Are men able to dance? Well, if I am an example, then no—I have two left feet and taking to the dance floor just fills me with dread. But of course, we know that most of us have the potential to throw some shapes, so what is it that's stopping us?

男性会跳舞吗？好吧，以我为例，那么答案是"不"——我行动笨拙，很不灵活，走进舞池让我充满恐惧。但是，当然，我们知道我们大多数人都有抛出一些形体动作的潜力，那么是什么阻止了我们呢？

If you've ever watched glamorous and glitzy dance shows on TV, you' ll know that there are men who have great dexterity and fancy footwork on the dance floor. These professional dancers have spent years learning and performing ballroom dances such as the waltz, foxtrot and tango.

如果你曾在电视上看过华丽炫目的舞蹈节目，你就会知道，有些男性在舞池中动作非常敏捷，而且步法优美。这些专业舞者花了数年时间学习和表演交际舞，如华尔兹、狐步舞和探戈。

But for a majority of us men, we still prefer to watch rather than participate. And according to a survey, over three quarters of British men have never or rarely danced. It found that over a third of men surveyed wouldn't strut their stuff on the dance floor because they were too embarrassed. And ten per cent said what put them off was fear of being the center of attention, being made fun of, or being judged.

但对于我们大多数男性来说，我们仍然更喜欢观看而不是参与。根据一项调查，超过四分之三的英国男性从不跳舞或很少跳舞。调查发现，超过三分之一的被调查男性因为太难为情而不愿意在舞池中炫耀自己的身体。10%的人表示，让他们望而却步的原因是害怕成为关注的焦点、害怕被取笑或被评头论足。

Women may say we have to get a grip, get on our feet and just let ourselves go! Easier said than done. But what helps is a crowded dance floor where there is safety in numbers. And according to the survey, many men need a drink. One man questioned said, "I don't think I'm very good at it and therefore need some Dutch courage to get me on the floor."

女性可能会说，我们必须控制自己，移动我们的脚步，让自己舞动起来！说起来容易做起来难。但拥挤的舞池能起到一定的作用，因为人多就安全。根据调查，许多男性需要喝酒。一位被问到的男子说道："我觉得我不太擅长这个，所以需要喝些酒来壮胆，才能让我走进舞池。"

So let's face it, us men just need help. We need training, we need to practice and we need to lose our inhibitions. Gareth Dew says, "I think to be able to dance you need to be able to let loose, be aware of your body and generally be more comfortable in yourself." Would you agree?

所以让我们面对现实吧，我们男性只是需要帮助。我们需要训练，我们需要练习，我们需要丢掉拘束。加雷思·杜说："我认为要想跳舞，你需要释放自己，意识到自己的身体，总的来说，就是让自己感觉更舒服。"你们同意吗？

知识积累

一、词汇

dread：n. [U] 恐惧；令人惧怕的事物glamorous：adj. 特别富有魅力的；独特的glitzy：adj. 浮华的

4. dexterity：n. [U] 灵巧；敏捷

5. footwork：n. [U] （体育、舞蹈的）步法，脚步动作

6. ballroom dances：交际舞

7. strut：v. 炫耀；趾高气扬地走

8. grip：n. 控制

9. inhibition：n. 拘谨；拘束感

习语或谚语

1. have two left feet：行动笨拙，笨手笨脚，很不灵活

例如：Henry cannot dance very well at all. He is always tripping over his partner. Henry has two left feet. 亨利不太会跳舞，总是绊着舞伴的脚，一点儿都不灵活。

2. Easier said than done. 说起来容易做起来难。

句型

1. But for a majority of us men, we still prefer to watch rather than participate. 但对于我们大多数男性来说，我们仍然更喜欢观看而不是参与。

2. And ten per cent said what put them off was fear of being the center of attention, being made fun of, or being judged. 10%的人表示，让他们望而却步的原因是害怕成为关注的焦点、害怕被取笑或被评头论足。

本文英文来自bbc，经改编已选入《快捷英语 活页英语时文阅读理解 高考17》，转载需注明出处。

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