新西兰英语 633 The Olympic Games opens

 　　Did you watch the Olympic Games opening ceremony? Did you see athletes from your country entering the stadium¹? Did you feel proud?

　　Nick Willis, the silver-medal winner of the 1500m race at Beijing carried the New Zealand flag into the stadium. He looked very happy to have this honour. The New Zealand athletes were wearing their black track² suit with the silver fern and Southern Cross stars on the right side of the shirt.

　　Our team came after The Netherlands. Countries are in alphabetical³ order although Greece is always first – to honour the origin of the Olympic Games – and the host country is always last.

　　New Zealand had only 60 athletes marching into the stadium out of the team of 185. Athletes who will be performing in the next few days do not usually march at the opening ceremony. They spend the time preparing themselves physically⁴ and mentally⁵ for their performance. Also some athletes have not yet arrived in London. For example, the 2008 gold medal shot-putter, Valerie Adams, will arrive later in the week.

　　Already today, New Zealand rowers and road cyclists are racing⁶. Every day, there will be some New Zealanders performing.

　　New Zealanders have won 90 medals since the first New Zealand medal in1908. In Beijing, New Zealand athletes won 9 medals. If they win10 this year, that would bring the total to 100.

　　Grammar

　　They spend the time preparing … Note: spend time …ing e.g. spend time working / sunbathing⁷ / doing homework / sleeping

　　Questions

　　1.How do athletes prepare themselves physically and mentally a day or two before their event?

　　2.Do you think 100 is a special number? What about 99? What about 101?

　　3.Why do we feel proud of our country’s athletes?

　　4.The opening ceremony celebrated⁸ the history, literature, famous people and music of the host country. Did you enjoy it? If your country celebrated these things, what would it show?

　　5.What about the cost of the opening ceremony? It obviously⁹ cost a lot of money. Do you think it is necessary to spend so much money?

1 stadium   

n.露天大型运动场

参考例句：

• The new football stadium can hold eighty thousand people.新的足球场可以容纳八万人。
• The stadium is being used for a match.那个露天运动场正在进行一场比赛。

2 track   

n.轨道；足迹；痕迹；磁轨；途径；vt.循路而行；追踪；通过；用纤拉；vi.追踪

参考例句：

• The new race track is nearly six miles in extent.这条新跑道将近六英里长。
• The police are on his track.警察在跟踪他。

3 alphabetical   

adj.字母（表）的，依字母顺序的

参考例句：

• Please arrange these books in alphabetical order.请把这些书按字母顺序整理一下。
• There is no need to maintain a strict alphabetical sequence.不必保持严格的字顺。

4 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

5 mentally   

adv.精神上，理智上，在心中

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Male nurses are often employed in hospitals for the mentally ill.精神病院常雇用男护士护理精神病人。

6 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

7 sunbathing   

n.日光浴

参考例句：

• tourists sunbathing on the beach 在海滩上沐浴着阳光的游客
• We've been sunbathing on the beach. 我们一直在海滩上晒日光浴。

8 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

9 obviously   

adv.显然；明白地

参考例句：

• Obviously they were putting him to a severe test.显然他们是在给他以严峻的考验。
• Obviously he was lying.显然他是在撒谎。