2、“Tear’em apart!” “Kill the fool!” “Murder the referee (裁判)！”

These are common remarks one may hear at various sporting events. At the time they are made, they may seem innocent (清白) enough. But let’s not kid ourselves. They have been known to influence behavior in such a way as to lead to real bloodshed. Volumes have been written about the way words affect us. It has been shown that words having certain connotations (含義) may cause us to react in ways quite foreign to our usual behavior. I see the term “opponent” as one of those words. Perhaps the time has come to delete it from sports terms.

The dictionary meaning of the term “opponent” is “enemy”; “one who opposes your interests.” Thus, when a player meets an opponent, he or she may tend to treat that opponent as an enemy. At such times, winning may dominate (占據(jù)) one’s mind, and every action, no matter how aggressive, may be considered justifiable. I recall an incident in a handball game when a referee refused a player’s request for a time out for a glove change because he did not consider them wet enough. The player proceeded to rub his gloves across his wet T-shirt and then exclaimed, “Are they wet enough now?”

In the heat of battle, players have been observed to throw themselves across the court without considering the consequences. I have also witnessed a player reacting to his opponent’s blocking by deliberately hitting him with the ball as hard as he could during the course of play. Off the court, they are good friends. Does that make any sense? It certainly reflects a court attitude which departs from normal behavior.

Therefore, I believe it is time we elevated (提升) the game to the level where it belongs, thereby setting an example to the rest of the sporting world. Replacing the term ‘opponent’ with ‘a(chǎn)ssociate’ could be an ideal way to start.

The dictionary meaning of the term “associate” is “colleague”; “friend’; ‘companion.’ You may soon see and possibly feel the difference in your reaction to the term “associate” rather than “opponent.”

1．Which of the following statements best expresses the author’ view?

A．Aggressive behavior in sports can have serious consequences.

B．The words people use can influence their behavior.

C．Unpleasant words in sport are often used by foreign athletes.

D．Unfair judgments by referees will lead to violence on the sports field.

2．Sharp words are spoken during games because the players ___________.

A．a(chǎn)re too eager to show off themselves

B．a(chǎn)re usually short-tempered and easily offended

C．cannot afford to be polite in fierce competitions

D．treat their rivals as enemies

3．According to the passage, players, in a game, may __________.

A．deliberately throw the ball at anyone blocking their way

B．keep on screaming and shouting through the game

C．leave the court as an act of protest

D．kick the ball across the court with force

4．The author hopes to have the current situation in sports improved by ___________.

A．calling on players to use clean language on the court

B．raising the referees responsibility

C．changing the attitude of players on the sports field

       D．promoting the relationship between players and referees