Zumba: A Dance that Puts Fun in Fitness樂趣無窮的尊巴健身舞蹈
Started in an aerobics▼ classroom in Columbia, Zumba is now practiced across the globe.
源自哥倫比亞一間有氧健身教室的尊巴健身舞蹈，如今世界各地都有人在跳。
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Zumba is an exercise trend that’s popular around the world. Mixing dance with exciting Latin music, it was created in the 1990s by a Columbian man named Beto Perez. Perez grew up in poverty and by the age of 14, he had taken on three jobs to help support his family. Perez loved dancing, and for one of his jobs, he worked as an aerobics instructor▼.
Perez usually played American pop songs during his classes. However, before one class in 1986, Perez left his regular music tape at home. So, he used a tape of Latin▼ songs that he had with him instead. The music was faster, so Perez had to adjust the usual dance moves to match the new songs. Perez told his students this was going to be a special class, but he could never have imagined how special it would be.
Perez’s students absolutely loved the change of pace, and word about his new class spread quickly. Perez’s dance fitness classes soon had long waiting lists and were attracting interest from celebrities. The famous singer Shakira even hired him to train the dancers in her videos. With big dreams of becoming a star in the US, Perez founded his company Zumba Fitness in 1998.
▲本圖提供 Stefano Ember / Shutterstock.com
1. fitness n. 健康，健壯
Eric is trying to improve his fitness by jogging.
艾瑞克試著藉由慢跑來增進他的健康。
2. trend n. 趨勢，傾向
The latest marketing trend is to advertise products through social media.
最新的行銷趨勢是透過社群媒體來幫產品打廣告。
* advertise vt. 為……做廣告，宣傳
3. in poverty 處於貧窮中
poverty n. 貧窮，貧困
The closure of the factory brought poverty to this town.
工廠的倒閉使得這座城鎮陷入貧苦之中。
* closure n. 停業，倒閉
4. take on... / take...on 接受／承擔……（工作、責任等）
Cynthia felt tired because she took on too much work.
辛西亞因為接下太多工作而覺得很累。
5. adjust vt. 調整
The chair was too high, so I needed to adjust it.
椅子太高了，因此我必須把它調整一下。
6. absolutely adv. 完全地；絕對地（強調語氣用）
Michael is very experienced, so he is absolutely the right person for the job.
麥可經驗豐富，所以他絕對是這個工作的不二人選。
7. pace n.（移動的）步調；（發生的）速度
John can’t stand it when people in front of him walk at a snail’s pace.
約翰很受不了他前方的人以龜速走路。
* at a snail’s pace 非常慢地，緩慢地
8. found vt. 創立，創辦（三態為：found, founded, founded）
The man founded a clinic that treats patients with no health insurance.
那名男子創辦了一間診所來醫治沒有健保的病患。
▼ aerobics n. 有氧健身操 ▼ instructor n. 教練 ▼ Latin a. 拉丁語的
word 的用法
1. word 這個字在生活中十分常見，但除了大家最熟悉的「字；單詞」之外，其實還有一些其他意思，像在本文中為「消息；信息」之意，為不可數名詞。 例 Has there been any word from George since he moved to Paris?
自從喬治搬去巴黎後，你有聽過他的消息嗎？
2. word 表「文字」或「言詞」時，為可數名詞，有下列用法：
have a word with sb 與某人談談／說幾句話 例 Can you come into my office? I need to have a word with you.
你可以進來我辦公室一下嗎？我得和你談談。
3. word 表「吵架，口角」時，恆用複數，有下列用法：
have words with sb 跟某人起口角 例 The couple often have words with each other over trivial matters.
這小倆口常為小事爭執。
4. word 表「諾言」時，為不可數名詞，有下列用法：
a man / woman of his / her word 信守諾言的人
keep sb’s word 某人堅守承諾 例 Chris is a man of his word. If he says he’ll do something, he will.
克里斯是個言而有信的人。他總是說到做到。 例 I’ll keep my word and take my family on a trip to Hawaii.
我會遵守諾言，帶我家人去夏威夷旅行。
