Butthesignificantthingisnotthebehaviouroftheplayersbuttheattitudeofthespectators:and,behindthespectators,ofthenationswhoworkthemselvesintofuriesovertheseabsurdcontests,andseriouslybelieve--atanyrateforshortperiod

Question

But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators:and,behind the spectators,of the nations who work themselves into furies over these absurd contests,and seriously believe -- at any rate for short periods -- that running,jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.有点地方看不懂,the spectors和of the nations之间加个;号是什么语法?of the nation后面加个who work themselves into furies over 请一定详解,

Answer 1

这不是新概念4第6课吗.of the nation 不过是个省略句,省略了前面的the attitude of .
Who work themselves into furies 修饰的是the nations,其中furies是愤怒的意思,这句话可以理解为让自己痴狂.over 应该和后面these absurd contests再一起看,是对于这些荒唐的比赛的意思.
所以断句很重要,不懂追问!