VOA标准英语2011--Modern-Day Knights Rescue Communities in

Modern-Day Knights² Rescue Communities in Distress³

In days of old, knights fought for damsels in distress, but in the 21st century, they sometimes battle to help small communities raise revenue.
Jousting⁵, in which armored knights compete in games of skill on horseback, was as popular during the Middle Ages as football is today. While the sport was enjoyed for nearly 400 years, the widespread use of firearms made the older weapons obsolete⁶ in war.
Today, jousting is making a comeback in some U.S. communities as sport, entertainment and to generate revenue.
June Julian, executive director of the Steuben County Tourism Bureau in the Fort Wayne, Indiana area, was surprised when jousting was suggested as a new source of money for her community.
“I didn’t know what to expect," she says. "I thought 'We’ll need to have insurance. What if someone gets hurt?'”
But Julian’s fears were quickly put to rest when she met Scott Rodlin, a professional jouster⁷ who performs under the name Sir Devon of York.
“I trained at the Academy of European Medieval Martial⁸ Arts in Canada,” says Rodlin.
Jousting tournaments are held around the United States as well as in many other countries. They are typically overseen⁹ by associations that regulate and ensure safety at the games.
The modern sport dates back just a few decades to the popular Renaissance¹⁰ fairs. Part theme park, part theater, these summer festivals recreate the sport of the Middle Ages. There are eight theatrical¹¹ jousting troupes¹² and 30 competitive jousters in the United States.
While women did not joust⁴ in the Middle Ages, things have changed today. Rodlin’s friend Becca Cooper got into the sport when he bought a horse from her.
“We joke that I came with the horse," Cooper says. "I said 'I don't know what jousting is, but I think I can do it.'”
And she does. For Cooper, who jousts¹³ as the character Dame¹⁴ Fiona of Orchany, it is an empowering sport.
“I particularly like the little girls that say, 'Look mommy, there's a female knight¹. I don't want to be a princess anymore, I want to be a knight.'”
Just as in days of old, each knight wears a custom-made suit of armor weighing about 41 kilograms. They wear soft, padded coats underneath¹⁵ to keep the heavy metal from pinching.
A recent contest in Angola, Indiana, consisted of a series of events to display skill of arms and horsemanship, such as spearing rings onto a lance or splitting a cabbage in half with a sword while riding at full speed.
Spectator Carol Morris says it's excitement the whole family can enjoy.
“Very, very good," she says. "A good way to get your blood pumping and all your frustration¹⁶ out.”
And, not a bad way to increase tourism. More than 2,000 people attended the event, giving the small city a big boost.
Tourism director Julian says it was so successful, they are already planning next year’s event.
“We had quite a few hotel rooms filled because there were people from out of town,” she says.
Jouster Rodlin says he enjoys a career that allows him to be a hero - whether it’s using his skill to help small communities bring in needed revenue or showing small spectators how to dream big.
“Kids can see that you don't necessarily have to have the traditional career," he says. "You can do whatever you want to do.”
Even if it's growing up to work a fairy tale job.

1 knight   

n.骑士，武士；爵士

参考例句：

• He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。
• A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

2 knights   

骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• He wove a fascinating tale of knights in shining armour. 他编了一个穿着明亮盔甲的骑士的迷人故事。

3 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

4 joust   

v.马上长枪比武，竞争

参考例句：

• Knights joust and frolic.骑士们骑马比武，嬉戏作乐。
• This a joust for the fate of the kingdom!一场决定王国命运的战斗。

5 jousting   

（骑士）骑马用长矛比武( joust的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The players happily jousting inside the castle walls didn't see the moat outside widening. 玩家在城墙上幸福地战斗的时候，没有注意到护城河已经开始扩张了。

6 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

7 jouster   

罢免，废黜，革职

参考例句：

• the president's ouster by the military 军方对总统的废黜
• The administration quickly moved to quash talk of Geithner's ouster. 当局迅速澄清关于Geithner可能被罢免的言论。

8 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

9 overseen   

v.监督，监视( oversee的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was overseen stealing the letters. 他被人撞见在偷信件。 来自辞典例句
• It will be overseen by ThomasLi, director of IBM China Research Laboratory. 该实验室由IBM中国研究院院长李实恭(ThomasLi)引导。 来自互联网

10 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

11 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

12 troupes   

n. （演出的）一团, 一班 vi. 巡回演出

参考例句：

• There are six Kunqu opera troupes left in the country. 整个国家现在只剩下六个昆剧剧团。
• Note: Art performance troupes include within and outside of the system. 注：艺术表演团体统计口径调整为含系统内、系统外两部分。

13 jousts   

（骑士）骑着马用长矛打斗( joust的名词复数 )； 格斗，竞争

参考例句：

• The oil company jousts with Esso for lead position in UK sales. 这家石油公司和埃索公司角逐英国市场销量的榜首位置。 来自柯林斯例句
• There were notable jousts with the Secretary of Commerce. 和商业部长之间明显存在竞争。 来自柯林斯例句

14 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

15 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

16 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。