Students will be able to:
1. understand the main idea( Anthony Falzo saved two children in a courageous deed) and structure of the text (three parts---what happened before, during and after the incident);
2. appreciate the advantages of specific words over general words;
3. grasp the key language points and grammatical structures in the text;
4. conduct a series of reading, listening, speaking and writing activities centered upon the theme of the unit.
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1st
period |
2nd
period |
3rd
period |
4th
period |
|
Pre-reading tasks Cultural notes |
Text organization Language study |
Language study Text analysis |
Post-reading tasks |
1. T asks several Ss the following questions to check if they have listened to the recorded poem:
---How did the father understand courage at first?
(hint: to have no feat of certain things)
---What did courage mean to the father after the fire?
(hint: to risk one’s life for other people) )
2. Group work
1) Before class, Ss are asked to collect stories, news reports, or pictures of courageous deeds.
2) In class, Ss form groups of three or four to share what they have collected.
3) Groups discuss what qualities are necessary for a person to handle emergencies successfully
and why. They may support their points by citing what they have collected.
4) Speakers for several groups report their discussion results to the class.
5) T reminds Ss to keep these qualities in mind when they study the text, and see how many of them are embodies in Anthony Falzo.
Text Organization and Analysis
|
Parts |
Paragraphs |
Main Ideas |
|
Part One |
Paras 1-13 |
While Kate was putting the groceries away and her two sons were heading for the railroad, a train was approaching. |
|
Part Two |
Paras 14-33 |
Anthony prevented a horrible railroad accident and saved the lives of the Pritchard children at the risk of his own. |
|
Part Three |
Paras 34-35 |
Anthony and the Pritchard became great friends. |
A good story-writer selects details carefully. He/ She only includes those details that are vital to the theme.
At first sight, some readers may wonder why the author bothers to give descriptions of the weather, of how Rich and Anthony made jokes about each other, of how after the accident Scott was jumping and crying, and of how Kate had delayed calling for help. But after closer inspections they will realize that those details are there to highlight the urgency of the accident and the level-headedness of Anthony.
In the first part of the
story the author tells s there was no fence separating the yard from the
railroad. It is interesting to note that in the last paragraph, the author
makes a special mention of the fact that there is now a fence separating the
neighborhood from the railroad track. That provides a good example of
coherence.
Cultural Notes
Emergency services: The emergency services are the public organizations whose job is to take quick action to deal with emergencies when they occur, especially the fire brigade, the police , and the ambulance service. The telephone number used in Britain for calling the police, fire or ambulance services in an emergency is 999 in Britain and 911 in the US.
Language Study
1.trunk: n. a. A covered compartment for luggage and storage, generally at the rear of an automobile.汽车尾部行李箱
b.长嘴象鼻或长虫的喙，尤指大象的可缠卷的长鼻
词性变化:
trunk :adj.躯干的, 主要的, 干线的; 箱形的; 有筒管的
the trunk line of a railroad 铁路的干线
2. locomotive. n.
a) A self-propelled vehicle, usually electric or diesel-powered, for pulling or pushing freight or passenger cars on railroad tracks. 机车一种自行推进的车辆，通常用电力或内燃机作动力，用于推或拉铁轨上的货车或客车
b) A driving or pulling force; an impetus 动力驱策力或拉力；推动力：
The US could no longer serve as the locomotive for the world economy? 美国再也无力承担世界经济推动力的重任了。
locomotive adj.
a) of, relating to, or involved in locomotion. 运动的四处移动的、与之相关的或参与其中的
b) Serving to put into motion or propel forward: 推动的用于使运动或向前推进：
It may be that the founding fathers overestimated the locomotive force of the collective and mutual self-interest? 开国功勋们可能过高地估计了集体的和相互的个人利益所能起的推动作用。
accumulator locomotive电池机车
battery locomotive蓄电池机车
3. gesture. n.
a) A motion of the limbs or body made to express or help express thought or to emphasize speech. 手势，姿势身体或四肢的动作，以表达或帮助表达想法或强调所说的话
b) The act of moving the limbs or body as an expression of thought or emphasis. 表情动作四肢或身体表达思想或强调的动作
c) An act or a remark made as a formality or as a sign of intention or attitude: 姿态，表示作为礼节或意图、态度的标志的动作或言语：
sent flowers as a gesture of sympathy 送花是出于同情的表示
gesture v.in tr.
To make gestures.打手势
gesture v. tr.
