Chris跟同事Ben聊起美國人對體育運動的熱愛。Ben問，

B: So sports is a way for people to bond?

C: Yeah. During holidays like Thanksgiving my family will sit around in front of the television and watch a football game together. It's a social occasion...enjoying the game and each other's company.

B: I'm not sure if Chinese people approach sports in the same way. If it's something that can bring glory to China's national team - such as Olympic table tennis or diving - then everyone watches the event together.

MC: 在美國，體育運動是人際往來的一種紐帶，a way for people to bond. Chris說，逢年過節(jié)，他們一家人都會圍坐在電視機旁，enjoy the game and each other's company. 欣賞比賽，共渡時光。Ben說，中國人看比賽不太一樣，一般都是有奧林匹克等國際賽事，中國隊可能會拿獎牌，為國爭光的時候，大家才會聚在一起看比賽。

C: I think in America people are often loyal to their regional team. In college you root for your school's team and then when you settle down somewhere you follow that area's team.

B: So what's your favorite team?

C: I actually have two favorites. I grew up in New York so I'm first and foremost a New York Jets fan, but I went to school in Baltimore so I also like the Baltimore Ravens.

Chris說，美國人一般住在哪里，就是那個地方球隊的粉絲，上大學的時候替校隊加油，畢業(yè)后在哪里安家，就替哪里的球隊加油，root for 是支持某人，替某人加油助威的意思，Chris說自己喜歡的球隊有兩個，小時候在紐約長大，所以I'm first and foremost a New York Jets fan, 所以是紐約噴氣機隊球迷，first and foremost 意思是首要的，然后又因為去巴爾的摩上學，成了巴爾的摩烏鴉隊的粉絲。

B: What happens when the teams play against each other?

C: (chuckle) I usually support the New York Jets. But if the Ravens win it's not too bad.

B: I have to confess I don't actually understand how American football works. It kind of looks like a war to me.

C: Actually, football is like a war. Each team tries to advance the ball through enemy territory to the end zone. It evolved from the English game of rugby which is also kind of like a battle between two armies.

Ben承認，自己看不太懂美式足球，不知道美式足球到底是怎么個打法。Chris承認，football is like a war.美式足球確實就好像是在打仗，兩只球隊都設法穿過敵人的地盤 enemy territory, 攻到 end zone 陣區(qū)里。Chris還說，美式足球是從英式橄欖球發(fā)展而來的，英式橄欖球 rugby is spelled r-u-g-b-y, rugby，他用的evolve is spelled e-v-o-l-v-e, evolve 是發(fā)展演繹的意思。