一、【Text】课文

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 'prizefighters'. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter 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 prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting 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.

二、【New words and expressions】生词和短语

●boxing n. 拳击

●boxer n. 拳击手

●bare adj. 赤裸的

●prizefighter n. 职业拳击手(尤指古时赤手拳击手)

●crude adj. 粗野的

●marquis n. 侯爵

●technically adv. 严格根据法律意义地

●science n. 科学

●popularity n. 名望

●adore v. 崇拜，爱戴

●alike adv. 一样地

●fame n. 名声

●eminent adj. 著名的，杰出的

●bitterly adv. 厉害地新概念英语课文

●bet (bet, bet; betted, betted) v. 打赌

●academy n. 专业学校

●extravagant adj. 浪费的，奢侈

●poverty n. 贫困

■boxing n. 拳击

■boxer n. 拳击手

■bare adj. 赤裸的

bare uncovered

bare (部分的)赤裸

bare fist 赤手空拳

bare foot 光着脚的

bare handed 光着手的

bare legged 光着腿的

naked 全裸

He’s walking in bare feet.

He is naked.

nude adj. 光秃秃的; n. 裸体(雕象，油画)

a nude hillside 光秃秃的山坡

■prizefighter n. 职业拳击手(尤指古时赤手拳击手)

■crude adj. 粗野的

be crude to sb 对……粗鲁，无理 , rude语气比 crude 要弱

He is crude to the girl.

■marquis n. 侯爵

■technically adv. 严格根据法律意义地

■science n. 科学

■popularity n. 名望

in popularity 受欢迎，受喜爱

Instant foods are getting in popularity. 即食食品越来越受欢迎。

popular songs are in popularity.

popular with 受人喜爱

popularity 名望，受人欢迎的状态

fame 出名的名声 famous adj.

reputation 声誉

■adore v. 崇拜，爱戴

More and more people adore the famous adtress.

■alike adv. 一样地

He was adored by rich, and poor alike.

The teacher is adored by boy, girl and alike.

■fame n. 名声

■eminent adj. 著名的，杰出的

eminent scientist

distinguished

■bitterly adv. 厉害地

It is blowing bitterly.

bitter:苦的、辛酸的、刺骨的

bitter pills may have wholesome effects 良药

■bet (bet, bet; betted, betted) v. 打赌

bet on sth. 以...打赌

bet sb. that 跟某人打赌

bet one's bottom dollar on somebody 对……孤注一掷

He bet his bottom dollar on his last attempt.

bet on the wrong horse 对…… 做出了错误的判断

I bet 我肯定，我断言

■academy n. 专业学校

■extravagant adj. 浪费的，奢侈

extravagant hobit

thrifty frugal economical

■poverty n. 贫困

in poverty 在贫困当中

indigence 贫困 (正式)

destitution 赤贫

penury 诘据

三、【课文精析】

in popularity

fought with bare fists: 赤手空拳的打斗

Key sentence:

One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza who was born in 1764.

one of the most famous people

introduce: bring in

Potatos were introduced into Europe from South America.

drew up: 制定，起草

Sb. did much to do sth.

in his full time in his good day

rise to fame = become famous

attract sb.’s sttention == attract the attention of sb.

turn against sb 与……反目成仇

severely

Key sentence:

It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion.

as much as 多达

in debt: 欠债