新概念英語第四冊
Lesson 6 The sporting spirit
1 . 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.一個人即使不能從具體的事例（例如1936年的奧林匹克運動會）瞭解到國際運動比賽會導致瘋狂的仇恨，也可以從常理中推斷出結論。
2 . 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.還說各國民眾若在足球場或板球場上交鋒，就不願在戰場上殘殺的時候，我總是驚愕不已。
3 . at any rate for short periods -- that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.至少在短期內如此 -- 跑跑、跳跳、踢踢球是對一個民族品德素質的檢驗。
4 . 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:在鄉間的草坪上，當你隨意組成兩個隊，並且不涉及任何地方情緒時，那才可能是單純的為了娛樂和鍛煉而進行比賽。
5 . But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators:但是，要緊的還不是運動員的行為，而是觀眾的態度，
6 . You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win.參加比賽就是為了取勝。如果不拚命去贏，比賽就沒有什麼意義了。
7 . At the international level, sport is frankly mimic warfare.在國際比賽中，體育簡直是一場模擬戰爭。
8 . 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.可是一量涉及到榮譽問題，一旦你想到你和某一團體會因為你輸而丟臉時，那麼最野蠻的爭鬥天性便會激發起來。
9 . I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations,當我聽人們說體育運動可創造國家之間的友誼，
10 . and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and seriously believe --以及觀眾身後各個國家的態度。面對著這些荒唐的比賽，參賽的各個國家會如癡如狂，甚至煞有介事地相信 --
11 . Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive.現在開展的體育運動幾乎都是競爭性的。
12 . Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this.即使是僅僅參加過學校足球賽的人也有種體會。