Scripps National Spelling Bee
最近有兩部電影都以才剛落幕的 Scripps National Spelling Bee (全國青少年拼字大賽) 為背景故事, 一部是 Akeelah and the Bee, 另一部是 Richard Gere 主演的 Bee Season. 很難想像這樣一個如同台灣查字典或是破音字比賽的活動, 在美國居然是如此令人矚目, 決賽時更是由 ESPN 或 ABC 等全國性電視台作立即現場實況轉播.
一個個年紀未及弱冠的青少年, 在重重的地區賽中, 經過了許許多多的考驗,他們每天花7~8個小時背誦生澀的英文單詞, 甚至很多是連大部分美國成年人都從未耳聞的艱難辭彙, 其刻苦程度決不亞於台灣小孩為了升學而熬夜用功的境界. 而今年的拼字比賽更吸引了1050萬人報名參加.
拼字比賽的基本規則是, 當主持人念出一個詞, 參賽者就要開始把字母口述拼出來, 之前可以詢問幾個問題, 像是字源出處以及例句, 但是已念出的字母或字母順序不可再更改, 只要參賽者拼錯了一個詞, 他就會立刻被淘汰. 比賽以回合制舉行, 直至淘汰到最後一位參賽者為止, 規則相當的嚴格.
我們看過印象最深刻的應該是 2004 年 Akshay Buddiga 在 National Spelling Bee 決賽中, 因為之前的太努力準備而睡眠不足且未進食, 加上思考過度時壓力太大, 有點像電腦處裡太多東西時當機一樣翻了幾下白眼後, 當場在台上昏倒. 但是更令人不可思議的是, 在他甦醒過來後, 繼續的回到台前, 居然立即正確無誤的拼出了 alopecoid 這個超級難字.
posted by Jeff & Angie @ 11:36 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Hi There,
this is Hsin-Hsin Wang (Michelle). Not sure if you guys remember me and Alex. We met in UIUC.
I get to know your blog via the link from Jenny Chen's blog. What a small world. Just want to drop a hello!!
Michelle
Hi There,
this is Hsin-Hsin Wang (Michelle). Not sure if you guys remember me and Alex. We met in UIUC.
I get to know your blog via the link from Jenny Chen's blog. What a small world. Just want to drop a hello!!
Michelle
Hi there,
This is Michelle Wang. Not sure if you guys remember me and Alex. We all went to UIUC for the master..
Accidently I get to know your blog via the link at Jenny Chen's blog. What a small world. Just want to drop a hello!!
Michelle
Hi~ It's very nice to hear from you! We surely remember you guys :) How's everything? Are you still in NJ?
Nope, we moved down to Atlanta couple of years ago. Due to the job change, we now are in the process of moving to China. Kind of excited...
Wow~ Congratulation. Where in China? Shanghai? I always want to move back to Asia. Send us your contact information when you settle...my email address is jeffc.sf@gmail.com
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