Luis國際資訊事務所

From yakiniku in Japan to shashlik in Russia, churrasco in Brazil to braai in South Africa, everyone loves a good barbecue. With centuries-old recipes and various traditions, no country or culture can claim the BBQ as their own. In America, however, thousands of people are trying hard to change that. The goal is to make the perfect barbecue and make it American.

　　The KCBS, Kansas City Barbecue Society1, doesn't have a long history. What it has, though, is 10,000 members, which makes it the largest society for barbecuing on the planet. Their aim is to make American barbecue the absolute best in the world.

　　When it comes to barbecue, they don't just mean grilling meat. They mean grilling lots of meat. The society's main activity is hosting barbecue contests all over the country. They put on more than 300 events every year. These contests are no small matter. People form special barbecue teams and travel from contest to contest. All of their efforts are meant for them to be ranked as the top barbecuers in the nation.

　　The biggest BBQ event of the year happens at the Memphis May Festival. This is where hundreds of professional barbecue teams battle for the world championship title2 and US$90,000 in prizes. Who will be crowned the BBQ King? Like most affairs of food, it is a matter of taste.

1. absolute　a. 絕對的（強調語氣用）
You're an absolute fool to break up with her.
你真是笨得可以才會跟她分手。
2. host　vt. 主辦；主持
They asked a celebrity to host this event.
他們請了一位名人來主持這個活動。
3. rank　vt. 排行，排名（常用被動態）
Lily was ranked fifth in the singing contest.
莉莉在歌唱比賽裡排名第五。
4. crown　vt. 為……加冕
Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953.
伊莉莎白二世於1953年受冕為英國女王。

1. vput on...　　舉行∕演出……（活動，節目等）
Jason put on a magic show for his kids.
傑森為他的孩子們表演了一場魔術秀。
2. be no small/laughing matter　　絕不是小事∕開玩笑的事（表某事必須嚴肅對待）
Your personal health is no laughing matter.
你的個人健康絕不能等閒視之。
3. be meant (for + 人) to + 原形動詞　　意在（使某人）……
This book is meant to help you with writing.
這本書的目的是用來幫助你寫作。
4. it is a matter of...　　只是……的問題
You will succeed. It's just a matter of when.
你一定會成功。問題只是何時而已。

1. society　n. 協會，社團
2. title　n. 冠軍

The goal is to make...
（其目標就是要做出……）
Their aim is to make...
（他們的宗旨是要讓……）
　　上述兩句中的"to make"皆為名詞不定詞（to + 原形動詞），並且接在 be 動詞後作主詞補語。此時句中主詞均為表『意願；企圖』的名詞。
Gina's plan is to start working after she graduates from college.
（吉娜的計畫是在大學畢業後就開始工作。）
Sandy's birthday wish was to find her Mr. Right quickly.
（珊蒂的生日願望是能趕快找到她的真命天子。）

從日本的日式燒肉到俄國的劍烤肉串；巴西的鐵架烤肉到南非的非洲燒烤，人人都喜歡 烤得不亦樂乎。在眾多古老食譜及各種烤肉傳統的相互爭鳴之下，沒有任何國家或文化能將烤肉這檔子事佔為己有。不過在美國卻有上千人正努力想改變這一點。其 目標就是要做出最完美的燒烤料理，並且將它美國化。

　　簡稱為KCBS的堪薩斯市燒烤協會並無悠久的歷史。它所擁有的則是一萬名會員，這也使其成為全世界規模最大的烤肉協會。他們的宗旨是要讓美式烤肉成為全球燒烤界的第一把交椅。

　　一提到燒烤，他們指的不單單是烤肉而已。他們說的是烤大把大把的肉。這個協會的主要活動就是在全美各地舉辦燒烤比賽。他們每年會舉行超過三百場的活 動。這些比賽可不容小覷。人們會組成特別的烤肉團隊，從這一場再比到下一場。他們的所有努力都是想讓自己成為國內頂尖的燒烤大師。

　　一年當中最重大的烤肉盛會便發生在孟斐斯五月慶典之時。這裡正是數百支職業烤肉隊伍同場較勁以爭奪世界燒烤冠軍頭銜及獎金九萬美元的地方。誰能加冕成為燒烤之王？正如同大多與食物相關的事物一樣，這純粹是個人口味的問題罷了。