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American Football

American football is a unique sport-it is a game about gaining territory as much as it is about scoring points. When two teams step onto a football field,each is battling for every inch it can take from the other.Each team wants to defend the field that is behind it and invade the field in front of it. Ultimately,they want to gain enough ground to score a touchdown or field goal.

Ground Rules

Football is a game of inches played on a field measured in yards-English measurements are used to track movements on the field.Teams succeed based on how many yards they accumulate or allow. An official NFL (National Football League) football field is a rectangle that is 120 yards(110 m) long and 53 yards. I foot (49m) wide. Most fields are covered in grass and set in an outdoor (open-air} stadium. Some fields are made of artificial turf, which you'll find in many of the indoor stadiums.

The most essential piece of equipment in a football game is the ball.Official NFL footballs are handmade by Wilson Sporting Goods Co. The football is an oblong (椭圆形的) sphere and has a lengthwise circumference(周线) and a width-wise circumference in the middle of the ball.

With the equipment identified and the field set, we can now play a game.An NFL game is divided into four quarters with an extended halftime break between quarters two and three. Each quarter is 15 minutes long. lf the teams are tied after four quarters of play,they play an additional overtime period of 15 minutes. Inthe overtime, the first team to score wins.

While the game time adds up to one hour, it usually takes three to four hours to play a game. Teams can stop the clock by running out of bounds,throwing an incomplete pass, or calling a time-out, of which they have three per half. Time also stops for each of the two-minute warnings, observed two minutes prior to the end of the second and fourth quarters.

Who's Who

An NFL roster allows for no more than 53 players on a team. At any one time, only 11 players per team are allowed on the field. To understand an NFL roster, you have to identify the three teams within a team: theoffense. the defense and special teams. Each of these groups has specialized positions with a specific setof skills.

Offense

A team's offense is responsible for taking the ball down the field toward its opponent's end zone. To do this. the offense throws the ball from one player to another or holds the ball and runs forward. Here are the basic offensive positions.

Quarterback (QB)-This player throws the ball to receivers or hands it off to running backs. The quarterback is also known as the "field general,"because he's the on-the-field leader.

Offensive linemen-These players provide blocking for the quarterback and running backs. Individual linemanpositions include:

Center (C)-The center is located in the middle of the line. This player hikes the ball to the quarterback by bringing the ball up between his legs.

Guards (LG/RG)-These two players flank the center.

Tackles (LT/RT)-The tackles are positioned on the outside of each guard;teams have two tackles.

Receivers-Receivers run down the field and catch balls thrown by the quarterback. Receivers are either wide receivers (WR) or tight ends (LTE/RTE).depending on where they are positioned on the field.

Running backs-Running backs take the ball from the quarterback and run up the field. Depending on the fomation (arrangement of the offensive players, a running back might be called a tailback (TB), halfback (HB) or fullback (FB).

Defense

When a team does not have possession of the ball, it is on defense and uses various methods to prevent theother team's offense from scoring. These players must tackle the offensive player who has the ball to stopthe offense from advancing.Defense will also try to take the ball away from the offense.

Here are the basic defensive positions:

Defensive linemen-The linemen put pressure on the quarterback by trying to tackle him before he releases the ball. They also try to stop running backs.There are typically three or four defensive linemen.

Linebackers-When there are four linemen, there is a middle linebacker(MLB) and two outside linebackers (OLB). When there are three linemen. there are two inside linebackers (ILB) and two outside linebackers. Their job is to back up the linemen. as well as contain runners and cover receivers on some plays.

Cornerbacks (CB)-The cornerbacks prevent the wide receivers from catching the ball by breaking up passes from the quarterback.

Safeties-The safeties play deep behind the rest of the defense to prevent a long pass or run. A strong safety (SS) lines up on the side of the field where there are more offensive players. The free safety (FS) plays a deep, middle position.

Special Teams

If a team has to kick the ball, it uses its special-teams unit. This unit includes the team's kickers, theoffensive line, and players who run down the field to tackle a returner(see below).

Placekicker-The placekicker kicks the ball through the goalposts to score points and kicks the ball to theother team to start the game and after each scoring possession.

Punter-The punter free-kicks the ball if his team cannot advance the ball down the field.

