体育美语-024 Tennis Scoring

(Tennis ball sounds)

Y: Hi 大家好。我是杨晨。

P: 我是Patrick.

P: Today, Yang Chen and I are playing a game of tennis.

Y: Patrick It's your serve!

P: OK, just a minute. To serve S-E-R-V-E is to put the tennis ball in play by throwing it up into the air and hitting it with a racquet.

Y: 别罗嗦，赶快发球罢。Just serve.

P: OK. (thwok, thwok) Good return, Yang Chen!

Y: Patrick, 你的球出界了。

(Thwok - funny sound)

Y: So it is my point.

P: Well, that means¹ the score is "Love Fifteen". Love for me and fifteen for you.

Y: Love? L-O-V-E? 爱？这和爱有什么关系？

(Music - Tina Turner)

P: Love in tennis scoring means "Zero."

Y: 好浪漫哪。用love来代表零分， zero points, 可是我怎么会有15分呢？

P: Yes, tennis scoring is very complicated², isn't it? To win a game a player must win four points and two more points than his opponent³.

Y: OK, OK.

P: So the first point is called "fifteen".

Y: 那这么说the second point is called "thirty"?

P: That's right. The second point is called "thirty," and the third point is called ...

Y: Forty-five?

P: No, it is called "forty."

Y: Why not forty-five?

P: It's just the tradition⁴ now, Yang Chen. The French started it.

Y: 那他们的数学一定不好。

Y: Okay, serve again, Patrick! (Thwok, Thwok).

P: Oh no, I missed the ball!

Y: "Love thirty"!

P: Well, I guess I am losing.

Y: But at least you still have love!!!
 

1 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

2 complicated   

adj.错综复杂的，麻烦的，结构复杂的

参考例句：

• The poem is so complicated that I cannot make out its meaning.这首诗太复杂，我理解不了它的意思。
• This is the most complicated case I have ever handled.这是我所处理过的最为复杂的案子。

3 opponent   

n.对手，敌手，反对者；adj.敌对的，反对的

参考例句：

• The boxer gave his opponent a punch on the nose.这个拳击手朝他对手的鼻子上猛击一拳。
• After a fierce struggle,he got a beat on his opponent.经过殊死的较量，他占了对手的上风。

4 tradition   

n.传说，传统，惯例，引渡，交付

参考例句：

• This tradition has lasted until our own time.这一传统一直保持到我们这个时代。
• They still follow the tradition of their fathers.他们仍然继承着他们祖先的传统。