2006年VOA标准英语-NCAA Final Four Basketball Fans Test Skill

By Jim Stevenson
Indianapolis
03 April 2006

Entrance to Hoop¹ City  
  
Surrounding most major sports events in the United States are plenty of activities for visiting fans to enjoy. The men's national college basketball championship finals in Indianapolis (Indiana) features an interactive² attraction where fans of all ages can test their sports skills. VOA's Jim Stevenson stopped by a place called Hoop City.

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Roger Ortman is the so-called mayor of Hoop City.

  
  
"It is basically a sports maniac's heaven. There is something here for everyone," he explains. "Even if you are not a basketball enthusiast³, there are (baseball) batting cages, you can clock your fastest fast ball you have, test your golf swing. It is a great opportunity to kind of just catch the excitement of NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic⁴ Association) weekend."

Housed inside the huge convention center in downtown Indianapolis, Hoop City is adjacent to the RCA Dome⁵, where the nationally televised Final Four is being held. Ortman estimates more than 80,000 fans will visit Hoop City during the four days it is open.

Mason Marstellar   
  
One of the participants was 14-year-old Mason Marsteller of Gainsville, Florida. He won a round of a game called Hot Shot.

"You have to shoot from the spots, five spots," he explains. "There is a one point (location), two pointer, three pointer, four pointer and five pointer."

Mason scored a winning total of 22 points in two rounds lasting⁶ 15 seconds each. He joined Hoop City participants who ranged from toddlers to adults. The National Association of Amateur Athletics⁷, which governs college sports in the United States, charges a small entrance fee to the event. 

Kids test their skills at 'Hot Shot' game   
  
Coaches and past players stop by to give autographs and basketball clinics. And, the NCAA tries to teach a few lessons in good sportsmanship along the way, lessons the governing body hopes will stick with young participants who later become collegiate athletes.

1 hoop   

n.（篮球）篮圈，篮

参考例句：

• The child was rolling a hoop.那个孩子在滚铁环。
• The wooden tub is fitted with the iron hoop.木盆都用铁箍箍紧。

2 interactive   

adj.相互作用的，互相影响的，（电脑）交互的

参考例句：

• The psychotherapy is carried out in small interactive groups.这种心理治疗是在互动的小组之间进行的。
• This will make videogames more interactive than ever.这将使电子游戏的互动性更胜以往。

3 enthusiast   

n.热心人，热衷者

参考例句：

• He is an enthusiast about politics.他是个热衷于政治的人。
• He was an enthusiast and loved to evoke enthusiasm in others.他是一个激情昂扬的人，也热中于唤起他人心中的激情。

4 athletic   

adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的

参考例句：

• This area has been marked off for athletic practice.这块地方被划出来供体育训练之用。
• He is an athletic star.他是一个运动明星。

5 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

6 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

7 athletics   

n.运动，体育，田径运动

参考例句：

• When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
• Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中，我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。