| The Hunger Games is set in a future America in which wars have wiped out all but small population centers (known as Districts). The Capitol rules over the Districts, and each District is responsible for one major industry. And after an uprising which saw one District completely obliterated (District 13), the Capitol now controls every aspect of life for the citizens of each District. |
《饑餓游戲》故事背景設定在未來的美洲，戰爭摧毀了那里的一切，只剩下幾個小的人口聚集地（被稱之為“轄區”）。每個轄區負責一個重要產業，而所有轄區都受國會區統治。在經歷一次叛亂后，有一個轄區——第13區被徹底毀滅了，國會區如今掌管著其他12個轄區民眾生活的方方面面。 |
| As a punishment and a reminder of what happens when Districts revolt, the Capitol has set up an annual competition known as the Hunger Games. Each District must send one boy and one girl (known as Tributes) between the ages of 12 and 18 to take part in the Hunger Games, with the names drawn at random in 'reaping' ceremonies. Once selected, the Tributes are immediately whisked away to the Capitol where they are assigned a team to both make them presentable to potential financial sponsors and prepare them for the competition: a televised fight to the death between all 24 Tributes from which only one Tribute may emerge victorious. |
為了懲罰發動叛亂的轄區，也為了“殺雞儆猴”，國會區發起了一年一度的競技比賽——“饑餓游戲”。每個轄區必須派送年齡在12至18歲之間的男孩和女孩（也就是“貢品”）各一名去參加饑餓游戲。這些孩子都是在所謂的“收獲”典禮上隨機抽取的，一旦被抽中，他們就會作為貢品被立馬帶到國會區。在那里，他們被分配入隊接受訓練，一方面要吸引那些潛在的資金贊助商，另一方面為比賽做著準備。比賽通過電視直播，一場殊死搏斗在24個貢品之間展開，但只有一位會最終勝出。 |
| District 12 is the poorest of all the Districts and seldom has a Hunger Games winner. Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), a skilled hunter with a bow and arrows who, along with her best friend Gale (Liam Hemsworth), has been illegally hunting outside the District 12 compound for years, steps forward and volunteers for her 12 year old sister, Prim, after Prim's name is drawn. District 12's other Tribute is Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), the baker's son who years earlier had tossed Katniss a loaf of burnt bread which helped keep her family from starving at one of the Everdeen family's lowest points. After making sure Gale will take care of Prim and her mother, Katniss bravely prepares for the Games, believing she is capable of winning. Peeta's equally sure he can't win, but, no matter what, hopes to remain true to himself and not wind up just another player in the Capitol's game. |
第12區是最貧窮的一個轄區，幾乎沒有在饑餓游戲中勝出過。凱妮絲?艾佛丁（詹妮弗?勞倫斯 飾）是一位技術嫻熟的獵手。多年來，她經常拿著弓箭與最好的朋友加爾（利亞姆?海姆斯沃斯 飾）一起在第12區以外的地方非法捕獵。在得知她12歲的妹妹普里姆被抽中參加饑餓游戲后，凱妮絲挺身而出，自愿代替妹妹前往。第12區派出的另一位貢品是面包師的兒子皮塔（喬什?哈切森 飾）。幾年前，艾佛丁家境窘迫，皮塔曾給凱妮絲扔過一個烤焦的面包，要不是因為這個面包，她一家人早就被餓死了。在確信加爾會照顧普里姆和母親后，凱妮絲開始英勇備戰，并堅信自己一定能勝出。皮塔卻堅定地認為自己肯定贏不了，只是不管結果如何，他希望做真實的自己，不想讓別人卷入國會區的這場游戲。 |
| It's a battle to the death, with the Capitol residents celebrating the slaughter of innocent young people in gruesome ways, while the Districts can only hope their sons and daughters will return victorious. |
這是一場生死決戰，無辜的年輕人用殘忍的方式自相殘殺，而就在國會區的居民為此歡呼時，轄區的百姓們只能盼望著他們的兒女可以勝利歸來。
（China.org.cn Wendy 譯）
|
