Depending on which player you ask, the "Fevernova" ball that sports equipment maker Adidas says provides the ultimate soccer experience is Uncontrollable, too big or just simply "stupid". The ball also has its fans, like England's David Beckham. but so far they seem to have been outnumbered by critics.
Adidas says the ball. splashed with gold coloring. is quite simply the best around-25 percent more accurate than the ball used at France 98 thanks to meticulous testing by scientists in Germany.
The tongue-twisting nature of its contents confirms that the World Cup ball has come a long way from the leather-and-laces variety that was common as recently as the 1960s.
The Fevernova's secret. Adidas says. is its radically improved Syntactic foam and unique knitted Raschel fabric.
Given that this is supposed to make the ball faster and provide the freekick specialists like Beckham with more power, it may not be surprising that goalkeepers like Buffon are unhappy. Spain goalkeeper Pedro Contreras said the bail acts "strangely", while Danish keeper Thomas Sorensen admitted gloomily that it would probably result in more spectacular goals. "As a goalkeeper, you have to live with the fact that the makers create balls for the benefit of strikers." he said before leaving Copenhagen for South Korea.
But outfield players have also weighed in with criticism, many saying the ball is too light and therefore hard to control. "It’s big and it's too light," Japan's Jiji news agency quoted Brazilian forward Edilson as saying earlier this month. while striker Rivaldo said it soared too far when kicked.
Journalists at the main press centre in Yokohama have been given the chance to try out the Fevernova from the penalty spot, with the aim of hitting special targets in the goal. So far. few have been able to score more than five out of ten, although this may have little to do with the quality of the ball.
Putz. admits that the ball is on the light side of FIFA's 420 to 445 gram weight requirement. but says it is no bigger than previous balls.
The controversy over the ball also has an off-pitch dimension. Industry insiders say it may be no coincidence that players from Brazil. sponsored by Adidas rival Nike, have been among the ball's most vociferous critics.
The same might go for the praise dished out for the ball by Beckham. one of the main players used to promote Adidas equipment.
【试题】
1. How does Adidas describe the "Fevernova”ba11?
A) The experience provided by the ball is the best so far.
B) The ball is almost impossible to control because of its large size.
C) The ball has gone through a long way of development.
D) The experience provided by the ball is most welcome by strikers.
2. What does the author think about the Syntactic foam and unique Raschel fabric chat are used to make the ball?
A) The materials have long been used in history.
B) The materials do not sound Familiar.
C) The materials are new and advanced.
D) The materials improve che precision of the ball.
3. The goalkeepers tend to admit reluctantly that_____________.
A) the ball is too strange to control
B) the ball is so light that it goes too fast
C) the ball may make the game more thrilling
D) the ball may help to enhance the strikers' skills
4. Which of the following js true according to Putz?
A) The ball is lighter than but of the same size as the previous ones.
B) The ball should have been heavier to meet the required weight.
C) The ball should have been bigger than the previous ones.
D) The ball is light but still meets the weight requirement.
5. According to industry insiders. Beckham's comment on the ball_____________.
A) is justified in his daily training
B) is out of commercial purpose
C) goes as radical as the Brazilian players'
D) is similar to that by the Brazilian players
【答案详解】
1.阿迪达斯如何形容“飞火流星”球?
A) 这个球所带来的体验是迄今为止最好的。
B) 这个球基本上不可能控制,因为体积太大了。
C) 这个球已经经过了很长时间的开发。
D) 这个球所带来的体验最为前锋所欢迎。
[A]首段首句中的ultimate experience表明Adidas公司认为“飞火流星”是至今最完美的足球,因此选项A为本题答案。
2. 作者怎么看用来制造这个球的复合泡沫塑料以及独特的拉歇尔经编针织物?
