The Thrills and Spills of Canoe Polo|轻艇水球

by Marcus Maurice

Whether you want to watch or play, canoe polo has excitement in every match.

The match starts off with the throwing of a water polo ball into the middle of a pool or a sectioned-off area of a lake. Two players fiercely race in their kayaks trying to grab the ball first. The player then has five seconds _(1)_ to dribble the ball, which puts it more than one meter away, or to pass it to one of their four teammates. The ultimate goal of canoe polo, a sport that combines basketball, kayaking, and water polo, is to score as many goals _(2)_ in each half of the 20-minute game.

Canoe polo has been around for years, but it wasn't _(3)_ 1990 that the International Canoe Federation's Canoe Polo Committee formed a universal set of rules. In 1994, Great Britain _(4)_ the first world championships, and it has been held biennially since. Recently, France has been the _(5)_ team in competitive canoe polo because they have won two out of the last three world championships as well as the gold medal in the 2009 World Games in Taiwan.

_(6)_ canoe polo, one must have a double-sided paddle, wear a helmet with a faceguard, and have body protection.

The area of water is 35 by 23 meters and can be _(7)_ in a body of water indoors or outdoors. The goals hang two meters above the water, and even though the players can tackle each other, no one is allowed to jostle with the goalie in front of the net. Canoe polo is an exciting sport for those who like challenging themselves.

1.  (A) but (B) neither (C) nor (D) either

2.  (A) as usual    (B) as possible (C) as far  (D) as well

3.  (A) when    (B) while   (C) until   (D) in

4.  (A) took place  (B) raised  (C) hosted  (D) delivered

5.  (A) dominant    (B) considerate (C) separate    (D) extinct

6.  (A) By playing  (B) To play (C) Play    (D) Played

7.  (A) set up  (B) broken into (C) let out (D) turned down

轻艇水球：刺激有趣的水上运动

无论是观赏或下场比赛，轻艇水球这项运动总令人兴奋不已。

　　比赛是以将水球扔到泳池或湖泊隔离区的中央揭开序幕。2 位球员全速划着轻艇，想抢先夺得水球。球员接着有 5 秒钟的时间运球――将球丢到 1 公尺外――或是把球传给其他 4 位队友。轻艇水球是种结合篮球、轻艇和水球的运动，比赛的最终目标则是要在上下半场共 20 分钟的比赛里尽可能得分。

　　轻艇水球虽存在多年，但直到 1990 年，国际轻艇总会的轻艇水球委员会才制订出 1 套通用的比赛规则。1994年，英国举办首届的世界锦标赛，此后该赛每 2 年举行 1次。最近法国在比赛性质的轻艇水球运动项目中独占鳌头，赢得前 3 届世界锦标赛其中的 2 届，并在 2009 年台湾举办的世运会中夺得金牌。

　　要比赛轻艇水球，球员必须配备双面桨、有护面罩的头盔、以及身体防护装备。比赛的『场地』长 35 公尺、宽 23 公尺，可设置在室内或室外的水域。球门悬挂在距离水面 2 公尺高的地方，即使球员能相互拦截，但任何人都不得在球网前与守门员互相推挤。对于喜欢挑战自我的人而言，轻艇水球是一项刺激的运动。

答案：1. (D)2. (B)3. (C)4. (C)5. (A)
6. (B)7. (A)

轻艇水球是 1 种融合了水球、篮球、轻艇的水上运动。比赛时有 2 支队伍，每队派出 5 名球员出赛，以争取在对方的球门进球为目标。球员拦截对手时可以把对方的轻艇推翻，还可以运球，但持球不得超过 5 秒；而桨不仅用来划船，也可以停球、运球和抢截球。每场比赛中，胜方为进球最多的一队。（数据源：维基百科）

有兴趣的读者可上以下影音连结：

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyFypW3Sx-U