Returner-During a kickoff or punt, the returner tries to catch the ball and return it as far as he can. A player can score a touchdown on a rcturn.

Moving the Ball and Finding the End Zone

A football game begins with a coin toss to decide which team will receive the opening kickoff. From the opening kickoff, the two teams battle to take possession of the ball. Possession means that a team's offensive unit has the ball.

A team can take possession of the ball in several ways:

Receiving a kickoff-A team receives a kickoff at the beginning of each half and after the other team scores.

Turnover-A team recovers a ball dropped by the other team (fumble)or picks off a ball thrown by the other team's quarterback (interception).

Safety-A player is tackled in his own end zone, meaning the end zone his team is defending, so the other team gets the ball though a free kick.

Punt-The defensive team stops the offensive team from getting 10 yards in three downs, and the offensive team free-kicks, or punts, the ball to the other team on third down.

Turnover on downs-The offensive team fails to advance the ball lO yands in four downs and has to surrenderthe ball to the other team.

For those new to the sport the last two scenarios on this list may not make sense. One of the most confusing concepts of American-style football is the down-and-distance system. Every time a team takes possessionof the ball, it is given a set of four downs, or attempts, to move the ball l0 yards. If the team can movethe ball lO yards or more Within four downs, the team gets another set of four downs to go another l0 yards, and so on. For instance, if a team advances 3 yards on first down, the next play is second down with 7 yards to go (second and 7); if the team then advances 5 yards on second down, the next play is third and 2; if the team then advances 2 or more yards on third down, the next play is back to first and lO, wich a whole new set of four downs during which to advance the ball.

参考译文

美国橄榄球

美国橄榄球是一项独特的运动，它是一种以攻占阵地得分的比赛。两队队员进入球场，每一队都会尽量坚守自己的每寸阵地不让对方攻入。每个队都想既能防守住自己的后方阵地又能攻入对方的前线阵地。最后，他们都想攻占足够的阵地以求达阵得分或射门得分。

基本规则

橄榄球是在以码计算的场地上进行的寸土必争的“英寸游戏”，采用英式度量单位来测量场上的活动。[l]比赛的胜负由球队累积的或推进的码数来决定。一个正式的NFL（美国全国橄榄球联盟）球场是一个120码（l1O米）长，53码l英尺(49米)宽的长方形。大多数场地都建在户外的（露天的）体育场上，地上植有草坪。一些场地植的是人造草皮。这种草皮在很多室内体育场非常普遍。

一场橄榄球比赛最必要的器材是橄榄球。正式的NFL橄榄球是由威尔逊体育用品公司手工制作的。橄榄球是一个椭圆形的球体，球的中间标有纵向的和横向的周长线。

有了器材和场地，我们就可以进行一场比赛了。NFL的比赛分成4节，在第2节和第3节之间有中场休息。每节持续15分钟。如果全场4节打成平局，就再打l5分钟的加时赛。[2]在加时赛中，先得分者获胜。

虽然比赛时间总计一个小时。但打一场比赛通常都要花上3到4个小时。球队可能因为球出界、传球未完成或呼叫暂停而暂时中止比赛计时。[3]每队每半场允许3次暂停。半场和终场结束前两分钟，裁判会吹哨子叫暂停以提醒比赛时间，这也会导致比赛计时的停止。

球员角色分配

NFL规定各队比赛大名单上的球员不能超过53名。任何时候，每个队都只能有11名球员上场。[4]为了了解NFL的比赛大名单，你必须要识别每个球队里的3组球员：进攻组、防守组和特勤组。各组在比赛时都有专门的位置，各自也有一套专门的技能。

