Level 3 Reading 1A

Ch.1

第1章

Reading 1A THE WORLD'S GAME Throughout history, humans have played some kind of kicking game. What the world now calls football—or soccer in the United States— began as far back as 2500 B.C.E. with the Chinese game of cuju. However, the sport we know today originated in Britain. In the 1840s, England's Football Association established a set of rules, and the modern game was born. Today, more than 200 million players all over the globe participate in the game, truly making soccer the world's sport. So, why is soccer so popular? Maybe it's the game's camaraderie: the feeling that the team on the field is your team; their win is your victory, and their loss is your defeat. Or maybe it's the game's international quality. In countries like France, England, Spain, and Brazil, major teams have players from many different nations, and these clubs now have fans all over the world. Or perhaps it's the promise of great wealth. A number of professional soccer players, including Brazil's Neymar and Nigeria's Victor Moses, come from poor families. Today, both of these players make millions of euros every year. Soccer is popular for all of these reasons, but ultimately, the main reason for its universal appeal may be this: It's a simple game. It can be played anywhere with anything—a ball, a can, or even some bags tied together. And anyone can play it. "You don't need to be rich . . . to play soccer," says historian Peter Alegi. "You just need a flat space and a ball." It is this unique simplicity that makes soccer the most popular sport in Africa. Here, even in rural areas far from the bright lights and big stadiums, children and adults play the game, often with handmade balls.

阅读1A 世界游戏 纵观历史，人类玩过某种踢腿游戏。 世界现在称之为足球，或者美国的足球-- 早在公元前2500年，中国就开始了蹴鞠比赛。 然而，我们今天所知道的这项运动起源于英国。 19世纪40年代，英格兰足球协会制定了一套规则，现代足球运动由此诞生。 如今，全球有2亿多球员参加这项运动，真正使足球成为世界体育。 那么，为什么足球如此受欢迎呢？ 也许这是比赛的同志情谊：球场上的球队就是你的球队； 他们的胜利就是你的胜利，他们的失败就是你的失败。 或者，这可能是游戏的国际品质。 在法国、英格兰、西班牙和巴西等国家，主要球队的球员来自许多不同的国家， 这些俱乐部现在在世界各地都有球迷。 或者，这可能是巨大财富的承诺。 许多职业足球运动员，包括巴西的内马尔和尼日利亚的维克托·摩西，都来自贫困家庭。 如今，这两家公司每年都能赚到数百万欧元。 足球因所有这些原因而受欢迎， 它具有普遍吸引力的主要原因可能是：这是一个简单的游戏。 它可以在任何地方用任何东西玩——一个球、一个罐子，甚至一些绑在一起的袋子。 任何人都可以玩它。 历史学家彼得·阿莱吉说：“踢足球不需要有钱。”。 “你只需要一个平坦的空间和一个球。” 正是这种独特的简单性使足球成为非洲最受欢迎的运动。 在这里，即使在远离明亮灯光和大型体育场的农村地区， 孩子们和成年人玩这个游戏，通常是用手工制作的球。

A Love for Soccer The story of soccer in Africa is a long one. In the 19th century, European colonists brought the game to Africa. Early matches were first played in the South African cities of Cape Town and Port Elizabeth in 1862. In time, the sport spread across the continent. Today, several of the game's best players come from African nations, including Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Nigeria. All over the continent, thousands of soccer academies now recruit boys from poorer cities and towns to play the game. Many learn to play in their bare feet, and they are tough, creative competitors. Their dream is to play for the national team or to join one of the big clubs in Europe someday. For some, the dream comes true. But the chance to make money with a professional team is probably not the main reason for soccer's popularity in Africa. "Soccer is the passion of everyone here," says Abubakari Abdul-Ganiyu, a teacher who works with youth clubs in Tamale, Ghana. "It unifies us." In fact, more than once, the game has helped to bring people together. In Ivory Coast, for example, immigrants and Muslims faced discrimination for years. Yet many of the country's best soccer players are from Muslim and immigrant families. As a result, the national team has become a symbol of unity and has helped to promote peace throughout the country. All over Africa, soccer is popular with parents and teachers for another reason: It keeps young people—especially boys—in school and out of trouble. "Most clubs in Tamale, Ghana, don't allow boys to play if they don't go to school," explains Abubakari. "We re trying our best to help young people and to make them responsible in society. Soccer helps us do this. For us, soccer is also a tool for hope." SOCCER WITHOUT BORDERS More than 200 national teams from six regions competed to get a place in 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Thirty-two soccer teams qualified for the final tournament. Although each team represents a country, it doesn't mean all its players were born there. Family relations and dual citizenship (having two nationalities) influence which country a player plays for. Of the 32 teams competing for the World Cup (shown here), 25 had at least one foreign-born player. In total, 97 foreign-born players competed in the 2018 World Cup.

对足球的热爱 非洲足球的故事很长。 19世纪，欧洲殖民者将这种游戏带到了非洲。 1862年，南非开普敦和伊丽莎白港首次举办了早期比赛。 随着时间的推移，这项运动在整个大陆传播开来。 如今，该游戏的几位最佳球员来自非洲国家，包括塞内加尔、科特迪瓦、加纳和尼日利亚。 在整个非洲大陆，成千上万的足球学院现在从较贫穷的城镇招募男孩参加比赛。 许多人学会了赤脚玩耍，他们是强硬、有创造力的竞争对手。 他们的梦想是为国家队效力，或者有一天加入欧洲的一家大俱乐部。 对一些人来说，梦想成真了。 但有机会与专业团队一起赚钱 这可能不是足球在非洲流行的主要原因。 阿布巴卡里·阿卜杜勒·加尼尤说：“足球是这里每个人的激情所在。”， 一位在加纳塔马利青年俱乐部工作的老师。 “它使我们团结起来。” 事实上，游戏不止一次地帮助人们聚在一起。 例如，在象牙海岸，移民和穆斯林多年来一直面临歧视。 然而，该国许多最优秀的足球运动员都来自穆斯林和移民家庭。 因此，国家队已成为团结的象征，并帮助促进了全国的和平。 在整个非洲，足球受到家长和老师的欢迎还有另一个原因： 它让年轻人，尤其是男孩，留在学校，远离麻烦。 阿布巴卡里解释说：“加纳塔马利的大多数俱乐部都不允许不上学的男孩参加比赛。”。 “我们正在尽最大努力帮助年轻人，让他们对社会负责。 足球帮助我们做到这一点。对我们来说，足球也是希望的工具。" 足球无国界 来自六个地区的200多支国家队参加了2018年俄罗斯国际足联世界杯的比赛。 32支足球队晋级决赛。 虽然每支球队代表一个国家，但这并不意味着所有球员都出生在那里。 家庭关系和双重国籍（有两个国籍）会影响球员为哪个国家效力。 在参加世界杯的32支球队中（如图所示），25支球队至少有一名外国出生的球员。 总共有97名外国出生的球员参加了2018年世界杯。

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