March：the Boat Race三月草长莺飞，牛剑赛艇一会

边旭珍

每年3月，在泰晤士河上，牛津與剑桥两所大学都会举办一年一度的赛艇比赛，从1829到今年的2019年，共举办了165场男子对抗赛和74场女子对抗赛。牛津剑桥赛艇对抗赛，是英国人复活节假期的重要念想。每年约25万～30万人挤挤挨挨到现场观战，其实也就看那么1分钟而已。因为将近6800米的赛道，两队都要在20分钟内完赛。

难词扫障

1.fixture n. 体育活动

2.reserve teams 预备队

3.disastrous adj. 灾难性的

It's survived for almost 200 years， and the excitement surrounding the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race doesn't seem to be dying down. The annual race—in which the two universities row themselves silly while being cheered on along the River Thames—is a good excuse to party， even if your arms ache just looking at them.

What is the Boat Race？ The annual contest between two rowing crews from Oxford and Cambridge universities occurs close to Easter each year. It takes place on the River Thames between Putney and Mortlake. A student may only compete four times in the Boat Race as an undergraduate and four times as a graduate. The winning teams are awarded university colours called blues—Oxford's being dark blue， Cambridge's light blue.

When did the Boat Race begin？ A challenge between old school friends in 1829 in Henley-on- Thames was the beginnings of the Boat Race. The contest moved to London for the second race in 1836. The Women's Boat Race was founded in 1927 but only became a permanent fixture in the mid 1960s. The Oxford reserve teams are called Osiris （women's） and Isis （men's）， while the Cambridge reserves are called Blondie （women's） and Goldie （men's）.

Where is the course？ The Boat Race course， known as the Championship Course， is 4.2 miles long， shaped like an “S” and stretches between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames. It ends at the Mortlake Anglian & Alpha Boat Club directly upriver of Chiswick Bridge.

How many times have the universities won？ The men's teams have been pretty evenly matched over the years， with Cambridge winning 83 times and Oxford only three wins behind， with 80. They even had a dead heat once. As for the women， Cambridge are doing better on average， with 43 wins， while Oxford trail with 30. The back-to-back victories of 2018 for both men and women races mark an incredible turnaround from Cambridge's disastrous 2016 race， where they nearly sank. In the end， the gap between the two sides was a convincing 20 seconds， just short of the 11-length win of 2017.

1.When did the female boat race become a fixed annual event？

A.In 1829.

B.Around Easter.

C.In the mid 1960s.

D.About 70 years ago.

2. What is special about the Boat Race？

A.It is more often than not held in March every year.

B.It only occurs in England， between Oxford and Cambridge.

C.It is a national event popular among the extraordinary people.

D.It attracts members from their reserve teams and alumni.

I. Important vocabulary in the text

1.stretch   v. 延伸;伸展;使竭盡所能

2.turnaround n. 好转;转机;彻底改变

3.die down 逐渐变弱;逐渐平息

4.be known as 被称为……;以……而闻名

5.be shaped like 像……的形状

6.be short of 未达到……;缺少……

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the vocabulary given above.

1.Students always try their best to learn language items， but they are often   ________   opportunities to try them.

2.Hangzhou     ________    the paradise under heaven.

3.The rain remained steady though the wind had________  .

4.The Boat Race course， known as the Championship Course， is 4.2 miles long，   ________an “S” and  ________    between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames.

5.The back-to-back victories of 2018 for both men and women races mark an incredible   ________   from Cambridge's disastrous 2016 race， where they nearly sank.