To show, express, or direct by gestures.用手势表现、表达或指导
4. echo. n.
a) Repetition of a sound by reflection of sound waves from a surface. 回声因表面反射声波而引起的声音重复
b) The sound produced in this manner 回音以这种方式产生的声音
c) A repetition or an imitation: 重复仿效
a fashion that is an echo of an earlier style仿效早期时尚的流行风潮
echo v.tr.
a) To repeat (a sound) by the reflection of sound waves from a surface 发出回声表面反射声波而重复的声音
5. steep. adj.
a) Having a sharp inclination; precipitous 陡的大幅度倾斜的；陡峭的
b) At a rapid or precipitous rate: 急遽的有快速或急促的速度的：
a steep rise in salaries 薪水的陡涨
c) Excessive; stiff 过分的；难以接受的：
a steep price 过高的价格
d) Ambitious; difficult 有野心的；困难的：
a steep undertaking 雄心勃勃的事业
useful expression:
be steeped in埋头于, 专心于; 充满着; 沉浸于
6. overhead. adj.
a) Located, functioning, or originating from above 上面的，高架的位于上部的，在上方运转的或来源于上部的
b) Of or relating to the operating expenses of a business （费用等）经常的，管理的属于或关于企业运转经费的
overhead. n.
a)The operating expenses of a business, including the costs of rent, utilities, interior decoration, and taxes, exclusive of labor and materials. 管理费用，经常费用企业的管理费用，包括租金、设备、内部装修及缴税等的花销，但不包括工资和购买原料的费用
b) The top surface in an enclosed space of a ship. 顶板密闭的船舱的顶层
c) Something, such as a light fixture, that is located above head height. 顶部装置安装在头顶的固定装置，如电灯装置
overhead adv.
Over or above the level of the head; high or higher up:在头顶，在上面；向上或更向上：
look overhead.向上看
7. out of the way: at a distance from the usual route; in a state or condition so as not to hinder (used after a verb)
Step out of the way and let me handle the stone.
The house is well out of the way on the back road.
8. resume. v.tr.
a) To begin or take up again after interruption:
resumed our dinner.
b) To assume, take, or occupy again:
The dog resumed its post by the door.
resume v.intr. to begin again or continue after interruption.
9. mess. n.
a) A disorderly or dirty accumulation, heap, or jumble: 杂乱，混乱凌乱或肮脏的一堆、一块或一团：
left a mess in the yard 把庭院搞得一团糟
b) A cluttered, untidy, usually dirty condition 污秽混乱的、凌乱的，通常为脏乱的状态：
The kitchen was in a mess. 厨房又脏又乱
c) A confused, troubling, or embarrassing condition; a muddle: 混乱的局面混乱的、扰乱的或令人困窘的情境；混乱：
With divorce and bankruptcy proceedings pending, his personal life was in a mess. 离婚和破产的官司使得他的生活陷入一片混乱当中。
10. mess. v.tr.
a) To make disorderly or soiled; clutter or foul: 弄脏，使混乱把…弄乱或把…弄脏；使污秽或使凌乱：
a puppy that still messes the floor. 会弄脏地板的小狗
b) To botch; bungle. 弄糟；搞砸
v.in tr.
a ) To cause or make a mess. 引起或制造脏乱
b) To use or handle something carelessly; fiddle: 摆弄，乱搞粗心地使用和操作；瞎搞：
He messed with the blender until he broke it. 他摆弄着那台搅拌器直至将它弄坏
c) To intrude; interfere: 侵入；干预：
messing in the neighbors' affairs. 干预邻居的事情
mess around (Informal)
a) To pass time in aimless puttering. 虚度光阴
b) To associate casually or playfully: 随便交往或厮混：
liked to mess around with pals on days off. 喜欢休息日与朋友们厮混
11. cool down. a) 凉快起来； 渐渐冷却
b) 使平静； 使冷静
cool off. a) 凉快起来； 渐渐冷却
b) 使平静； 使冷静
12. spot. n.
a) A place of relatively small and definite limits. 场所相对小而又有确定限制的地点
b) A mark on a surface differing sharply in color from its surroundings. 斑点鲜明区别于背景的表面颜色标记
c) A stain or blot. 污渍，污点
d) A location; a locale. 位置；地点
e) A point of interest: 名胜，观光点：
There are a lot of spots to visit in the old city. 这座古城有许多可供参观的名胜
spot v.tr.
a) To cause a spot or spots to appear on, especially: 使有污渍或引起污渍或使污渍出现
b) To soil with spots. 弄脏
c) To detect or discern, especially visually; spy.
辩认，认出辩认或认出，特别指用眼睛看出；详查
spot adj.
a) Made, paid, or delivered immediately: 立即制定、支付或发送：
a spot sale. 即时结清的买卖
b) Involving random or selective instances or actions: 抽样的包括随机选择事件或行为：
a spot investigation. 随机调查
useful expressions
in spots
Now and then; here and there; occasionally.有时；到处；偶尔
on the spot
a) Without delay; at once. 立刻，不耽搁
b) At the scene of action. 现场，当场
c) Under pressure or attention; in a pressed position. 有压力的在注意下或压力下；在有压力位置上
13. instant. n.abbr:inst.
a) An almost imperceptible space of time. 瞬间，顷刻几乎觉察不到的时间段
b) A particular time: 此刻，刹那：
Tell me the instant they arrive. 告诉我他们到的时间
instant adj.
a) Occurring at once; immediate: 立即的；马上的：
instant gratification. 瞬间产生的喜悦
b) Imperative; urgent: 紧迫的；急迫的：
an instant need 急需
instant adv. at once; instantly. 马上；立刻
14. pull on. Take hold of (sth) and pull (it) with strength.
The child pulled on his mother’s coat wanting to leave.
