The sporting spirit
I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations, and that if only the common peoples of the world could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield. Even if one didn’t know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce it from general principles.
Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win. On the village green, where you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simply for the fun and exercise: but as soon as the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level, sport is frankly mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators: and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and seriously believe – at any rate for short periods – that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.
单词
goodwill n. 善意，友好，友好关系
exude goodwill 流露出善意
promote goodwill
create and strengthen goodwill
goodwill games
goodwill visit 友好访问 goodwill tour （tour 有巡游的意思，偏多地的连续访问）
official visit 正式访问, informal visit 非正式访问, private visit 私人访问, state visit 国事访问
inclination n. 意愿
have an inclination to do sth. 有意愿 …
没有意愿
have no inclination to do
I haven’t the slightest inclination to become a journalist.
incline 倾向于（偏客观） be inclined to do
Be careful not to annoy the boss, because he is inclined to lose his temper.
… because he tends to lose his temper.
… because he has the tendency to lose his temper.
… because he is apt / prone to lose his temper.
contest n. 比赛
contest 打分的比赛；也泛指比赛。
a speech / beauty / dance contest 演讲 / 选美 / 舞蹈比赛
game / match 倾向于双方对抗性的比赛
a boxing / basketball / football / volleyball match / game
games 运动会
the Olympic Games
race 竞速比赛
a car / boat / horse / swimming race
open 公开赛
tournament 锦标赛、系列赛、淘汰赛
championship 冠军赛
deduce v. 推断
deduce A from B
deduce effect from cause 由原因推结果
deduction 推理
conclude A from B
conclusion （事情的结束），结论，结束
infer A from B
inference
What can we infer from the passage?
patriotism n. 爱国主义
“patr” = “pater”: father
patriot 爱国者
patriotic 爱国的，爱国主义的 patriotic songs / education
patriotism 爱国主义 compatriot 同胞
patriarchy 父权主义，父系社会 patricide 弑父
paternal paternal affection 父爱
paternity 父亲的身份
“matr” = “mater”: mother
matriarchy 母权制 matricde 弑母
maternal maternal affection 母爱
maternity 父亲的身份 She is on maternity leave. 她在休产假。
disgrace v. & n. 使出丑，使丢脸
The dishonest minister was publicly disgraced.
shame …
humiliate …
bring shame / disgrace on …
show sb. up 让 … 丢人，由于某人做了不好的事情导致其他人丢人
Mary’s boyfriend showed her up by falling asleep at the concert.
课文
第一句：I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sport creates goodwill between the nations, and that if only the common peoples of the world could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battlefield.
amaze sb. （弄不清楚）惊讶，maze 是迷宫的意思
(3-3课) When the archaeologists reconstructed the fragments, they were amazed to find that the goddess turned out to be a very modern-looking woman.
if only 引导虚拟语气，表示盼望（复习 3-7课）
If only I were as clever as you are!
If only they were here now, we would be able to celebrate their wedding anniversary.
only if … 只有 …
She will go only if Peter goes.
Only if Peter goes will she go.
第二句：Even if one didn’t know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic Games, for instance) that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce it from general principles.
even if … （假设），even though … （事实）
Even though you dislike ancient monuments, Warwick Castle is worth a visit. （朋友之间相熟，了解事实）
Even if you dislike ancient monuments, Warwick Castle is worth a visit.
solid / concrete
abstract
solid / concrete examples / conditions
Beauty itself is abstract.
orgies of … / an orgy of … 疯狂的；过度的；
orgies of hatred
an orgy of killing
an orgy of spending before Christmas 圣诞节前疯狂购物
近义词 binge / spree
He went on a drinking binge over the weekend.
The girls went on a shopping spree on Saturday.
第三句：Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive.
sport 具体的运动可数，泛指时不可数（=> sports）
practise / practice v. 经常做，从事
practice n. 习俗，惯例
(3-23课) On the other hand, your stomach would turn at the idea of frying potatoes in animal fat – the normally accepted practice in many northern countries.
第四句：You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win.
尽力去做
do / try one’s utmost / best to do
go to great lengths to do
endeavor / endeavour to do
spare no effort to do
give one’s all to do, go all out to do
(3-29课) Though the doctor did his best, the patient’s recovery was slow.
(3-28课) The man went to great lengths to prove that the diamonds were real.
(13课) We endeavour to avoid the old, romantic idea of a gusher, which wastes oil and gas.
(复习) China will spare no effort to realize peaceful reunification.
(听力)
W: Look at the delicious sandwiches. John’s really gone all out this time.
M: Just wait until you see the dessert.
A: © The dessert also looks impressive.
注：这句不表示转折，只是说 dessert 也会很不错，如：
Part 1 of the movie was amazing.
Just wait until you see Part 2. (Part 2 is even better.)
第五句：On the village green, where you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simply for the fun and exercise: but as soon as the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused.
pick up sides 随意组队
local patriotism 地方主义
question of prestige 声望问题
question of pride 面子问题
question of time 时间问题
matter of …
(3-46课) It is a question of pride as much as anything else.
She is so talented and diligent that her success is only a question of time.
(33课) Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.
It’s only a matter of time.
It’s a matter of personal taste.
It’s a matter of preference.
It’s a matter of interest.
It’s a matter of life and death.
I can’t take the money. It’s a matter of principle.
arise 不及物 arose arisen
arise from …
The conflict arose from tensions between different ethnic groups.
arouse interest / hostility / resentment，及物
unit n. group; organization
第八句：But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators: and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests, and seriously believe – at any rate for short periods – that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.
not … but … 不是，而是
not that … but that … 不是因为 … 而是因为 … （复习）
It is not that … but (that) …
spectator 观众（单个可数），一般是看台在上，舞台（广场）在下
audience 一群观众，但是观众在下，舞台在上
viewer
onlooker / looker-on
这句可以用上一课的 It is that … not …
It is the attitude of the spectators that is significant / that is of significance, not the behavior of the players.
It is the thought that count. 心意最重要（礼轻情意重）。
work sb. into …
He worked himself into a rage.
He worked his audience into enthusiasm.
at any rate 1. 无论如何
= in any case / event
= come what may
~, we must go on Tuesday.
at any rate 2. 至少
= at least
They felt, or ~ Dan felt, both relieved and frightened.
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新东方《新概念英语（第四册）》（李延隆老师）课程来源于 YouTube.
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