Lesson 6 The sporting spirit
First listen and then answer the following question.How does the writer describe sport at the international level?I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations, and that if only the common peoples of the would could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the hattlefield. Even if one didn't know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce if from general principles.
Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win. On the village green, where you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simply for the fun and exercise: but as soon as a the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level, sport is frankly mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators: and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and seriously believe -- at any rate for short periods -- that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.
GEORGE ORWELL The sporting spirit生词和短语
goodwill [ˌɡʊdˈwɪl] n. 友好a goodwill gesture/a gesture of goodwill a cricket match/team/club/ball inclination [ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃn] n. 意愿She lacked any inclination for housework.inclination angle [ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃn ˈæŋɡl] 倾角orgy [ˈɔːrdʒi] n. 无节制的,放荡英语单词orgy表 示“狂欢、放荡”,尤其是“性狂欢、群体淫乱”。它来源于古希腊人、罗马人对酒神的一种崇拜仪式。该词来源于希腊语orgia,意为“秘密仪式”,原本指的是任何一种崇拜神灵的仪式,后来专指崇拜酒神的仪式,其核心内容包括狂欢放荡的舞蹈、歌唱和豪饮,以及在亢奋中胡乱砍杀献祭的牲畜。由于酒神崇拜仪式的 这种狂欢放荡特点,orgy一词逐渐发展出贬义含义,用来表示那种集体狂欢或淫乱活动。orgiastic:[ɔːdʒɪ'æstɪk] adj.狂欢的,纵欲的One eyewitness said the rioters were engaged in an orgy of destruction...de 向下 + duc 引导;带来 + e → 向下引出 → 推论Can we deduce from your silence that you do not approve?competitive [kəmˈpetətɪv] adj. 竞争性的compete 比赛;竞争 + itive 有…倾向(性质)的 → 比赛的;竞争的compete [kəmˈpiːt] vi.竞争;对抗;参加比赛(或竞赛)com 共同 + pet(=seek) 寻求;力争 + e → 共同追求〔一个目标〕→ 竞争Graduates have to fight for jobs in a highly competitive market.patriotism [ˈpeɪtriətɪzəm] n. 地方观念,爱国主义patriot 爱国者 + ism 名词后缀,表主义 → 爱国主义patriot [ˈpeɪtriət] n.爱国者patri 父亲,引申为“祖国” + ot 表人 → 爱国者He was a country boy who had joined the army out of a sense of patriotism and adventure disgrace [dɪsˈɡreɪs] v. 使丢脸grace [ɡreɪs] n.优美;优雅;文雅;高雅;风度;体面 vt.为增色;为锦上添花;装饰;使荣耀;使生辉;承蒙光临gra〔= grat〕令人高兴的;高雅 + ce → 高雅 → 文雅Her behaviour has brought disgrace on her family.savage [ˈsævɪdʒ] adj. 野性的She had been badly hurt in what police described as ‘a savage attack’.她遭受袭击而身受重伤——警方称这是一次“野蛮的袭击”。combative [kəmˈbætɪv] adj. 好斗的combat [ˈkɑːmbæt] n.搏斗;打仗;战斗 vt.防止;减轻;战斗;与…搏斗com 表加强 + bat 打,击 → 打得非常激烈 → 格斗Samak is also well-known for his combative communication style, especially with the press. 沙玛充满火药味的交流方式,特别是与新闻媒体的沟通方式也非常有名。mimic warfare [ˈmɪmɪk ˈwɔːrfer] 模拟战争mimic [ˈmɪmɪk] v.模仿(人的言行举止);(外表或行为举止)像 n.会模仿的人(或动物)At the international level sport is frankly mimic warfare. warfare [ˈwɔːrfer] n.战争;战;作战;(群体、公司等之间的)斗争,竞争,冲突countries engaged in warfarebehaviour [bɪˈheɪvjər] n. 行动,举止His behaviour towards her was becoming more and more aggressive.absurd [əbˈsɜːrd] adj. 荒唐的ab 强调 + surd 聋的,钝的 → 耳聋 → 不聪明 → 荒谬的Of course it's not true, what an absurd idea.参考译文
当我听人们说体育运动可创造国家之间的友谊,还说各国民众若在足球场或板球场上交锋,就不愿在战场上残杀的时候,我总是惊愕不已。一个人即使不能从具体的事例(例如1936年的奥林匹克运动会)了解到国际运动比赛会导致疯狂的仇恨,也可以从常理中推断出结论。
现在开展的体育运动几乎都是竞争性的。参加比赛就是为了取胜。如果不拚命去赢,比赛就没有什么意义了。在乡间的草坪上,当你随意组成两个队,并且不涉及任何地方情绪时,那才可能是单纯的为了娱乐和锻炼而进行比赛。可是一量涉及到荣誉问题,一旦你想到你和某一团体会因为你输而丢脸时,那么最野蛮的争斗天性便会激发起来。即使是仅仅参加过学校足球赛的人也有种体会。在国际比赛中,体育简直是一场模拟战争。但是,要紧的还不是运动员的行为,而是观众的态度,以及观众身后各个国家的态度。面对着这些荒唐的比赛,参赛的各个国家会如痴如狂,甚至煞有介事地相信 -- 至少在短期内如此 -- 跑跑、跳跳、踢踢球是对一个民族品德素质的检验。
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