German composition

Section 37 The Air-Ocean. — II

The air-ocean, which everywhere⁠1 surrounds the earth, and feeds and maintains it, is even⁠2 more simple, more grand, and more majestic than the⁠3 ‘world of waters’; more⁠4 varied and changeful in its moods of storm and calm, of ebb and flow, of brightness and gloom. The⁠5 atmosphere is, indeed, a wonderful thing, a most perfect example of the economy of nature. Deprived of⁠6 air, no animal would live, no plant would grow, no flame would burn, no⁠7 light would be diffused. The⁠8 air, too, is the sole medium of sound. Without it, mountains might⁠9 fall, but⁠10 it would be in perfect silence. Neither whisper⁠11 nor thunders⁠12 would⁠13 ever be heard.—Maury, Physical Geography of the Sea.

Notes

1 Place the adverb before the verb.

2 sogar noch.

3 jene mächtige Wasserwelt, after which put a full stop and begin a new sentence.

4 This passage may be construed thus: ‘It offers a greater variety (Mannigfaltigkeit) and changeableness in the transitions from storm to (zu) calm, from ebb to flow, and from light to gloom (Dunkel, n.)’. The article (which, if practicable, should be contracted with the preceding preposition) must be used with the last six nouns, see S. 3, N. 2.

5 Der Luftkreis ist in der That höchst wunderbar und gewährt ein vollendetes Beispiel von dem haushälterischen Wesen der Natur.

6 Without (App. § 14); would = could, Impf. Subj.

7 und kein Licht sich verbrei´ten.

8 Also (def. art.) sound can only be transmitted (fort´pflanzen) through the air.

9 might = could; to fall, ein´stürzen.

10 Say ‘and yet the prevailing silence would not be interrupted’.

11 leises Geflüster, acc.

12 lauten Donner, acc.

13 ‘would — heard’, use the active voice with the indef. pron. man.