Depending on which player you ask, the "Fevernova" ball that sports equipment maker Adidas says provides the ultimate soccer experience is Uncontrollable, too big or just simply "stupid". The ball also has its fans, like England's David Beckham. but so far they seem to have been outnumbered by critics.
Adidas says the ball. splashed with gold coloring. is quite simply the best around-25 percent more accurate than the ball used at France 98 thanks to meticulous testing by scientists in Germany.
The tongue-twisting nature of its contents confirms that the World Cup ball has come a long way from the leather-and-laces variety that was common as recently as the 1960s.
The Fevernova's secret. Adidas says. is its radically improved Syntactic foam and unique knitted Raschel fabric.
Given that this is supposed to make the ball faster and provide the freekick specialists like Beckham with more power, it may not be surprising that goalkeepers like Buffon are unhappy. Spain goalkeeper Pedro Contreras said the bail acts "strangely", while Danish keeper Thomas Sorensen admitted gloomily that it would probably result in more spectacular goals. "As a goalkeeper, you have to live with the fact that the makers create balls for the benefit of strikers." he said before leaving Copenhagen for South Korea.
But outfield players have also weighed in with criticism, many saying the ball is too light and therefore hard to control. "It’s big and it's too light," Japan's Jiji news agency quoted Brazilian forward Edilson as saying earlier this month. while striker Rivaldo said it soared too far when kicked.
Journalists at the main press centre in Yokohama have been given the chance to try out the Fevernova from the penalty spot, with the aim of hitting special targets in the goal. So far. few have been able to score more than five out of ten, although this may have little to do with the quality of the ball.
Putz. admits that the ball is on the light side of FIFA's 420 to 445 gram weight requirement. but says it is no bigger than previous balls.
The controversy over the ball also has an off-pitch dimension. Industry insiders say it may be no coincidence that players from Brazil. sponsored by Adidas rival Nike, have been among the ball's most vociferous critics.
The same might go for the praise dished out for the ball by Beckham. one of the main players used to promote Adidas equipment.
大学英语六级试题:
1. How does Adidas describe the "Fevernova”ba11?
A) The experience provided by the ball is the best so far.
B) The ball is almost impossible to control because of its large size.
C) The ball has gone through a long way of development.
D) The experience provided by the ball is most welcome by strikers.
2. What does the author think about the Syntactic foam and unique Raschel fabric chat are used to make the ball?
A) The materials have long been used in history.
B) The materials do not sound Familiar.
C) The materials are new and advanced.
D) The materials improve che precision of the ball.
3. The goalkeepers tend to admit reluctantly that_____________.
A) the ball is too strange to control
B) the ball is so light that it goes too fast
C) the ball may make the game more thrilling
D) the ball may help to enhance the strikers' skills
4. Which of the following js true according to Putz?
A) The ball is lighter than but of the same size as the previous ones.
B) The ball should have been heavier to meet the required weight.
C) The ball should have been bigger than the previous ones.
D) The ball is light but still meets the weight requirement.
5. According to industry insiders. Beckham's comment on the ball_____________.
[C]本题题干中的reluctantly是关键词,指出本题要求查找的是“飞火流星”具有的优点,而这个优点是守门员们不想面对或承认的。选项C与第5段第2句中的gloomily that it would probably result in more spectacular goals 内容相近,符合题意.为本题答案。
4.根据Putz所说,下列哪一种说法是正确的?
A) 相比以前同样大小的球,这种球更加轻。
B) 这种球本应该更重一些,才能达到要求的重量。
C) 这种球本应该比以往的球更大一些。
D) 这种球很轻,但是仍能达到要求的重量。
[D]本题要求正确理解第8段中的on the light side of FIFA's 420 to 445 gram weight requirement,该句应理解为“飞火流星”重量偏轻,但仍属于要求范围内,选项D是正确的理解,为本题答案。
5. 根据业内人士所称,贝克汉姆对这种球的评价_________________.
A) 是根据他平时的训练所作出的 B)是出于商业目的的考虑
C) 跟巴西球员的评价一样激烈 D) 与巴西球员的评价类似
[B]概括最后两段可以得知,业内人士认为对“飞火流星”的批评和称赞都与赞助公司有关,也就是说,这些评价都出于商业目的,由此可推断选项B为本题答案。选项A中的training在原文根本没有提及;末段开头的The same might go 表明的是Beckham和巴西球员对“飞火流星”做出的评价源于相似的目的,而非表明他们的评价内容相似,程度相同,因此选项C和D都不正确。
As we know, it is very important that a firm should pay attention to the training of its staff as there exist many weak parts in its various departments. Staff training must have a purpose, which is defined when a firm considers its training needs, which are in turn based on job descriptions and job specifications.
A job description should give details of the performance that is required for a particular job, and a job specification should give information about the behavior, knowledge and skills that are expected of an employee who works in it. When all of this has been collected, it is possible to make a training specification. This specifies what the Training Department must teach for the successful performance of the job, and also the best methods to use in the training period.
There are many different training methods, and there are advantages and disadvantages of all of them. Successful training programmes depend on an understanding of the difference between learning about skills and training in using them. It is frequently said that learning about skills takes place "off the job" in the classroom, but training in using these skills takes place "on the job", by means of such activities as practice in the workshop.
It is always difficult to evaluate the costs and savings of a training programme. The success of such a programme depends not only on the methods used but also on the quality of the staff who do the training. A company can often check oh savings in time and cost by examining the work performed by the workers and technicians who have completed a training programme. The evaluation of management training is much more complex than that.
21. To be successful in our training programmes, we must understand the difference between______.
A. a job description and a job specification
B. what is taught and how it is taught
C. learning about skills and training in using them
D. the savings in time and the savings in cost
22. The success of a training programme depends on_________.
A. the places where the training takes place
B. the correct evaluation of the costs and savings of the programme
C. the performance of the workers and technicians trained in the programme
D. the training methods and the quality of the training staff
23. A training specification specifies_______.
A. the performance required for a certain job
B. the behavior, knowledge, and skills expected of an employee
C. the training contents and methods
D. the costs and savings of the programme
24. According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true?
A. As there exist weak parts in different departments of a firm, the training of its staff is highly necessary.
B. A training specification is based on the information collected from a job description and a job specification.
C. Training in using skills and learning about skills usually do not happen at the same place.
D. It is easier to evaluate management training than to evaluate the training of workers and technicians.
25. The best title for this passage might be_______.
A. A Successful Training Programme
B. How to Describe and Specify a Job
C. Staff Training
D. The Importance of Training Workers and Technicians