2007年VOA标准英语-US Claims Third at Women's World Cup

By Jim Stevenson
Shanghai, China
30 September 2007

The United States has placed third place at the Women's World Cup football tournament in China. VOA's Jim Stevenson has more from Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai, where the U.S. women were 4-1 winners over Norway.

 The U.S. women took the field seeking to make a statement following a devastating¹ 4-0 loss to Brazil in the semifinals. And they pressured Norway from the start, firing 12 shots in the first half compared to just three for Norway.

Abby Wambach was credited with a goal in the 30th minute when a pass from midfielder Lori Chalupny went off her calf² and into the net. Norway's defense³ began to crumble⁴ in the 46th minute when Wambach easily tapped in a loose ball.

Chalupny added a 58th minute score on a deflected⁵ pass. Heather O'Rielly also found an opportunity to score just one minute later. Chalupny says the team achieved its immediate⁶ goal of rebounding⁷ from the semifinal defeat.

"After the game, it was a special feeling for this team. We did come here with a goal in mind to win first place," said Chalupny. "After the semifinal it was kind of a heartbreak. But we did come together as a team and really went after this game."

Norway salvaged⁸ a goal in the 63rd minute on a beautiful header by Ragnhild Gulbrandsen, who ended the tournament as Norway's top scorer with six goals.

The next major tournament for both teams will be the Beijing Olympics next year.

1 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

2 calf   

n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮

参考例句：

• The cow slinked its calf.那头母牛早产了一头小牛犊。
• The calf blared for its mother.牛犊哞哞地高声叫喊找妈妈。

3 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

4 crumble   

vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁

参考例句：

• Opposition more or less crumbled away.反对势力差不多都瓦解了。
• Even if the seas go dry and rocks crumble,my will will remain firm.纵然海枯石烂，意志永不动摇。

5 deflected   

偏离的

参考例句：

• The ball deflected off Reid's body into the goal. 球打在里德身上反弹进球门。
• Most of its particles are deflected. 此物质的料子大多是偏斜的。

6 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

7 rebounding   

蹦跳运动

参考例句：

• The strength of negative temperature concrete is tested with supersonic-rebounding method. 本文将超声回弹综合法用于负温混凝土强度检测。
• The fundamental of basketball includes shooting, passing and catching, rebounding, etc. 篮球运动中最基本的东西包括投篮，传接球，篮板球等。

8 salvaged   

（从火灾、海难等中）抢救（某物）( salvage的过去式和过去分词 )； 回收利用（某物）

参考例句：

• The investigators studied flight recorders salvaged from the wreckage. 调查者研究了从飞机残骸中找到的黑匣子。
• The team's first task was to decide what equipment could be salvaged. 该队的首要任务是决定可以抢救哪些设备。