沈阳职业技术学院公共外语教研室 The triathlon’s Great Attraction

沈阳职业技术学院公共外语教研室

The triathlon’s Great Attraction

Text-related information

Intensive Study

Practice

Triathlon (Triathlon ( 铁人三项铁人三项 ))

The triathlon promises to be one of the most popular Olympic sports. It consists of 1500m-swimming, 40km-cycling, and 10km-racing without stopping.


Track-and-field competition is considered the heart of the Summer Olympics. The various track-and-field events involve the natural athletic motions of walking, running, jumping and throwing. Because these events put athletes in direct competition, Olympic track-and-field has always had widespread appeal. The two running events having perhaps the greatest interest are the 1500-meter run and the marathon (26 miles and 385 yards or 42.195 km). The 100-metre dash is also a favorite. In the field events, the pole vault, high jump and long jump attract much attention.

Track-and-Field (Track-and-Field ( 田径田径 ) )


The event requiring the greatest all-round ability is the decathlon, which consists of 10 track-and-field tests:

A ) 100-metre dash,

B) long jump,

C) shot put,

D) high jump,

E) 400-metre run,

F) 110-metre hurdles, G) discus, H) pole vault, I) javelin and J) 1500-metre run.

Decathlon (Decathlon ( 十项全能十项全能 )) Text-related information

It is a test of skill in five

events: 200-meter run,

1500-meter run, broad

jump, discus and javelin.

Pentathlon (Pentathlon ( 五项全能五项全能 ))


It is usually contested by military men. The five events on the program involve horseback riding, fencing, shooting, swimming, and cross-country running.

The Modern Pentathlon (The Modern Pentathlon ( 现代五项现代五项 ) )


Passage IIntensive Study

Text

Difficult Sentences

Important Words

The Triathlon’s Great AttractionThe Triathlon’s Great Attraction

Para.1Para.1 The triathlon The triathlon promises to be one of the mo to be one of the most popular Olympic sports. Recently it has drawn huge st popular Olympic sports. Recently it has drawn huge crowds attracted (and worried) by athletes swimming crowds attracted (and worried) by athletes swimming 1500m, cycling 40km, and then running 10km without 1500m, cycling 40km, and then running 10km without stopping. Great for those watching, maybe, but wstopping. Great for those watching, maybe, but what makes the triathletes want to hat makes the triathletes want to punish their bodies s their bodies so much? And what makes an attractive 17-year-old, o much? And what makes an attractive 17-year-old, with excellent academic results, give up everything fowith excellent academic results, give up everything for the strange pleasures it r the strange pleasures it offers? ?

Passage I: TextPassage I: Text

Para.2 Melanie Sears has not yet learnt those often-repeated phrases about personal satisfaction, mental challenge and higher objectives that most athletes always use when asked similar questions. “You swim for 1500m, then run out of the water and jump on your bike, still wet. Of course, then you freeze. When the 40km cycle ride is over, you have to run 10km, which is a long way when you’re feeling so tired. But it’s great fun, and all worth it in the end,” she says. Melanie entered her first triathlon at 14. “I won the junior section” but then I was the only junior taking part. It seemed so easy that I was waving at my team-mates as I went round.”


Para.3 Confidently, Melanie Sears entered the National Championships, and although she had the second fastest swim and the fastest run, she got nowhere. “I was following this man and suddenly we came to the sea. We realized then that we had gone wrong. I ended up cycling 20 kilometers too far. I cried all the way through the running.”

Para.4 But she did not give up and is determined that she never will. “Sometimes I wish I could stop, because then the pain would be over, but I am afraid that if I let I stop just once, I would be tempted to do it again. It’s dogged that does it.”


Para.5 Melanie was top junior in this year’s European Triathlon Championships, finishing 13th. “I was almost as good as the top three in swimming and running, but much slower at cycling. That’s why I’m working very hard at it. The big trouble is, I have no one of my age to train with,”she says. Funny, that.

Para.6 Melanie is truly a teenager with a taste for endurance. With her devotion to the triathlon, she will succeed sooner or later.


1. (Para. 1) Recently it has drawn huge crowds attracted (and worried) by athletes swimming 1500m, cycling 40km, and then running 10km without stopping.

the past participle phrase is the past participle phrase is used to modify huge crowdsused to modify huge crowds

近来它已经吸引了大批为它着迷 ( 又惧它三分 ) 的观众群，因为这项运动要先游泳 1500 米，骑自行车 40 公里 , 然后紧接着又长跑 10 公里。

thethe presentpresent participleparticiple phrases arephrases are usedused toto modifymodify athletesathletes

FOR EXAMPLEFOR EXAMPLE

This science fiction has attracted many readers interested in This science fiction has attracted many readers interested in the characters of the story working and living on the moon. the characters of the story working and living on the moon.