Sophia pulled on the rope, shouting “help”.
pull out
a) 拔出, 挖出
b) 离开, 撤走; 突然撤走
c) (车, 船) 驶出
d) 渡过难关
pull round
a) 使转向(尤指转向相反的方向)
b) (使)恢复健康; (使)复原, (使)清醒
pull through
a) (使)渡过难关
b) 使渡过(危险等)
c) 使恢复健康
pull together 合作, 齐心协力; 恢复...的团结
15. explode. V.intr.
a) Burst with a loud noise
The clap of thunder exploded overhead, which frightened the child into crying.
A bomb exploded at one of London’s busiest railway stations this morning.
b) To burst forth or break out suddenly and often violently: 突发突然发生或发出，常常是剧烈的：
My neighbor exploded in rage at the trespassers. 我的邻居对闯入者勃然大怒
c) To increase suddenly, sharply, and without control: 猛增突然、猛烈而又难以控制的增长：
The population level in this area has exploded during the past 12 years. 在过去的十二年中这一地区的人口一直剧增
explode. v.tr.
a) To cause to release energy or burst violently and noisily: 使爆炸，使爆裂使猛烈地和噪杂地释放能量或爆裂：
The children exploded three firecrackers. 孩子们燃放了三个爆竹
b) To show to be false or unreliable: 戳穿指出虚假或不可靠：
explode a hypothesis. 推翻假设
16. flash. vi. move very fast; produce a sudden bright light.
It was a busy road; cars flashed past the window.
A figure flashed past the window.
17. grab. seize suddenly; take roughly and quickly
A mugger grabbed my handbag as I was walking across the park.
The man grabbed the boy’s arm to stop him from running into the road.
18. loose. not firmly fixed in place.
His tie was pulled loose and his collar hung open. It seemed that he was drunk.
When the teacher asked her to answer the question, the girl was idly pulling at a loose
thread on her skirt.
19. crash. fall or strike suddenly, violently, and noisily.
I heard the dinner tray crash to the floor.
Standing on the beach, I could hear the waves crashing against the rocks.
20. reach out, stretch one’s arm, usu., in order to get or touch (sth.) (often followed by infini-
tive to)
The mother reached out to grab her little boy but it was too late. He fell into the river.
The child reached out to pick up the toy.
When he saw his former teacher, he reached out a hand in greeting.
21. clear of, free from, not in contact with
The plane climbed until it was clear of the clouds.
The man kept clear of his wife after the argument.
22. scrape, push or drag (sth.) along a hard or rough surface.
George drove too close to the wall and scraped the car’s wing.
The only sound was that of knives and forks scraping against china.
23. punch, hit hard
The young couple quarreled with each other. The wife punched her husband on the nose.
He punched me hard in the stomach.
24. injure, harm, hurt; damage
A bomb exploded in a quiet street, injuring three people and killing one.
The soccer game was very fierce. One of the players injured his knee and had to be
carried off.
( collocation: be badly/ seriously/ critically injured)
Two people were badly injured in a road accident.
25. twist, a) turned round; revolve
The instant they left, he twisted to try and get free of the ropes.
Matt twisted around to see who it was.
b) bend sth. so as to spoil its natural shape.
His face was twisted with pain.
The bus was so crowded that my body was twisted, my legs at an awkward angle.
26. via, by means of; by way of.
It’s easy and quick to communicate with friends via email.
Mr. Brake will return home via Britain and France.
27. risk. n a) The possibility of suffering harm or loss; danger.
危险，风险遭受损害或损失的可能性；危险
b) A factor, thing, element, or course involving uncertain danger; a hazard:
危险与某种不定的危险有关的因素，事物，成份或者所经之路；危险：
c) n.attributive. Often used to modify another noun:常被用来修饰另一个名词：
risk factors; risk management危险因素；风险管理
vt. a) To expose to a chance of loss or damage; hazard.
使…遭受危险冒损失或损坏；使…冒危险
b) To incur the risk of: 冒…的危险：
His action risked a sharp reprisal.
他的行为冒着极可能遭到报复的危险
28. no way.( infml) in no way; definitely not
Give up our tea break? No way!
No way will I go on working for that man.
29. incident, sth. that happens
Some incidents in her childhood had a lasting impression on her.
A 23-year-old man was seriously injured in a shooting incident which happened on Sat-
urday night.
30. shelter, protect; cover (often used in the pattern shelter sb./sth. form)
The female eagle sheltered her chicks with her wings.
Plant herbs next to a wall to shelter them from the wind.
(the word can also be used as a noun meaning something that gives protection.)
The city’s bomb shelters were being prepared for possible air raids.
The soldiers built a rough shelter of branches covered with leaves.
1. Group
discussion
1) What can you learn about
Anthony’s character from the story?
2) Anthony says that holding the
boys again is a wonderful feeling. Can you explain why?
3) What qualities are necessary
when one handles an emergency?
2. T guides Ss through some other after-text exercises and checks on Ss’ home reading (Text B).
3.
Writing
Please write an essay about a risky situation. Your essay should include the following points:
1) when and where the incident was
2) what the incident was
3) what the consequence was