volunteer /vɔlən'tiə/ n. 志愿者;志愿兵 adj. 志愿的;义务的 vt. & vi. 自愿
homeland /'həumlænd/ n. 祖国;本国
regular /'reɡjulə/ adj. 规则的;定期的;常规的
basis /'beisis/ n. (pl bases) 基础;根据
athlete /'æθli:t/ n. 运动员;运动选手
admit /əd'mit/ vt. & vi. 容许;承认;接纳
slave /sleiv/ n. 奴隶
nowadays /'nauədeiz/ adv. 现今;现在
gymnastics /dʒim'næstiks/ n. (pl) 体操;体能训练
athletics /æθ'letiks/ n. (pl) 体育运动;竞技
stadium /'steidiəm/ n. (露天大型)体育场 (pl stadiums or stadia)
gymnasium (gym) /dʒim'neiziəm/ (/dʒim/) n. 体育馆;健身房
as well 也;又;还
host /həust/ vt. 做东;主办;招待 n. 主人
responsibility /rispɔnsə'biləti/ n. 责任;职责
olive /'ɔliv/ n. 橄榄树;橄榄叶;橄榄枝;橄榄色
wreath /ri:θ/ n. 花圈;花冠;圈状物
replace /ri'pleis/ vt. 取代;替换;代替
motto /'mɔtəu/ n. 座右铭;格言;警句
swift /swift/ adj. 快的;迅速的
similarity /simə'lærəti/ n. 相像性;相似点
Athens /'æθənz/ 雅典(希腊首都)
charge /tʃɑ:dʒ/ vt. & vi. 收费;控诉 n. 费用;主管
in charge 主管;看管
physical /'fizikl/ adj. 物理的;身体的
fine /fain/ vt. 罚款
poster /'pəustə/ n. 海报;招贴
advertise /'ædvətaiz/ vt. & vi. 做广告;登广告
Atlanta /ət'læntə/ n.亚特兰大(女名;城市名)
princess /prin'ses/ n. 公主
glory /'ɡlɔ:ri/ n. 光荣;荣誉
bargain /'bɑ:ɡin/ vi. 讨价还价;讲条件 n. 便宜货
prince /prins/ n. 王子
hopeless /'həuplis/ adj. 没有希望的;绝望的
Hippomenes /hi'pɔməni:z/ n.希波墨涅斯 (男名;古希腊人名)
foolish /'fu:liʃ/ adj. 愚蠢的;傻的
goddess /'ɡɔdis/ n. 女神
pain /pein/ n. 疼痛;痛苦
one after another 陆续地;一个接一个地
deserve /di'zə:v/ vi. & vt. 应受(报答或惩罚);值得
striker /'straikə/ n. 敲击者;(足球的)前锋
AN INTERVIEW
Pausanias, who was a Greek writer about 2000 years ago, has come on a magical journey on March 18th, 2007 to find out about the present-day Olympic Games. He is now interviewing Li Yan, a volunteer for the 2008 Olympic Games. 帕萨尼亚斯是2000年前的一位希腊作家,他作了一次2007年3月18日的魔幻旅行,来打听当代奥林匹克运动会的情况。现在他正在采访一位2008年奥林匹克运动会的志愿者李燕。
P: My name is Pausanias. I lived in what you call “Ancient Greece” and I used to write about the Olympic Games a long time ago. I’ve come to your time to find out about the present-day Olympic Games because I know that in 2004 they were held in my hometown. May I ask you some questions about the modern Olympics?
L: Good heavens! Have you really come from so long ago? But of course you can ask any questions you like. What would you like to know?
李:天哪!你真的来自那么久远的年代?当然,你可以问你想问的任何问题.你想知道什么呢?
P: How often do you hold your Games? 帕:你们的奥运会多久举行一次?
L: Every four years. There are two main sets of Games- the Winter and the Summer Olympics, and both are held every four years on a regular basis. The Winter Olympics are usually held two years before the Summer Games. Only athletes who have reached the agreed standard for their event will be admitted as competitors. They may come from anywhere in the world.
P: Winter Games? How can the runners enjoy competing in winter? And what about the horses? 帕:冬季奥运会?冬天运动员怎么可能赛跑啊?又怎么可能赛马呢?
L: Oh, no! There are no running races or horse riding events. Instead there are competitions like skiing and ice skating which need snow and ice. That’s why they are called the Winter Olympics. It is in the Summer Olympics that you have the running races,together with swimming, sailing and all the team sports.
P: I see. Earlier you said that the athletes are invited from all over the world. Do you mean the Greek world? Our Greek cities used to compete against each other just for the honour of winning. No other countries could join in, nor could salves or women!
L: Nowadays any countries can take part if their athletes are good enough. There are over 250 sports and each one has its own standard. Women are not only allowed, but play a very important role in gymnastics, athletics, team sports and…
P: Please wait a minute! All those events, all those countries and even women taking part! Where are all the athletes housed?
帕:请等一下!有这么多项目,这么多国家,甚至妇女也参加!所有这些参赛的人住在哪里呢?
L: For each Olympics, a special village is built for them to live in, a main reception building, several stadiums for competitions, and a gymnasium as well.
P: That sounds very expensive. Does anyone want to host the Olympic Games?
帕:那听起来要花很多钱吧.会有人想承办奥运会吗?
L: As a matter of fact, every country wants the opportunity. It’s a great responsibility but also a great honour to be chosen. There’s as much competition among countries to host the Olympics as to win Olympic medals. The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing, China. Did you know that?
P: Oh yes! You must be very proud. 帕:是的,听说过,你们一定很自豪.
L: Certainly. And after that the 2012 Olympics will be held in London. They have already started planning for it. A new village for the athletes and all the stadiums will be built to the east of London. New medals will be designed of course and…
P: Did you say medals? So even the olive wreath has been replaced! Oh dear! Do you compete for prize money too?
帕:你是说奖牌吗?就连橄榄枝花环也被取代了!天哪!你们也为奖金而竞赛吗?
L: No, we don’t. It’s still all about being able to run faster, jump higher and throw further. That’s the motto of the Olympics, you know-“Swifter, Higher and Stronger.”