2007年VOA标准英语-Chess Team Is Key to Success for US College

By Brian Wagner
Washington
19 April 2007

Students competing at the Final Four of Chess tournament

Chess is one of the oldest and most popular games in the world.  An estimated 45 million Americans play chess, and many universities and colleges have chess clubs or teams, even though chess competes for attention against scores of other campus activities.  VOA's Brian Wagner tells us about a team of chess players in south Florida -- most of them immigrants from Cuba or other Latin American nations -- whose chessboard success has put their community college in the national spotlight¹.

Most sports fan in the United States crave² action, whether it is long passes in football or high jumps in extreme sports like BMX bicycle racing³.  It is difficult for a game like chess to get the same kind of attention, says Renier Gonzalez, captain of the Miami Dade College chess team. "Actually, it's not even considered a sport in the U.S.  But in other countries it is."

Renier and his teammates, however, take chess very seriously.  Last month, the college's small team competed at the "Final Four of Chess" tournament.  Miami Dade has been to the "Final Four of Chess" for the past four years, facing teams from several major universities.  This year the team from the public school in south Florida finished third in the nation. 

Charles Galofre

Student Charles Galofre says the games were arduous⁴, but a valuable learning experience. "What I learned on this Final Four, that once I went into my second round I was really exhausted⁵.  I realized you have to work out,” he says. “You can't spend the whole year not having the Final Four in mind.  You really have to prepare a lot to be able that once you get there, you can perform at your expectations."

Like many young players, Galofre began playing chess in the family, with an uncle in his native Colombia.  In Miami, older players gather at a city park for games of chess and dominos -- popular pastimes in immigrant communities, especially the city's large Cuban population.

Chess players in Cuba begin serious study of the game at an early age. 

Renier Gonzalez says he began chess training at age 11 in his home on the Communist-ruled island. "When I began playing chess, we only used books.  But the same information you read in books, you can now find on the Internet."

More and more, chess students spend their time playing and learning on computers.

Charles Galofre says, "You don't always have the opportunity to play against players of certain abilities. The computer is great at punishing you for making mistakes, and I think it's ideal for getting more experience and practice."

Facing off against opponents at major competitions like the Final Four is key to developing a player's rating. And tournaments help generate interest in chess on campus, says the Miami Dade team's adviser⁶, Rene Garcia. "I've really been impressed with how the community has responded.  Certainly we didn't expect it.  We've had publicity⁷ we wouldn't have had otherwise, and it's good to know we're supported."

The team's recent success has already begun to generate interest among potential chess recruits. "It's going to be even better in four to five years,” says Gonzalez. “Now people recognize the program and they say, 'When I finish high school, I can go to the Miami Dade College program.’  Now people recognize us."

Later this year, chess fans can watch the college team compete at the Pan American college chess tournament, right on the Miami Dade campus.

1 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

2 crave   

vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求

参考例句：

• Many young children crave attention.许多小孩子渴望得到关心。
• You may be craving for some fresh air.你可能很想呼吸呼吸新鲜空气。

3 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

4 arduous   

adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的

参考例句：

• We must have patience in doing arduous work.我们做艰苦的工作要有耐性。
• The task was more arduous than he had calculated.这项任务比他所估计的要艰巨得多。

5 exhausted   

adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的

参考例句：

• It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
• Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。

6 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

7 publicity   

n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告

参考例句：

• The singer star's marriage got a lot of publicity.这位歌星的婚事引起了公众的关注。
• He dismissed the event as just a publicity gimmick.他不理会这件事，只当它是一种宣传手法。