Going to Acrobatic Performance

看杂技表演

　　Key Sentences（重点句子）

　　761. It's very difficult to see Chinese acrobatics at home.

　　在国内很难看到中国杂技。

　　762. Oh！They're breathtaking.

　　呵，空中飞人真是惊心动魂。

　　763.Those hair－raising performances can be scary.

　　那些惊险的表演很吓人。

　　764. It must be very difficult for them to be trained as very skillful acrobats.

　　训练出技巧高超的杂技演员肯定很难。

　　765.That goes without saying.

　　这是不言而喻的。

　　766. Look at the girl who is building a pagoda of bowls.

　　瞧瞧那个正在顶着一摞碗的姑娘。

　　767. It's almost incredible.

　　简直令人难以置信。

　　768. Ah，it's bicycle stabilizing feats on a raised platform.

　　噢，这是高台定车。

　　769. More people do performances on a still bike.

　　还有许多人在一动不动的自行车上表演。

　　770.There might be a performance called trick cycling tonight.

　　今晚也许有称为车技的节目。

　　Dialogue A

　　（Mary and Bill are going to an acrobatic performance. ）

　　Mary：I'm all dressed up and ready to go.

　　Bill：That was pretty fast. It only took you fifteen minutes.

　　M：I don't dilly dally when there's the prospect of a good acrobatic performance in the offing. Let's go.

　　B：Yes，it's very difficult to see Chinese acrobatics at home. So it's great to have this opportunity since I like them very much.

　　M：So do I. What kind of things do you prefer？

　　B：All kinds.  Such as magic shows， flying trapeze acts，tightrope walking， and even the clowns.

　　M：Flying trapeze acts！ Oh！ They're breathtaking. I'm the nervous type and get too nervous.

　　B：Yes，those hair－raising performances can be scary. I saw a little girl fell off a pyramid of chairs when she was balancing on them.

　　M：Really？ Was she hurt？

　　B：Fortunately，she survived the accident because of the safety rope fastened on her.

　　M：That's too bad. It must be very difficult for them to be trained as very skillful acrobats.

　　B：Yes，that goes without saying.

　　M：Oh， it's a hard and very dangerous job. I hope we won'tsee the same thing today.

　　B：I don't think so. It seldom happens.

　　Dialogue B

　　（Mary and Bill are watching the performances. ）

　　B：Can you see clearly？ If not，we can move to the front.

　　M：No problem. It's very good here.

　　B：Look at the girl who is building a pagoda of bowls. She's stacking the bowls one by one very skillfully.

　　M：Oh，it's almost incredible. How can she do that？

　　B： I heard they are trained when they were very young. Oh，she's finished. Let's applaud her.

　　M：All right. What's next？

　　B：We have to wait for the announcer. Ah，it's bicycle stabilizing feats on a raised platform.

　　M：What's that like？

　　B：Er…one or more people do performances on a still bike. The bike is on a raised platform.

　　M：That's difficult， unless the bike is moving.

　　B：Yeah. It's not easy even on a moving bike. There might be a performance called trick cycling tonight. That's the one with a moving bike. If there is one， you can see it with your own eyes.

　　M：That kind of act would take a lot of skill. Everything is easier when you are skillful at it.

　　B：Yes， just like speaking Chinese. We feel it's difficult，yet the Chinese use it freely.

　　Words and Expressions

　　dillydally      vi. [口] 磨蹭，吊儿郎当地消

　　磨时间

　　prospect         n. 前景

　　acrobatics    n. 杂技；[军] 特技飞行

　　offing               n. 在附近，不远的将来

　　magic             n. 魔术

　　trapeze           n. 高秋干

　　clown                 n. 小丑

　　breathtaking   a. 惊险的；惊人的

　　hair－raising   [口]恐怖的，使人毛发竖起的

　　scary              a. 吓人的；（马等）易受惊的

　　pyramid           n. 金字塔形；金字塔现象；金字塔

　　balance           n. v. 平衡

　　skillful          a. 熟练的

　　acrobat           杂技演员（尤指走钢丝者）

　　pagoda            n. 塔，宝塔

　　incredible      a. 难以置信的

　　applaud           vt. vi. 喝彩；叫好

　　announcer         n. 报幕员；（电视、电台）播音员；

　　（比赛等的）解说员

　　stabilize      vt. 稳定

　　feat                   n. 技艺

　　platform         n. 平台；台

　　trick-cycling  n. 车技

　　trick n. 特技；花招；巧技

　　stack                 vt. 堆积，堆起