The game of Bingo “has been around” (existed) for more than 500 years in some form or another.
賓果遊戲“已經存在”(存在)了五百多年,以某種形式或另一種形式存在。
In the American version, each player is given a card with five “columns” (rows running up and down) on it, with the letters B-I-N-G-O written on top, in the first row.
在美國版中,每位玩家會得到一張有五列(縱向排列)的卡片,上面第一行寫著 B-I-N-G-O 這些字母。
Below the first row, there are more five rows, each with a set of numbers from one to 75.
在第一行的下面,還有五行,每行都有一組從1到75的數字。
Each Bingo card is different, with different numbers in different positions.
每張賓果卡片都是不同的,數字的位置也不一樣。
The game consists of the leader or organizer picking a small ball or card with a letter-number combination and “calling it out” (saying it out loud; announcing it).
遊戲由領導者或組織者選擇一個帶有字母-數字組合的小球或卡片,並“喊出來”(大聲說出來;宣布出來)。
For example, the leader might say “B-71” or “G-15.”
例如,領導者可能會說“B-71”或“G-15”。
Players who have that combination – the number in the same column as the letter – can then “cover” the number (put something on it).
有該組合的玩家——數字與字母在同一列——可以“覆蓋”該數字(在上面放東西)。
The first player who gets a single row of covered numbers shouts “Bingo!”
第一個覆蓋數字達到一行的玩家會喊“賓果!”
The game’s leader then checks the card to make sure it is correct, and, if it is correct, that person wins.
遊戲的領導者然後檢查卡片以確保其正確,如果正確,該玩家就贏了。
Many language teachers use a “modified” (changed) version of this game replacing the numbers with vocabulary words, and there are many “variations” (different versions) of the game as well.
許多語言老師使用這個遊戲的“修改版”(更改版),用詞彙取代數字,並且還有許多“變體”(不同版本)的遊戲。
Most Americans associate Bingo with either old people who play it to “pass the time” (spend time doing something interesting) or with “charitable” (helping others) organizations that use the game to “raise” (get; collect) money for their group.
大多數美國人將賓果遊戲與老人為了“消磨時間”(做一些有趣的事情來度過時間)或與利用這個遊戲來“籌集”(獲取;收集)資金的“慈善”(幫助他人)組織聯繫起來。
Churches, especially Catholic churches in the U.S., often use this game as a way of raising money.
教會,特別是美國的天主教教會,經常用這個遊戲來籌集資金。
But Bingo is no longer just for old people and “churchgoers” (people who attend or go to religious services).
但是賓果遊戲不再僅僅是為了老人和“教會信徒”(參加或去宗教服務的人)。
The game has suddenly become popular on college campuses with the youngsters.
這個遊戲突然在大學校園內的年輕人中變得流行起來。
(“Youngsters” refers to young people, but it is an old-fashioned word now used jokingly, since only a very older person would use such an out-of-date word.)
“年輕人”指的是年輕人,但這是一個過時的詞語,現在常用於開玩笑,因為只有非常年長的人才會使用這樣一個過時的詞語。
Some U.S. colleges are using late-night (after 9:00 or 10:00 PM) Bingo as a way of keeping students “on campus” (on the physical grounds or location of the school) at night to prevent drinking and other problems.
一些美國大學在深夜(晚上9:00或10:00以後)使用賓果遊戲來讓學生“留在校園”(在學校的實際地點)內,防止飲酒和其他問題。
The Bingo games are “alcohol-free” (without drinking of alcoholic beverages), and in some places “draw” (have in attendance) more than 600 students a night.
賓果遊戲是“無酒精”(不喝酒)的,在某些地方每晚有超過600名學生參加。
Prizes can include iPads and Xbox games, but also things like bags of “groceries” (food), a great parking space for your car on campus, and one semester’s worth of textbooks.
獎品可以包括iPad和Xbox遊戲,但也包括一些如食品袋、校園內的一個好停車位,以及一學期的課本等物品。