American Football: First Down and Ten to Go 冲锋达阵，美式足球
- 详细资料
- 创建于 2007年10月10日
- 最后更新于 2024年5月25日
- 发布于 2012年1月15日
- 作者：Mike Lee
- 点击数：278
课文朗读
课文讲解
On the frozen grass of Lambeau Field, it all comes down to this. The quarterback takes the snap and fakes a hand-off. Just moments before he is crushed by two giant players, he darts a perfect spiral into the end zone. The ball sails past the arms of the diving defenders and is caught by his teammate for a touchdown! The 60,000 fans in the stadium go wild. Although it may sound like a foreign language to some, it’s not. This is the language of football, America’s most popular sport.
在兰宝球场结冰的草地上，已进入比赛最关键的时刻：四分卫接起球，假装要传出去；就在被两名壮硕的球员压倒在地前，他射出完美的旋球到达阵区，球飞越扑倒的防守者，被其队友接住后达阵！场内六万名球迷陷入疯狂状态。虽然对某些人来说，以上听起来像外国话，但其实不然；这是美式足球的语言，美国最受欢迎的运动。
When Americans hear “football,” they don’t picture people kicking a round ball into a net. American football is a violent collision sport, played by heavier and stronger athletes. The object of the game is to advance the ball across the 100-yard field. Each team has four plays to move the ball 10 yards. A play does not end until a team scores or the player with the ball is tackled to the ground. Ironically, teams only kick the ball a few times each game.
当美国人听到「足球」这个字眼时，他们想到的不是一群人将一颗圆球踢进网。美式足球是一种激烈碰撞的运动，由较重、较强壮的运动员进行比赛。比赛的目的是把球送过一百码的球场。每一队有四次进攻来将球推进十码。每一次进攻，要等到球队得分或持球员被擒抱在地才算结束。讽刺的是，在每一场比赛中，球员踢不到几次球。
Although football may seem like senseless brutality to some, it is a very complex game based on strategy. To win, a team must mix up their passing and running plays to keep their opponents guessing what will come next. Coaches and players spend hours each week watching filmed games to craft their strategy for the upcoming weeks. For every play, each player has a different assignment. A mistake by one player can turn a great play into a total failure.
虽然美式足球对某些人来说似乎是愚蠢而野蛮，但它其实是重视策略的复杂比赛。要赢球，一队必须在进攻时混合传球和跑阵，让对手不停猜测他们接下来要做什么。教练和球员每周要花几个钟头观看比赛录像，好为接下来的数周比赛拟定策略。每一次进攻时，每一名球员都有不同的任务。只要有一个球员出错，就可能毁掉一次完美的进攻。
Vocabulary
单词发音
fake [fek] v. 假装
crush [krʌʃ] v. 压扁; 压垮
collision [kəˋlɪʒən] n. 碰撞
tackle [ˋtæk!] v. 擒抱并摔倒（对方球员）；阻截（对方球员）
strategy [ˋstrætədʒɪ] n. 策略
opponent [əˋponənt] n. 对手；敌手
More Information
单词发音
come down to something 归结起来（为…）to be recognized as the most important thing
quarterback [ˋkwɔrtɚ͵bæk] n.【美】【足】四分卫
snap [snæp] n.（橄榄球）发球
hand-off [ˋhænd͵ɔf] n.【橄】手递手传球
dart [dɑrt] v. 投掷（标枪等）；投射
spiral [ˋspaɪrəl] n.（足球的）旋球
end zone【橄】（球门线到底线的）球门区
dive [daɪv] v. 俯冲
defender [dɪˋfɛndɚ] n. 防守队员; 后卫
touchdown [ˋtʌtʃ͵daʊn] n.【橄】【美】【足】触地，触地得分
picture [ˋpɪktʃɚ] v. 想象
senseless [ˋsɛnslɪs] adj. 无目的的; 无意义的
brutality [bruˋtælətɪ] n. 野蛮
课文朗读
课文讲解
The first football game was played in 1869 at Rutgers University. Back then, the rules were simple. To score, you had to move the ball across the field to your opponent’s goal. On the field, anything was allowed. But without safety rules and equipment, there were many serious injuries and even deaths. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt threatened to make the game illegal unless something was done. New rules were created to make the game safer.
