英译汉
　　Bringing the World Cup to Asia was supposed to expand the reach of the global game in a happy confluence of good will and good business. The action on the pitch has certainly been dramatic, and most fans were thrilled. But less than half way through the month-long tournament, the good will is already wearing thin—and business seems relatively slow, with fewer visitors and Cup-related sales than expected. Deeply embarrassed by the image of part-empty stadiums besieged by angry ticket hunters, Japanese prime minister ordered an official investigation into the ticket fiasco. Claiming losses of more than $800,000 per game, Korea's soccer federation even threatened to sue Byrom, the official ticket agent, for failing to print and deliver tickets on time.
　　Japan and Korea both hoped to score big points—at home and abroad—with the World Cup. Perhaps it was the memories of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and the 1988 Seoul Olympics, which were considered turning points in their nations' development. Mired in a decade-long slump, Japan longs for anything that might shock its economy back to life. Korea, meanwhile, hopes the Cup will steady its halting recovery from the 1997 Asian financial crisis—and help brand it as Asia's most wired nation. Their plan: inject billions of dollars into new facilities, welcome throngs of tourists and for one glorious month showcase their countries to the biggest television audience in world history.
　　【参考译文】
　　世界杯在亚洲举办，意在扩大足球的影响，既能安抚球迷，又能促进经济发展，皆大欢喜。激烈的比赛着实让球迷过足了瘾，可比赛才举行半个月，安抚球迷的愿望就落了空，拉动经济发展的效果也微乎其微。无论是不远千里来观看球赛的球迷的人数，还是与世界杯相关的商品销售，都未达到预期的数量。日本赛场场内空空荡荡，观者寥寥，场外一票难求，怨声载道，日本首相为此尴尬不已，命令官方介入，调查票务丑闻。韩国足联宣布，每场比赛亏损高达80万美元，进而威胁起诉票务代理拜罗姆没能及时印制发送球票。
　　日韩两国都想借世界杯在国内外有所收益，这可能是因为两国仍沉醉于1964年东京奥运会和1988年汉城奥运会，当时这两届奥运会是两国发展的转折点，促进了日本和韩国的腾飞。日本深陷经济衰退的泥潭长达十年之久，现在迫切需要重振往日雄风。而韩国则寄希望于世界杯稳步摆脱1997年亚洲经济危机影响，重塑亚洲强国地位。他们的如意算盘是：投入巨资更新设备，迎接八方来客，借世界杯的一月精彩赛事，向创下历史之最的全球电视观众展示日韩两国风采。