② The quadrennial event wrapped up in Osaka, Japan, where China topped the scoreboard with an overwhelming 11-0 win-loss record in the 12-team round-robin match.这项四年一度的赛事在日本大阪落下帷幕，中国队在此次12支队伍参与角逐的循环赛中以11-0的胜负比领跑积分榜。
③ Even US and Russia, who are among the leading contenders in the game, had to taste bitter losses at the hands of the team coached by Lang Ping, an icon starred in China’s surge to become the volleyball world-beaters in the 1980s.就连美国和俄罗斯这样的劲旅，也被郎平挂帅的中国队斩落马下。郎平堪称上世纪80年代中国女排崛起为世界排坛霸主道路上的领军人物。
④ Dubbed the “Iron Hammer”, Lang led the group of Chinese girls to the summit of women’s volleyball through a historic winning streak of five world titles, beginning with the 1981 World Cup victory over Japan.自击败日本队勇夺1981年世界杯冠军开始，人称“铁榔头”的郎平带领着中国姑娘们在各项大赛中拿下了历史性的五连冠，登顶世界女排。
⑤ The sweeping triumphs led to widespread revelry as it came when the country was going through a period of transformation. Women’s volleyball has since been a huge source of national pride and an embodiment of spirits like teamwork and persistence.彼时的中国正处于转型时期，摧枯拉朽般的胜利引起全国一片狂欢。女排运动从此成为了民族自豪感的巨大源泉，象征着团结协作、坚持不懈的精神。
⑥ Inspiring, captivating and nostalgia-evoking, the fresh success has lit up nationwide discussion again and greatly boosted the morale of the team ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.这次激动人心的全新胜利，既扣人心弦又引人回忆，再次引发了全民热议，极大振奋了女排备战2020东京奥运会的士气。女排世界杯赛制:采用12 支队伍大循环的赛制：按照【先看胜场】，【后比积分】的原则。参赛球队和11个对手逐一比赛过后，按照【总积分】来决定最终的名次。得分计算方式是：输球得0分，3-0或3-1取胜得3分，3-2取胜得2分。
1.retain the title of sth. 卫冕……；保持……的头衔 retain /rɪˈteɪn/ vt. 保持，保留（to continue to have sth. 通常用在比较正式的场合）retain control of sth.（政府）保留对某样东西的控制权retain their traditional and habitual ways of doing things（某个国家）保留做事的传统和习惯 2.rout /raʊt/ vt. 击溃，击败（to defeat sb. completely） 3.seal /siːl/ vt. 锁定（to secure sth. definitively） seal the deal 搞定、签署协议 4.pocket /ˈpɒkɪt/ vt. 将……放入衣袋 lock the door and pocket the keys锁好门把钥匙放到包里 5.unparalleled /ʌnˈpærəleld/ adj. 无可比拟的，空前的 an achievement unparalleled in sporting history体育史上空前的成就 6.feat /fiːt/ n. 功绩，壮举 7.quadrennial /kwɒ'drenɪəl/ adj. 四年一度的 8.wrap up 圆满结束 wrap up相当于successfully finish/complete，但较后者更高级一点。We wrapped up the meeting today.我们今天的会议圆满结束。 9.top /tɒp/ vt. 居首位（be the most successful） This café tops the list of the 10 must-go places in Beijing.这家咖啡馆是北京十大必打卡胜地之首。 10.round-robin /ˌraʊnd ˈrɑːbɪn/ n. 循环赛 11.contender /kənˈtendə(r)/ n. 角逐者，竞争者 12.taste bitter losses 面对痛苦失败 I tasted a light loss.我感受到一种淡淡的失落。 13.star /stɑː(r)/ vt. 引领；主演（电影中） 14.beater /ˈbiːtə(r)/ n. 打败别人的人 record-beaters/record breakers 打破记录的人 15.dub /dʌb/ vt. 给……起别名、绰号 be dubbed sth. = be called sth. 被称作……Lang Ping was dubbed the Iron Hammer.郎平被人称作”铁榔头“。 16.lead sb. to the summit 带某人登顶 17.winning streak 连胜 18.sweeping triumphs 横扫一切的胜利 19.revelry /ˈrevlri/ n. 狂喜，欢宴（相当于celebration） 20.source of sth. ……的源泉 Making money is the source of his happiness.挣钱是他的快乐之本。My love for the world is the source of all my motives.对世界的热爱是我的动力之源。 21.embodiment /ɪmˈbɒdimənt/ n. 体现；化身 embodiment of + 比较抽象的内容 ……的体现an embodiment of spirits 一种精神的化身 22.inspiring /ɪnˈspaɪərɪŋ/ adj. 鼓舞人心的，激动人心的 23.captivating /ˈkæptɪveɪtɪŋ/ adj. 扣人心弦的 captivate /ˈkæptɪveɪt/ vt. 迷住，使……着迷captivate the audience 征服观众 24.nostalgia-evoking adj. 引人回忆的 25.light up 点火，引发 26.morale /məˈræl/ n. 士气 boost the morale 提振士气