新西兰英语 295 World Cup Success for All Whites

　　The New Zealand football team, the All Whites, has had a good result in their first World Cup game against Slovakia. The All Whites were not expected to do very well as they are only 78th in the world while Slovakia is 34th, but they scored a goal 30 seconds before the end of the match, for a 1-1 draw.
The football World Cup is held every four years and this year it is in South Africa, with 32 teams competing. The All Whites are there because they beat Bahrain last year to represent¹ the Pacific area, called Oceania². The last time the All Whites played in the World Cup competition was in 1982, where they lost every game.
More than 500 football fans have travelled from New Zealand to support the All Whites in South Africa. All the games are being broadcast on television so Kiwis who cannot go to South Africa can watch their team on tv, just like millions of other football fans all over the world.
The next two games for the All Whites will be difficult, as they are against Italy, who won the cup last year, and Paraguay, who are number 31 in the world. However New Zealand football fans are already very proud of their team’s performance in South Africa and will continue to support them, shouting “Go the All Whites!”
Contributed³ by Chris Mahoney
Questions
1. If a rubgy test match was on at the same time as an All Whites game in the Word Cup, what game would most New Zealanders watch?
2. Is your country playing in the football World Cup? Are you able to watch the games on tv?
3. Do you think games should be decided⁴ by a penalty⁵ shoot-out?
4. Why are people so excited by football?

1 represent   

vt.表现，表示；描绘，讲述；代表，象征；回忆；再赠送，再上演；vi.提出异议

参考例句：

• I'll represent to him the risk he is running.我要向他指出他所面临的险境。
• We selected her to represent us.我们选她作为我们的代表。

2 Oceania   

n.大洋洲

参考例句：

• Oceania is mainly made up of Australia and New Zealand.大洋洲主要是由澳大利亚和新西兰组成的。
• Oceania is the smallest continent.大洋洲是最小的洲。

3 contributed   

捐献( contribute的过去式和过去分词 )； 捐助； 撰稿； 投稿

参考例句：

• Before closing I want to mention all those who contributed so generously. 在我结束讲话的时候，我想提一下所有慷慨捐赠的人。
• His research has contributed enormously to our understanding of this disease. 他的研究对我们认识这一疾病贡献很大。

4 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

5 penalty   

n.处罚，刑罚，罚款

参考例句：

• If you knock the ball with your hand in football,you will suffer a penalty.如果在踢足球时你用手碰到球，你将受到处罚。
• One of those arrested could face the death penalty.被捕的那些人中有一人可能被判死刑。