NEWS worthy Clips (2/2)

Update your vocabulary with news clips from around the world 

Auto Racing: All in the Family

Being a motor racing , though, can be a double-edged sword. Dad can be the perfect racing tutor—assuming the kids will listen to his advice. And while a famous name can open doors and sponsors’ checkbooks, that name also brings the burden to live up to the family pedigree.

That’s why Mario Andretti and Bobby Rahal were to not push their kids into racing.

“I never wanted Graham to think he had to be a racecar driver,” Bobby Rahal said. “I can’t imagine anything worse than feeling that way. I never tried to be a soccer dad. I don’t have to live vicariously through him because I’ve already done it.”

Mario Andretti when he watched his grandson become the youngest open-wheel winner ever when he took the checkered flag at Infineon’s IndyCar Series race in 2006.

Bobby Rahal said selfishly that he wished Graham had raced for his IndyCar Series team. Yet he admired his son’s independence, racing in Champ Car as preparation for a possible Formula One career.

“It’s not a given that just because your old man raced that you’re going to be a successful driver,” Bobby Rahal said. “In the end, you need talent, hunger and desire to do it. Graham has that.”

The son also has something else: a .

“You can’t expect your name to carry you,” Graham Rahal said. “Sure, at times my name opens doors. You can get in those doors, but you can fall out of them just as quickly if the results aren’t there. It’s just the way racing is.”

Spoken like a true member of a racing family.

Vocabulary Focus

double-edged sword (idiom) ---something that acts into two ways, often with one negative and on positive effect

soccer dad (or mom) (n phr) ---a parent who pushes his or her child into many sporting activities for the parent’s fulfillment more than the child’s

vicariously (adv) ---experienced indirectly, as a result of watching, listening to or reading about the activities of other people, rather than by doing the activities yourself

a given (n phr) ---something which is certain to happen

Specialized terms

pedigree (n)--- 家世；身家背景 a person’s family backgroud

take the checkered flag (v phr)--- 在赛车比赛中获胜 to have the balck-and-white flag waved to show that your car has won the race