If you thought pillow fights were confined to children’s bedrooms, think again. A new organization has recently been created in the United States, aiming to turn pillow fighting into a professional sport. Called the “Pillow Fight Championship,” or PFC, it’s the brainchild of entrepreneur Steve Williams. His dream is to make pillow fighting as popular as mixed martial arts (MMA). Since its __1__ in 1993, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the premier MMA organization, has gone from obscurity to a multibillion-dollar brand. Williams is convinced he can __2__ the PFC.
After promoting the sport in the Miami area in late 2021, Williams held the first professional event in late January of this year. It featured 16 men and eight women competing for a purse of US$5,000. The event was __3__ for free on Fite.tv, the world’s top streaming service for combat sports, and according to Williams, the feedback was very positive.
Williams feels that one of the main attractions of pillow fighting for spectators __4__ the absence of blood and serious injuries that can occur in an MMA match. While it can be unsettling to *see a fighter take a serious punch to the face in an MMA fight, watching a person taking a blow to the head from a pillow can be hilarious. In this way, pillow fighting may __5__ a broader audience, particularly families with younger children. Only time will tell if something as simple as pillow fighting is able to attract the kind of audience that Williams dreams of.
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如果你認為枕頭大戰只侷限於孩子們的臥室，那你就錯了。一個新組織近期於美國創立，目標是將枕頭大戰轉變成一項職業運動。「枕頭大戰錦標賽」（PFC）是企業家史帝夫‧威廉斯的心血結晶。他的夢想是讓枕頭大戰也能像綜合格鬥（MMA）一樣受歡迎。自最重要的MMA組織──終極格鬥冠軍賽──於一九九三年創立以來，它已從默默無聞轉變成為價值數十億元的品牌。威廉斯深信他能夠透過PFC取得同樣的成功。
威廉斯於二○二一年底在邁阿密地區推廣這項運動後，他於今年一月下旬舉辦了第一場職業比賽。比賽由十六名男性及八位女性選手共同角逐五千元美金。該賽事在世界頂級的技擊運動串流服務Fite.tv上免費轉播，而據威廉斯的說法，回應非常熱烈。
威廉斯覺得枕頭大戰吸引觀眾的其中一個主要原因在於少了可能會在MMA比賽中發生的流血及嚴重受傷事件。在MMA比賽中看見一名拳手的臉被重擊可能會讓人不安，但看到有人的頭被枕頭擊中卻可能很好笑。如此一來，枕頭大戰或許能吸引到更廣泛的觀眾群體，特別是有年幼孩童的家庭。只有時間可以證明，像枕頭大戰一樣單純的事物，是否能夠吸引到威廉斯心中夢寐以求的觀眾。
* see a fighter take a serious punch to the face，此處知覺動詞see加受詞後，使用原形動詞take，強調的是已發生的事實或狀態，意即「看見一名拳手的臉被重擊」這件事。而後面watching a person taking a blow to the head from a pillow，知覺動詞watching加受詞後，使用現在分詞taking，強調的則是正在進行的動作，意即「看著一個人被枕頭擊中頭部的當下」。
What Did You Learn?
1. (A) distribution (B) assignment (C) construction (D) establishment
2. (A) take the huge credit with (B) find the same success with (C) perfect fighting skills for
(D) seek useful suggestions for
3. (A) surveyed (B) maintained (C) withdrawn (D) broadcast
4. (A) to be (B) are (C) is (D) being
5. (A) appeal to (B) object to (C) dwell on
(D) focus on
答案
1. (D) 2. (B) 3. (D) 4. (C) 5. (A)
Word in Use
1. confine vt. 使受限
be confined to 受限於、侷限於
Sherry was confined to a wheelchair after she fell down the stairs.
雪莉自從摔下樓梯後，就必須坐輪椅。
2. entrepreneur n. 企業家、創業家
The wealthy entrepreneur bid for the Picasso painting at the auction.
那名富有的企業家在拍賣會上競標畢卡索的畫作。
3. ultimate a. 終極的，最終的
Adam’s ultimate goal is to become a professional volleyball player.
亞當的最終目標是成為一名職業排球選手。
4. obscurity n. 默默無聞
Many artists live lives of obscurity during the first few years of their career.
許多藝術家在職涯開始的前幾年過著默默無聞的生活。
5. combat n. 格鬥、鬥爭
Fifty-three soldiers died in combat this week alone.
單單這週就有五十三名士兵在戰鬥中死亡。
Practical Phrases
1. aim to V 旨在…、以…為目的
Mary aims to win the English speech contest.
瑪莉的目標在於贏得英語演講比賽。
2. compete for... 為…而競爭
The brothers have always competed for their mother’s attention.
這群兄弟老是爭相要獲得他們母親的注意。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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