# 第四册 Lesson 6 The sporting spirit 体育精神

## 一、课文原文

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.

—GEORGE ORWELL *The sporting spirit*

## 二、重点词汇详解

| 单词 | 音标 | 词性 | 释义 | 用法说明 |
|------|------|------|------|----------|
| goodwill | /ˌɡʊdˈwɪl/ | n. | 友好，善意 | create goodwill between nations 促进国家间友好 |
| inclination | /ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃn/ | n. | 倾向，意愿 | have no inclination to do 无意做某事 |
| concrete | /ˈkɒŋkriːt/ | adj. | 具体的，实在的 | concrete examples 具体实例 |
| orgy | /ˈɔːdʒi/ | n. | 狂欢，纵欲 | orgies of hatred 狂热的仇恨 |
| deduce | /dɪˈdjuːs/ | v. | 推断，演绎 | deduce from 从...推断出 |
| competitive | /kəmˈpetɪtɪv/ | adj. | 竞争性的 | competitive sports 竞技体育 |
| utmost | /ˈʌtməʊst/ | adj./n. | 最大的，极度的 | do one's utmost 竭尽全力 |
| patriotism | /ˈpætriətɪzəm/ | n. | 爱国主义 | local patriotism 地方荣誉感 |
| prestige | /preˈstiːʒ/ | n. | 威望，声望 | question of prestige 涉及声望的问题 |
| disgrace | /dɪsˈɡreɪs/ | v./n. | 使丢脸，耻辱 | be disgraced 丢脸 |
| savage | /ˈsævɪdʒ/ | adj. | 野蛮的，凶猛的 | savage instincts 野蛮本能 |
| combative | /ˈkɒmbətɪv/ | adj. | 好斗的 | combative instincts 斗争本能 |
| mimic | /ˈmɪmɪk/ | adj. | 模拟的，模仿的 | mimic warfare 模拟战争 |
| fury | /ˈfjʊəri/ | n. | 狂怒 | work oneself into a fury 勃然大怒 |
| absurd | /əbˈsɜːd/ | adj. | 荒谬的 | absurd contests 荒唐的比赛 |

## 三、语法知识点

### 1. even if 让步状语从句

> **Even if** one didn't know from concrete examples...one could deduce it from general principles.

- even if = 即使，引导让步状语从句
- 此处用虚拟语气（didn't know, could deduce），表示假设

### 2. as soon as 时间状语从句

> ...**as soon as** the question of prestige arises, **as soon as** you feel that...

- 两个as soon as并列使用，形成排比，加强语气
- = once, the moment

### 3. not...but... 不是...而是...

> ...the significant thing is **not** the behaviour of the players **but** the attitude of the spectators...

| 结构 | 含义 |
|------|------|
| not A but B | 不是A而是B |
| not only A but also B | 不仅A而且B |

### 4. unless 除非

> ...the game has little meaning **unless** you do your utmost to win.

- unless = if...not
- 仿写：You won't succeed unless you work hard.

## 四、重点句型分析

### 1. if only 但愿，要是...就好了

> ...if only the common peoples of the world could meet one another at football or cricket...

- if only + 虚拟语气，表示强烈的愿望
- 与 only if（只有...才...）区分

### 2. do one's utmost 竭尽全力

> ...unless you do your utmost to win.

- = try one's best, make every effort
- utmost 可作名词：do one's utmost

### 3. work oneself into a fury 勃然大怒

> ...of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests...

- work oneself into = 使自己进入...状态
- 类似：work oneself into a panic/thrill

### 4. at any rate 无论如何，至少

> ...and seriously believe -- at any rate for short periods -- that...

- = at least, in any case
- 插入语，表示退一步的说法

## 五、课文翻译

当我听人们说体育运动可创造国家之间的友谊，还说各国民众若在足球场或板球场上交锋，就不愿在战场上残杀的时候，我总是惊愕不已。即使不能从具体的事例（例如1936年的奥林匹克运动会）知道国际体育比赛会导致狂热的仇恨，人们也可以从一般原则中推断出来。

当今开展的几乎所有体育运动都是竞争性的。你参加比赛就是为了赢，如果你不尽全力去赢，比赛就没有什么意义。在乡村草坪上，你随便组队，不涉及地方荣誉感，仅仅为了娱乐和锻炼而打球是可能的：但一涉及声望问题，一旦你觉得你和你所属的更大团体在输了比赛后会丢脸，最野蛮的好斗本能就被激发起来了。任何参加过哪怕只是学校足球比赛的人都清楚这一点。在国际层面上，体育坦率地说是模拟战争。但重要的不是运动员的行为而是观众的态度，以及观众背后的那些国家——他们为这些荒唐的比赛勃然大怒，并认真地相信——至少在短时间内——跑跑跳跳踢踢球就是对国家美德的检验。

## 六、语言点精讲

### 1. 写作手法：先驳后立的反驳论证

- **先驳**：否定"体育促进友谊"的流行观点
- **再立**：论证体育本质是竞争，国际体育是模拟战争
- **深化**：问题的核心不在运动员而在观众和国家

### 2. 文化背景

- **1936年柏林奥运会**：希特勒利用奥运会宣传纳粹意识形态，成为政治化体育的经典案例
- **乔治·奥威尔（George Orwell）**：英国著名作家，《1984》《动物农场》作者，以犀利的社会批评著称
- **板球（cricket）**：英国传统运动，被视为绅士运动

### 3. 修辞分析

- **反讽**：running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue——将荒谬之事一本正经地陈述
- **递进**：从乡村→学校→国际，层层递进论证竞争性
- **排比**：as soon as...as soon as...加强节奏感

## 七、课后练习要点

1. **理解题**：How does the writer describe sport at the international level?（模拟战争）
2. **语法题**：even if 与 if only 的虚拟语气用法对比
3. **词汇题**：区分 prestige/disgrace/fury/absurd 的搭配用法
4. **写作练习**：用反驳论证结构写一篇关于竞争的议论文

## 八、本课小结

本课是奥威尔对**体育精神**的深刻反思，核心论点：国际体育竞争本质上是模拟战争，不能促进国家间友谊，反而激发仇恨。语法重点包括even if让步从句、as soon as时间从句、not...but...对比结构、unless条件句。修辞手法上运用反讽和递进论证，体现了奥威尔一贯的犀利文风。