Section 37. THE AIR-OCEAN. II.
Reading edition
The air-ocean, which everywhere[1] surrounds the earth, and feeds and maintains it, is even[2] more simple, more grand, and more majestic than the[3] ‘world of waters’; more[4] varied and changeful in its moods of storm and calm, of ebb and flow, of brightness and gloom. The[5] atmosphere is, indeed, a wonderful thing, a most perfect example of the economy of nature. Deprived of[6] air, no animal would live, no plant would grow, no flame would burn, no[7] light would be diffused. The[8] air, too, is the sole medium of sound. Without it, mountains might[9] fall, but[10] it would be in perfect silence. Neither whisper[11] nor thunders[12] would[13] ever be heard.—Maury, Physical Geography of the Sea.
Notes in this chapter
Note 1 · Place the adverb before the verb.Note 2 · sogar noch.Note 3 · jene mächtige Wasserwelt, after which put a full stop and begin a new sentence.Note 4 · This passage may be construed thus: ‘It offers a greater variety (Mannigfaltigkeit) and changeableness in the transitions from storm to (zu)Note 5 · Der Luftkreis ist in der That höchst wunderbar und gewährt ein vollendetes Beispiel von dem haushälterischen Wesen der Natur.Note 6 · Without (App. § 14); would = could, Impf. Subj.Note 7 · und kein Licht sich verbrei´ten.Note 8 · Also (def. art.) sound can only be transmitted (fort´pflanzen) through the air.Note 9 · might = could; to fall, ein´stürzen.Note 10 · Say ‘and yet the prevailing silence would not be interrupted’.Note 11 · leises Geflüster, acc.Note 12 · lauten Donner, acc.Note 13 · ‘would — heard’, use the active voice with the indef. pron. man.