(单词翻译:单击)
情景对话
Todd: Hey, Simon, we're talking about the Olympics. Do you think the olympics still have their core meaning, or do you think the Olympics now are too commericalized and too much big money?
托德：嗨，西蒙，我们来谈谈奥运会吧。你认为现在奥运会依然具有核心内涵，还是说奥运会过于商业化，动用了大量资金？
Simon: Well, I, you know, I would hate to sit on the fence on this one cause I am sitting on the fence but I think both. Yeah, it's far too corporate. It's way too corporate, too much media attention, too many sponsors, too much corruption, but I mean, I think you know, when you look at the athletes during the opening ceremony and you see the actual sports, that they're doing the same thing that they were many years ago and you can see the joy on their faces and even people who are not famous, you know having their time in the sun or in the snow in this case, you know, really enjoying it and being the best at what they do, so yeah. The answer is both.
西蒙：虽然在这个问题上我不想保持中立，不过我确实认为两者都有。奥运会现在有太多的商业因素，太多商业参与，过多的媒体关注，过多的赞助，还有大量的腐败问题，不过我认为，看到开幕式上的运动员和比赛后，你知道他们做的事情同许多年前一样，你能看到他们脸上的喜悦，那些不出名的运动员也在享受着参加夏季奥运会和冬季奥运会的时间，他们真的非常享受这个时刻，努力在比赛中做到最好。所以我的答案是两个观点我都同意。
Todd: OK, if you could change one thing to improve the olympics, what would you change?
托德：好，如果你能改变一件事来改善奥运会，你会选择改变什么？
Simon: What would I change if I could improve the olympics? Well, I think, yeah, I would just change the influence that governments and sponsorship have on the Olympics, and I'd probably give the olympics a more organic feel, rather than, cause you know, the United States would get it every second or third time just because of all the corporate sponsorship and all the TV money.
西蒙：如果我能改善奥运会我会选择改变什么？嗯，我想我可能会改变政府和赞助商对奥运会的影响，我可能会使奥运会更自然，而不是……你知道，美国奥运会能得到企业赞助和电视转播费。
Todd: Right, right. Yeah, actually if I could change one thing, I think I would move some of the summer sports to the winter sports, like for example basketball. Like why can't they play basketball in the winter, or a lot of these indoor sports, the fact that their indoor, you don't have to do it because it's on ice or snow, and like you said earlier, then maybe you can get more countries involved.
托德：对，没错。实际上如果我能改变一件事，那我会把一些夏季奥运会的项目移到冬季奥运会举行，比如篮球。为什么像篮球这样的室内运动不能在冬季比赛？这些运动之所以在室内举行，是因为它们不需要冰雪，就像你之前说的，这样可以让更多的国家参与进来。
Simon: Right. That's a good point actually.
西蒙：对。这真是个不错的想法。
Todd: Right, because it doesn't have to be on snow or ice, but yeah.
托德：嗯，因为这些运动不需要冰雪也可以进行。
Simon: Well, a lot of sports, I can think of basketball, soccer, American football, they're all played in the winter time in most countries.
西蒙：我认为在许多国家，许多运动都是在冬天进行的，比如篮球、足球、美式橄榄球等等。
Todd: Sure. Right. Right. So actually, the opympics are here. How much time do you think you'll spend watching the Olymics on TV?
托德：对，没错，是的。实际上，现在冬奥会比赛即将举行。你认为你会花多长时间收看奥运会转播？
Simon: Oh, probably about a couple of hours a week. Maybe three or four hours a week at most.
西蒙：哦，可能一周几个小时吧。最多一周三四个小时。
Todd: Right. Yeah, I'm going to try to catch the skiing. I like to watch the skiing and the hockey of course.
托德：好。我尽量观看全部的滑冰比赛。我喜欢看滑冰比赛和冰球。
Simon: Yeah, I don't know what I'll watch but I'll just turn the TV on and find out how my country is, the players are doing.
西蒙：我不清楚我是否会看比赛，不过我会把电视打开，关注我祖国运动员的表现的。
Todd: Well, let's get the hockey schedule and go and watch some hockey down at the club.
托德：我们查一下冰球比赛的时间安排，一起去俱乐部看冰球比赛吧。
Simon: OK, let's do it.
西蒙：好，说定了。
Todd: Cool.
托德：太好了。
译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载
重点讲解
重点讲解：
1. sit on the fence 保持中立；骑墙；
例句：They are sitting on the fence and refusing to commit themselves.
他们保持中立，拒绝表态。
2. rather than 而非；胜于；而不是；
例句：When I'm going out in the evening I use the bike if I can rather than the car.
我晚上要外出的时候，我宁愿骑自行车而不是开车。
3. at most 至多；最多；
例句：Poach the pears in apple juice for perhaps ten minutes at most.
把梨放入苹果汁中，最多煮10分钟左右。
4. a couple of 两个；几个；
例句：I can run up a dress in a couple of hours.
我能在几个小时内赶做出一件衣服。
5. turn on 打开（设备）；接通（…的供应）；
例句：When you walk into the room, the lights turn on by themselves.
每当你走入这房间，电灯自己就打开。
6. find out （尤指特意通过努力）发现，找出，查明；
例句：Jill will find out your secret she never misses a trick!
吉尔会发现你的秘密的——她很警觉！
