【英语趣味课堂】最喜爱的橄榄球-Rugby

Todd: Hey, Shawn you're a big guy.

 

Shawn: Thank you.

 

Todd: Do you play rugby?

 

Shawn: I did in the past.

 

Todd: OK, how does rugby work?

 

Shawn: It's a bit like American football and soccer put together. It's, the ball's about the size of an American football, but the game, in American football you pass forward, but in rugby you pass backwards¹. Games are a bit shorter. Their 80 minutes long. Less stopages than American football, but like soccer it's continuous play, how-should-I-say, it's a physically² demanding sport, probably the one of the most physically demanding sports in the world.

 

Todd: OK, so you say it's physically demanding. How is it physically demanding?

 

Shawn: You have to be extremely strong, but at the same time, you have to have, wha-chu-call, an extreme line on stamina³ to play this sport. Without stamina, you can not continue in this sport.

 

Todd: OK, just some people may not know, what is stamina?

 

Shawn: You have to be able to run for 80 minutes in the game. Besides the game rugby has a bit of it's own culture. A bit of a cult⁴ in the world. It's a very small following but people do follow it, follow it very devoutly⁵, very seriously, and it, how-should-I-say, I can honsestly say rugby has been a big part in changing me into the person that I am presently.

 

Todd: Uh-huh. How so?

 

Shawn: Sort of, how I can develop my leadership skills, my social skills, and how to work as a team player, in such a, how-should-I-say, in that time when you do play rugby, it's so aggressive, and it teaches you how to be a leader in tight situations, and it shows how you can truly push yourself to the limit, and not go, how-should-I-say, not go over the limit.

 

学习内容：

 

Learn Vocabulary from the lesson

physically demanding

 

Rugby is a very physically demanding sport.

 

A 'physically demanding' sport is one that requires a lot of strength and endurance⁶. Notice the following:

 

I had no idea that skiing was so physically demanding.

Soccer is an extremely physically demanding sport.

stamina

 

Without stamina, you cannot continue in this sport.

 

'Stamina' is endurance or the ability to do something that is physically difficult or tiring for a long time. Notice the following:

 

Marathons take a lot of stamina, but more dedication⁷.

Lance Armstrong had incredible⁸ stamina for cycling.

following or follow devoutly

 

Rugby has a small following, but people follow it devoutly.

 

In this case, 'following' is a group of people or fans that are interested in something and want to know all the current updates.  To 'follow something devoutly' means to pay very close attention to any changes or news. To anything 'devoutly' means to do it seriously and with great dedication. Notice the following:

 

Justing Bieber has a big following of teenage girls.

He follows soccer devoutly even though he doesn't play anymore.

tight situation

 

Playing rugby teaches you how to be a leader in tight situations.

 

In this case 'tight situation' refers to a situation that is very fast-paced or stressful. Notice the following:

 

She is very good at getting herself out of tight situations.

We are in a tight situation right now at our company.

push to the limit

 

It shows how you can truly push yourself to the limit.

 

When you 'push yourself to the limit' you perform an action to the limits of your ability or to the point where you can't do any more. Notice the following:

 

My body feels like it is pushed to the limit right now.

Some people think you have to push yourself to the limit to improve.

 

1 backwards   

adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地

参考例句：

• He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。
• All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

2 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

3 stamina   

n.体力；精力；耐力

参考例句：

• I lacked the stamina to run the whole length of the race.我没有跑完全程的耐力。
• Giving up smoking had a magical effect on his stamina.戒烟神奇地增强了他的体力。

4 cult   

n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜

参考例句：

• Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。
• The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。

5 devoutly   

adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地

参考例句：

• She was a devoutly Catholic. 她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This was not a boast, but a hope, at once bold and devoutly humble. 这不是夸夸其谈，而是一个即大胆而又诚心、谦虚的希望。 来自辞典例句

6 endurance   

n.耐久力，忍耐力，耐久的时期，持续的时间

参考例句：

• She reached the end of endurance.她到了忍受的极限。
• The exercise obviously will improve strength and endurance.这种锻炼会明显改善体力增加耐力。

7 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

8 incredible   

adj.难以置信的，不可信的，极好的，大量的

参考例句：

• Some planets run at incredible speed.某些星球以难以置信的速度运行着。
• Her answer showed the most incredible stupidity.她的回答显示出不可思议的愚蠢。