【轻松英文阅读】拔河也是一项危险的运动

 It has been around for over 4,000 years, is played in every corner of the globe and is a main staple¹ of community and school events. The sport has long been praised as a game for building teamwork and cooperation. Tug² of war has a long list of merits, but there is a dark side to the sport.

 

When it is not done properly, it can be more dangerous than many people realize. In fact, nearly every year there are serious accidents involving tug of war participants. Injuries range from severe back strain and burns to loss of fingers and limbs. In probably the worst accident, which took place in Germany in 1995, two children died.

 

manila rope

 

As I mentioned earlier, most accidents happen when the sport isn’t done properly. What can you do to avoid these dangers? Well, first and foremost is to make sure you are using the right rope. Use a rope that is long enough and strong enough. Check the tensile strength of the rope and carefully follow the manufactures recommendations. Most accidents occur when the rope breaks, so make sure to inspect your rope carefully before use. Never use nylon ropes; they can recoil³ like a rubber band with enough force to cause serious injury. The Tug of War International Federation⁴ only allows the use of “Manila tug of war rope.” It is a natural fiber⁵ rope made for tug of war. Finally, you should never wrap or loop the rope around your hands or arms. It is not only dangerous, but also against the rules.

 

When it is done properly tug of war is a very safe sport. So just observe these basic safety measures and have a good time.

 

1 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

2 tug   

v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船

参考例句：

• We need to tug the car round to the front.我们需要把那辆车拉到前面。
• The tug is towing three barges.那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。

3 recoil   

vi.退却，退缩，畏缩

参考例句：

• Most people would recoil at the sight of the snake.许多人看见蛇都会向后退缩。
• Revenge may recoil upon the person who takes it.报复者常会受到报应。

4 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

5 fiber   

n.纤维，纤维质

参考例句：

• The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
• The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。