The Spirit of Spain 热情洋溢西班牙
Spain looks pretty small on a world map, but this country has produced an extraordinary culture.
在世界地图上看似渺小，西班牙这个国家却创造出璀璨的文化。
by Luke Dodds and Matthew Brown
All over the world, people have no problem recognizing the music, art, dance, or food that comes from Spain. Spanish culture is unmistakable.
When a person thinks of Spain, the first thing that comes to mind might be flamenco dancing. Passionate and lively, usually performed to the accompaniment of fast guitars, flamenco dancing originated in southern Spain, and it has strong gypsy roots. Bullfighting is another of Spain's most famous attractions, and it is not just for tourists; bullfighting is enormously popular with the Spanish themselves. Thrilling and artistic, a bullfight is a match between a toreador, or bullfighter, and a bull. Bullfighting is one of Spain's long-standing traditions that might seem quite different from the ways of the modern world.
Spain is known as a country of romance, and for good reason. The history of Spain had its starting point not in a war over territory or the discovery of a new continent, but in a marriage. In 1469, Queen Isabella of the Kingdom of Castile married King Ferdinand of the Kingdom of Aragon, joining two of the most powerful Christian kingdoms in what is known as the unification of Spain. This unification began the period of Spanish history that saw three centuries of global exploration, trade, and conquest, carrying the Spanish language and culture all over the world.
No longer one of the world's strongest empires, Spain's political power has declined over the years, but its culture is as inspiring and well known now as ever. The spirit of Spain continues to inspire the world.
1. Which of the following is true about Spain?
(A) Spain is an extremely large country.
(B) Spain has become a global power in the last fifty years.
(C) Spain spread its power around the world for about 300 years.
(D) Spain does not have much influence anymore.
2. Based on the article, which of the following can be inferred about Spain?
(A) Its culture has changed fundamentally over the past three centuries.
(B) Its cultural attractions are diverse.
(C) It has outlawed the controversial activity of bullfighting.
(D) Flamenco is performed before or during bullfights.
3. Flamenco dancing _____.
(A) is a slow dance performed by gypsies
(B) is only performed in the south of Spain
(C) was discovered by the Spanish during their global explorations
(D) is an energetic form of dance
4. Which aspect of Spanish culture is NOT mentioned in the article?
(A) Cuisine. (B) Architecture. (C) Music. (D) Religion.
单字小铺
1. unmistakable a. 不会弄错的，明显的
mistakable a. 易弄错的，易被误解的
2. flamenco n. 佛朗明哥舞
3. gypsy a. 吉普赛人的 & n. 吉普赛人
4. bullfighting n. 斗牛
5. enormously adv. 巨大地，庞大地
6. artistic a. 富艺术性的；唯美的
7. match n. 比赛
8. toreador n. 斗牛士
9. long-standing a. 存在已久的
10. starting point 起点
11. territory n. 领土
12. unification n. 统一；联合
13. exploration n. 探索
14. conquest n. 征服，占领
15. decline vi. 下降，衰落
16. inspiring a. 启发灵感的
17. infer vt. 推论
18. controversial a. 具争议性的
19. aspect n. 方面
20. cuisine n. 菜肴
21. architecture n. 建筑
词组小铺
＊ come to mind 浮现脑海，涌上心头
精解字词词组
1. have no problem + V-ing 做……没有问题
have problems + V-ing 做……有问题∕困难
= have trouble/difficulty + V-ing
例: The clerk has no problem dealing with any kind of customer.
（这名店员不论应付哪一种顾客都得心应手。）
例: I have problems sleeping at night.
（我晚上都会睡不着觉。）
2. passionate a. 热情的；热爱的
be passionate about... 热爱……
例: Harry is passionate about cooking and prepares most of his meals at home.
（哈利热爱烹饪，他几乎都是自己在家中煮饭。）
3. accompaniment n. 伴奏
to the accompaniment of... 在……的伴奏下
例: Jeff sang to the accompaniment of a guitar in the talent show.
（才艺竞赛中，杰夫在吉他的伴奏下演唱。）
4. originate in/from... 源自于……（某地或某事物）
originate with sb 起源于某人
例: Coffee originated in Africa, not Latin America.
（咖啡源自于非洲而不是拉丁美洲。）
例: Many Western literary works originated from Greek mythology.
（许多西洋文学作品源自于希腊神话。）
例: The theory of evolution did not originate with Darwin.
（进化论并非起源自达尔文。）
5. root n. 根源，来源
have its roots in... 根源于∕来自于……
例: Rock has its roots in blues.
