VOA标准英语2012--40-Year-Old US Law Still Provides Sports Opportunities for Girls

40-Year-Old US Law Still Provides Sports Opportunities for Girls 

At a recent Washington tournament, America's top high school girls' basketball teams did more than just play the game. They learned about a 40-year-old law that has helped many girls pursue their athletic¹ ambitions. 

"Here, we get to play basketball and learn new things," stated Nira Fields, who came from California for the event. "The main thing I learned was equality among sports for the women's and the men's side."

The Title IX act of 1972 says schools receiving federal funds must not discriminate² against males or females in programs such as sports. That has led universities to offer more scholarships to female athletes, giving many an education and a chance to compete.

Tina Thompson, the top scorer in the professional Women’s National Basketball Association, says scholarships made university affordable³ for her.

“I'm one of five children, and so, going to a university like Southern California was something that I probably would not have had the opportunity to go to," Thompson explained. "I mean, I could have picked any school that I wanted to go to in the country, because of Title IX.”

Since Title IX took effect, female U.S. athletes also have had increasing international success. The United States reached the Women’s World Cup final against Japan last year. But there is also some controversy⁴.

Critics say the law actually discriminates⁵ against male athletes by pressuring universities to offer them fewer programs in low-profile sports, like wrestling. Many universities have eliminated some men’s teams to cut costs and to make sure they meet Title IX’s requirement for gender⁶ balance among programs. 

Bryan Hazard, a head wrestling coach at Robinson Secondary School, hosted a tournament in northern Virginia. He says the university wrestling program that attracted him in high school was dropped because of Title IX.

“So, you know, is that fair? To me, it wasn't. I was one of the numbers,” Hazard said.

Sabrina Schaeffer, the executive director of the Independent Women’s Forum⁷, argues that Title IX effectively imposes gender quotas⁸ on schools.

“There are legitimate⁹ and real differences between the sexes, and we shouldn't try to paper that over with legislation,” Schaeffer stressed.

Title IX supporters say schools often cut smaller men's sports to maintain expensive American football and basketball programs. 

As the law marks its 40th anniversary, those supporters vow¹⁰ to keep fighting for more resources for girls’ sports. 

1 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

2 discriminate   

v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待

参考例句：

• You must learn to discriminate between facts and opinions.你必须学会把事实和看法区分出来。
• They can discriminate hundreds of colours.他们能分辨上百种颜色。

3 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

4 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

5 discriminates   

分别，辨别，区分( discriminate的第三人称单数 )； 歧视，有差别地对待

参考例句：

• The new law discriminates against lower-paid workers. 这条新法律歧视低工资的工人。
• One test governs state legislation that discriminates against interstate commerce. 一个检验约束歧视州际商业的州立法。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

7 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

8 quotas   

（正式限定的）定量( quota的名词复数 )； 定额； 指标； 摊派

参考例句：

• In fulfilling the production quotas, John made rings round all his fellow workers. 约翰完成生产定额大大超过他的同事们。
• Quotas of the means of production are allocated by the higher administrative bodies to the lower ones. 物资指标按隶属关系分配。

9 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

10 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。