World Cup Fever in New York City

For Game One of the 2014 World Cup, fans of Brazil gathered to watch the action at a Brazilian restaurant in the Brooklyn area of New York. They waited with excitement for a goal against the team from Croatia. They did not have to wait long.

Juliana Marcussi smiled as some Brazilian supporters climbed on tables to dance. She says that football is more than just a sport to people from her home country.

“It’s sort of a religion for Brazilians. It represents our faith in our country. Even if there are some troubles as we are having right now, you still believe in it because it’s part of you.”

The next day, supporters of the team from Mexico gathered at a Mexican restaurant in Queens. Marilyn Estrada is a waitress at the restaurant. She says she was excited that Mexico had just defeated Cameroon.

"I feel really, really happy because we won our first game in the FIFA World Cup, one-zero, so that's exciting. It represents Mexico as a strong country. We could win. We could win this World Cup. We could go all the way!"

Two Mexican-American friends, Pedro and Diego, talked about Mexico’s victory as they rode a train a short time later. They spoke with VOA reporter Adam Phillips.

“The best moment was when, you know, we got that goal, that definite score. Being that we already had some chances and we couldn’t get it in there, and we got the job done and that’s what matters. Luckily, the goalie saved us because... We were about to get scored on, and he flew in the air…

"Do you think it’s going to go all the way?”

"Of course, we’re hoping for the best. But we’re fanatics."

One restaurant on the island of Manhattan served a crowd of mostly German football fans. They had just watched the country’s national team score yet another goal against Portugal.

Michael Momm, the owner of the restaurant, was born in Cologne, Germany. He was excited about the German team.

“Fantastic. Actually, much better than I expected. Germany is always nervous before we start. But we are definitely a championship team. We always rise to the occasion."

Nicole Weik, who was born in Berlin, also cheered on Germany. She wore a white German football jersey with a three star design. The stars represent the three German World Cup championship wins.

"Right now we are here to get our fourth star.As Germans, we are quivering for the games forever. And so we have to watch every game, even though we are on vacation!"

There are many games left to enjoy before the FIFA World Cup 2014 ends in the middle of July. The fans of the different national teams in New York City are excited. They are so excited, in fact, that anyone who does not support one team in particular might wish them all success.

I'm Jonathan Evans.

This report was based on a story from VOA’s Adam Phillips in New York.

词汇解析

pressure

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

n.压强;压力;压迫

v.施压

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The tooth became sore to pressure and there is a dull gnawing pain.

该齿对于压迫作痛，且有钝麻如咬的疼痛。

用作动词 (v.)

Don't be pressured into making any rash decisions.

不要在施压下做出轻率的决定。

explore

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.探测;探险;考察;探究

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

Columbus discovered America but did not explore the new continent.

哥伦布发现了美洲

Let us explore the possibilities for improvement.

让我们探索改善的可能性。

manufacture

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

v.(手工)制造;捏造

n.制造;制造业;(复)产品

参考例句

用作动词 (v.)

She manufactured a false story to hide the facts.

她编 造瞎话以掩盖事实。

用作名词 (n.)

These new orders for our manufactures will mean working overtime.

这些订购我们产品的新订单意味着要加班。

paste

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.面团;浆糊;糊状物;糊

vt.裱糊;粘贴

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

The boy squeezed paste into a ball .

孩子把面团捏成了球形。

用作及物动词 (vt.)

She pasted the pictures into a scrapbook.

她把图片贴在剪贴簿上。

marriage

难度：4星核心词汇，属常用3000词

英汉解释

n.结婚;婚姻;紧密结合

参考例句

用作名词 (n.)

It was a pleasant surprise to learn of her marriage.

得知她结婚是件令人惊喜的事。

A lichen is a compound organism, a symbiotic marriage of fungus and algae.

青苔是一种复合有机体，是真菌和水藻的共生结合体。

drunk

难度：5星基本词汇，属常用1000词

英汉解释

adj.醉酒的;陶醉的

n.醉鬼;醉酒

动词drink的过去分词形式.

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

He was obviously drunk.

他显然是醉了。

用作名词 (n.)

Several drunks lay on the floor.

好几个醉汉躺在地板上。

costly

难度：3星常用词汇，属常用6000词

英汉解释

adj.昂贵的;代价高的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The costly post was postponed because of the frost.

那件昂贵的邮件由于霜的缘故而延搁。

shad

难度：2星扩展词汇，属常用10000词

英汉解释

adj.荫凉的;可疑的

参考例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

The arbor provided a shady resting place in the park.

公园里的凉亭提供了一个荫凉的休息处。