Step 1: Intensive reading.
Try to answer the question below while you’re reading:
Question: How many unsuccessful attempts did Mendoza make before becoming
Champion of all England?
Vocabulary:
boxing n. 拳击
adore v. 崇拜，爱戴
boxer n. 拳击手
alike adv. 一样地
bare adj. 赤裸的
fame n. 名声
prizefighter n.职业拳击手（尤指古时赤手拳击手）
eminent adj. 著名的，杰出的
bitterly adv. 厉害地
crude adj. 粗野的
bet (bet, bet; betted, betted) v. 打赌
marquis n. 侯爵
academy n. 专业学校
technically adv. 严格根据法律意义地
extravagant adj. 浪费的，奢侈
science n. 科学
popularity n. 名望
poverty n. 贫困
Passage:
Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago. In those days,
boxers fought with bare fists for prize money. Because of this, they were known as
‘prizefighters’. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a
prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而
搏斗。因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。不过，拳击是十分野蛮的，因为当时没
有任何比赛规则，职业拳击手有可能在比赛中受重伤，甚至丧命。
Notes:
1 they were known as ‘prizefighters’，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。 be known as…，
被称作……。
One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was
born in 1764. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of
Queensberry drew up the first set of rules. Though he was technically a prizefighter,
Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science
to the game. In his day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by
rich and poor alike.
拳击史上最引人注目的人物之一是丹尼尔·门多萨，他生于 1764 年。1860 年昆斯
伯里侯爵第一次为拳击比赛制定了规则，拳击比赛这才用上了手套。虽然门多萨
严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手，但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体育运动方面，
他做出了重大贡献。是他把科学引进了这项运动。门多萨在他的全盛时期深受大
家欢迎，无论是富人还是穷人都对他崇拜备至。
Notes:
2 until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules 中， 以
when 引导的从句是定语从句，修饰前面的年代 1860 年。draw up 是“制定”、“草
拟”的意思。a set of，一套。 Marquis of Queensberry ，昆斯伯里侯爵，是指第 8
位昆斯伯里侯爵约翰·修托·道格拉斯（1844—1900），苏格兰贵族。他制定的“ 昆
斯伯里规则”至今仍是拳击的比赛规则。
3 change…into…，把……变成……，bring…to…，把……引进……。
4 in his day，在他的全盛时期。day 此处指“幸运或顺利的时期”。
5 He was adored by rich and poor alike. 人们不论贫富都很崇拜他。rich and poor
是固定词组，意为富人和穷人。
Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years
old. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent
boxer in England. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him. The
two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by
a fight. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour. The public
bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated. Mendoza met Humphries
in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time. It was not until his third
match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became
one of his pupils. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as
£100 for a single appearance. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always
in debt. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly
forgotten. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in
1836.
门多萨在 14 岁时参加了一场拳击赛后一举成名。这引起了当时英国拳坛名将理
查德 ·汉弗莱斯的注意。他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。事
实上，门多萨不久便名声大振，致使汉弗莱斯与他反目为敌。两个人争吵不休，
显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了
一个小时。公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。后来，门多萨与汉
弗莱斯再次在拳击场上较量，门多萨又输了一场。直到 1790 年他们第 3 次对垒，
门多萨才终于击败了汉弗莱斯，成了全英拳击冠军。同时，他建立了一所拳击学
校，办得很成功，连拜伦勋爵也成了他的学生。门多萨挣来很多钱，一次出场费
就可多达 100 英镑。尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。他在被一个
叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被人遗忘。他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于
1836 年在贫困中死去。
Notes:
6 rise to fame ，成名。
7 Humphries turned against him，汉弗莱斯与他反目为敌。
8 at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour 中，以 where 引导的从句作 Stilton
的定语。
9 bet on…，在……上押（赌金）。
10 It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries…这是一个
it 的强调句。被强调的部分 not until his third match in 1790 放在 It was 之后，句子
的其他部分放在引导词 that 之后。
11 be in debt，负债。
21.2【阅读理解】Daniel Mendoza
Step 2: Comprehension questions.
Comprehension:
1 When were boxing matches very popular in England? (Two hundred years ago.)
2 In those days, did boxers fight with bare fists for prize money? (Yes, they did.)
3 What were they known as? ('Prizefighters'.)
4 Why could a boxer be injured or even killed during a match? (Because there were
no rules.)
5 When was Daniel Mendoza born? (In 1764.)
6 When were boxing gloves first introduced? (In 1860.)
7 What did the Marquis of Queensberry do? (He drew up the first set of rules.)
8 How did Mendoza change crude prizefighting into a sport? (He brought science to
the game.)
