英语听力精选进阶版 6037（在线收听）

The Scottish are certain that they invented the game of golf over 500 years ago but the Chinese, the French and even the Dutch have also made such claims in the past.

We may never know who first played the game but does this ancient sport really have a place in the modern world?

When the US golf team stepped off the plane in Ireland recently at the beginning of the Ryder Cup competition they were dressed head to toe in matching tweed suits and Fair Isle knitwear. It seemed they wanted to invoke golf's history, roots and traditions but in fact, most commentators and spectators thought they just looked plain daft.

At the Royal and Ancient golf club of St Andrews in Scotland the traditions, rules and regulations of golf are still alive and well. Some say the numbers of dos and don'ts can seem pretty overwhelming while others say the golfing code of conduct allows golf to maintain its sporting values in spite of becoming a multi-million pound international industry.

At the heart of golf's rules are two principles - respect for the course and respect for fellow golfers. Examples include not talking during a player's swing, not disturbing a player who's putting on the green and replacing divots.

Tiger Woods, the Thai-American player, is currently the world's number one golf professional. He is also the face of one of the world's biggest management consulting companies – Accenture. In today's global marketplace everyone is looking for a way to get ahead and having the trusted Tiger Woods as a spokesperson might just give this company the edge it's looking for.

In China golf lessons are going to be compulsory for some students at Xiamen University where its president Zhu Chongshi, recently said "It will teach students communication skills and benefit their future careers."

So it seems the ancient art of golf and the modern world of commerce have found a happy balance together all around the globe.

GLOSSARY 词汇表

invented 发明

claims 声称  

head to toe 从头到脚

matching tweed suits 上下一致的粗花呢套装  

Fair Isle knitwear （有费尔岛特色的）杂色图案毛线针织品

roots 起源 

commentators and spectators 解说员和观众

plain daft 难看；傻乎乎  

rules and regulations 规章 

alive_and_well 有效力的 

dos and don'ts （打球）须知    

at the heart of 核心    

respect for the course 尊重场地（规则

a player's swing 球员击球  

putting on the green 果岭推杆

divots (高尔夫击球过低时)削起的一块草皮 

the face of 头面人物

the edge 棱角

global marketplace 全球市场地位 

compulsory 必修