新西兰英语 499 Rugby World Cup

 　　Probably everyone in New Zealand knows the Rugby World Cup starts tomorrow in Auckland¹. The first game is between the All Blacks and Tonga.

　　The last time that the Rugby World Cup was held in New Zealand was in 1987. The last time the All Blacks won the cup was also in 1987. This event is held very four years.

　　Teams from twenty countries will play for this cup. They are divided into four pools with five teams and 10 games in each pool. After that there will be quarter-finals, semi-finals and then finals on October 23rd.

　　Games will be played in many different towns around the country, except Christchurch because of earthquake damage to the stadium². The teams arrived this week and were welcomed by the town which is hosting them.

　　Tomorrow night Auckland will celebrate with a fireworks display over the harbour. Many Auckland shops, businesses and homes are decorated with flags and lights to celebrate that New Zealand is hosting the Rugby World Cup. Of the 48 games, 11 will be played at Eden Park in Auckland and two more on the North Shore in Auckland.

　　95,000 international visitors are expected in New Zealand this month and next month to watch the games.

　　Vocabulary

　　A pool of five teams means³ a group of five teams.

　　A stadium is the field and the seating.

　　To host a team means to look after the team and arrange⁴ a field where the team can practise.

1 Auckland   

n.奥克兰(新西兰港市)

参考例句：

• Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand.奥克兰是新西兰最大的城市。
• Return to auckland by bus in afternoon.下午乘车返回奥克兰。

2 stadium   

n.露天大型运动场

参考例句：

• The new football stadium can hold eighty thousand people.新的足球场可以容纳八万人。
• The stadium is being used for a match.那个露天运动场正在进行一场比赛。

3 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。

4 arrange   

vt.安排，整理，计划，改编(乐曲)；vi.协商，计划

参考例句：

• He began to arrange the flowers in the vase.他开始把花瓶内的花摆好。
• We must arrange about that.这事我们得安排一下。