A Serious Sport 奪羊大賽——中亞的馬球運動

To outsiders, Buzkashi might seem violent and strange.
對局外人來說,奪羊大賽看起來既暴力又奇怪。

  Polo involves teams of riders on horseback who use mallets to try and hit a small ball into a goal. Popular in England and India, polo has long been a game for kings, princes, and wealthy people to play at country clubs. A Central Asian sport called Buzkashi (奪羊大賽) often gets compared to polo, but _(1)_, it is very different. In Buzkashi, skilled riders gallop around in a field and try to grab the body of a beheaded calf or goat. The aim is to get the carcass away from other players and take it across a goal line.
  This rough sport is extremely popular in Afghanistan, _(2)_ training for the competition begins at a very young age. Most people aren't considered masters _(3)_ they are over the age of 40. While competing on the field, players can use different tactics to try and get a(n) _(4)_ over the others. These can _(5)_ the violent use of force like hitting, kicking, or even whipping. The only thing not _(6)_ in Buzkashi is tripping another rider's horse because this could cause serious injuries to the riders or horses. The day before a Buzkashi game, a calf is slaughtered and put in water so that it won't _(7)_ easily during the game. The sport may seem grisly to outsiders, but in countries like Afghanistan, a winner of a Buzkashi game is celebrated as a grand champion.

1. (A) in some ways (B) by no means (C) at all costs (D) in other words
2. (A) when   (B) where   (C) which    (D) what
3. (A) since   (B) once   (C) until    (D) except
4. (A) benefit   (B) advantage  (C) profit    (D) encouragement
5. (A) include   (B) maintain  (C) encounter (D) consist
6. (A) allowing   (B) allowed   (C) allows    (D) to allow
7. (A) come around (B) break down (C) put aside  (D) fall apart

原來如此
1. A Central Asian sport called Buzkashi often gets compared to polo, but in some ways, it is very different.
理由:
a. (A) In some ways, S + V  就某方面來說,……
例: In some ways, the manager is hard to get along with.
(就某方面而言,那個經理很不好相處。)
(B) by no means...  絕不……
注意:
by no means 視為否定副詞片語,故置於句首時,其後須接倒裝句構。
例: By no means will I reveal your secret to others.
(我絕不會把你的秘密洩漏給別人。)
(C) at all costs  無論如何,不惜任何代價
例: She is determined to win the gold medal at all costs.
(她下定決心不惜任何代價都要贏得金牌。)
(D) In other words, S + V  換句話說,……
= That is (to say), S + V
例: Al never buys anything he doesn't really need. In other words, he's rather frugal.
(艾爾從不買他不需要的東西;換句話說,他很節儉。)
b. 根據語意、用法,可知應選 (A),表『奪羊大賽』是中亞的一種運動,常與馬球相提並論,但『就某些方面而言』,兩者又大不相同。

2. This rough sport is extremely popular in Afghanistan, where training for the competition begins at a very young age.
理由:
a. 由於空格前的先行詞 Afghanistan(阿富汗)為表『地方』的名詞,且空格後為一完整的子句,故空格內應置入能修飾地方的關係副詞 where 來引導形容詞子句。
例: That village is the place where I was born.
(那個村莊就是我出生的地方。)
b. 根據上述,可知應選 (B)。
3. Most people aren't considered masters until they are over the age of 40.
理由:
a. (A) since conj. 自從……;因為
(B) once conj. 一旦
(C) until conj. 直到……時
not...until...  直到……才……
例: I will not go to bed tonight until I've finished my homework.
(我今晚要把作業寫完後才會上床睡覺。)
(D) except conj. 除了……
例: We could do nothing except step back and watch the building burn.
(我們無能為力,只能往後退,眼睜睜看著這棟建築物燃燒。)
b. 根據語意、用法,可知應選 (C),表大部分的選手『要到』40 歲以上才會被視為大師級的人物。

4. While competing on the field, players can use different tactics to try and get an advantage over the others.
理由:
a. (A) benefit n. 利益,好處
for the benefit of...  為了……的利益
例: Ted planted trees for the benefit of the environment.
(泰德為了維護環境而種樹。)
(B) advantage n. 優勢
get/have an advantage over...  比……佔有優勢
例: Because of his experience, Rob has an advantage over Tim for the promotion.
(由於羅伯的經驗,這次升遷他比提姆佔優勢。)
(C) profit n. 利潤;利益
make a profit  獲利
例: Nick was in business for five years before he made a profit.
(尼克從商 5 年後才開始賺錢。)
(D) encouragement n. 鼓勵
b. 因空格後有介詞 over,故根據語意及用法,可知應選 (B)。

5. These can include the violent use of force like hitting, kicking, or even whipping.
理由:
a. (A) include vt. 包含
例: Our art collection includes two Monets.
(我們的藝術收藏品包括兩幅莫內的畫作。)
(B) maintain vt. 維持,保持
(C) encounter vt. 遇到;遭遇
例: The proposed new law encountered opposition in the legislature.
(新提出的法案遭到立法院反對。)
(D) consist vi. 組成,構成
consist of...  由……所組成
= be composed of...
= be made up of...
例: Stainless steel consists of iron, carbon, and chromium.
(不鏽鋼是由鐵、碳和鉻混合製成的。)
b. 根據語意,可知應選 (A),表這當中『包括』激烈的肢體衝突,像是攻擊、踹踢甚至是鞭打。

