2012年2月6日 星期一

Sports

In many parts of the world, there are four seasons: spring, summer, fall and winter. In the U.S., there are only three: football, basketball and baseball. That’s not completely true, but almost. In every season, Americans have a ball. If you want to know what season it is, just look at what people are playing. For many Americans, sports do not just occupy the sidelines. They take center court.
世界上的許多地方,一年有四季:春、夏、秋、冬。美國,卻只有三季:足球、籃球
和棒球季。這並非完全正確,但也差得不遠了。每一個季節,美國人都有樂趣。若你
想知道此季為何,看看人們正在打什麼球就行了。對於多數美國人而言,運動並非只
是一旁站的小消遣,它是生活中很重要的一環。
Besides “the big three” sports, Americans play a variety of other sports. In warm weather, people enjoy water sports. Lovers of surfing, sailing and scuba diving flock to the ocean. Swimmers and water skiers also revel in the wet stuff. Fishermen try their luck in ponds, lakes and rivers. In winter sportsmen delight in freezing fun. From the first snowfall, skiers hit the slopes. Frozen ponds and ice rinks become playgrounds for skating and hockey. People play indoor sports whatever the weather. Racquetball, weightlifting and bowling are year-round activities.
除了這「三大運動」,美國人還做許多其他的運動。天熱時,他們喜歡水上運動。
衝浪、駕帆船和潛水的愛好者群集於海中。游泳和滑水者,也縱情於水中。漁夫在
池塘、湖泊和河川裡試他們的運氣。冬季,運動員在冰天雪地裡也玩得很開心。從
下雪的頭一天起,滑雪者便登上雪坡。結了冰的池塘和溜冰場成了溜冰和冰上曲棍
球的場地。不論氣候如何,人們都從事戶內運動。回力球、舉重和保齡球都是全年
性的活動。
For many people in the U.S., sports are not just for fun. They’re almost a religion. Thousands of sports fans buy expensive tickets to watch their favorite teams and athletes play in person. Other fans watch the games at home, glued to their TV sets. The most devoted sports buffs never miss a game. Many a wife becomes a “sports widow” during her husband’s favorite season.
對許多的美國人而言,運動不只是為了好玩。它幾乎成了一種宗教崇拜,數以千計的
運動迷會為了能親眼目睹他們喜愛的球隊或運動員比賽而出高價購買門票。其他的球
迷則守在家裡寸步不離地收看電視轉播。那些最熱衷的運動迷,從不錯過任何一場比
賽。而當先生們最熱衷的運動季節到了的時候,他們的太太們都變成了「運動寡婦」。
America’s devotion to athletics has created a new class of wealthy people: professional athletes. Sports stars often receive million-dollar salaries. Some even make big money appearing in advertisements for soft drinks, shoes and even toiletries.
美國人對於運動的投入形成了一個新的富有階級:職業運動員。運動明星通常會收到
上百萬元的薪水。其中有些人甚至是因為替飲料、鞋,甚至個人化妝用品拍廣告而賺
了一大筆錢。
America's devotion to athletics has created a new class of wealthy people: professional athletes. Sports stars often receive million-dollar salaries. Some even make big money appearing in advertisements for soft drinks, shoes and even toiletries.
美國人對於運動的投入形成了一個新的富有階級:職業運動員。運動明星通常會收到
上百萬元的薪水。其中有些人甚至是因為替飲料、鞋,甚至個人化妝用品拍廣告而賺
了一大筆錢。
Sports in America represent the international heritage of the people who play. Many sports were imported from other countries. European immigrants brought tennis, golf, bowling and boxing to America. Football and baseball came from other Old World games. Only basketball has a truly American origin. Even today some formerly “foreign” sports like soccer are gaining American fans. In 1994 the U.S. hosted the World Cup for the first time ever.
美國的運動代表著從事這些運動的人的國際遺產。許多的運動是從外國引進來的。
歐洲移民把網球、高爾夫、保齡球和拳擊帶進了美國。足球和棒球則源自其他的歐
洲傳統比賽。只有籃球是唯一真正源自美國本土,即使在今日,一些原本是外來的
運動例如英式足球也吸引了許多的美國運動迷。在一九九四年,美國首次負責舉辦
世界盃足球賽。
Not all Americans worship sports, but athletics are an important part of their culture. Throughout their school life, Americans learn to play many sports. All students take physical education classes in school. Some try out for the school teams, while others join intramural sports leagues. Athletic events at universities attract scores of fans and benefit the whole community. Many people also enjoy noncompetitive activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping or hunting. To communicate with American sports nuts, it helps if you can talk sports.
並非所有的美國人都崇拜運動,但運動的確是他們文化當中極為重要的一部份。在他們
的學校生活當中,美國人學習許多運動。所有的學生都必須在學校修體育課。有些人參
加校隊的選拔;有的則加入校內的運動聯盟。在大學中舉辦的運動比賽通常吸引眾多的
運動迷,並且造福整個社區。許多人也喜歡從事一些非競爭性的活動像健行、騎單車、
騎馬、露營或打獵。要和美國運動迷溝通,最好是能暢談運動。



@Word Bank
sideline (n)(足球場之)界線;此指較次要的事
 revel (v) 狂喜;大悅
try one’s luck (v phr) 碰運氣
rink (n) 溜冰場
glue (v) 黏
buff (n) 對某事特別熟悉或有研究的人
 toiletry (n) 指個人化妝用品
toiletry (n) 指個人化妝用品
intramural (adj) 同一個學校的;校內的
scores (n) 許多


@The Day's Phrase
Storing digital information is getting easier, but there may be a price to pay
儲存數位資訊已變得愈來愈容易,但可能也要付出代價
Gregory is a very imaginative fellow. He can tell stories with the best of them.
喬治是個很有想像力的傢伙。他可是說故事的箇中高手呢。
Fallen trees make sweet music in the hands of these guitar craftsmen
倒下的樹木在吉他匠師的巧手下奏出美妙的音樂
Mark often laughs at me when I don't understand his jokes. He says. "Billy, you are as sharp as a bowling ball." But I know he doesn't intend to make me feel bad.
馬可常在我聽不懂他的笑話時取笑我。他說:
「比利,你跟驢一樣聰明。」不過我知道他不是故意要讓我難過。
They finally finished fixing the road. It's about time.
他們終於把路修好了。該是時候了。
Despite great progress, the fight against this disease is far from over
儘管對抗愛滋病已有長足進步,但這場抗戰離結束為時尚早
I'm sure we're going to win the game. Keep your hopes high.
我相信我們會贏得這場比賽。要有信心。
I'm sure we're going to win the game. Keep your hopes high.
我相信我們會贏得這場比賽。要有信心。
Sometimes classmates are one another's worst enemies
有時最可怕的敵人正是同學
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
有好消息從遠方來, 就如同拿涼水給口渴的人喝。
Chasing dreams and finding joy
追逐夢想與尋找喜悅
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
有好消息從遠方來, 就如同拿涼水給口渴的人喝。
It's time to go to school, Chandler. Do I have to?
該上學了,錢德勒。我得去嗎?

1 則留言:

  1. I love reading through your blog. It’s very interesting blog. Thanks for sharing valuable information to us.
    play indoor sports and games

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