Mark: Jingjing, you know more about the World Cup than I do. Would you mind walking me through the tournament?

马克：京晶，你知道世界杯比我多，你愿意带我了解一下这个赛事吗？

Jingjing: What's the matter? You don't like football?

京晶：怎么了？你不喜欢足球？

Mark: It's great, once I start watching it. But when I see a game on and a long time passes without a goal, I'd like to at least know what's at stake for each team.

马克：刚开始看起来的时候挺棒的。但是等我看到一场比赛开始了，时间过去了很久也没进一个球的时候，我至少想知道各队情势如何，输赢有何利弊。

Jingjing: You have to keep track of the teams. You know, the next games are the round of 16. That means 8 of 16 teams will get to the quarter finals. 

京晶：你得跟进每个队的情况啊。你知道接下来的比赛就是十六进8了。这意味着十六个队中只有一半能进入四分之一决赛。

Mark: Who's still in?

马克：哪些队还在的？

Jingjing: Well, Uraguay, Portugal, Spain and Russia already have their matches scheduled.

京晶：嗯，乌拉圭，葡萄牙，西班牙，俄罗斯的赛程已定。

Mark: I hear Portugal's a pretty good team this year.

马克：我听说葡萄牙今年表现不错。

Jingjing: Of course they are, with Ronaldo.

京晶：当然了，有C罗好吗。

Mark: Who are they up against next?

马克：他们下一场对谁？

Jingjing: That'd be Uraguay. Their match is on June 30.

京晶：应该是乌拉圭。比赛在6月30号。

Mark: I hear Uraguay is a dark horse.

马克：我听说乌拉圭是一匹黑马。

Jingjing: Yeah, so that ought to be an exciting game. Uraguay has a strong team in almost every aspect. They have great goalkeepers, but might be a little weak on the mid-field.

京晶：是的。所以应该是一场十分精彩的比赛。乌拉圭几乎拥有一个强队的所有特质。他们有优秀的守门员，但是中场有些弱。

Mark: That sounds like the game to watch.

马克：听上去是一场值得看的比赛。

Jingjing: The Russia-Spain match will also be on June 30. So, from the outcome of those two games, we'll have a pretty clear idea who, from group A and group B, is going on to the quarter-finals.

京晶：俄罗斯对西班牙队的比赛也是六月三十日。所以，从这两场比赛的结果，我们可以非常清晰地知道，A组和B组，各有哪对可进入四分之一决赛。

Mark: I hope Portugal at least gets to the final.

马克：我希望葡萄牙至少能进个决赛吧。

Jingjing: Maybe we'll see a final with Messi going up against Ronaldo!

京晶：也许我们能在决赛里看到梅西对阵C罗哦！

Mark: That'd be sweet!

马克：那真是再好不过了。

New words: 习语短语

walking me through (something) 给某人普知，解释某事

explaining something, while the other person asks questions or practices

(what's) at stake 危险，处于险境

what will be lost if the team doesn't win (i.e. the team is eliminated); (alternately, have a lot at stake, don't have much at stake)

keep track of (something) 跟进进程

know about something, watch for progress

up against 对阵

going to have a game against (vs)

dark horse 黑马

a team that wasn't expected to get very far in the tournament, and has done so well that one of the favorites might be eliminated

Dialogue 2

Mark: Jingjing, could you tell me a little bit more about dark horses and favorites this year?

马克：京晶，你能稍微再多告诉我一点关于黑马和热门球队吗？

Jingjing: Well, I bet you can guess who the favorites are.

京晶：可，我打赌你能猜出哪些球队是热门。

Mark: Um, Brazil and Germany are still pretty strong, right?

马克：巴西和德国仍然很强，对吧？

Jingjing: Yes they are. But Mexico's one to watch this year, and might put Brazil out of the running.

京晶：是的。很强。但是墨西哥今年值得期待，没准会让巴西出局。

Mark: What about France and Belgium?

马克：那法国和比利时呢？

Jingjing: Those are the other two favorites.

京晶：这是另两大热门。

Mark: And the other dark horses?

马克：那黑马呢？

Jingjing: Croatia is making it tough for Argentina. They're in group D together.

京晶：克罗地亚让阿根廷难以招架。它们都在D组。

Mark: Who would you like to see make it to the final?

马克：你想看到谁进决赛？

Jingjing: Like you mentioned, it'd be great to see Argentina vs Portugal. But I'd also like to see Brazil vs Mexico.

京晶：如你所说，如能看见阿根廷对阵葡萄牙是很好的，同时我也想看到巴西对阵墨西哥。

Mark: What about Russia? Anyway, they're the home team.

马克：那俄罗斯呢，他们可是东道主队。

Jingjing: Well, they'll be playing in Moscow on June 30.

京晶：他们30号会在莫斯科打比赛。

Mark: Yeah, it'd be good to see them get past the round of 16 at least.

马克：是的。要是看见它们最终都进八强就好了。

Jingjing: I agree. It's just a great game to watch. I don't have anything riding on any one team.

京晶：我同意。这是一场很棒的可看性高的比赛。可我不赌他们谁赢。(我对这些队都没有什么胜算）

Mark: You mean you didn't place any bets?

马克：你是说你没有下注？

Jingjing: I don't gamble. But, say, how about we make a friendly bet: pick a team, and if they do better, the other person has to bring ice cream to the office.

京晶：我不赌球。但是，我们来一场友好的打赌如何：挑一个队，如果表现更好，另一个人带冰激淋到办公室如何？

Mark: OK, I pick Spain.

马克：好，我选西班牙。

Jingjing: I pick Brazil. You're on!

京晶：我选巴西。走着！

New words: 习语短语

favorites 热门，被寄予厚望的

teams that are expected to do well, based on their qualifying matches and stats

(one) to watch 精彩的，值得一看的赛事

an event that will be exciting, also a person or team that might succeed until the end

have (anything) riding on 打赌某事

have something at stake (like a bet), especially used for people who are not involved in the actual competition

a friendly bet 不下注打赌

a bet, without money or anything too valuable, just for fun