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Beckham set to make Madrid debut in China
贝克汉姆即将开始中国之行
★set to这个词组意思之一就是认真干起来, 大干起来、 大吃起来 ，另外[主语用复数]还有大打出手、大吵其架的意思。he set to work very early every day.他每天很早就开始工作。
★debut，A first public appearance, as of a performer.首次演出演员等的首次在公从面前演出。引申意思是The beginning of a course of action:出台一件事的开端：the debut of a new foreign policy.一个新的外交政策的出台。
MADRID （AFP） - Real Madrid's latest superstar acquisition David Beckham could make his debut for the club in China on August 2, the Spanish club revealed.
马德里（法新社）西班牙俱乐部透露，皇马超级新星大卫.贝克汉姆将于8月2号追随皇马俱乐部前来中国。
★latest，Something that is the most recent or current of its kind: 最近的最新的或新潮的事物。the latest in electronic gadgetry.最新的电器发明。另外还有习惯用语at the latest：No later than，最迟。Have it done by Tuesday at the latest.最迟得在星期二完成。
★superstar可以表示两种人，一种是A widely acclaimed star, as in movies or sports, who has great popular appeal.超级明星，广受欢迎具有大众吸引力的明星，如电影明星或体育明星；另一种是One that is extremely popular or prominent or that is a major attraction.极受欢迎、极为著名或具有很大吸引力的人。
The nine-times European champions will face a Chinese XI in Beijing before going on to play various fixtures in Japan. Real will arrive in China on July 25 and spend a week training in the provincial capital Kunming.
前往日本参加各个预期赛之前，欧洲九连冠皇马将在北京对战中国队。皇马俱乐部将于7月25日抵达中国，并在省会昆明进行为期一周的训练。
★fixture在本文中的意思是运动会举行日； （预先规定日期的）比赛项目。volley ball fixtures.预定日期的排球赛
★arrive in，到达比较大的目的地。另外说一下arrive at，指获得（结果）；达到（目的）。to arrive at a decision .达成决议。
"Real director Emilio Butragueno has just spent several days in Kunming examining first hand the playing surfaces and hotels," Chinese football federation official Zhu was reported as saying on Spanish news agency EFE. "The arrival of Real Madrid is a privilege for Chinese fans. This tour, by the best team in the world, is the result of two years of hard negotiations, which almost collapsed due to the SARS （Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ） epidemic," admitted Zhu.
中国足联官员朱先生对西班牙通讯社EFE发言时说，领队埃里米奥·布特拉格诺已在昆明度过了一些时日，直接考察赛场地面及宾馆情况。朱先生还说，皇家马德里队的到了是中国球迷特殊的荣幸。这次世界顶级球队之旅是两年艰难谈判的结果，并且差一点因为非典流行病而失败。
★firsthand，Received from the original source:第一手的，直接的从来源处接收到的：firsthand information.第一手资料。
★privilege在文中的意思是特权, 优惠, 特殊的荣幸。可以举几个例子体会一下它的多种意思：enpy privileges.享受特权；an exclusive privilege.专有特权；grant sb. the privilege of doing sth.赋予某人做某事的特权。It is a great privilege to know you.认识你是一件难得的事。
★常用词组due to＝Because of.因为，accidents due to driving at high speed .由于高速开车而引起的交通事故。
★SARS是Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 的缩写，急性呼吸道综合症。
★epidemic的名词用法有两层含义，一是An outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely.流行传染病的迅速广泛传播和蔓延；另一层含义是A rapid spread, growth, or development:迅速的传播、生长或发展，an unemployment epidemic.迅速扩散的失业。
According to many polls, Beckham - who announced that he would be formally signing for Real on July 2 - has a higher recognition factor in Japan than basketball legend Micheal Jordan and Real hope his acquisition will give an enormous boost to their merchandising sales.
贝克汉姆宣布他将于7月2日与皇马俱乐部正式签约。根据民意调查，贝克汉姆在日本的认可度高于篮球传奇人物迈克尔乔丹，皇马希望贝克汉姆的加入能够使俱乐部的商业销售极大提升。
★poll，民意测验、民意调查。
★boost作名词讲时有A push upward or ahead.推举力向上或向前的推动力的意思，另外也可指An increase，增加：a big boost in salary.一次工资大增加。
★merchandising sales.商业销售、商业推广。
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