进攻

球队的进攻组负责将球带到对方的终极战区，为了做到这一点，进攻球员要将球从一名队员手中传到另一名队员手中，或者抱着球向前冲。这是基本的进攻方位：

四分卫(QB)——四分卫队员负责把球传给接球手或跑锋。[5]四分卫也被称为“赛场上的主帅”，因为他是赛场上的指挥者。

进攻践员——这些队员负责阻止对方对四分卫和跑锋的截杀。各个线员的位置包括：

[6]中锋(C)——中锋站在对阵线的中间位置，常常是从两腿间将球传给四分卫。

中卫(LG/RG)——左右中卫分别位于中锋的两侧。

擒卫（LT/RT）——擒卫位于每个中卫的外围；每个球队有2名擒卫。

接球手——接球手负责在场中跑动以接住四分卫传出的球。接球手可以连外接手(WR)也可以是边锋( LTE/RTE)，这取决于他们在场上的位置。

跑锋——跑锋负责从四分卫那里接到进球后进行特定的跑动。根据进攻队员的阵式（排列），跑锋可以叫做后跑锋(TB)、半跑锋(HB)或者全跑锋(FB)。

防守

一个队手上没有球时，它就需要防守，运用各种各样的方法阻止对方的进攻得分。这些队员必须阻截对方带球的进攻队员前进。防守队员也将努力从对方进攻队员那里抢球。

这是基本的防守方位：

防守线卫——防守线卫在对方的四分卫将球传出前尽量对其进行阻截以便给他施加压力。他们也会尽量地对跑锋进行拦截。一个队通常有3或4个防守线卫。

线后卫——有4个防守线卫的时候，就有1个中线卫(MLB)和2个外线卫(OLB)。有3个防守线卫时，就有2个内线卫(ILB)和2个外线卫。他们的任务是支援防守线卫，以及在某些情况下随着进攻方外接手跑动，阻止外接手成功接球。

角卫(CB)-角卫通过拦截对方四分卫的传球以阻止外接手成功接球。

安全卫——[7]安全卫安置在防守线的最后以防止长距离的传球或跑动。强卫(SS)在对方进攻球员更多的地方列阵。游卫(FS)则在靠近外场线的中间位置活动。

特勤组

如果一个队要开始踢球了，它就会使用它的特勤组成员。这个组包括踢球手、发球手，以及在场上跑动拦截回攻员的球员（见以下说明）。

射手-[8]射手负责将球踢进球门得分，以及在每次得分后开球。

弃踢员——弃踢员在本队无法推动球前进的情况下自由踢球。

回攻员——在开球或弃踢球的时候，回攻员会试图抢球然后尽快进行回攻。球员在回攻的时候可能会达阵得分。

带球找到终极战区

[9]一场橄榄球比赛开始时以掷硬币来决定哪一队先开球。一开球，两队就对球的占有权进行争夺。对球的占有权意味这球在该队的进攻组手上。

球队可以以几种方式取得对球的占有权：

得到开球权——球队在每半场开始时和对方队得分后取得开球权。

对方失误——球队重新抢到对方掉在地上的球（失球）或是接到对方四分卫掷出的球（抢球）。

安全——球员在本方极阵也就是他所在的球队要防守的区域被擒杀，因此对方球队就可白白得球。

弃踢——防守组使对方进攻组在3次进攻之后都不能将球推进10码，对方在第3次进攻后随意将球踢开，或弃踢球。

进攻权换手——[10]进攻方在4次进攻后都不能将球推进1O码．不得不将球让给对方。

对于那些对这项运动不熟悉的人来说，这个条目上的最后两种情况可能没有什么意义。美式橄榄球最令人困惑的概念之一就是进攻机会——距离系统。每当一个队取得对球的占有权时，它就会得到4次可能将球推进10码的进攻机会。如果球队能在这4次进攻中将球成功推进10码或超过10码，该队就可以得到可能将球再推进10码的新一档的4次进攻机会，如此推进。例如，一队在第l次进攻中前进了3码,下一次进攻也就是第2次进攻还需前进7码(2进7)；如果该队在第2次进攻中推进了5码，那么下一次进攻也就是第3次进攻就还要推进2码；如果在第3次进攻中推进2码或超过2码，下一次进攻就回到l进10，进入另一档的4次进攻，继续将球向前推进。

测试题

1.The success of a team is measured by means of_______________________.

A) the yards it gains

B) the field goals it scores

C) the strategy it uses

D) the touchdowns it scores

2.When the teams need to play the overtime period,the team that__________________wins.

A) gains more ground

B) gets more touchdowns

C) scores before the other

D) gets the first penalty kick

3.How many timeouts are the teams allowed to have?

A) Two for each quarter.

B) Three for each half.