2. (Para. 1) Great for those watching, maybe, but what makes the triathletes want to punish their bodies so much?

Analysis: This is an elliptical sentence. It may be rewritten Analysis: This is an elliptical sentence. It may be rewritten like this: The triathlon maybe great for those who watch it, like this: The triathlon maybe great for those who watch it, but how come the triathletes are willing to suffer so much but how come the triathletes are willing to suffer so much physical hardship?physical hardship?

Translation: 这项比赛对于观看者来说固然带劲，但究竟是什么让铁人三项的参赛者想如此折磨他们的身体呢 ?

For example: For example: Interesting for those enjoying the Interesting for those enjoying the soap opera, maybe, but what makes the producers soap opera, maybe, but what makes the producers want to devote so much to the lengthy story? want to devote so much to the lengthy story?

3. (Para. 2) Melanie Sears has not yet learnt those often-repeated phrases about personal satisfaction, mental challenge and higher objectives that most athletes always use when asked similar questions.

梅拉尼梅拉尼 ·· 希尔丝还没学会使用那些多数运动员在被问类似的问题时常希尔丝还没学会使用那些多数运动员在被问类似的问题时常脱口而出的陈词滥调：个人的满足感啦，精神上的挑战啦，向更高目标脱口而出的陈词滥调：个人的满足感啦，精神上的挑战啦，向更高目标迈进啦等等。迈进啦等等。

The honest man refused to take advantage of the The honest man refused to take advantage of the privileges abused by those who ignored other people’s privileges abused by those who ignored other people’s interests. interests.

premodifierpremodifier Post Post modifier.modifier.

that-relative that-relative clauseclause

Adverbial Adverbial of timeof time

4.(Para. 3) ... I ended up cycling 20 kilometers too far. I cried all the way through the running.?

We ended up picking up balls all the time. I sweated all over at the We ended up picking up balls all the time. I sweated all over at the tennis court. tennis court.

… 结果是我多骑了 20 公里的自行车。长跑时我哭了一路。

end up doing sth: “end up doing sth: “ 其结果其结果是…以…而告结束”是…以…而告结束”

in the whole course of..., in the whole course of..., during...?during...?


5.(Para. 5) “... The big trouble is, I have no one of my age to train with.”she says. Funny, that.

“… 糟糕的是 , 我没有同龄选手可以一起训练。”她说。那可真是好笑。

The trouble is, he has left his passport at The trouble is, he has left his passport at home. Unbelievable, that. home. Unbelievable, that.

Analysis: The sentence may be paraphrased like Analysis: The sentence may be paraphrased like this: She says her big trouble is that she has no one this: She says her big trouble is that she has no one of her age to train with. That is really a funny thing. of her age to train with. That is really a funny thing.


1. 1. promise v. & n. (give) a written or spoken undertaking to do or v. & n. (give) a written or spoken undertaking to do or not to do something not to do something 许诺，保证许诺，保证

• They have They have promised to reply immediately. to reply immediately.

• If you don’t keep your If you don’t keep your promise, you will not be , you will not be

trusted any longer. trusted any longer.

• I think I’ll I think I’ll promise myself a quiet weekend. myself a quiet weekend.


• The driver was The driver was punished with a fine for speeding. with a fine for speeding.

• You shouldn't You shouldn't punish the child in that way. the child in that way.

• She was already severely She was already severely punished with her own with her own

mistake. mistake.

2. 2. punish v. cause somebody suffering for wrongdoing, treat rv. cause somebody suffering for wrongdoing, treat roughly oughly 惩罚，惩处惩罚，惩处


• TheyThey offered to reward for the return of the lost to reward for the return of the lost

document. document.

• She is kind enough to She is kind enough to offer me the help. me the help.

• This job This job offers you a good chance to enrich your you a good chance to enrich your

experience. experience.

3.3. offer v. give or exchange, say what one is willing to do, v. give or exchange, say what one is willing to do, kindly present kindly present 主动提供，给与主动提供，给与


• The important thing is not to The important thing is not to repeat the same the same

mistake in your work. mistake in your work.

• The job is so boring. I have to The job is so boring. I have to repeat the same the same

thing all the time. thing all the time.

• Please Please repeat the sentence after me. the sentence after me.

