(Para. 1) Recently it has drawn huge crowds attracted (and worried) by athletes swimming 1500m, cycling 40km, and then running 10km without stopping.
Attracted (and worried): the past participle phrase is used to modify huge crowds
Swimming, cycling, running: the present participle phrases are used to modify athletes
Translation:近来它已经吸引了大批为它着迷 (又惧它三分)的观众群，因为这项运动要先游泳1500米，骑自行车40 公里, 然后紧接着又长跑10公里。 Example: This science fiction has attracted many readers interested in the characters of the story working and living on the moon.
2.(Para. 1) Great for those watching, maybe, but what makes the triathletes want to punish their bodies so much?
Analysis: This is an elliptical sentence. It may be rewritten like this: The triathlon maybe great for those who watch it, but how come the triathletes are willing to suffer so much physical hardship?
Translation: 这项比赛对于观看者来说固然带劲，但究竟是什么让铁人三项的参赛者想如此折磨他们的身体呢? Example: Interesting for those enjoying the soap opera, maybe, but what makes the producers want to devote so much to the lengthy story?
3.(Para. 2) Melanie Sears has not yet learnt those often-repeated phrases about personal satisfaction, mental challenge and higher objectivesthat most athletes always use when asked similar questions.
Often repeated: premodifier
About…objectives: post modifier.
That: adverbial of time
When: that-relative clause
Translation: 梅拉尼·希尔丝还没学会使用那些多数运动员在被问类似的问题时常脱口而出的陈词滥调：个人的满足感啦，精神上的挑战啦，向更高目标迈进啦等等。 Example: The honest man refused to take advantage of the privileges abused by those who ignored other people’s interests.
4.(Para. 3) ... I ended up cycling 20 kilometers too far. I cried all the way through the running.?
end up doing sth: “其结果是…以…而告结束”
all the way through the running: in the whole course of..., during...?
Translation: …结果是我多骑了20公里的自行车。长跑时我哭了一路。 Example: We ended up picking up balls all the time. I sweated all over at the tennis court.
5.(Para. 5) “... The big trouble is, I have no one of my age to train with.”she says. Funny, that.
Analysis: The sentence may be paraphrased like this: She says her big trouble is that she has no one of her age to train with. That is really a funny thing.
Translation: “…糟糕的是, 我没有同龄选手可以一起训练。”她说。那可真是好笑。 Example: The trouble is, he has left his passport at home. Unbelievable, that.
Important Words
promise v.&n. (give) a written or spoken undertaking to do or not to do somethin
许诺，保证
eg. They have promised to reply immediately.
If you don’t keep your promise, you will not be trusted any longer.
I think I’ll promise myself a quiet weekend.
2. punish v. cause somebody suffering for wrongdoing, treat roughly 惩罚，惩处
eg. The driver was punished with a fine for speeding.
You shouldn't punish the child in that way.
She was already severely punished with her own mistake.
3.offer v. give or exchange, say what one is willing to do, kindly present
主动提供，给与
eg. They offered to reward for the return of the lost document.
She is kind enough to offer me the help.
This job offers you a good chance to enrich your experience.
4.repeat v. say or do again
重复，反复（说/干）
eg. The important thing is not to repeat the same mistake in your work.
The job is so boring. I have to repeat the same thing all the time.
Please repeat the sentence after me.
5.worth prep. having a certain value of
值得，具有…价值
eg. The second-hand car is worth much more than what you had paid.
I think the work is worth the time and energy we spent.
That book is well worth reading.
6.enter v. come or go into, join, take part in
进入，加入，参加
eg. At that time, it was very difficult for women to enter that profession.
She entered the bedroom quietly so as not to wake up others
They want to enter the examination at the end of the term.
7.follow v. go after, go along, keep to, keep as a guide
遵循，跟随，遵照
eg. I’ll go first and please follow me.
You should follow his example.
The paragraph following this one can be omitted.
8.tempt v. persuade or attract somebody to do something
诱惑，吸引，引诱
eg. Nothing could tempt me to do such a silly thing.
The clear water in the beautiful lake tempted us to swim in it.
He was tempted into making that wrong decision.
9.taste n. sense by which flavor is known, ability to enjoy beauty, liking or
preference; the flavor sensed
品味，欣赏的能力; 喜好
eg. I don’t like the sour taste in this ice-cream.
She has very good taste for dresses.
The explorer has a strong taste for adventures.
10.endurance n. ability to bear sufferings or hardship
耐力
eg. The sportsman showed remarkable power of endurance.
Sorry. I have come to the end of my endurance.
Endurance plays an important role in this event
The triathlon promises to be one of the most popular Olympic sports. Recently it has drawn huge crowds attracted (and worried) by athletes swimming 1500m, cycling 40km, and then running 10km without stopping.① Great for those watching, maybe, but what makes the triathletes want to punish their bodies so much?② And what makes an attractive 17-year-old, with excellent academic results, give up everything for the strange pleasures it offers? 