2、lausethat-clausefunctionsasthesubjectcomplementbeing…functionsasthesubjectetc.BeforeReadingGlobalReadingDetailedReadingAfterReadingBeforeReading BackgroundInformationAmericanFootballAmerican football is derived from theEnglish game of rugby, and is entirely differentfrom or
3、dinary football, that is, soccer orassociation football.American football is the most popularsport in all schools and colleges in the fall.Popular high school footballers are usuallyencouraged to come to a college or universityby offers of scholarships and free room andboard
4、.There are professional football teams innearly all major cities of the United States.Their players are almost always former collegefootballers.The number of spectators atprofessional football games is generallylarger than that at collegegames because the professionalplayers
5、 are naturally more skilled.College football games areusually played on Saturday afternoons,while professional football games arevery often played onSunday afternoons or evenings.The game is played with an oval ball; theeleven players on each side may carry it and tackle eac
6、h other. The object of the game is to carry or forward pass the ball acrossthe opponent's goal. One player may throw another down as part of the game. Therules are complicated and the game isinherently dangerous. Many players havebeen seriously injured or even killed in thep
7、ast.In order to avoid such injuries the most elaborate clothing has been developed.Withdramaticprotection for his head, shoulders and chest, and a visor over his face, when fullequipped a player looks like a strange visitor from another plane. An important footballgame is o
8、ften played in the midst of animmense ritual .Half an hour before the game