4. repeat v. say or do again v. say or do again 重复，反复（说重复，反复（说 // 干）干）


• The second-hand car is The second-hand car is worth much more than much more than

what you had paid. what you had paid.

• I think the work is I think the work is worth the time and energy we the time and energy we

spent. spent.

• That book is well That book is well worth reading. reading.

5. 5. worthworth prep. having a certain value of prep. having a certain value of 值得，具有…价值值得，具有…价值


• At that time, it was very difficult for women to At that time, it was very difficult for women to

enter that profession. that profession.

• She She entered the bedroom quietly so as not to the bedroom quietly so as not to

wake up otherswake up others

• They want to They want to enter the examination at the end of the examination at the end of

the term. the term.

6. 6. enter v. come or go into, join, take part in v. come or go into, join, take part in 进入，加入，参加进入，加入，参加


• I’ll go first and please I’ll go first and please follow me. me.

• You should You should follow his example. his example.

• The paragraph The paragraph following this one can be this one can be

omitted. omitted.

7. 7. follow v. go after, go along, keep to, keep as a guide v. go after, go along, keep to, keep as a guide 遵循，跟随，遵照遵循，跟随，遵照


• Nothing could Nothing could tempt me to do such a silly me to do such a silly

thing. thing.

• The clear water in the beautiful lake The clear water in the beautiful lake tempted us us

to swim in it. to swim in it.

• He was He was tempted into making that wrong into making that wrong

decision. decision.

8.8.tempt v. persuade or attract somebody to do something v. persuade or attract somebody to do something 诱惑，吸引，引诱诱惑，吸引，引诱


• I don’t like the sour I don’t like the sour taste in this ice-cream. in this ice-cream.

• She has very good She has very good taste for dresses. for dresses.

• The explorer has a strong The explorer has a strong taste for adventures. for adventures.

9. 9. taste n. sense by which flavor is known, ability to enjoy bean. sense by which flavor is known, ability to enjoy beauty, liking or preference; the flavor sensed uty, liking or preference; the flavor sensed 品味，欣赏品味，欣赏的能力的能力 ; ; 喜好喜好


• The sportsman showed remarkable power of The sportsman showed remarkable power of

endurance. .

• Sorry. I have come to the end of my Sorry. I have come to the end of my endurance. .

• Endurance plays an important role in this event. plays an important role in this event.

10. 10. endurance n. ability to bear sufferings or hardship n. ability to bear sufferings or hardship 耐力耐力


Read and Think

Read and Simulate

Read and Translate

Read and Complete

1 Make the best choice to answer the following questions1 Make the best choice to answer the following questions

Read and Think

1 What kind of sports is the triathlon? a Distance running. b Distance swimming. c Distance cycling. d All the above as a whole.

2 Why does the author use “want to punish their bodies so much” to describe the triathletes? a To show his doubt in the triathlon.

b To describe how difficult the triathlon is. c To explain why the triathlon is so popular.

d To criticize people who do the triathlon.

Key: 1.d 2. b

Read and Think

3 What does Melanie Sears think of the hardship in the triathlon?

a It gives personal satisfaction. b It offers great mental challenge.

c It sets higher life goals. d It is great fun and worth the great efforts.

4 What upset Melanie during the National Championships? a She was tricked by another athlete. b She made a mistake during the part of the cycling. c She realized she couldn't’t cycle as fast as she thought. d She felt she had let her teammates down.

Key: 3. d 4.b


Read and Think

5 What did Melanie mean by being “dogged”in the 4th paragraph? a She’d insist on despite all the difficulties. b She doesn't’t feel the pain as most people do. c She doesn't’t know her own weak points. d She never accepts other people’s opinions.

6 What is the author’s attitude towards Melanie? a He is worried that she is too young for the triathlon. b He feels it’s a pity that she gives up everything for the triathlon. c He admires her determination to succeed. d He believes that she will be a champion soon.

Key: 5. a 6. c


Read and Complete

With 1500m swimming, 40km cycling, and then 10km running 1 _____

___ stopping, the triathlon proves extremely challenging and thus pr

omises to become one of the most 2 _______ Olympic sports. It has

begun to 3 ______ huge crowds to watch it. Yes, the triathlon is exciti

ng for those who 4 ________ it, but what makes the triathletes want t

o endure such great hardship? To this question, most 5 ________ ma

y always use those often repeated phrases about personal satisfactio

n, mental 6 ________ and higher life objectives. But the 17-year-old gi

rl Melanie Sears, who has 7 ________ everything for it, has provided

us with a unique 8 _______: “It’s great fun, and all worth it in the end.