A) 在历史上这种材料已经使用了很长时间。
B) 这种材料听上去很陌生。
C) 这种材料是新型的先进的。
D) 这种材料提高了球的精准度。
[B]第3段开头的tongue-twisting表明人们对于制作“飞火流星”的材料及其功能都并不熟悉,因此选项B为本题答案。第3段表明“飞火流星”的材料经过很长时间才研制出来,并非长久以来一直在使用,由此可见。选项A不正确;第4段是Adidas公司的看法,并非作者的看法,因此选项C不符合题意;根据第2段可判断选项D也是Adidas公司的看法。而并非作者的看法。
3.守门员会不情愿地承认,______________。
A) 这个球很奇怪,很难控制 B)这个球很轻,速度太快
C) 这个球会让整场比赛更加精彩 D)这个球可以提高前锋的技艺
[C]本题题干中的reluctantly是关键词,指出本题要求查找的是“飞火流星”具有的优点,而这个优点是守门员们不想面对或承认的。选项C与第5段第2句中的gloomily that it would probably result in more spectacular goals 内容相近,符合题意.为本题答案。
4.根据Putz所说,下列哪一种说法是正确的?
A) 相比以前同样大小的球,这种球更加轻。
B) 这种球本应该更重一些,才能达到要求的重量。
C) 这种球本应该比以往的球更大一些。
D) 这种球很轻,但是仍能达到要求的重量。
[D]本题要求正确理解第8段中的on the light side of FIFA's 420 to 445 gram weight requirement,该句应理解为“飞火流星”重量偏轻,但仍属于要求范围内,选项D是正确的理解,为本题答案。
5. 根据业内人士所称,贝克汉姆对这种球的评价_________________.
A) 是根据他平时的训练所作出的 B)是出于商业目的的考虑
C) 跟巴西球员的评价一样激烈 D) 与巴西球员的评价类似
[B]概括最后两段可以得知,业内人士认为对“飞火流星”的批评和称赞都与赞助公司有关,也就是说,这些评价都出于商业目的,由此可推断选项B为本题答案。选项A中的training在原文根本没有提及;末段开头的The same might go 表明的是Beckham和巴西球员对“飞火流星”做出的评价源于相似的目的,而非表明他们的评价内容相似,程度相同,因此选项C和D都不正确。
【参考译文】
[1]人们说“飞火流星”这种足球无法控制、太大或者“太笨”,而“飞火流星”的制造商阿迪达斯公司却说它提供了一种最棒的足球体验,人们的说法得取决于他们问的是哪一个运动员。“飞火流星”也有其推崇者,像英格兰队的大卫·见克汉姆,但迄今看来是贬多于褒。
阿迪达斯公司声称,金光闪闪的“飞火流星”是足球中的极品——比98年法国世界杯用球的精准度提高了25%,这都是因为在德国的科学家对其进行了极其精细的测试。
直到20世纪60年代,世界杯专用足球不论怎样变化通常都是以皮革和线缝制的, [2]而现在“飞火流星”的制作材料那拗口的特性证实了足球制作工艺的发展走过了很长的路。
阿迪达斯公司声称,“飞火流星”的秘密在于使用了性能极大改善的复合泡沫塑料和独一无二的拉歇尔经编针织物。
既然足球的设计目的是提高其运行速度,使像贝克汉姆这样的任意球高手踢出的球更有力,那么像布冯那样的守门员们会感到不快就不足为奇了。[3]西班牙门将佩德罗·孔特拉斯说这种球的运行“古怪”,而丹麦守门员托马斯·索伦森则沮丧地承认,结果可能会有更多壮观的进球。他在离开哥本哈根到韩国之前说:“作为一个守门员,你必须面对这样一个事实,那就是制造商都是为前锋设计足球的。”
但一些外场球员也加入批评之列,许多人认为这种球太轻难于控制。日本时事通讯社引述巴西前锋埃迪尔森在本月初所说的话:“它太大又太轻”,而前锋里瓦尔多则说这种球踢起来飞得太远了。
在横滨主新闻中心的记者们也有机会试踢“飞火流星”,他们可以在罚球点瞄准球门的指定目标踢球。不过迄今还很少有人踢lO次能命中5次以上,尽管这个结果可能和足球的质量没有多大关系。
[4]普策承认“飞火流星”的重量在国际足联规定的420到445克之间偏轻,但他说其体积完全没有以往的足球大。
对“飞火流星”的争议有些跑调的地方。一些业内人士认为,由阿迪达斯的商业对头耐克公司赞助的巴西队属于对“飞火流星”最激烈的批评者之列可能一点也不是巧合。
[5]曾经为阿迪达斯运动用品促销的主力球员之一的贝克汉姆对“飞火流星”大加赞赏,也就不足为奇了。
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