6. The only thing not allowed in Buzkashi is tripping another rider's horse because this could cause serious injuries to the riders or horses.
理由:
a. 本空格在測試形容詞子句化簡為分詞片語的用法,本句原為:
The only thing that is not allowed in Buzkashi is tripping another rider's horse because...
b. 原句中的形容詞子句 "that is not allowed in Buzkashi" 可化簡為分詞片語,即:省略關係代名詞 that,其後的 be 動詞 is 變成現在分詞 being 後可予以省略,即成 "The only thing not allowed in Buzkashi is...",故選 (B)。

7. The day before a Buzkashi game, a calf is slaughtered and put in water so that it won't fall apart easily during the game.
理由:
a. (A) come around  甦醒,恢復知覺
例: It took the boxer ten minutes to come around after he got knocked out.
(這名拳擊選手被擊昏後 10 分鐘才清醒過來。)
(B) break down  故障,拋錨;崩潰
例: I was late because my scooter broke down.
(我遲到是因為機車拋錨了。)
(C) put aside...  把……放一邊;擱置……
例: You need to put aside your troubles and have some fun.
(你需要把煩惱擺一邊去找點樂子。)
(D) fall apart  散開;解體
例: When I sat down, the chair fell apart.
(當我坐下時,椅子就散掉了。)
b. 根據語意,可知應選 (D),表在奪羊大賽的前一天,會先將牛隻宰殺放入水中,這樣在比賽中牛屍才不容易被『扯爛』。


精解字詞片語
1. involve vt. 需要;牽涉
例: My job involves a lot of computer work.
(我的工作經常需要用到電腦。)

2. compare vt. 比較;比喻
be compared to...  和……比較;被比喻為……
be compared with...  和……比較
例: Compared to/with plastic bags, paper bags are more environmentally friendly.
(和塑膠袋相比,紙袋比較環保。)
例: Life is often compared to a long journey.
(人生常常被喻為一段漫長的旅程。)

3. grab vt. 抓取;奪取
grab sb by the + 身體部位  抓住某人的某部位
例: He grabbed me by the arm and said, "Please don't tell the police!"
(他抓住我的手臂說:『請你不要報警!』)

4. be considered (to be) + N/adj.  被認為是……
例: This movie is generally considered Steven Spielberg's best.
(這部電影被公認為是史蒂芬‧史匹柏的最佳作品。)

5. compete vi. 競爭;比賽
例: Iris didn't compete in last Tuesday's marathon.
(艾麗絲沒有參加上星期二的馬拉松比賽。)

6. so that...  如此∕以便……
= in order that...
例: Jack took the day off from work so that he could pick up his parents from the airport.
(傑克那天向公司請假以便去機場接他父母。)


單字小舖
1. polo n. 馬球
2. horseback n. 馬背
on horseback  騎著馬;在馬背上
3. mallet n.(馬球的)球棍
4. goal n.(足球等運動的)球門
5. skilled a. 熟練的;有技巧的
6. gallop vi. 騎馬奔馳
7. beheaded a. 被砍掉頭的
8. calf n. 小牛
9. carcass .(動物的)屍體
10. goal line  球門線
11. rough a. 粗暴的
12. competition n. 比賽
13. tactic n. 戰術
14. whip vi. 鞭打
15. trip vt. 將……絆倒
16. slaughter vt. 宰殺
17. grisly a. 可怕的;令人厭惡的
18. outsider n. 局外人

  馬球的玩法是兩隊人馬騎在馬背上,揮動木槌試著將一顆小球擊入球門。馬球在英國及印度十分盛行,長久以來一直是國王、王子,以及有錢人在鄉村俱樂部裡從事的活動。『奪羊大賽』則是中亞的一種運動,常與馬球相提並論,但就某些方面而言,兩者又大不相同。在奪羊大賽中,騎術精湛的選手在場地上騎馬奔馳,想辦法要抓住被砍掉頭的小牛或山羊的屍體。奪羊大賽的目的就是要把屍體從對手那邊搶過來,並把它帶到得分區。
  這種煙硝味十足的運動在阿富汗極為盛行,那裡的選手從小就接受比賽的訓練。大部分的選手要到 40 歲以上才會被視為大師級的人物。在場上比賽時,選手可以使盡各種方式以佔得上風。這當中包括激烈的肢體衝突,像是攻擊、踹踢甚至是鞭打。唯一被禁止的行為是去絆倒其他選手的坐騎,因為這可能會對選手或馬匹造成嚴重的傷害。在奪羊大賽的前一天,會先將牛隻宰殺放入水中,這樣在比賽中牛屍才不容易被扯爛。這項運動對局外人來說或許太過殘暴,但在像阿富汗這樣的國家裡,贏得奪羊大賽的冠軍會被當做勇士,受到人民的崇拜。

標準答案: 1. (A) 2. (B) 3. (C) 4. (B) 5. (A 6. (B) 7. (D)



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