1、In 1908 Lord Northcliffe offered a prize of f1,000 to the first man who would fly across the

English Channel.

the first man who would fly across…=the first man to fly across...

序数词和动词不定式 to 搭配连用可以代替其后的定语从句

-- the first person to greet him was a local policeman

-- She was the only one to survive the plane crash. 她是幸存与飞机失事的人。

=She was the only one that survive the plane crash.

2、Over a year passed before the first attempt was made.

如果 before 所引导的时间状语从句之前出现段时间(则翻译方法：才...)

attempt n.努力, 尝试, 企图 vt.尝试, 企图(attempt 的语气比 try 强烈)

in one's attempt

-- She failed in her attempt to swim the English Channel. 她横度英吉利海峡的尝试失败了。

make an attempt on

-- He made an attempt on the mountain. 他试图攀登那座山。

make an attempt to do

-- She made every attempt to run away. 她想尽一切办法逃走。

make no attempt

-- She made no attempt to run away. 她没有想逃走。