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Don’t Knokker “Till You Tried It” 保龄撞球运动：刺激新娱乐

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On weekends, it can be difficult to choose between bowling a few frames and “racking them up” for a round of eight-ball. But an innovative new game called Knokkers offers the best of both worlds.

每到周末，要打几局保龄球还是要打一桌8号球比赛总令人难以抉择。但现在有一种创新的游戏 ── 保龄撞球运动 ── 一次满足想进行两种运动的人。

American Steve Wienecke came up with the concept for Knokkers in 1985 while playing pool. He dreamed about an enormous pool table with painted bowling balls and giant pockets. The idea bounced around inside his head for over two decades before he took action. In 2008, Wienecke finally started building the first Knokkers table. It was the exact replica of a standard pool table – only four times larger! At first many people, including his wife, thought he was a lunatic. But as his idea began to take shape, she encouraged him to go for his dream. Several local businesses pitched in funds so he could purchase the carpet, railroad ties, recycled tires, and other materials needed to complete the grand-scale table.

1985年，美国人史帝夫．维内克在打撞球时想到保龄撞球运动的概念。他梦想拥有一台大型撞球桌、上有漆上颜色的保龄球跟巨大的球袋。这个想法在他实践前的二十年间在他的脑中不断萦绕。维内克终于在2008年开始建造第一座保龄撞球桌。保龄撞球桌跟标准撞球桌简直就是完全一样的仿制品，只是大了四倍！刚开始很多人包括他的老婆都觉得他是个疯子，但随着他的想法逐渐成型，他的老婆鼓励他去追求梦想。当地很多的公司都投供资金，所以他可以开始购买为了要完成大型撞球桌所需的地毯、铁路枕木、再生轮胎与其他材料。

The rules of Knokkers are similar to pool; however, players roll the cue ball instead of hitting it with a stick, and they can pick the cue ball up before taking a shot. The other balls in Knokkers are regular bowling balls painted to resemble starred and striped billiard balls. Now that the prototype table is finished, Wienecke is looking for investors to help take his new sport to arcades, malls, theme parks, and every place else imaginable. So, don’t be surprised if you come across a game of Knokkers being played in your neighborhood.

保龄撞球运动的规则跟撞球类似，但玩家不是用球杆击球而是用手将母球滑出去，而且在击球前可以将母球拿起。保龄撞球运动中其他的球都漆上了星星与条纹图案。既然桌子的雏型已经完成，纳内克正在寻找可以帮他将此项新运动引进游戏场、购物商场、主题乐园跟其他任何可以想象到的地方的投资者。所以当你在家附近遇到有人在打保龄撞球时，可别太惊讶！

－by Jamie Blackler

Vocabulary

单词发音

frame [frem] n.（保龄球）一局 a round or period of play in some games, such as bowling and billiards

lunatic [ˋlunə͵tɪk] n. 疯子，疯傻的人

cue [kju] ball 撞球台上的白色球(母球) the white ball that is propelled with the cue in billiards and pool.

billiard [ˋbɪljɚd] ball  撞球；台球

prototype [ˋprotə͵taɪp] n. 原型

arcade [ɑrˋked] n. 长廊商场 a covered passageway with shops and stalls on either side

Idiom

片语发音

rack [ræk] up 得分；累计 to accumulate or score

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

bounce around 蹦来跳去 to increase and decrease in level many times, so that it may be hard to say what is going to happen

take action 采取行动 to do something

take shape 形成, 初具雏形  [for something, such as plans, writing, ideas, arguments, etc.] to begin to be organized and specific

pitch in 协力, 做出贡献 to help with others to get something done

take a shot  试  to try (to do) something

come across 偶然碰见  to meet or find by chance

Reading Questions

1.    Which of the following statements about Steve Wienecke is NOT true?

(A)  He is the person who created the game Knokkers.

(B)  He took a long time to start working on his idea.

(C)  He had an idea for a new game while playing pool.

(D)  He provided the funds to make the first Knokkers table.

2.    How is the game Knokkers similar to bowling?

(A)  A Knokkers table is equal in size to a bowling lane.

(B)  The scoring system for both games is almost the same.

(C)  Players in each sport require a special type of footwear.

(D)  In both games, players throw the ball on the ground.

3.    What does the author seem to suggest about Knokkers?

(A)  The sport should experience a surge in popularity.

(B)  He seems doubtful that it will spread beyond the local level.

(C)  The rules of the sport are too complex for most people to understand.

(D)  Knokkers has already become a tremendous success internationally.

Knokkers

Steve Wienecke

Answer