常春藤生活英语【140】Why We Love to Grill 一家烤肉万家香

Why We Love to Grill 一家烤肉万家香

From yakiniku in Japan to shashlik in Russia, churrasco in Brazil to braai in South Africa, everyone loves a good barbecue. With centuries-old recipes and various traditions, no country or culture can claim the BBQ as their own. In America, however, thousands of people are trying hard to change that. The goal is to make the perfect barbecue and make it American.

The KCBS, Kansas City Barbecue Society, doesn't have a long history. What it has, though, is 10,000 members, which makes it the largest society for barbecuing on the planet. Their aim is to make American barbecue the absolute best in the world.

When it comes to barbecue, they don't just mean grilling meat. They mean grilling lots of meat. The society's main activity is hosting barbecue contests all over the country. They put on more than 300 events every year. These contests are no small matter. People form special barbecue teams and travel from contest to contest. All of their efforts are meant for them to be ranked as the top barbecuers in the nation.

The biggest BBQ event of the year happens at the Memphis May Festival. This is where hundreds of professional barbecue teams battle for the world championship title and US$90,000 in prizes. Who will be crowned the BBQ King? Like most affairs of food, it is a matter of taste. 

Building Your Vocabulary  

1. absolute　a. 绝对的（强调语气用）
You're an absolute fool to break up with her.
你真是笨得可以才会跟她分手。
2. host　vt. 主办；主持
They asked a celebrity to host this event.
他们请了一位名人来主持这个活动。
3. rank　vt. 排行，排名（常用被动态）
Lily was ranked fifth in the singing contest.
莉莉在歌唱比赛里排名第五。
4. crown　vt. 为……加冕
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953.
伊丽莎白二世于1953年受冕为英国女王。 

Phrases for Learning  

1. vput on...　　举行∕演出……（活动，节目等）
Jason put on a magic show for his kids.
杰森为他的孩子们表演了一场魔术秀。
2. be no small/laughing matter　　绝不是小事∕开玩笑的事（表某事必须严肃对待）
Your personal health is no laughing matter.
你的个人健康绝不能等闲视之。
3. be meant (for + 人) to + 原形动词　　意在（使某人）……
This book is meant to help you with writing.
这本书的目的是用来帮助你写作。
4. it is a matter of...　　只是……的问题
You will succeed. It's just a matter of when.
你一定会成功。问题只是何时而已。

Extra Words  

1. society　n. 协会，社团
2. title　n. 冠军 

Grammar Check  

The goal is to make...
（其目标就是要做出……）
Their aim is to make...
（他们的宗旨是要让……）
上述两句中的"to make"皆为名词不定词（to + 原形动词），并且接在 be 动词后作主词补语。此时句中主词均为表『意愿；企图』的名词。
Gina's plan is to start working after she graduates from college.
（吉娜的计划是在大学毕业后就开始工作。）
Sandy's birthday wish was to find her Mr. Right quickly.
（珊蒂的生日愿望是能赶快找到她的真命天子。）
 
中文翻译  

从日本的日式烧肉到俄国的剑烤肉串；巴西的铁架烤肉到南非的非洲烧烤，人人都喜欢烤得不亦乐乎。在众多古老食谱及各种烤肉传统的相互争鸣之下，没有任何国家或文化能将烤肉这档子事占为己有。不过在美国却有上千人正努力想改变这一点。其目标就是要做出最完美的烧烤料理，并且将它美国化。

简称为KCBS的堪萨斯市烧烤协会并无悠久的历史。它所拥有的则是一万名会员，这也使其成为全世界规模最大的烤肉协会。他们的宗旨是要让美式烤肉成为全球烧烤界的第一把交椅。

一提到烧烤，他们指的不单单是烤肉而已。他们说的是烤大把大把的肉。这个协会的主要活动就是在全美各地举办烧烤比赛。他们每年会举行超过三百场的活动。这些比赛可不容小觑。人们会组成特别的烤肉团队，从这一场再比到下一场。他们的所有努力都是想让自己成为国内顶尖的烧烤大师。

一年当中最重大的烤肉盛会便发生在孟斐斯五月庆典之时。这里正是数百支职业烤肉队伍同场较劲以争夺世界烧烤冠军头衔及奖金九万美元的地方。谁能加冕成为烧烤之王？正如同大多与食物相关的事物一样，这纯粹是个人口味的问题罢了。

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