BBC初級口語:大學生競賽醜聞

Background: 英國最受推崇的由兩組大學代表隊搶答電視知識競賽節目University Challenge 因陷入醜聞而引起轟動。原來躋身於決賽中的優勝隊被發現有違規之嫌，因爲其中的一名決賽者根本不是大學生。

【文本】

Student Quiz Scandal

It's one of Britain's longest-running TV quiz shows, where the best and brightest from universities all over the country, compete to show off their knowledge on a myriad of topics.

University Challenge first went to air nearly fifty years ago, and over the decades it's been a showcase for students facing quick-fire questions on literature, physics, geography and philosophy, and everything in between.

This year's final was one of the most keenly watched with students from Corpus Christi College at Oxford University, taking on a team from Manchester University.

All eyes were on Corpus Christi's captain, Gail Trimble, who had been dubbed "the greatest contestant ever", as she almost single-handedly won their place in the final, earning two-thirds of her team's points.

But in what turned out to be a tightly-fought match, other team members, including chemist Sam Kay, scored some vital points.

At the gong, Corpus Christi were victorious but the trophy wasn't theirs for long.

It emerged that by the time of the final Sam Kay was no longer a student; he had graduated and started work as an accountant, but hadn't realised he couldn't compete.

On Monday the BBC announced the team was being disqualified, and the trophy handed to Manchester, who paid tribute to their opponents, saying they were sad to have won in such circumstances.

But the dramatic highs and lows of Corpus Christi's game, seem certain to make them one of the most memorable teams not to have won University Challenge.

【口語突破】

best and brightest 尖子/精英

myriad 多種多樣的/綜合

went to air 演播

showcase 展示

quick-fire questions 猝不及防的

taking on 較量

dubbed 被稱爲

single-handedly 單槍匹馬的

tightly-fought match 激烈的競賽

gong 授獎儀式上

victorious 充滿勝利的喜悅

trophy 獎盃

graduated（已經）畢業

disqualified 取消比賽資格

paid tribute 稱讚

highs and lows 起起落落