（摇滚乐源自于蓝调音乐。）
6. be popular with... 受……欢迎
be popular among... 在……之间受欢迎
例: The new online game is popular with teenagers.
（这款新网络游戏很受青少年欢迎。）
例: The professor is very popular among his students.
（这位教授在学生之间非常受欢迎。）
7. ..., and for good reason ……是有充分理由的
例: There is a sign warning travelers about the bridge, and for good reason.
（设立标示警告游客小心这座桥不是没有道理的。）
8. no longer... 不再……
= not...any longer
= not...anymore
例: Nike no longer makes my favorite style of athletic shoe.
（耐吉不再生产我最爱的那款运动鞋了。）
9. as + adj./adv. + as ever (before) 像以往一样的……
例: My old friend, Paul, looks as young as ever.
（我的老朋友保罗看起来就像以前一样年轻。）
10. influence n. 影响
have an influence on... 对……有影响
= have an impact on...
= have an effect on...
例: Our behavior has an influence on those around us.
（我们的行为对周遭的人会有影响。）
11. fundamentally adv. 重大地；根本的
fundamental a. 根本的；重要的
例: You should learn the fundamental rules of grammar first.
（你得先学文法基本规则。）
12. outlaw vt. 宣布……为不合法，废除
例: Chewing gum in public has been outlawed in Singapore.
（在新加坡公开嚼口香糖是非法的。）
中文翻译
全世界的人都认得出西班牙的音乐、艺术、舞蹈或食物，不会把西班牙文化和其它文化搞混。
一想到西班牙，脑中首先浮现的应该是佛朗明哥舞。这种热情洋溢的舞蹈源自西班牙南部，与吉普赛有很深的渊源，表演时通常有快节奏的吉他伴奏。西班牙另一项最吸引人的便是斗牛，不仅观光客喜欢，也广受西班牙人的欢迎。斗牛是斗牛士与公牛之间的竞赛，不但刺激同时兼具艺术性。斗牛是西班牙人长期沿袭的传统之一，虽然这与现今世界似乎显得格格不入。
西班牙被公认是个浪漫的国度，这不是没有道理的。这个国家的历史肇始于一场婚礼，而不是因为争夺领土的战争或发现新大陆。1469 年，卡斯提尔王国的伊莎贝拉女王与阿拉贡王国的费迪南德国王成亲，这两个强大基督教王国的联姻被视为是西班牙的统一，开启了该国长达三世纪到世界各地探险、贸易和占领土地的历史序幕，连带使西班牙的语言和文化散布到全世界。
西班牙如今已不再是世界强国之一，政治影响力也式微多年，但其文化仍一如以往，深具启发性且广为人知。西班牙的精神仍不断启发全世界。
1. 关于西班牙，下列叙述何者正确？
(A) 西班牙是一个幅员辽阔的国家。
(B) 西班牙在过去 50 年间变成世界强权。
(C) 西班牙将势力拓展到全世界长达 300 年左右。
(D) 西班牙不再有很大的影响力。
题解: 本文第三段指出，统一后的西班牙揭开了长达三世纪到世界各地探险、贸易和占领土地的历史序幕，故选 (C)。
2. 根据本文，下列关于西班牙的推论何者正确？
(A) 她的文化在过去三个世纪以来发生了重大改变。
(B) 她的文化魅力非常多元。
(C) 她禁止颇具争议性的斗牛活动。
(D) 在斗牛前或过程中会表演佛朗明哥舞。
题解: 本文第一段开宗明义即点出全世界的人都认得出西班牙的音乐、艺术、舞蹈或食物，符合选项 (B) 的叙述，故选之。
3. 佛朗明哥舞 _____。
(A) 是吉普赛人跳的一种慢舞
(B) 是只有西班牙南部的居民才跳的舞蹈
(C) 是西班牙人进行世界探险时发现的
(D) 是一种活力四射的舞蹈
题解: 第二段指出，热情洋溢的佛朗明哥舞源自西班牙南部，与吉普赛有很深的渊源，表演时通常有快节奏的吉他伴奏，故选 (D)。
4. 本文未提及西班牙文化的哪一个层面？
(A) 美食。 (B) 建筑。(C) 音乐。 (D) 宗教。
题解: 第一段开宗明义，说明全世界的人都认得出西班牙的音乐、艺术、舞蹈或食物，并于第三段提及两个强大基督教王国的联姻被视为是西班牙的统一。全文并未提及任何关于建筑的事项，故选(B)。
标准答案: 1. (C) 2. (B) 3. (D) 4. (B)
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