Chris跟同事Ben聊起美國人對(duì)體育運(yùn)動(dòng)的熱愛。Ben問，

B: So sports is a way for people to bond?

C: Yeah. During holidays like Thanksgiving my family will sit around in front of the television and watch a football game together. It's a social occasion...enjoying the game and each other's company.

B: I'm not sure if Chinese people approach sports in the same way. If it's something that can bring glory to China's national team - such as Olympic table tennis or diving - then everyone watches the event together.

MC: 在美國，體育運(yùn)動(dòng)是人際往來的一種紐帶，a way for people to bond. Chris說，逢年過節(jié)，他們一家人都會(huì)圍坐在電視機(jī)旁，enjoy the game and each other's company. 欣賞比賽，共渡時(shí)光。Ben說，中國人看比賽不太一樣，一般都是有奧林匹克等國際賽事，中國隊(duì)可能會(huì)拿獎(jiǎng)牌，為國爭光的時(shí)候，大家才會(huì)聚在一起看比賽。

C: I think in America people are often loyal to their regional team. In college you root for your school's team and then when you settle down somewhere you follow that area's team.

B: So what's your favorite team?

C: I actually have two favorites. I grew up in New York so I'm first and foremost a New York Jets fan, but I went to school in Baltimore so I also like the Baltimore Ravens.

Chris說，美國人一般住在哪里，就是那個(gè)地方球隊(duì)的粉絲，上大學(xué)的時(shí)候替校隊(duì)加油，畢業(yè)后在哪里安家，就替哪里的球隊(duì)加油，root for 是支持某人，替某人加油助威的意思，Chris說自己喜歡的球隊(duì)有兩個(gè)，小時(shí)候在紐約長大，所以I'm first and foremost a New York Jets fan, 所以是紐約噴氣機(jī)隊(duì)球迷，first and foremost 意思是首要的，然后又因?yàn)槿グ蜖柕哪ι蠈W(xué)，成了巴爾的摩烏鴉隊(duì)的粉絲。

B: What happens when the teams play against each other?

C: (chuckle) I usually support the New York Jets. But if the Ravens win it's not too bad.

B: I have to confess I don't actually understand how American football works. It kind of looks like a war to me.

C: Actually, football is like a war. Each team tries to advance the ball through enemy territory to the end zone. It evolved from the English game of rugby which is also kind of like a battle between two armies.

Ben承認(rèn)，自己看不太懂美式足球，不知道美式足球到底是怎么個(gè)打法。Chris承認(rèn)，football is like a war.美式足球確實(shí)就好像是在打仗，兩只球隊(duì)都設(shè)法穿過敵人的地盤 enemy territory, 攻到 end zone 陣區(qū)里。Chris還說，美式足球是從英式橄欖球發(fā)展而來的，英式橄欖球 rugby is spelled r-u-g-b-y, rugby，他用的evolve is spelled e-v-o-l-v-e, evolve 是發(fā)展演繹的意思。