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Samba Spectacular 群芳争艳舞森巴

课文朗读

课文讲解 

繁體中文譯本

Glamorous dancers move to an infectious drumbeat atop a seemingly endless line of extravagantly decorated floats. All around, the streets are thronged with revelers joining in the dancing and generally having a fantastic time. This is the joyful spectacle of Brazilian Carnival!

在一排看似绵延无际、装饰华丽的花车，迷人的舞者随着具有感染力的鼓声起舞。花车四周的街上挤满一起跳舞、狂欢作乐的人群。这就是巴西嘉年华欢乐的盛况！

Nowadays, many street festivals around the world are referred to as “carnivals,” but the country most associated with the tradition is Brazil. European settlers who arrived there in the 19th century brought the tradition of Carnival with them. Popularized by the Catholic Church, the annual Carnival is a chance for one final party before the period of Lent, which calls for 40 days of denying oneself bodily pleasures. However, it is Brazil’s many African immigrants who have given the country’s carnival much of its distinctive musical and visual flavor. The colorful costumes adorned with feathers, the drum-based music, and the focus on celebrating outdoors can be back to African culture.

现在世界各地在街上举行的庆祝活动都称作「嘉年华」，但最容易让人联想到这项传统的国家是巴西。19世纪来到这里的欧洲移民带来了嘉年华的传统。受天主教教会推广、一年一度的嘉年华是四旬斋之前举办的最后一场宴会。在为期40天的四旬斋期间，民众必须戒绝肉体的享乐。但是，巴西嘉年华会有如此与众不同的音乐和视觉表现，全拜巴西境内的非裔移民所赐。饰有羽毛的彩色服装、以鼓作衬底的音乐和强调在户外举行的庆祝活动全都能追溯至非洲文化。

The Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro is the home of the best-known and most spectacular Carnival of all. Every year, millions of visitors from around the world flock to the city to join in the party and marvel at the locals’ amazing appetite for fun and dancing.

世界最出名、最壮观的嘉年华盛会就在巴西大城里约热内卢举办。每年，来自世界各地数百万计的观光客涌入这座城市参加派对，并对当地人对玩乐和舞蹈的热爱大开眼界。

Vocabulary

单词发音

infectious [ɪnˋfɛkʃəs] adj. 有感染力的，易传播的

throng [θrɔŋ] v. 挤满；涌入

call for 要求, 需要 to require; demand

immigrant [ˋɪməgrənt] n.（外来）移民，侨民

costume [ˋkɑstjum] n. 戏装

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单词发音

glamorous [ˋglæmərəs] adj. 富有魅力的；迷人的

atop [əˋtɑp] prep. 在……顶上

extravagantly [ɪkˋstrævəgəntlɪ] adv. 奢侈地；浪费地

float [flot] n.（游行时用的）花车

reveler [ˋrɛv!ɚ]  n. 饮酒狂欢者

spectacle [ˋspɛktək!] n. 景象; 奇观，壮观

settler [ˋsɛtlɚ] n. 殖民者；开拓者

popularize [ˋpɑpjələ͵raɪz] v. 宣传﹐推广

Catholic Church 天主教教会

Lent [lɛnt] n.（基督教）四旬斋，大斋期（指复活节前的四十天）

flavor [ˋflevɚ] n. 韵味，风味

adorn [əˋdɔrn] v. 装饰；使生色[（+with）]

flock [flɑk] v. 聚集

marvel [ˋmɑrv!] v. 感到惊讶[（+at）]

课文朗读

课文讲解 

The center of Carnival festivities in Rio is the massive Sambodromo Stadium. This is where the main parade is held over four straight nights, and where the biggest crowds gather. The carnival’s beating heart is the music of samba and the dancing that goes with it. Samba is a mixture of African and European musical styles, and it is Rio’s samba schools that are behind the organization of the Carnival.

巴西嘉年华活动的中心是Sambodromo体育馆。连续四晚的主要游行都在此举行，这里同时也是最多人潮聚集之处。嘉年华活动的脉动就是森巴音乐和搭配音乐的桑巴舞。森巴音乐结合非洲和欧洲的音乐风格，而整个嘉年华盛会幕后的推手便是里约的森巴学校。

Samba schools, which are spread throughout Rio, offer much more than just musical education. They also act as community centers by providing social services for the poor. Furthermore, the schools prepare year-round for their Carnival showcase. There is fierce competition among them, as the most impressive performances in the Carnival parade are awarded prestigious prizes. However, the most honored position in the parade is that of “Rei Momo,” the elected King of the Carnival. One of the role’s main requirements is that the man be overweight, perhaps to represent the “bodily pleasure” of eating excessive amounts of food.

散布在里约各地的森巴学校不仅提供音乐教育，同时也扮演着小区中心的角色，为穷人提供社会服务。甚至，这些学校一整年都在准备它们的嘉年华演出。它们之间的竞争激烈，因为嘉年华游行中，表现最出色的队伍将获颁崇高的奖项。但是，游行当中地位最尊贵的是「摩莫王」──经票选选出的嘉年华之王。担任这个角色的主要要求之一便是体重必须超重，或许这是为了代表摄取过多食物的「肉体享乐」！

As well as the main event, smaller parades are organized by groups of street performers known as “blocos.” There are over 100 of these held in neighborhoods across the city. As any visitor to Rio at Carnival time will tell you, the Brazilians certainly know how to put on a great party.

除了主要活动，人称blocos的街头表演艺人也会举办较小型的游行。在嘉年华期间，全里约的小区共计超过一百场游行。任何在嘉年华期间造访过里约的游客都可以告诉你：巴西人真的知道怎么办盛大的派对！

−by David Vickers

Vocabulary

单词发音

parade [pəˋred] n. 游行

community [kəˋmjunətɪ] n. 小区

fierce [fɪrs] adj. 强烈的; 激烈的

prestigious [prɛsˋtɪdʒɪəs] adj. 有名望的

requirement [rɪˋkwaɪrmənt] n. 要求；必要条件；规定

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单词发音

stadium [ˋstedɪəm] n. 体育场，运动场

samba [ˋsæmbə] n. 桑巴舞曲；桑巴舞

year-round 一年到头地

showcase [ˋʃo͵kes] n. 展示

put on 举办(展览等) perform, produce

Reading Questions

1.  Which of the following about Carnival is true?

A. The tradition originated in Brazil.

B. People must give up fun activities during Carnival.

C. The only real carnivals take place in Brazil.

D. It started out as a religious festival.

2.  What are you NOT likely to see at a Brazilian Carnival?

A. A band of musicians playing drums.

B. Large groups of people protesting on the street.

C. A lot of people wearing colorful costumes.

D. Beautiful women dancing on moving stages.

3.  What can we say about Carnival in Rio?

A. It lasts for one weekend every year.

B. It is organized by the city’s government.

C. Awards are handed out for dancing.

D. The main parade route runs across the city.

4.  What is the second part of the article mainly about?

A. The appeal of Samba music in Brazil.

B. The role of Samba schools in Carnival.

C. The features of Brazil’s biggest street festival.

D. The origins of Carnival in Rio.

CARNIVAL in Rio de Janeiro

Brazilian Carnival - Rio de Janeiro

 Answer