C) Three for each quarter.

D) Two for each half.

4.What is included in an NFL roster?

A) All the players on the team.

B) The substitute players and coaches.

C) Only the players allowed on the field.

D) The offense,the defense and special teams.

5.The role of the on-the-field leader is played by ______________________.

A) a receiver

B) a quarterback

C) a running back

D) an offensive lineman

6.Usually, offensive linemen consist of at least_______________players.

A) three

B) four

C) five

D) six

7.In the defense team, the deepest defensive position is played by_________________.

A) defensive linemen

B) linebackers

C) cornerbacks

D) safeties

8.Kicking a ball through the goalposts to gain points is the responsibility of____________________.

9.The right of a team's opening kickoff is usually determined by___________________.

lO.The offensive team will lose possession of the ball if it fails to gain lO yards in__________________.

答案详解

1.[定位]根据题干中的success查找到第1个小标题Ground Rules部分的首段第2句。

解析：原文中的based on...表明判断一个队伍成功与否的标准是什么，因此based on后的介词宾语为本题答案。其他三个选项在该段均未提及。

2.[C][定位]根据题干中的overtime查找到第1个小标题Ground Rules部分的第3段末句。

解析：选项C是对原文该句的同义改写，为本题答案。其他选项与overtime period的内容无关，且在该段也未提及。

3.[B][定位]根据题干中的timeouts查找到第1个小标题Ground Rules部分的第4段第2句。

解析：原文该句句末的非限制性定语从句表明本题应选B。其他选项均无原文依据。

4.[D][定位]根据题干中的NFL roster查找到第2个小标题Who's Who部分的首段。

解析：在四个选项中，只有选项B没有原文依据，其他三个选项均可在原文找到部分或全部词语。其中，选项A不正确，因为一个橄榄球队的全体队员可能超过53人，但根据该段首句，roster里只能包括最多53个球员的名字，由此可见，选项A与原文不符；选项C中的only显然过于绝对，与该段首句不符；原文该段第3句暗示不论roster里面有多少成员名字，肯定得包括the offense，the defense and special teams，由此可见，选项D为本题答案。本题也可通过对比选项和原文，看看哪个选项与原文重合度最高，由此也可确定选项D为本题答案。

5.[B][定位]根据题干中的on-the-field leader查找到第2个小标题Who's Who部分的次标题Offense下第2段末句。

解析：只要根据题眼定位原文，不难发现选项B为本题答案。

6.[C][定位]根据题干中的offensive linemen查找到第2个小标题Who's Who部分的次标题Offense下第3段。

解析：原文该段逐一介绍了各个offensive linemen的位置，以及每个位置人员的分配情况，只要将里面提到的数字简单相加：1个center+2个guards+2个tackles=5个，即可得出本题答案为选项C。

7.[D][定位]根据题干中的deepest查找到第2个小标题Who's Who部分的次标题Defense下末段首句。

解析：根据题干中的defense一词可将搜索范围限定于第2个小标题下，然后逐一在各个段落寻找与deep有关的信息，不难发现题干中的the deepest defensive position与原文deep behind the rest of the defense同义，因此本题应选D。

8.[placekickers]

[定位]根据题干中的Kicking等词查找到第2个小标题Who's Who部分的次标题Special Teams下第2段。

解析：空白此应为名词（词组）。题干中的kick和goalposts只能同时在第2个小标题Who's Who部分的次标题Special Teams下第2段有关placekickers的段落找到，因此可以确定placekickers为本题答案。

9.[a coin toss]

[定位]根据题干中的opening kickoff查找到第3个小标题Moving the Ball and Finding the End Zone部分的首段首句。

解析：空白处应为名词（词组）或现在分词（词组）。原文该句中的with a coin toss to decide...表明开球权由a coin toss决定，因此，本题答案为a coin toss。

10.[four downs]

[定位]根据题干中的possession等词查找到倒数第2段。

解析：空白处应为名词（词组），作in的宾语。题干中的lose possession of the ball与原文该段中的surrender the ball to the other team同义，由此可见，该句介绍了在什么情况下进攻的队伍将失去控球权，这正是本题要求查找的内容，因此原文中in后的介词宾语four downs为本题答案。