9 Was he popular? (Yes, he was.)
10 Did he rise to fame slowly? (No, he didn't. He rose to fame swiftly.)
11 Who offered to train Mendoza? (Richard Humphries.)
12 And who was Richard Humphries? (He was the most eminent boxer in England.)
13 Why did Humphries turn against Mendoza? (Because Mendoza became too
successful.)
14 Did the two men quarrel? (Yes, they did.)
15 What was the only way their argument could be settled? (By a fight.)
16 How long did the match last? (For an hour.)
17 How many times did Mendoza lose to Humphries? (Twice.)
18 When did Mendoza beat Humphries to become Champion of England? (In 1790.)
19 Did he become rich and famous? (Yes, he did.)
20 But he was always in debt. Why? (Because he was so extravagant.)
21 When did he die? and where? (He died in 1836 in prison.)
21.3【拓展写作】Daniel Mendoza
Step 3: Composition
In not more than 250 words, write an imaginary account of the first fight between
Mendoza and Humphries. Expand the ideas given below into a plan and provide a
suitable title. Your composition should be in four paragraphs.
Ideas: The quarrel --Mendoza and Humphries: bets from supporters--atmosphere just
before the fight --the fight itself--Mendoza's defeat --effect on him and his supporters.
Key to composition
The first fight
The first fight between Humphries and his pupil Mendoza, after a quarrel, was
held at Stilton and attracted a lot of attention. At the time, Richard Humphries was the
most eminent boxer in England and had many supporters. But the young Mendoza
had his supporters, too.
The atmosphere before the fight was electric. Half of the people there made bets
on Humphries, the other half bet on Mendoza. When the two fighters entered the ring,
there was a lot of shouting and cheering.
The referee called both fighters to the middle of the ring, spoke to them and the
fight started. At first, both men were very wary. After all, this was a fight between
teacher and pupil, so they knew very well what the other could do-and they were
fighting with bare fists. Each of the boxers fought well for most of the match, but in
the end Humphries was too strong and too experienced for the young Mendoza. He
knocked him down once: Mendoza got up. He knocked him down again, and although
Mendoza tried to get up, he just couldn't. The referee counted ten and that was the end
of the match.
When Mendoza got up, he was very angry, but eventually congratulated
Humphries. However, his defeat made him determined to go on and fight his teacher
again so that he could finally become champion.
(229 words)
课外练习：
1 Richard Humphries offered to train Mendoza because .
(a)he wanted to learn the techniques that Mendoza had introduced to boxing
(b)for one so young, Mendoza had displayed an unusual grasp of the game
(c)he had attended the boxing match which led to Mendoza's early fame
(d)he was anxious to establish himself as a superior boxer to Mendoza
2 At the match between Humphries and Mendoza at Stilton .
(a)Mendoza lost a great deal of money to the public
(b)after an hour's fighting Humphries became champion of England
(c)Mendoza lost twice to Humphries
(d)the argument between the two men was settled in favour of Humphries
3 Apart from the money he earned at matches, Mendoza .
(a)earned a lot from the Academy which he founded after becoming Champion
(b)earned so much money that he became a rich man
(c)greatly supplemented his income by teaching the art of boxing
(d)was given enormous sums by Lord Byron
4 In those days, 'prizefighters' because they fought with bare fists for
prize money.
(a)they called boxers
(b)boxers called
(c)boxers being called
(d)they were called boxers
5 A prizefighter could suffer a serious injury or during a…
(a)even be killed
(b)be even killed
(c)even killed
(d)was even killed
6 Mendoza boxing into a sport. (ll.8-9)
(a)was much changed by
(b)did a great deal to change
(c)changed a great deal of
(d)much changed
7 He was so extravagant that he people money.
(a)always owed to
(b)always owed
(c)owed always
(d)was always owing to
8 One of the most in boxing history was…
(a)vivid personalities
(b)famous people
(c)painted images
(d)imaginative characters
9-after a boxing match at the young age of fourteen.
(a)marvellously
(b)singly
(c)exceptionally
(d)unequally
10 Mendoza's to fame was noted by Richard Humphries.
(c)raise
(d)claim
(a)rise
(b)rose
11 Humphries soon became Mendoza's success.
(a)jealous of
(b)disinterested in
(c)revolted by
(d)changed by
12 Mendoza finally Humphries and became Champion of England.
(a)conquered
(b)gained
(c)won
(d)beat
答案：1b 2d 3c 4a 5a 6b 7b 8b 9c 10a 11a 12d