌； 對(duì)抗藥
參考例句：
The cavalier defeated all the antagonists. 那位騎士打敗了所有的敵手。
The result was the entire reconstruction of the navies of both the antagonists. 雙方的海軍就從這場(chǎng)斗爭(zhēng)里獲得了根本的改造。
8 entailed
使…成為必要( entail的過(guò)去式和過(guò)去分詞 )； 需要； 限定繼承； 使必需
參考例句：
The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son. 城堡和土地限定由長(zhǎng)子繼承。
The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter. 這所房子和地產(chǎn)限定由長(zhǎng)女繼承。
9 defensive
adj.防御的；防衛(wèi)的；防守的
參考例句：
Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他們問(wèn)到錢的問(wèn)題，使她警覺(jué)起來(lái)。
The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防衛(wèi)措施抵御空襲。
10 immediate
adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；緊靠的
參考例句：
His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近鄰認(rèn)為他們有責(zé)任去拜訪。
We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我們主張立即召開(kāi)這個(gè)會(huì)議。
In the late eighteenth century, battles raged in almost every corner of Europe, as well as in the Middle East, south Africa ,the West Indies, and Latin America. In reality, however, there was only one major war during this time, the war between Britain and France. All other battles were ancillary1 to this larger conflict, and were often at least partially2 related to its antagonist’ goals and strategies. France sought total domination of Europe . this goal was obstructed3 by British independence and Britain’s efforts throughout the continent to thwart4 Napoleon; through treaties. Britain built coalitions5 (not dissimilar in concept to today’s NATO) guaranteeing British participation6 in all major European conflicts. These two antagonists7 were poorly matched, insofar as they had very unequal strengths; France was predominant on land, Britain at sea. The French knew that, short of defeating the British navy, their only hope of victory was to close all the ports of Europe to British ships. Accordingly, France set out to overcome Britain by extending its military domination from Moscow t Lisbon, from Jutland to Calabria. All of this entailed8 tremendous risk, because France did not have the military resources to control this much territory and still protect itself and maintain order at home.
French strategists calculated that a navy of 150 ships would provide the force necessary to defeat the British navy. Such a force would give France a three-to-two advantage over Britain. This advantage was deemed necessary because of Britain’s superior sea skills and technology because of Britain’s superior sea skills and technology, and also because Britain would be fighting a defensive9 war, allowing it to win with fewer forces. Napoleon never lost substantial impediment to his control of Europe. As his force neared that goal, Napoleon grew increasingly impatient and began planning an immediate10 attack.
1 ancillary
adj.附屬的，從屬的
參考例句：
The transport corps is ancillary to the infantry.運(yùn)輸隊(duì)是步兵的輔助部隊(duì)。
This is just an ancillary business.這僅僅是一項(xiàng)輔助業(yè)務(wù)。
2 partially
adv.部分地，從某些方面講
參考例句：
The door was partially concealed by the drapes.門有一部分被門簾遮住了。
The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方設(shè)法恢復(fù)了平靜，宵禁部分解除。
3 obstructed
阻塞( obstruct的過(guò)去式和過(guò)去分詞 )； 堵塞； 阻礙； 阻止
參考例句：
Tall trees obstructed his view of the road. 有大樹(shù)擋著，他看不到道路。
The Irish and Bristol Channels were closed or grievously obstructed. 愛(ài)爾蘭海峽和布里斯托爾海峽或遭受封鎖，或受到了嚴(yán)重阻礙。
4 thwart
v.阻撓，妨礙，反對(duì)；adj.橫(斷的)
參考例句：
We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我們決不能讓他的惡毒陰謀得逞。
I don't think that will thwart our purposes.我認(rèn)為那不會(huì)使我們的目的受到挫折。
5 coalitions
結(jié)合體，同盟( coalition的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )； （兩黨或多黨）聯(lián)合政府
參考例句：
History testifies to the ineptitude of coalitions in waging war. 歷史昭示我們，多數(shù)國(guó)家聯(lián)合作戰(zhàn)，其進(jìn)行甚為困難。
All the coalitions in history have disintegrated sooner or later. 歷任何聯(lián)盟遲早都垮臺(tái)了。
6 participation
n.參與，參加，分享
參考例句：
Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔術(shù)要求有觀眾的參與。
The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.這個(gè)方案旨在鼓勵(lì)大眾更多地參與體育活動(dòng)。
7 antagonists
對(duì)立[對(duì)抗] 者，對(duì)手，敵手( antagonist的名詞復(fù)數(shù) )； 對(duì)抗肌； 對(duì)抗藥
參考例句：
The cavalier defeated all the antagonists. 那位騎士打敗了所有的敵手。
The result was the entire reconstruction of the navies of both the antagonists. 雙方的海軍就從這場(chǎng)斗爭(zhēng)里獲得了根本的改造。
8 entailed
使…成為必要( entail的過(guò)去式和過(guò)去分詞 )； 需要； 限定繼承； 使必需
參考例句：
The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son. 城堡和土地限定由長(zhǎng)子繼承。
The house and estate are entailed on the eldest daughter. 這所房子和地產(chǎn)限定由長(zhǎng)女繼承。
9 defensive
adj.防御的；防衛(wèi)的；防守的
參考例句：
Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他們問(wèn)到錢的問(wèn)題，使她警覺(jué)起來(lái)。
The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防衛(wèi)措施抵御空襲。
10 immediate
adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；緊靠的
參考例句：
His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近鄰認(rèn)為他們有責(zé)任去拜訪。
We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我們主張立即召開(kāi)這個(gè)會(huì)議。