”

popular

without

2 Fill in the blanks without referring to the passage. 2 Fill in the blanks without referring to the passage.

draw

watch

athletes

challenge

given up

answer

Melanie entered her first triathlon at 14. And then she entered the National Championships 9 __________ . Although she had the second fastest swim and the fastest run, she came 10 __________ because of a mistake. However, she did not give up and is 11 _________ that she never will. Melanie is truly a teenager with a taste for endurance. With her devotion to the triathlon, she will be 12 _________sooner or later. successful

confidently

nowhere

determined

Read and Complete

2 Fill in the blanks without referring to the passage. 2 Fill in the blanks without referring to the passage.

3 Complete each of the following statements according 3 Complete each of the following statements according to the passage. to the passage.

1 With its unique attraction, the triathlon promises to be _____________________________________.

2 Many spectaculars ( 观赏者 ) are

__________________________ by he triathlon.

3 Melanie Sears is a 17-year-old girl who had

__________________________ at school.

4 For the strange pleasures the triathlon offers, Melanie

Sears has ____________________ in her life.

one of the most popular Olympic sports

attracted and also worried

excellent academic results

given up everything

Read and Complete

5 According to Melanie, 10km is a long way when ____________________.

6 Melanie entered her first triathlon at 14 as the ______________________.

7 Because of a mistake in the cycling race, Melanie came nowhere in the __________________________.

8 Sometimes Melanie wishes she could stop, because ________________________.

you’re feeling so tired

only junior taking part

National Championships

then the pain would be over

Read and Complete3 Complete each of the following statements according 3 Complete each of the following statements according to the passage. to the passage.

9 The big trouble is that Melanie has no one of her age

_______________.

10 Melanie will succeed sooner or later as she is a person with ________________________.

a taste for endurance

to train with

Read and Complete3 Complete each of the following statements according 3 Complete each of the following statements according to the passage. to the passage.

1 I just can’t help being _________ to have a try in

translating the book into Chinese.

2 Cindy is beautiful, slim and tall. She is __________ to

be a good fashion model.

3 Both of us are poor at tennis and we _________

picking up the ball all the time.

promisepromise crowd punish offer jumpcrowd punish offer jump end up end up tempttempt

tempted

promising

end up

4 Fill in the blanks with the proper words and expressions 4 Fill in the blanks with the proper words and expressions given below, changing the form if necessary.given below, changing the form if necessary.

Read and Complete

4 He is very kind and always ready to _________ me a helpful hand when I’m in trouble.

5 The football fans were shouting and _________ with excitement at the terrific goal.

6 All those who violate the rule will be _________ severely.

7 There are big _________ in the stadium ready to cheer for their home team.

offer

jumping

punished

crowds

promisepromise crowdcrowd punishpunish offer jump end upoffer jump end up tempt tempt

Read and Complete

4 Fill in the blanks with the proper words and expressions 4 Fill in the blanks with the proper words and expressions given below, changing the form if necessary.given below, changing the form if necessary.

1 是什么使得铁人三项运动成为奥运会最具吸引力的体育项目之一？

What has made the triathlon one of the most attractive Olympic sports?

Read and Translate

5 Translate the following sentences into English5 Translate the following sentences into English

makemake attractiveattractive

2 为了完成这项科学研究，许多科学家放弃了个人的幸福。 )

In order to do the research project, many scientists have given up their personal happiness.

give up give up

personal personal

Read and Translate


3 听众已经对这些陈词滥调感到厌倦了。

The audience has got tired of these often-repeated phrases.

often repeated often repeated phrases phrases

get tired ofget tired of

Read and Translate


4 多参加一些社会活动对我们大有好处。

It will do us a lot of good to take part in more social activities.

take part in take part in

do good to do good to

Read and Translate


5 她对于在奥运会中夺魁满怀信心。

She is confident to come first at the Olympic Games.

come first come first

confident confident

Read and Translate


6 我怕他不敢肯定这样做是否值得 .

I’m afraid that he is not quite sure if it is worth doing.

worth worth

Read and Translate


7 他们迟早会意识到保护环境的重要性。

They will realize the importance of environmental protection sooner or later.

sooner or latersooner or later

realizerealize

Read and Translate


8 太晚了 , 看起来我得一路跑着去学校了。

It’s late. It looks as if I have to run all the way to school.

seemseem

all the wayall the way

Read and Translate


Read and Simulate

6. Pay attention to the italicized parts in the English 6. Pay attention to the italicized parts in the English Sentences and translate the Chinese sentences by Sentences and translate the Chinese sentences by simulating the structure of the English sentences. simulating the structure of the English sentences.

