常春藤生活英语【122】Strange and Unusual Competitions 古怪竞赛大搜奇

Strange and Unusual Competitions 古怪竞赛大搜奇

One thing that separates humans from animals is the desire to compete against others. Animals hunt and kill mostly for survival. Humans, on the other hand, since even before the first Ancient Olympic Games, have been racing, fighting, and trying to top each other in all different kinds of ways. Humans are competitive by nature, and sports are a big part of most people's lives. Recently, there have been more and more strange and unusual contests popping up around the globe.

July 4 is celebrated in America as Independence Day, but another big event happens in New York City. Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest is an annual event that is broadcast on TV. This is where contestants try to consume the most hot dogs in 10 minutes. This sounds simple, but there has been a big battle raging between two countries for the championship Mustard Yellow Belt. A rather small Japanese man came up with a new way to eat the hot dogs and won the title six years in a row. But since 2007, an American has taken back the title and become a hero to his countrymen.

In Gloucester, England, there is another competition that involves food. This one is all about cheese—but not eating it. At Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling Festival, contestants start at the top of a steep hill. A wheel of cheese is then rolled down the hill for them to chase after. The winner, who usually slips and slides over the finish line, wins the wheel of cheese.

人类之所以有别于动物的一点，就是我们渴望互相竞争。动物猎杀大多是为了生存。而另一方面，人类则早从首次的古代奥运会之前就一直以各种不同的方式与彼此竞赛、打斗，试图超越对方。人类的天性好胜，因此运动是多数人生活中很重要的一部份。而最近在全球则是有愈来愈多稀奇古怪的竞赛活动纷纷出现。

七月四日是美国人庆祝独立纪念日的一天，不过在纽约市还有一场重大的活动。Nathan's吃热狗大赛是一项会透过电视来转播的年度赛事（编按：Nathan's为美国著名的热狗堡连锁专卖店）。参赛者在这场比赛中要试图在十分钟内吃下最多个热狗堡。这听起来很单纯，不过有两个国家却为了争夺 Mustard Yellow Belt这条冠军腰带而掀起一场激烈大战。一位体型颇为娇小的日本人想出一套吃热狗的全新方法，因此连续六年抱走冠军。不过自从2007年起，有位美国人接连夺回冠军，因而成为美国同胞眼中的英雄。

在英格兰的Gloucester还有另一场竞赛是与食物有关。这个比赛的重点在于起司，但却不是要把它吃下肚。在Cooper's Hill滚起司节庆中，参赛者在一个陡峭斜坡的顶端准备出发。接着一块轮状的起司被推下山坡朝下滚去，好让参赛者在后头追赶。胜出的人可得到这块起司，虽然他通常是连滚带滑地通过终点线。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. top　vt. 胜过；超过
This record topped the charts for six weeks.
这张唱片雄踞排行榜之冠长达六周之久。
2. competitive　a. 好胜的；充满竞争的
Publishing is a very competitive industry.
出版业是一个竞争激烈的产业。
3. broadcast　vt. 播送；广播（三态同形）
The game was broadcast live nationwide.
这场比赛在全国各地现场直播。
4. rage　vi.（战斗、争论、灾害等）激烈进行
A forest fire is raging across this area.
这个地区目前有一场森林大火正熊熊延烧。
5. steep　a. 陡的，陡峭的
It is a steep climb to the top of this hill.
要爬上这座山丘的路很陡。

Phrases for Learning

《Phrases for Learning》
1. separate A from B　　使 A 有别于 B
What separated Christine from the other applicants was her years of experience.
使克里斯廷有别于其它应征者的是她多年的经验。
2. by nature　　天性∕本性上
Jason is an honest person by nature.
杰森是个生性老实的人。
3. pop up　　冒出来，突然出现
My sister popped up from behind the wall.
我妹妹突然自墙后现身。

Extra Words

1. contestant　n. 参加竞赛者，选手
2. mustard　n. 黄芥末（本文中作形容词用）
3. title　n. 冠军
4. countryman　n. 同国人；同胞
5. competition　n. 竞赛；竞争
6. wheel　n. 轮状物；轮子

Tips In Use

Humans, on the other hand, since even before...
（而另一方面，人类则早从……之前……）
on the other hand 可单独使用，亦可与 on the one hand 并用，形成"on (the) one hand...on the other (hand)..."（一方面……另一方面……）的用法，其中括号内的 the 和 hand 均可省略。on the one hand 则不可单独使用。
On (the) one hand, Paul doesn't like to be alone, but on the other (hand), he rarely contacts his friends.
（一方面，保罗不喜欢独处，但另一方面，他又鲜少与朋友联络。）

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