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Soccer: A Sport for All Ages 足球简史

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課文中英文講解

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There is something innocent in all children that makes them kick at a stone lying in their path. From this humble ___1___, the world’s greatest sport soccer has come to dominate the cultural landscape. Exactly when and where soccer began is disputable. ___2___ it was the Greeks or Romans, the Chinese or Japanese, there is evidence that they all played it approximately 3,000 years ago.

小孩的天真使他们对路上的石头踢上一脚。出于这点小小的本能，全世界最大规模的运动－足球－已逐步支配了文化领域。足球发源的精确时间地点还有争议。不论是希腊人或是罗马人，中国人或日本人，证据都显示大约在三千年前，他们就开始踢足球了。

However, for the first 2,000 years, soccer more likely resembled a fierce battle ___3___ no rules. In fact, there is evidence that the game may have started as military training, and may have been played with the head of a defeated enemy ___4___ a ball!

但在前两千年，足球只能算是一种没有规则的残暴搏斗。事实上，证据显示这项运动可能起源于军事训练，而且球员踢的不是球，而是败战敌人的头颅！

So violent was the game that, starting in the 1300s, English and Scottish Kings ___5___ it. However, in 1815 rules were adopted that permitted civilized play. During the following decades, the rules were refined. No longer could one handle the ball with one’s hands, ___6___ could you trip or kick your opponent.

这项运动如此暴力，所以在1300年代，英格兰与苏格兰国王下令禁止。不过在1815年，文明竞赛的规则受到采纳。接下来的几十年中，规则变得更精细。球员不得再以手持球，也不能绊倒或踢到对方。

From these primitive beginning, soccer has evolved into world’s most popular sport. It is played in scores of countries by millions of people. Professional teams play for hundreds of millions of dollars and children play it in parks around the world.

虽然起源是如此原始，足球却演变成全世界最受欢迎的运动。许多国家数以百万计的人口都会踢足球。职业队伍为了数亿美元踢足球，而小孩则在世界各地的公园里玩球。

The single greatest event in soccer is the World Cup, which is played ___7___ four years. In a contest that lasts weeks, teams from around the world compete for the title of world champion. Spectators line up for days to buy tickets, and even well before entering the arena, their enthusiasm is similar to a battle cry. Maybe much has changed about soccer, but much is still the same.

足球界规模最大的赛事，为每隔四年举办一次的世界杯。在为期数周的赛程中，来自各地的劲旅为了取得世界冠军的头衔互相竞争。观众排队数天买门票，甚至在进场观战前，他们就已热情高涨，彷佛战场上的嘶吼。关于足球的种种，也许很多部份已经改变，但还有很多仍是不变的。

−by Murray Walker

Vocabulary

disputable [ˋdɪspjʊtəb!] adj. 有争议的; 未确定的

approximately [əˋprɑksəmɪtlɪ] adv. 大概；近乎

primitive [ˋprɪmətɪv] adj. 原始的

arena [əˋrinə] n.（周围有观众席的）比赛场，竞技场

More Information

innocent [ˋɪnəsnt] adj. 天真的，单纯的

adopt [əˋdɑpt] v. 采取；采纳

civilized [ˋsɪvə͵laɪzd] adj. 文明的，开化的

refine [rɪˋfaɪn] v.〔慢慢地﹑微小地〕改进; 完善

trip [trɪp] v. 绊，绊倒

scores [skorz] of:  许多,几十 very many

spectator [spɛkˋtetɚ] n.（比赛等的）观众

Answer