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Zany for Zorbing 草地飞球：刺激新体验

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It seems like adrenaline junkies never run out of ways to get their thrills. ___1___ a rush, they can jetski, skydive, ride a gravity-defying roller coaster, or bungee jump. And now, they can add a new extreme sport called zorbing to the list.

对于喜欢追求肾上腺素急速上升的狂热份子来说，似乎永远不乏追求刺激的方式。要体验冲刺的快感，他们可以骑水上摩拖车、跳伞、搭乘与地心引力相抗衡的云霄飞车或玩高空弹跳。现在，他们的刺激活动清单能再新增一项：称为草地飞球的极限运动。

In zorbing, which is also called sphering, people climb inside a plastic, bouncy ball called a zorb and tumble downhill. The sport ___2___ in the 1990s by two friends from New Zealand, Dwayne van der Sluis and Andrew Akers. ___3___, they wanted to design a floating ball that would support people as they walked on top of water. They came up with the idea of placing a ball inside of a ball, so the air would stay pocketed between the two. But after they built their prototype, they quickly found a much better use for it. They discovered the plastic sphere was a lot more fun when it was rolling down a hill as ___4___ bobbing in the ocean. And from there, the ___5___ of zorbs quickly snowballed.

草地飞球又称为sphering。玩草地飞球时，人们会爬进一个称为zorb的塑料弹力球，然后滚下山坡。这个运动起源于1990年代，由两名好友──来自纽西兰的端．凡．德．史拉希和安德鲁．艾克所发明。刚开始的时候，他们原本想设计出一个漂浮的球体，让人们可以在水面上走动。他们想出了一个点子，就是把一个球置于另一个更大的球内，让空气可以被包覆在两层球体之间。不过当他们制作出第一个版本的成品之后，他们很快地发现这个球体有更好的用途──与其让这颗大球漂在海面上，让它从山坡上往下滚更加好玩。至此之后，草地飞球的人气如雪球般地越滚越大。

A great place to experience zorbing in Taiwan is in Kenting. For just NT$380, anyone can give it a shot. Once you’re inside the zorb, an operator will strap you to the wall and make sure you’re ___6___. Next, they’ll release the zorb and your 30 mph trek downhill will begin. For a twist, some zorbs are even equipped with a microphone inside, so onlookers can ___7___ how much fun you’re having. So the next time you’re in the mood for some heart-pounding hijinks, roll down south and give zorbing a try.

垦丁是台湾能体验草地飞球的绝佳地点，只要新台币380元，任何人都可以尝试。一旦你进入了塑料弹力球的内部，操作人员会把你用安全带固定在球内部以确保安全。接下来，他们会放开这颗大球让它开始以时速30哩的速度往山坡下滚。为了增添趣味，有的球内部甚至还装麦克风，所以在一旁看好戏的人都能听到你多么享受此等趣味。因此下次如果你想要尝试些让你心跳加速的活动，就一路滚向南方试试草地飞球吧！

－by Jamie Blackler

Vocabulary

单词发音

zany [ˋzenɪ] adj. 滑稽的; 可笑的

adrenaline [əˈdrɛnəlɪn] n. 肾上腺素

junkie [ˋdʒʌŋkɪ] n. 爱好者; 着迷于某事务者

rush [rʌʃ] n. 激增; 大量 a sudden surge of sensation, esp produced by a drug

defy [dɪˋfaɪ] v. 抗拒

bouncy [ˋbaʊnsɪ] adj. 有弹性的

tumble [ˋtʌmb!] v. 滚下；坠落

pocket [ˋpɑkɪt] v. 装入袋内

prototype [ˋprotə͵taɪp] n. 原型

bob [ˋbɑb] v.〔在水面上〕上下快速移动

snowball [ˋsno͵bɔl] v. 滚雪球般增大

operator [ˋɑpə͵retɚ] n.〔机器或设备的〕操作员

strap [stræp] v. 用带捆绑（或束住）

trek [trɛk] n.〔显得很漫长的〕一段路程

twist [twɪst] n. 花样 a novel treatment, method, etc

onlooker [ˋɑn͵lʊkɚ] n. 观众；旁观者

hijinks [ˋhaɪ͵dʒɪŋks] n.【口】狂欢作乐; 胡闹 high jinks; playful, often noisy and rowdy activity, usually involving mischievous pranks

Idiom

片语发音

adrenaline junkie 着迷于追求刺激的人 Adrenaline junkie is a colloquial term used to describe someone who is addicted to thrilling and fear-inducing situations. The act of conquering fear creates a rush of endorphins that is simultaneously energizing and relaxing.

come up with (针对问题等) 想出; 提供 to bring forth, discover, or produce

give something a shot 尝试 to attempt to do something

in the mood for 有…的兴致, 想做… having the proper state of mind for a particular situation or for doing something

Extreme Zorbing

Dramatic video: Deadly zorb tragedy at Russian ski resort caught on

Answer