1 The triathlon promises to be one of the most popular Olympic sports.

Hainan promises to be one of the greatest tourist attractions.

This new skyscraper promises to be the highest building in this city.

Now you tryNow you try

苏珊有望成为一名优秀的学生。苏珊有望成为一名优秀的学生。 Susan promises to be an outstanding student.

这座新的摩天大楼有望成为整个城市最高的建筑。这座新的摩天大楼有望成为整个城市最高的建筑。

Read and Simulate

What makes the parents feel so satisfied with the school?

2 What makes an attractive 17-year-old give up everything for the doubtful pleasures?

What makes the doctor risk his life for his research project?

是什么使得这位教授把如此之多的时间都投入到工作之中了呢？是什么使得这位教授把如此之多的时间都投入到工作之中了呢？

是什么使得家长们对学校这样满意呢？是什么使得家长们对学校这样满意呢？

What makes the professor devote so much time to his work?


Read and Simulate

The cookery seemed so fascinating that I’m eager to have a try at once.

3 It seemed so easy that I was waving at my team-mates as I went round.

The task seemed so difficult that they had decided to give up.

这项表演看上去十分有趣，整群人都被吸引住了。这项表演看上去十分有趣，整群人都被吸引住了。

这种烹饪法看上去是如此神奇，我真想马上就尝试一下。这种烹饪法看上去是如此神奇，我真想马上就尝试一下。

The performance seemed so interesting that all the people in the entire crowd is attracted.

Read and Simulate


Hopefully, he entered the final competition.

4 Confidently, Melanie Sears entered the National Championships.

Eagerly, the athletes rush to the playing field.

满怀着好奇，孩子们全神贯注地观看这一实验。满怀着好奇，孩子们全神贯注地观看这一实验。

满怀着希望，他进入了最后的竞争。满怀着希望，他进入了最后的竞争。

Curiously, the children watched the experiment with full attention. Hopefully, he entered the final competition.

Read and Simulate


5 We realized then that we had gone wrong. I ended up cycling 20 kilometers too far.

We realized then that we had taken a wrong approach. We ended up wasting two more months.

She realized then that they had cheated her. Her business ended up losing $100 000.

那时我们才意识到我们做了一个错误的决定。结果丢失了一次很好的机那时我们才意识到我们做了一个错误的决定。结果丢失了一次很好的机会。会。

那时她才发现自己被他们骗了。结果她的公司损失了那时她才发现自己被他们骗了。结果她的公司损失了 1010 万美元。万美元。

We realized then that we had made a wrong decision. We ended up losing a very good opportunity.

Read and Simulate


6 I am afraid that if I let myself stop just once, I would be tempted to do it again.

I am afraid that if it keeps raining, we would have to cancel the sports meet.

I am afraid that if you miss the chance, it will be hard for you to get a second one.

如果不听从我们的建议，我恐怕他会有麻烦。如果不听从我们的建议，我恐怕他会有麻烦。

如果你失去了这次机会，我恐怕你就很难再有第二次机会了。如果你失去了这次机会，我恐怕你就很难再有第二次机会了。

I am afraid that if he doesn’t follow our advice, he will run into trouble.

Read and Simulate


7 I was almost as good as the top three in swimming and running, but much slower at cycling.

I was almost as good as the others in learning English, but much poorer in learning math.

I was almost as good as they are in speed, but much weaker in endurance.

我做饭和我妈妈几乎一样好，但织毛衣就远没有她那么熟练。我做饭和我妈妈几乎一样好，但织毛衣就远没有她那么熟练。

我在速度上同他们相差无几，但是在耐力上就差得远了。我在速度上同他们相差无几，但是在耐力上就差得远了。

I was almost as good as my mother in cooking, but much less skilled in knitting.

Read and Simulate


8 With her devotion to the triathlon, she will succeed sooner or later.

With his devotion to the cause, he will realize his dream sooner or later.

With his devotion to writing, his novel will be published sooner or later.

有了她对于这项研究的献身精神，她迟早会找到治疗这种疾病的方法。有了她对于这项研究的献身精神，她迟早会找到治疗这种疾病的方法。

有了他对于写作的献身精神，这本小说迟早会出版。有了他对于写作的献身精神，这本小说迟早会出版。

With her devotion to the research, she will find a way to cure the disease sooner or later.

Read and Simulate


Documents

沈阳职业技术学院 公共外语教研室 The triathlon’s Great Attraction

沈阳职业技术学院公共外语教研室 The triathlon’s Great Attraction