英语六级必读美文020：苏格兰传统体育运动

　　A love of sport has been characteristic in Highland and Lowlands alike. It is inherent in the Scottish character，Of all the games played in Scotland in days gone by, three stand out as claiming Scottish in character-golf, curling, and slunty, and of these golf has now achieved world-wide popularity.

　　无论在苏格兰高地还是苏格兰低地，人们对体育的热爱是一样的，它已是苏格兰人内在性格的一部分。在英格兰人过去所玩过的 游戏中，有3种可以说是发源于此地，并具有典型的苏格兰特点 高尔夫球、冰上溜石游戏和简化曲滚球戏。在这3项运动当中，高尔夫球现已风靡全球。

　　Of all Scottish golfing centres, St. Andrews is the shrine of golfing traditions.

　　在苏格兰所有的高尔夫球场当中，圣安德鲁斯可以说是高尔夫传统的圣地。

　　The kings and queen of Scotland themselves shared their peoples enthusiasm for playing games. Mary Queen of Scots was accused by her enemies ofplaying golf shortly after her husbands murder.

　　苏格兰的国王及王后和他们的臣民一样热衷体育。苏格兰的玛利女王就因为她在她的丈夫被谋杀后不久打高尔夫球，而遭到政敌的攻击。

　　Curling is a game played on a sheet ofice, and Scotland has been its real home since the early part of the seventeenth century . In principle the game very much resembles bowls, but curling is played with heavy flat stones to slide along the ice.

　　冰上溜石游戏是一种在冰上玩的运动。从17世纪早期以来，苏格兰成了它真正的故乡。这一游戏从规则上来说与草地滚木游戏相似，两者不同之处在于冰上溜石游戏是用笨重的扃石头在冰上滑动。

　　Like golf, curling can claim to be both Royal and ancient. Tradition has it that the Stuart Kings were curlers, and both Mary Queen of Scots and Damley are reputed to have played.

　　和高尔夫一样，冰上溜石游戏也具有古老的皇家传统。传统上人们认为，历代斯图亚特王朝的国王以及苏格兰的玛利女王和她的丈夫达恩利都是此项运动的爱好者。

　　Among games less widely popular, but still played with great enthusiasm, shinty is one of the most traditional. Played with a ball made of cork and leather, and a wooden club,it used to be popular among all ages, particularly around the Christmas season, but now is usually indulged in only by the more youthful members ofthe community.

　　在虽不太流行但仍拥有热心爱好者的运动当中，简化曲滚球是最传统的一种。做这种游戏，需要一个有软木和皮革制成的球，和一根木棍。该游戏曾流行于各个年龄的人们当中，尤其是在圣诞节前后。不过，现在进行这种运动的多是些年轻人。

　　Shinty is a fine free game, and the Scottish bag pipes play apicturesque part in the game, marching their teams on to the field of play and hailing their victories with piercmg blasts oftriumph.

　　简化曲滚球是种不错的游戏。在比赛时风笛扮演着一种别具一格的角色，它为整整齐齐走向赛场的球队伴奏，并用响亮的笛声来欢呼他们的胜利。