The boats are manned4 by 20 paddlers, one drummer and one person who steers. Nearly 18 meters long, the colorful boats resemble dragons with elaborate heads and tails. The team paddles to the beat of the drum. The boats speed along, rising high and moving smoothly along the water. In about three to six minutes, they cross the finish line.

　　The races recall Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet in ancient China. When he drowned in the Mi Luo River, the people raced out to save him. But they were too late .

　　Dragon boats are now racing in towns and cities around the world. Students, working people and older people race for fun and exercise . Serious paddlers compete for cups and medals. In the United States, the Pacific Northwest International Dragon Cup is in its 11 th year. In Toronto, about 250, 000 spectators turn out for dragon-boat races each summer. Sweden has over 400 teams. Poland, too, has several dragon-boat clubs.

　　There are even consulting businesses to help people organize local dragon-boat events. They help with site selection, team training and safety. Besides that, non-profit organizations hold competitions to raise money.

　　And various regional and worldwide races — too many to name — keep serious paddlers busy. In September 2003 , Rome hosted the Club Crews World Championship. In 2004, world-class teams gathered in Shanghai for the fifth International Dragon Boat Federation races. In 2005 . . .

　　Going to Europe this summer? If so, just remember: When in Rome, do as the Chinese do! 5

　　閱讀自測

　　Ⅰ. Complete each sentence with a pro per word , making changes where necessary: ( catch on, appeal, man, patriotic , spectator, consult, amateur, worldclass)

　　1. Lily is an _________tennis player.

　　2. Several thousand _________watched the basketball game.

　　3. That new hairstyle has really_________ . Many people have that hairstyle now.

　　4. This company does _________work. It helps people start business.

　　5. The girls _________will the radar till we get back.

　　6. Kim really loves her country. She is very_________ .

　　7. This is a _________restaurant. It is known for having excellent quality.

　　8. The new fashion soon lost its_________ .

　　Ⅱ. An swe r the followin g que stio n in your own wo rds :

　　Why does the Dragon-boat Racing become so popular in the world ?

　　參考答案

　　Ⅰ. 1. amateur 2. spectators 3. caught on 4 . consulting 5. man 6. patriotic 7 . world-class 8. appeal

　　Ⅱ. Because it combines athletic competition, cultural interest and just plain fun, and people of all ages can take part in this activity.

　　參考譯文

　　老傳統, 新生命

　　鼓聲陣陣, 龍舟競渡。這一定是在中國大陸或是在中國臺灣吧? 不對, 再猜猜看! 如 今, 傳統的中國龍舟在英國和意大利等這些不太可能出現的地方比賽。1982 年, 香港龍舟 節廣邀世界好手參加, 龍舟賽開始為世人所知。20 世紀90 年代, 龍舟賽逐漸在亞洲以外 許多國家盛行開來, 并迅速成為一項全球性的水上運動。龍舟賽的魅力何在? 它的魅力在 于它將運動競技、文化趣味以及娛樂完美地結合起來。

　　船隊由18 位劃船手、1 位擊鼓手和1 位舵手組成。龍舟將近18 米長, 船身被裝點得五 彩繽紛, 船頭和船尾被精心制作成龍頭和龍尾的形狀。隊伍隨著鼓聲節奏劃槳。隨著龍舟 的速度不斷加快, 船身的吃水越來越淺, 在水面上飛速前進。大概只需3 ～6 分鐘, 龍舟就 能沖過終點線。

　　這項比賽是為了紀念中國古代愛國詩人屈原而舉辦的。當年他在汨羅江投水后, 人們 駕船去救他, 但為時已晚。

　　如今, 賽龍舟盛行于世界的各個城鎮。學生、上班族和老年人參加龍舟賽是為了娛樂 和鍛煉身體, 而職業的劃船手則為獎杯和獎牌而賽。在美國, 西北太平洋世界龍舟錦標賽 已經邁入了第十一個年頭。在多倫多, 每年夏天大約有25 萬人前去觀賞龍舟賽。瑞典有 400 多支龍舟隊伍。波蘭也有多個龍舟俱樂部。

　　一些地方甚至還有專門的咨詢機構協助籌辦地方性的龍舟賽事。他們負責選擇比賽 場地, 訓練隊員和維護安全。此外, 一些非盈利性組織也通過舉辦龍舟賽來募集資金。

　　各地還會舉辦許多地區性或全球性的比賽——— 數目繁多, 不勝枚舉——— 這讓許多職業 劃船手著實非常忙碌。2003 年9 月, 羅馬主辦了世界龍舟爭霸賽。2004 年, 眾多世界級的 隊伍聚集上海, 參加第五屆國際龍舟聯盟賽。2005 年⋯ ⋯

　　今年夏天要去歐洲嗎? 如果是的話, 要記住: 入羅馬境, 隨龍人俗!