第一场美式足球赛于1869年在罗格斯大学举行。当时的规则非常简单，只要将球推进至对手的球门就得分。在球场上，一切都是被允许的。但由于没有安全规则和装备，常导致球员受重伤，甚至死亡。1905年，罗斯福总统扬言此种情况若不改善，就要立法禁止比赛。于是，新规则被制订出来，比赛也变得较安全。
Yet it was not until after World War IIthat professional football became popular in the US. Superstars like Johnny Unitas and Paul Hornung won over fans with their calm under pressure and their ability to win under any circumstances. One major difference that separates football from other sports is that football teams only play sixteen games during the entire season. This makes every game a must-see for fans. One bad game could mean the difference between going to the championship and watching it on TV instead!
然而直到二次大战后，职业美式足球赛才在美国流行起来。钱宁．尤尼塔和保罗．弘能等超级球星，在任何高压情况都能保持冷静，且在任何情况下都有赢球能力，让许多球迷折服不已。美式足球和其他运动最大的差异是，美式足球在整个球季只有十六场比赛，所以每场球赛对球迷来说都非看不可。只要一场球表现不好，很可能使本来能够争夺冠军的球队，留在家里看电视转播！
The biggest event of the football season is the Super Bowl. People throw parties, munching on buffalo wings and pizza as they watch the two best teams square off for the title. But even when there’s a break in the game, the entertainment continues. Companies pay millions of dollars for commercials that will entertain audiences and promote their products. During halftime, famous rock stars give performances at the stadium, topped off with a spectacular show of fireworks. Some people even think the commercials and performances outshine the game itself!
足球季的重头戏则是超级杯。人们开派对、大嚼辣鸡翅和披萨，一边观赏两个顶尖球队争夺冠军荣衔。即使在休息时间，娱乐性仍然不减。各大公司砸下数百万美元购买既能娱乐观众又能宣传商品的电视广告。中场休息时，会有知名的摇滚歌手到现场表演，而后更以壮观的烟火秀压轴。有人甚至认为，广告和表演比球赛本身更有看头！
−by Jamie Blackler
Vocabulary
单词发音
threaten [ˋθrɛtn] v. 威胁
illegal [ɪˋlig!] adj. 不合法的，非法的；违反规则的
professional [prəˋfɛʃən!] adj. 职业（上）的
championship [ˋtʃæmpɪən͵ʃɪp] n. 锦标赛
entertainment [͵ɛntɚˋtenmənt] n. 娱乐
More Information
单词发音
goal [gol] n.（足球等运动的）球门
win over 赢得…的同意或支持 to succeed in gaining the support and sympathy of
must-see [ˈmʌstˈsi] n. 必须看的东西; adj. 必须看的 something (as a film) that must or should be seen
munch [mʌntʃ] v. 咯吱咯吱地咀嚼；津津有味地嚼
square off 摆出自卫或攻击的架式 to assume a fighting stance; prepare to fight
halftime ['hæfˌtaɪm] n. 中场休息时间
top off (with something) (以特定方式)结束，完结 to celebrate an end with something
outshine [aʊtˋʃaɪn] v. 使失色；比……更优秀
Reading Questions
1. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as an aspect of American football?
A. The opposing team’s players try to tackle the player with the ball.
B. Professional teams do not play many games in a season.
C. The play is over when a team scores.
D. Players are not allowed to throw the ball.
2. How is the ball moved in American football?
A. Players run with the ball until they are tackled.
B. Players kick the ball all the way down the field.
C. Players are given four chances to move the ball down the field.
D. Players run with the ball for 10 yards and then stop.
3. What was wrong with the original version of American football?
A. There were too many games to play.
B. There weren’t enough professionals involved.
C. There were few rules and little equipment.
D. The rules were too difficult to understand.
4. What is the author’s attitude towards the game of football?
A. He believes that this brutal sport should be banned.
B. He believes that it is impossible for ordinary people to learn.
C. He believes that it is a dangerous but exciting game.
D. He believes that it is very similar to soccer.
How to Fake a Hand Off in Football
Answer
|
1. ( D ) |
2. ( A ) |
3. ( C ) |
4. ( C ) |