新概念英语第三册 Lesson 21 Daniel Mendoza• 讲义

Lesson 21 Daniel Mendoza Part 1: Text Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for Prize money. Because of this, they were known as 'prize-fighters'. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prize-fighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza who was born in 1764. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860 when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set Of rules. Though he was technically a prize-fighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prize-fighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game. In his day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing-match when he was only fourteen years old. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight. A match was held at Stilton where both men fought for an hour. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as &100 for a single appearance. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836. Part 2: New words and expressions 1.boxing ['b ksi ] n.拳击 2.boxer ['b ks ] n.拳击手 3.bare [b ] a.赤裸的；空荡的 4.prizefighter n.职业拳击手(尤指古时赤手拳击手) 5.crude [kru:d] a.粗野的 6.marquis ['ma:kwis] n.侯爵 7.technically ['teknik li] ad.严格根据法律意义地 8.science ['sai ns] n.科学 9.popularity ['p pju'l riti] n.名望 10.adore [ 'd :] v.崇拜，爱戴；非常喜欢 11.alike [ 'laik] ad.一样地 12.fame [feim] n.名声 13.eminent ['emin nt] a.著名的，杰出的 14.bitterly ['bit li] ad.厉害地 15.bet [bet] v.打赌 16.academy [ 'k d mi] n.专业学校 17.extravagant [iks'tr vig nt] a.浪费的，奢侈的 18.poverty ['p v ti] n.贫困 ★boxing ['b ksi ] n.拳击 ★boxer ['b ks ] n.拳击手 1.boxing boxing ring 拳赛场地,拳击场... boxing glove 拳击手套 2.boxer The boxer has fought many opponents. 该拳手已与许多对手交锋。 box 常用释义盒子，另外也有巴掌，拳头的意思。 She gave him a box on his ears. 她打了他一耳光。 ★bare [b ] a.赤裸的；空荡的 1.adj. 赤裸的；空的；仅有的；贫瘠的，荒芜的 with one's bare hands（arms）空手地；赤手空拳 lay bare 暴露；揭露 Their pri ... ...