As the floodshad put the telephone out of order, we could not find out how they were managing.From an attic window we could get a sweeping view of the river where their landjoined ours, and at the most critical juncture we took turns in watching that point.The first sign of disaster was a dead sheep floating down.

　　16.As the floods had put the telephone out of order, we could not find out how theywere managing.

　　由于洪水造成了电话中断，我们无法了解他们情况。

　　语言点:句子结构分析:as引导原因状语从句。How they were managing为宾语从句，说明find out的内容。

　　17.From an attic window we could get a sweeping view of the river where their landjoined ours, and at the most critical juncture we took turns in watching that point.

　　从顶楼窗口看去，我们农场与他们农场接壤处的那段河流一览无余。在最紧急的时刻，我们轮流监视那段河流的险情。

　　18.The first sign of disaster was a dead sheep floating down.

　　灾难的第一迹象是一只死羊顺流而下。

　　语言点:句子结构分析:现在分词短语floating down作定语。