FC Barcelona, like most professional sports teams, runs a system of farm teams. These junior teams, which play in their own leagues, allow promising young players to prove their worth. Only the best juniors ever qualify for advancement to play with the senior team. Messi did this very quickly, joining Barca's first team before his 18th birthday. In his very first game, he started making soccer history. He scored a goal, becoming the youngest Barca player to do so in a major league match.
Messi now has a lengthy list of records set and awards won. He received the FIFA Ballon d'or (Gold Ball), which acknowledges the world's best male player, six times. He was twice named MVP in the final match of a FIFA Club World Cup competition. He holds the world record for the most goals scored in one year. He is now a veteran player, who has led his teams (FC Barcelona and the Argentine national team) to win over 30 trophies, including an Olympic gold medal. This year, watch for Messi to overtake the great Pele's record of 643 goals scored for a single club. If he does, it will be just one more huge achievement for soccer's little superstar.
Info Cloud
farm team 這是用來訓練球員所組成的球隊
Hello, everyone. Welcome back to Info Cloud. Anne Marie, you don't really watch sports too much, do you?
No, not really. But growing up, I really loved watching hockey with my dad.
Which team did you follow?
The Detroit Red Wings. I never got to see them play in person. But a few years ago while I was in the States, I got to go see the Grand Rapids Griffins play.
Oh, they are farm team for the Red Wings, aren't they?
That's right. A farm team is a sports team that trains players to be good enough for higher-level teams. Sometimes the teams are in a different league completely.
A sports league is a group of teams in one sport that compete together. Usually leagues are based on the skill level of the teams or the areas they are from.
That reminds me of little league. A little league team is a sports team for kids.
So let's review, a farm team is a team to train players. A sports league is a group of teams that compete. And a little league team is a kids' sports team.
You got it. Students, what kind of sports do you like to watch?
很多人都喜歡看美國的一些職業運動聯盟所舉辦的賽事，今天要跟大家介紹幾個相關的用語，像是: farm team 這是用來訓練球員所組成的球隊，球員在farm team 磨練出實力之後，或許可以進入職業聯盟開始比賽。sports league就是運動聯盟，像是美國職棒大聯盟或是小聯盟，都是 sports league。另外，在美國有一些相當受歡迎的 little league 少年運動聯盟，像是︰little league baseball 就是少棒聯盟或是少棒小聯盟。
Language Lab
qualify v. 有資格或擁有合格的條件
to give (someone) the necessary skill or knowledge to do a particular job or activity
- Priscilla would love to work for that company, but she knows she is not qualified.
Priscilla 很想在那家公司上班，但她知道她資格不夠。
- Because he has worked hard for the company for over fifteen years, Robert is more than qualified for that promotion.
Robert 已經為公司效勞15年了，他當然有資格升遷。
qualification n. 資格或條件
a special skill or type of experience or knowledge that makes someone suitable to do a particular job or activity — usually plural
- When you are preparing for a job interview, be sure to list your qualifications in your resume.
當你要準備面試之前，要確認履歷表裡有列出你的資歷。
- I know your cousin is friendly, but he doesn’t have the qualifications for this job.
我知道你的表弟人很好，但是他没有符合這個工作的條件。
lengthy adj. 很長的、時間或過程之漫長
lasting for a long time
length n.長度
the distance from one end of something to the other end : a measurement of how long something is
- The table is two meters long, so I want to find a tablecloth that is at least three meters in length.
這張桌子的長度是兩米，所以我要找一條至少有三米長的桌布。
- Mr. Sullivan does not have the patience nor the time to read such a lengthy report.
Mr. Sullivan 没有耐性也没有時間讀那麼長的一份報告。
- Every year, Thomas must fly on a lengthy flight from Singapore to New York.
每一年，Thomas 必須從新加坡飛到紐約，一個漫長的飛行。
- Only certain students are qualifies for that scholarship, and the application process is a lengthy one.
只有某些學生才有資格申請那個獎學金，而且申請程序非常漫長。
veteran n. 經驗老手
someone who has a lot of experience in a particular activity, job, etc.
- In celebration of Women’s Day, the journalist decided to interview a famous veteran of women’s rights campaigns.
為了慶祝婦女節，記者決定採訪一位資深的女權運動人士。
- It was a surprise to everyone that the veteran politician lost the election.
這位資深的政客選舉失敗讓大家感到驚訝。
veteran n. 退伍的軍人、老兵
someone who fought in a war as a soldier, sailor, etc.
- This store offers discounts to senior citizens and veterans.
這家店會給老年人與退伍的軍人特別的優惠。
- The social worker has met a lot of homeless Vietnam veterans.
那位社會工作者遇到許多没有家的越戰老兵。
trophy n. 獎、獎盃
an object (such as a large cup or sculpture) that is given as a prize for winning a competition
- The young athlete was really excited when he received a trophy.
這個年輕的運動員興奮地領取獎盃。
- Elva is very proud of her grandson’s achievements and happily showed us all of his trophies.
Elva 對她孫子的成就感到驕傲並且很樂意讓我們看他所獲得的獎盃。
trophy n. 戰利品、狩獵時從動物身上所獲得的戰利品像是頭或標本
something that you keep or take to show that you were successful in hunting, war, etc.
- Victor’s grandfather had fought in World War II, and Victor has seen some of the trophies his grandfather had collected.
Victor 的祖父有參與二次大戰，因為Victor有看過他祖父所收集的一些戰利品。
- The rich man went on a hunting trip in Africa and came home with a lot of trophies.
富翁到非洲打獵，回來時帶了很多他所獵到的戰利品。
